Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve water quality in the River Tyne.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water quality in the River Tyne is influenced significantly by historical metal mines in the region. Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) are working in partnership with the Coal Authority on the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme. The River Tyne is a priority for action. The Nent Haggs mine water treatment scheme, expected to start operating in summer 2023, will capture up to 3 tonnes of zinc and cadmium each year and improve water quality in 60km of rivers. The similar scale Nenthead mine water treatment scheme is also being developed. This year, contaminated sediment containing about 0.3 tonnes of zinc, lead and cadmium was removed from two check-weirs, in the River Nent and River West Allen, decreasing the amount of metals accumulating in the Tyne Estuary sediments.
In August, we also launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows of any government. Our new strict targets will see the toughest ever crack down on sewage spills and will require water companies to secure the largest infrastructure programme in water company history - £56 billion capital investment over 25 years. Our Plan will protect biodiversity, the ecology of our rivers and seas, and the public health of our water users for generations to come.
The EA will not hesitate to take the strongest enforcement action against polluters – up to and including prosecution, when this is required. The EA is currently conducting 2 investigations into pollution entering the River Tyne and both investigations have the potential to result in a prosecution.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to publish the Government's environmental targets before the COP15 UN biodiversity conference.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out in a written statement published on 28 October, we will continue to work at pace in order to lay draft statutory instruments as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what studies have been carried out on the environmental impact of (a) zinc and (b) lead contaminants between Walker Quay and the upper reaches of the River Tyne.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Metals from abandoned mines impact water quality and aquatic wildlife in more than 150 kilometres of the South Tyne catchment, and these metals ultimately accumulate in the Tyne estuary sediments.
The Environment Agency (EA) has investigated the environmental impacts of zinc and lead from historic mine activity in the upper reaches of the River Tyne, particularly in the Rivers Nent and West Allen, which are two of the most metal-polluted rivers in England.
EA surveys in 2017 and 2018 showed populations of brown trout in the River Nent were about half that of a similar, unpolluted, control catchment. EA studies of river-flies (invertebrates) in the Nent and West Allen catchments also found decreased abundance and variety. The concentrations of zinc in the River Nent are high enough to be acutely toxic to fish but the brown trout appear to have adapted after two centuries of exposure.
The EA is working in partnership with the Coal Authority and Defra to implement measures to control inputs of metals in the Tyne headwaters as part of the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme. In 2022/23, construction of the Nent Haggs mine water treatment scheme will be completed; once fully operational in 2023, this should capture up to 3 tonnes of zinc and cadmium each year and improve water quality in 60km of rivers. Other measures are being developed to stop metals polluting the River South Tyne and decrease the amount of metals that accumulate in Tyne estuary sediments.
We are currently consulting on a target to reduce the length of rivers pollution by metals from Abandoned Metal Mines by 50% by 2037 in the Environment Act Targets consultation. This will include zinc and lead pollution.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific evidence there is on the impact of zinc and lead sediment in the form found in the River Tyne on marine life.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Zinc and lead are known to induce adverse effects on marine life. River Tyne sediments exhibit higher levels of these metals compared with other parts of the UK, due to the historical industrial and mining activities associated with the river. There is currently insufficient evidence as to whether concentrations of zinc and lead in the form found in River Tyne sediments are having an impact on marine life.
However, in recognition of wider evidence of the impacts of mining pollution more generally, we are currently consulting on a target to reduce the length of rivers pollution by metals from abandoned metal mines by 50% by 2037 in the Environment Act Targets consultation. This will include lead and zinc metal pollution.
This will drive action across the country and builds on work by the Environment Agency, in partnership with the Coal Authority and Defra, to implement measures to control inputs of metals in the Tyne headwaters as part of the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the Port of Tyne’s response to Proposed Changes in CEFAS Action Levels for Sea Disposal of Dredged Sediment.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials are currently considering the feedback and information provided from the Port of Tyne and other stakeholders in response to the Proposed Changes in Cefas Action Levels for Sea Disposal of Dredged Sediment. Officials will continue to engage with the Port of Tyne and other local stakeholders to review and understand all evidence, to ensure we fully understand the impacts of the proposals for the region.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department’s plans are for the disposal of dredge, including zinc and lead, in landfill.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Dredging waste must be sent to permitted landfill, unless it is exempt from the need for a permit. The permits for these sites control the site design, waste types and quantity to prevent or minimise pollution. These permits do not include specific limits for lead and zinc where the dredged material is non-hazardous waste. The Environment Agency considers the risk of lead and zinc emissions from landfill sites during the permit application process and landfill sites are designed and regulated to prevent or minimise pollution. At dredging sites exempt from the need for a permit, any pollution risk is limited by the scale of the activity and it is assumed that any pollutants will return to the waterway they were dredged from (with no additional pollutant load on the watercourse).
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to reduce the amount of waste generated in the UK to landfill in (a) the UK and (b) other countries.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We committed in the Net Zero Strategy to explore policies to work towards eliminating all biodegradable waste to landfill by 2028. Our ambitious Resources and Waste Strategy set a target of less than 10% of municipal residual waste to landfill by 2035.
We are making good progress with these commitments with a substantial decrease in the amount of local authority managed waste sent to landfill from 79% in 2000/01 to 8% in 2020/21.
It is generally illegal to export waste from the UK for disposal, including for disposal in landfill. We do, however, recognise the difficulties that some countries have in dealing with plastic waste, and so we have committed to banning the export of this waste to countries which are not members of the OECD. We will consult this year on options to deliver this ban.
Waste is a devolved matter and Defra has responsibility for waste management in England only.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what remedial steps his Department has taken on the North Sea coast since the algal bloom affecting crabs, shellfish, and pet dogs in the North East in 2021.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Defra in partnership with Cefas and the Environment Agency continue to investigate the cause of the incident, screening over 1,000 potential chemical contaminants, sampling water, sediments and crab tissue. Currently, lines of evidence point to a harmful algal bloom.
We continue to work closely with those in the affected area, monitoring the current situation and keeping them up to date with the findings of the investigation, including the results of ongoing testing.
We are aware that there has been an increase in reports of vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs in the Northeast, and across England. The University of Liverpool Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) has been investigating and found no link to the affected dogs and the incident. While it cannot definitively point to a common cause, SAVSNET does suggest this is a transmissible infection rather than contact with the beach area or sea water.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many badger culling licences his Department has issued since the announcement by the Government of the phased end of culling in May 2021.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All badger culling operations are licenced by Natural England. In June 2021 11 new supplementary badger culling licences were issued by Natural England. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-supplementary-badger-control-in-2021.
In September 2021 seven new intensive badger culling licences were issued by Natural England. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-badger-control-in-2021.
No new intensive badger culling licences will be issued after 2022. Supplementary badger culling licences will be restricted to a maximum of two years. Culling will remain an option, and be licensed by Natural England, where epidemiological assessment indicates that it is needed.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department makes of how many (a) badgers and (b) cattle have been vaccinated against Bovine TB since the Government announced the phased end of badger culling in May 2021.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government announced the next phase of its strategy to combat bovine tuberculosis in England, including the phasing out of badger culling, on 27 May 2021. Since then, 1,410 badgers have been vaccinated across England. Further details on the numbers of badgers vaccinated will be published on gov.uk in due course.
To date, vaccination of cattle in the UK against bovine TB has been carried out only as part of research studies. The candidate cattle vaccine and skin test to detect infected animals among vaccinated animals (normally referred to as a DIVA test) are the subject of field trials led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which started in June 2021. These trials are aimed at securing UK marketing authorisations for the candidate cattle vaccine and DIVA skin test.