Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Canal and River Trust's decision to remove litter bins from canal towpaths on the effective management of litter on land owned by the Canal and River Trust.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As an independent charity, the Canal and River Trust is responsible for operational matters on its waterways and land owned by it, including litter management.
Under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Trust has a duty to keep the land it is responsible for clear of litter and refuse. It is for the Trust to work out how best to comply with the duty, considering the standards set out in statutory Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. The Trust also has a responsibility to remove litter and fly-tipping in its canals where it would interfere with navigation.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings they have had with the Canal and River Trust since April.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Senior Defra officials and the Canal and River Trust’s Executive management team hold three formal meetings a year, usually in April/May, August/September, and December. Additionally, working level meetings between Defra officials and the Trust are held as necessary.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans ministers have to meet the newly appointed chief executive of the Canal and River Trust, Campbell Robb.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government looks forward to working with the new Chief Executive once he has taken up the post in October.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms exist to hold the Canal and River Trust accountable where the Trust fails to fulfil its statutory duties.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Canal and River Trust’s statutory duties arise from various Acts of Parliament. As an independent charity, the Trust has its own internal governance structures to ensure that its performance is managed and scrutinised appropriately.
The Trust provides support to the Government in responding to Parliamentary and intra-Governmental questions and requests for information relating to its statutory duties. Parliamentarians may write directly to the Chair of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive, or other Directors about its activities. The Trust is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to its statutory functions, and it also maintains an information regime that mirrors the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Trust also publishes information on its activities to ensure public and stakeholder accountability, under the terms of the Government grant funding agreement.
The Charity Commission has oversight of the Trust, and it is also open to anyone to bring a case where they consider there is evidence of failure to carry out statutory duties.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers undertake regular assessments of the Canal and River Trust's effectiveness in fulfilling their statutory duties.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Senior Defra officials meet the Canal and River Trust’s executive management team formally three times a year at which a range of issues are discussed, including operational matters relating to statutory duties as appropriate. The minutes of the meetings are published on the Trust’s website. Additionally, working level meetings between Defra officials and the Trust are held as necessary.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the harm to wildlife caused by litter on urban canal towpaths.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government has not made an assessment of the harm to wildlife caused by litter on urban canal towpaths.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of designating the bank holiday at the end of August as 'Peace Day' in honour of veterans.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Government recognises the sacrifices made by so many veterans and the profound debt of gratitude owed to those who have served our country.
Occasionally, the Government may change a bank holiday for a one-off event, such as a changing the date of the early May bank holiday in 2020 to commemorate VE Day.
The current naming conventions of bank holidays are well established, and the Government has no plans to change the name of any future bank holidays at this time.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help businesses build trading opportunities abroad.
Answered by Liam Fox
DIT provides market access, support and advice to UK business both in the UK and in 109 markets overseas. Through the GREAT campaign we build the global appetite for British goods and services, and give UK companies access to millions of pounds’ worth of potential business through the digital services offered on the great.gov.uk website.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the centenary of the First World War is commemorated in local communities.
Answered by Rob Wilson
We encourage communities to apply for Heritage Lottery Funding, to discover, learn and commemorate the First World War.
Since April 2010, HLF has awarded over £84 million to more than 1,680 First World War Centenary projects reaching more than 80% of constituencies across the United Kingdom.
Communities can also get involved in our war memorials programme, by attending workshops, applying for listing and carrying out condition surveys. War Memorials Trust have grants available for repair and conservation of local war memorials.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect on jobs and investment in the beer industry of a reduction in beer duty.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including alcohol duties, and is always willing to consider any evidence in relation to alcohol taxation policy. Any changes to beer duty need to take account of a wide range of factors, including the Exchequer impact, the impact on businesses and consumers, and on public health.