Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what decisions they have taken about the future status and functions of the Consumer Council for Water; and what planning assumptions they have asked the council to make about (1) whether it will continue as a statutory body, (2) the functions it will retain, and (3) its future staffing and budget.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is considering options for strengthening consumer protection and redress in the water sector. The Consumer Council for Water continues to operate in accordance with its current statutory responsibility and funding arrangements.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the consultation on phasing out the use of high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas for stunning pigs at slaughter, as set out in the animal welfare strategy for England.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require all data centre operators to report their water use.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

BSIT continues to engage with the sector and other government departments to better understand water use in data centres, supporting the adoption of efficient cooling technologies (closed-loop systems) and alternative sources like rainwater harvesting.

The planning system requires environmental impacts, including water consumption, to be properly assessed and considered before decisions are made. For developments progressing through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, applicants must assess impacts on water resources as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment and supporting documentation. AI Growth Zone applicants are also required to provide details of their anticipated water requirements and evidence from the relevant water supplier on the availability of supply. The Government keeps planning and environmental requirements under review to ensure data centre growth remains sustainable.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether hyperscale AI data centres, including the proposed data campus near Great Torrington, are required to disclose their projected water consumption for cooling before planning applications are determined; and, if not, what plans they have to introduce such a requirement.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

BSIT continues to engage with the sector and other government departments to better understand water use in data centres, supporting the adoption of efficient cooling technologies (closed-loop systems) and alternative sources like rainwater harvesting.

The planning system requires environmental impacts, including water consumption, to be properly assessed and considered before decisions are made. For developments progressing through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, applicants must assess impacts on water resources as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment and supporting documentation. AI Growth Zone applicants are also required to provide details of their anticipated water requirements and evidence from the relevant water supplier on the availability of supply. The Government keeps planning and environmental requirements under review to ensure data centre growth remains sustainable.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what protections apply to (1) landscapes, (2) farmland, and (3) UNESCO biosphere reserves, when a hyperscale AI data centre and battery storage development is proposed to be located within them.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Whichever consenting route is used – NSIP regime or Town and Country Planning regime, data centre proposals must comply with the relevant national planning policy and environmental protections, including those relating to landscape character, agricultural land, protected habitats and designated site.

For proposals considered through the TCPA regime, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that development proposals should conserve and enhance landscape character, including placing substantial weight on the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes, and take into account the quality of agricultural land. The National Planning Policy Framework also sets out specific provisions concerning the protection of designated sites, including Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.

The Government is also preparing a new National Policy Statement for data centres. Once designated, this will set out the relevant national policy framework for decision-making on data centre projects that proceed through the NSIP regime.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative impact (1) fire risk, (2) water use, (3) noise, and (4) landscape impacts, where an AI data centre and a battery energy storage system are proposed on the same or adjacent sites.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that development proposals should be appropriate for their location, taking into account the likely effects (including cumulative effects) of pollution on health, living conditions and the natural environment, whether these effects are on or off-site. Proposals should not give rise to, or contribute to, unacceptable levels of noise, water, or other forms of pollution on or beyond the site. Development proposals should also consider the environmental qualities of land proposed for development, including landscape character and the natural beauty of the countryside, and identify opportunities for those qualities to be conserved or enhanced.

Furthermore, the NPPF is also clear that development proposals should anticipate and address possible malicious threats and other hazards (whether natural or man-made) in relation to uses which could pose a potential hazard to the surrounding area. Planning Practice Guidance also encourages developers and local planning authorities to engage with their local Fire and Rescue Services early on to identify potential mitigations in the event of an incident, and have these views taken into account during determination of the application.

Similarly, data centres that are consented via the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will be bound by the relevant national planning policy and environmental protections. The Government is preparing a new National Policy Statement for data centres which, once designated, will set out the relevant national policy framework for decision-making on data centre projects that proceed through the regime.

The application of these various policies will be case-specific, and it is for decision-makers to assess in the first instance what impact an AI data centre or battery storage facility may have.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of calls for a moratorium on planning approvals for data centres and battery energy storage systems outside designated AI Growth Zones.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on data centres and battery storage systems. Data centres and battery energy storage systems, whether located inside or outside AI Growth Zones, are subject to established planning and regulatory requirements. Decision-makers must consider relevant impacts, including those on the environment, heritage, landscapes, ecology, agricultural land and local communities. Planning applications are generally determined by local planning authorities, while particularly large data infrastructure projects may enter the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. These arrangements allow proposals to be assessed on their individual merits and development consent to be refused where significant adverse impacts cannot be appropriately managed or mitigated.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the investigation into alleged duplicate travel expense claims submitted by the chair of the Consumer Council for Water has (1) concluded evidence gathering, (2) reached any findings, and (3) prepared a final report; and when they expect the investigation to conclude.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The investigation has been completed and the final report will be submitted to Defra shortly to consider the findings.