Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Natural England on the effect of artificial lawns on species loss and biodiversity.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Surfaces such as artificial grass are, on their own, of no value for biodiversity.
We currently have no plans to ban or restrict the use of artificial grass. We prefer to help people and organisations make the right choice rather than legislating on this matter. As with all single-use plastic products, we will continue to review the latest evidence on impacts and take a systematic approach to reducing unnecessary use.
Research has shown that gardens and public spaces can be very important habitats, for example for pollinating insects. Working with a range of partners, Defra has established a ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign including advice on providing habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, including in gardens.
Local authorities should comply with the legal and policy safeguards in place to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable drainage. The strengthened biodiversity duty being introduced through the Environment Bill should also serve to encourage public authorities to consider more sustainable alternatives.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
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 has carried out an assessment of the effect of artificial lawns on species loss and biodiversity.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Surfaces such as artificial grass are, on their own, of no value for biodiversity.
We currently have no plans to ban or restrict the use of artificial grass. We prefer to help people and organisations make the right choice rather than legislating on this matter. As with all single-use plastic products, we will continue to review the latest evidence on impacts and take a systematic approach to reducing unnecessary use.
Research has shown that gardens and public spaces can be very important habitats, for example for pollinating insects. Working with a range of partners, Defra has established a ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign including advice on providing habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, including in gardens.
Local authorities should comply with the legal and policy safeguards in place to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable drainage. The strengthened biodiversity duty being introduced through the Environment Bill should also serve to encourage public authorities to consider more sustainable alternatives.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to Keep Britain Tidy in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In the last five years, no funding has been specifically allocated to Keep Britain Tidy, but it has successfully bid for a number of litter-related contracts:
Year | Project | Contract value awarded |
2017-18 | Survey of roadside litter on trunk roads other than motorways | £79,000 |
2017-18 | Research into packaging design to reduce litter and littering | £8,993 |
2017-18 | Waterside Care community engagement project | £5,833 |
2018-19 | Economic valuation of the non-market benefits of dealing with specific types of litter that a Deposit Return Scheme in England would help to overcome | £41,525 |
2019-20 | Research into litter composition, including composition of dropped versus binned litter and brands of littered Items | £92,320 |
2020-21 | North West bathing waters programme | £30,000 |
2021-22 | Macro plastic North West | £74,240 |
Keep Britain Tidy has also been awarded the following grant funding towards delivery of national clear-up days and campaigns:
Year | Grant |
2016 (Clean for the Queen) | £9,500 |
2017 (Great British Spring Clean) | £10,000 |
2020 (Love Parks / Respect the Outdoors) | £30,000 |
Defra has an annual contract with Keep Britain Tidy to host the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group’s (NFTPG) website: http://www.tacklingflytipping.com/
Year | Contract value awarded |
2016/17 | £3,828 |
2017/18 | £3,828 |
2018/19 | £3,828 |
2019/20 | £3,903.60 |
2020/21 | £3,903.60* |
*Awarded but not yet paid
In 2017, under the £450,000 Litter Innovation Fund, Keep Britain Tidy was awarded £39,717 across 4 grants. Full details are available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/litter-innovation-fund