Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help reduce (a) waste and (b) pollution from waterways in the Thames Valley region.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water quality impacts from wastewater pollution and agriculture are two of the key pressures resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status.
There are many Wastewater Treatment Works, operated by Thames Water, that discharge to rivers in the Thames Valley. Improving water quality by securing investment to improve wastewater treatment remains a priority for the Environment Agency (EA) and Ofwat. As does reducing pollution from waste and water quality from agriculture and road runoff.
The recent information published by the EA on 2024 storm overflows shows the number and duration of spills remains unacceptably high and water companies, including Thames Water, have a long way to go to reduce sewage pollution.
The EA continues to respond and investigate any significant pollution incidents. There have been a number of significant pollution incidents at some Thames Water sites in the Thames Valley region in recent years and these are subject to ongoing EA investigations. The EA has undertaken recent inspections of Wastewater Treatment Works across the Thames Valley.
Water quality impacts from diffuse pollution including agriculture are also a key pressure affecting waterbodies in the Thames Valley. The EA has increased the number of farm inspections, helping farmers comply with legal requirements and requiring actions to reduce pollution.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) regulations and (b) testing are in place to monitor environmental lead.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency routinely monitors water quality in surface waters. The legal basis for assessing whether substances are causing water pollution is set out in The Water Framework Directive (Standards and Classification) Directions (England and Wales) 2015. Lead is a priority substance. Many rivers polluted by lead are downstream of abandoned metal mines; the Government has set a statutory target to halve the 1,491kms of English rivers polluted by target metals (including lead) from these mines by 31st December 2038. The Government supports the Water & Abandoned Metal Mines Programme.
The main responsibility for dealing with terrestrial legacy lead contamination in England lies with local authorities under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Deposition from sewage sludge spreading is controlled under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989.
Limit values for lead concentrations in ambient air are found in the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) and lead emissions to air are measured as part of the Heavy Metals Network and the Particle Concentrations and Numbers Network. Emissions of lead from industrial sources are also regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regime. The UK has been compliant with the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) limit values for lead since 2008.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to improve farmed animal welfare.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department is engaging with key stakeholders as part of the development of our overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more details on this in due course.
This will build on the support already available through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which includes access to testing for priority diseases and advice to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of farmed animals through funded vet visits.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support local supermarkets to ensure the adequate provision of battery bins.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the current regulations, retailers selling more than 32kg of portable batteries must have a collection point at all premises from which batteries are supplied. Retailers can search online for a batteries compliance scheme who will collect these batteries free of charge and can advise in respect of collection bins. There is no legal requirement for retailers selling less than 32kg of batteries each year to make collection provisions, but they can still enquire with a battery compliance scheme as to how they may be able to assist. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/battery-waste-supplier-reponsibilities.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support local councils to tackle fly-tipping.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fly-tipping is a serious crime which blights local communities and the environment. Local authorities have a range of enforcement powers to help them tackle fly-tipping including fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, vehicle seizure and prosecution action which can lead to a significant fine or even imprisonment. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop new guidance to support them to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise these existing powers. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.
We committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.
In the meantime, Defra continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and the Environment Agency, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the median age is of computers issued to officials in their Department.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The median age of devices, since deployment, issued by Defra’s IT team to officials working in Defra, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Climate Change Committee, Environment Agency, Marine Management Organisation, Natural England and Rural Payments Agency is 3.2 years.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 made an assessment of the potential impact of water bill increases in the Thames Valley region on (a) consumers and (b) low income households.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure.
For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Whilst bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways, we fully understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing and are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. The Government expects water companies to put robust support measures in place for customers to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country, including the Thames Valley, are supported.
Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs, from 4% to 9% by 2030, and the Government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that customers are sufficiently supported.
Furthermore, the Government expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end Water Poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to this end.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with supermarkets on reducing food waste.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No recent discussions have taken place on the subject of food waste prevention between retailers and the Secretary of State.
This Government is committed to setting a clear roadmap to a circular economy – a future where our resources are used as efficiently and productively as possible for as long as possible, and waste is reduced. We are reviewing policies to address the challenges associated with tackling food waste in the supply chain and we are working with businesses, including supermarkets, to drive down food waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in greatest need. This includes supporting surplus food redistribution to charities and programmes to help citizens reduce their food waste.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the prevalence of perfluoroalkyl substances in (a) bottled and (b) tap water.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007. In 2021 a guideline value of 0.1 micrograms per litre was adopted for drinking water which, since August 2024 when DWI’s guidance was updated, now applies to a combined PFAS sum for 48 PFAS. These were agreed with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be robust levels with an appropriate margin to ensure our drinking water is safe to drink. There is no evidence of PFAS concentrations above this value in drinking water supplies.
Controlling the sale and marketing of bottled waters do not include any specific requirements relating to PFAS. We will monitor any new or emerging evidence to ensure the regulations remain robust and fit for purpose.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to monitor levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in tap water.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007. In 2021 a guideline value of 0.1 micrograms per litre was adopted for drinking water which, since August 2024 when DWI’s guidance was updated, now applies to a combined PFAS sum for 48 PFAS. These were agreed with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be robust levels with an appropriate margin to ensure our drinking water is safe to drink. There is no evidence of PFAS concentrations above this value in drinking water supplies.
Controlling the sale and marketing of bottled waters do not include any specific requirements relating to PFAS. We will monitor any new or emerging evidence to ensure the regulations remain robust and fit for purpose.