Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Aaron Bell, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Aaron Bell has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to introduce a presumption against planning applications for new landfill sites liable to cause odorous emissions in built-up areas; to set limits for odorous emissions from landfill sites; to make provision for the payment of compensation by site operators to local residents when emissions exceed those limits; and for connected purposes.
Aaron Bell has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
UK-wide funding for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will ramp up to at least match receipts from EU structural funds, which on average reached around £1.5 billion per year. Spending Review 2021 fulfils this commitment, with the announcement of over £2.6 billion for the UKSPF over the next three years, with funding reaching £1.5 billion in 2024-25.
The UKSPF will focus on restoring a sense of community, local pride and belonging across the country. The UKSPF will act as a primary lever in levelling up people and places in all parts of the UK to empower places to identify, and build on, their own strengths and needs at a local level.
The Government will publish further details on the fund in due course.
The responsibility for maintenance of Church of England churchyards that are open for burials lies with each Parochial Church Council. However, if the churchyard has been closed for burials by order of the Privy Council or other agreement, the usual practice is for responsibility to transfer to the relevant Local Authority. Maintenance of a closed churchyard is still undertaken in line with the relevant ecclesiastical legislation, which still applies. Each diocese similarly produces its own guidance and regulations.
Advice and guidance is always available for parishes and all local authorities from the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops’ Council. The Church Buildings Division is currently developing a digital Burial Grounds Management System with external partners. This will in the next few years digitally map all graveyards and burial records to allow a publicly available and searchable records and monuments map to increase access to our churchyards. Following a successful trial in the Diocese of Leeds this project will gradually roll out to the rest of the country.
We fully support those looking to return to employment, particularly with caring responsibilities. However, we need more employers like Obelisk Support, who recognise the value of flexible working and can support this huge amount of untapped talent.
In January 2020, the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Minister for Patient Safety met campaigners representing the people infected and affected, and campaigners raised a number of issues about the support that would assist them outside of the Inquiry process. Ministers have committed to looking at these issues carefully, including to consider a request to look at a framework for compensation before the Inquiry reports, and to report back on where progress can be made. The Paymaster General is the lead Minister for the Inquiry and is taking forward these actions.
This Government will conduct a fundamental review of business rates.
My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.
I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.
I commend the hon. Member's tireless commitment to his constituents on this issue. I have seen for myself the issues at Walleys Quarry, and I share his concerns.
We are taking action through emissions monitoring and sharing our data with the UK Health Security Agency, which is providing expert public health advice. We are firmly holding the operator to account in delivering continuous improvements for the local community.
The World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines are internationally recognised guidelines. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has adopted the WHO air quality guidelines with respect to hydrogen sulphide for assessing odour and short-term exposure in their risk assessment for Walleys Quarry Landfill, available here: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/walleys-quarry-landfill-sliverdale/user_uploads/walley-s-ea-aq-monitoring-health-risk--assessment-august-final.pdf.
The WHO guideline value of 7 µg/m3 (5 ppb) over a 30-minute averaging period is protective of odour annoyance. The WHO guideline value of 150 μg/m3 (107 ppb) as a 24-hour (average) to protect against eye irritation.
Following my recent discussion with the hon. Member, I have taken a close interest in the issue of Walley’s Quarry. I am regularly updated by officials and the Environment Agency about air quality near the site, and the agency’s plans to improve it. The latest reports show a continuing reduction in hydrogen sulphide, which hopefully will improve further still as a result of the ongoing work at the site.
The Environment Agency charges an annual subsistence charge to landfill sites to fund their regulation. Landfill sites of the same type as Walleys Quarry are charged £18,221.00.
Poorly performing sites pay higher charges and this year Walleys Quarry was charged £22,776.25 – an additional 25%. The current performance of Walleys Quarry would lead to an additional charge of 50% in 2022.
The Environment Agency can also charge the operators for time and materials to recover the costs of additional regulation. Up to 13 August 2021, the operator of Walleys Quarry has been charged £98,622.20 for the additional costs of regulation and communications. The Environment Agency will continue to charge Walleys Quarry the recoverable costs of additional regulation and expects further recharges to be made throughout the rest of the year.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020/21 the Environment Agency stopped illegal activity at 722 sites, contributing to a 14% reduction in known illegal sites from the previous year. In the same period, they prosecuted 12 individuals and companies – leading to over £417,000 of fines. They also prevented the export of more than 11,000 tonnes of illegal waste.
Going forward, the government is preparing significant reforms to continue to increase the pressure on illegal waste operators. Our planned electronic waste tracking reforms will make it harder than ever to mis-identify waste or dispose of it inappropriately. Planned changes to the Carriers, Brokers and Dealers licensing regime will modernise licensing and make it harder still for rogue operators to escape detection. This will come in addition to measures in the Environment Act 2021 which gives agencies stronger powers of entry and access to evidence in prosecuting waste crime.
We provide below the number of unsubstantiated odour reports that have been received about each site regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) for March 2021. The reports have not yet been verified and therefore may not be accurately attributed. The EA seeks to quality-check attributions each month for sites which attract 20 or more reports. This has not yet been done for this data set due to the short timescale involved. To prevent inaccurate attributions, we have anonymised the names of the sites associated with the reports, specifying only the class of activity undertaken. The total number of reports of odour pollution received by the EA in March 2021 was 7516.
The table below provides the full list of the odour reports associated with each of the EA permitted sites for March 2021.
Reports In March 2021 | Class |
6347 | Landfill |
122 | Landfill |
87 | Landfill |
64 | Landfill |
51 | Landfill |
46 | Landfill |
45 | Landfill |
37 | Biowaste |
33 | Landfill |
29 | Farming |
26 | Landfill |
26 | Landfill |
26 | Biowaste |
25 | Biowaste |
23 | Biowaste |
20 | Waste Treatment |
19 | Landfill |
19 | Landfill |
19 | Waste Treatment |
17 | Food Processing |
16 | Intensive Farming |
16 | Landfill |
14 | Food Processing |
14 | Food Processing |
14 | Biowaste |
13 | Biowaste |
12 | Other |
12 | Waste Treatment |
11 | Landfill |
11 | Biowaste |
10 | Manufacturing |
9 | Food Processing |
9 | Biowaste |
9 | Biowaste |
8 | Biowaste |
8 | Food Processing |
8 | Intensive Farming |
8 | Chemicals |
8 | Biowaste |
6 | Chemicals |
5 | Landfill |
5 | Intensive Farming |
5 | Biowaste |
5 | Food Processing |
5 | Biowaste |
5 | Waste Treatment |
5 | Waste Treatment |
4 | Biowaste |
4 | Landfill |
4 | Landfill |
4 | Biowaste |
4 | Intensive Farming |
4 | Landfill |
4 | Intensive Farming |
4 | Intensive Farming |
4 | Incineration |
4 | Incineration |
4 | Biowaste |
4 | Waste Treatment |
4 | Biowaste |
3 | Intensive Farming |
3 | Landfill |
3 | Waste Treatment |
3 | Food Processing |
3 | Intensive Farming |
3 | Biowaste |
3 | Landfill |
3 | Intensive Farming |
3 | Landfill |
3 | Food Processing |
3 | Waste Treatment |
3 | Waste Treatment |
2 | Food Processing |
2 | Food Processing |
2 | Food Processing |
2 | Landfill |
2 | Intensive Farming |
2 | Intensive Farming |
2 | Intensive Farming |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Chemicals |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Food Processing |
2 | Intensive Farming |
2 | Manufacturing |
2 | Farming |
2 | Other |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Minerals |
2 | Food |
2 | Food |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Farming |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Treatment |
2 | Farming |
2 | Food |
2 | Treatment |
2 | Biowaste |
2 | Treatment |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Food |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Farming |
1 | Farming |
1 | Farming |
1 | Biowaste |
1 | Biowaste |
1 | Food |
1 | Farming |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Food |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Biowaste |
1 | Incineration |
1 | Farming |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Incineration |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Chemicals |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Biowaste |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Biowaste |
1 | Landfill |
1 | Treatment |
1 | Spreading |
1 | Unknown |
Walleys Quarry Landfill is a high priority for the Environment Agency (EA). The EA has increased the resource focused on regulation of the site and on partnership working to address local concerns as quickly as possible. The EA continues to receive large volumes of complaints from the community surrounding the site and takes each one very seriously.
Earlier this month, the EA issued Red Industries with an enforcement notice legally requiring specific actions to be completed by 30 April, including the capping of certain parts of the site. This should reduce odours to a level where they do not cause an offence (against permit definition).
The EA is also working alongside its partners to ensure air quality monitoring covers their health remits. The EA has agreed two further locations, in addition to those that went live in early March, to site air quality monitoring equipment. The additional units will be in place as soon as possible. The EA is sharing this data with partners, including Public Health England, on a regular basis and has supported a Staffordshire County Council led multi-agency statement on health advice.
The EA is receiving complaint reports from a number of different avenues including via email and phone. These are being updated to the system at regular intervals so these figures may be subject to change.
Date | Number of complaints |
27/02/2021 | 878 |
28/02/2021 | 467 |
01/03/2021 | 180 |
02/03/2021 | 93 |
03/03/2021 | 82 |
04/03/2021 | 60 |
05/03/2021 | 156 |
06/03/2021 | 666 |
07/03/2021 | 395 |
08/03/2021 | 574 |
09/03/2021 | 405 |
10/03/2021 | 159 |
11/03/2021 | 93 |
12/03/2021 | 143 |
13/03/2021 | 67 |
14/03/2021 | 141 |
15/03/2021 | 266 |
16/03/2021 | 164 |
17/03/2021 | 351 |
18/03/2021 | 229 |
19/03/2021 | 144 |
20/03/2021 | 206 |
21/03/2021 | 133 |
22/03/2021 | 248 |
23/03/2021 | 222 |
24/03/2021 | 196 |
25/03/2021 | 137 |
26/03/2021 | 94 |
27/03/2021 | 106 |
28/03/2021 | 42 |
29/03/2021 | 64 |
30/03/2021 | 296 |
31/03/2021 | 235 |
01/04/2021 | 56 |
02/04/2021 | 53 |
03/04/2021 | 149 |
04/04/2021 | 286 |
05/04/2021 | 129 |
06/04/2021 | 150 |
07/04/2021 | 182 |
08/04/2021 | 87 |
09/04/2021 | 159 |
10/04/2021 | 408 |
11/04/2021 | 244 |
12/04/2021 | 237 |
13/04/2021 | 450 |
14/04/2021 | 148 |
Total | 10,430 |
The Environment Agency (EA) received 6938 odour complaints relating to Walley’s Quarry Landfill in the last six months, including a significant increase since December 2020.
The EA is completing regular odour assessments within the local area and undertaking more frequent assessments at locations where it receives the most complaints. Over the last six months the EA has completed 28 amenity assessments and formally visited the site on nine occasions. It has also completed seven procedure and report reviews.
Trained EA officers have detected odour at some locations but could not substantiate reports at a level considered to be of annoyance. The EA will continue with odour assessments and visits to ensure all measures are being used to minimise odour impacting local residents.
Since November 2020, the Environment Agency (EA) has received substantiated reports of odour incidents at around 50 sites which it regulates.
Table 1 shows the total number of notifications made to the EA in relation to odour in each month since November 2020. This may include a number of notifications that following investigation may be determined not to fall within the remit of the EA. The majority will be associated with sites that the EA regulates.
Table 1. Total odour notifications made to the Environment Agency
November 2020 | December 2020 | January 2021 | February 2021 | |
Total odour notifications | 1051 | 1261 | 2602 | 4556 |
Table 2 shows the number of odour incidents which have been substantiated and linked to sites that the EA regulates, in each month since November 2020. It also includes the number of additional notifications associated with each substantiated incident, where a single incident has received multiple notifications. Due to potential ongoing investigations into these incidents the sites have been anonymised. The data in table 2 is taken from a live system and is subject to change as additional incident information is recorded and the data is further quality assured.
Table 2. Substantiated odour incidents at sites regulated by the Environment Agency
| November 2020 | December 2020 | January 2021 | February 2021 | ||||
| Incidents | Duplicates (additional notifications) | Incidents | Duplicates (additional notifications) | Incidents | Duplicates (additional notifications) | Incidents | Duplicates (additional notifications) |
Site 1 |
|
| 1 | 3 |
|
|
|
|
Site 2 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 3 | 1 | 22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 6 | 1 | 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 7 | 1 | 26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 8 |
|
| 1 | 2 |
|
|
|
|
Site 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 10 |
|
| 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
|
|
Site 11 | 1 | 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 12 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 13 |
|
| 1 | 4 |
|
|
|
|
Site 14 | 1 | 2 |
|
| 1 | 6 |
|
|
Site 15 |
|
| 1 | 12 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 16 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 17 |
|
| 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
Site 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 19 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 20 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 21 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 22 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 23 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 24 |
|
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
Site 25 |
|
|
|
| 1 | 6 |
|
|
Site 26 |
|
|
|
| 1 | 56 |
|
|
Site 27 |
|
| 2 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
Site 28 | 1 | 34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 29 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 4 |
Site 30 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 31 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 26 |
|
|
Site 32 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 33 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
Site 34 |
|
| 1 | 14 |
|
|
|
|
Site 35 |
|
|
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
Site 36 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 37 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
|
|
|
|
Site 38 | 1 | 196 | 2 | 494 | 6 | 1918 |
|
|
Site 39 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 40 |
|
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
Site 41 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 42 |
|
|
|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Site 43 |
|
| 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
Site 44 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 45 | 1 | 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 46 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Site 47 |
|
| 1 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
Site 48 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site 49 |
|
|
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
Site 50 |
|
| 1 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
The information will be placed in the Library.
We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.
The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.
The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.
Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.
We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.
The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.
The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.
Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.
Walley’s Quarry landfill site holds a permit that is issued and regulated by the Environment Agency (EA), and the EA takes seriously any concerns expressed regarding the site. Although no landfill will ever be completely odour free, the level and type of odour arising from such operations should not be causing annoyance.
The table below details the number of odour complaints (reports of incidents received through the EA Incident Communication Service) about Walley’s Quarry Landfill, over the last two-year period.
Month | Number of Odour Complaints |
January 2019 | 81 |
February 2019 | 259 |
March 2019 | 58 |
April 2019 | 49 |
May 2019 | 31 |
June 2019 | 57 |
July 2019 | 48 |
August 2019 | 95 |
September 2019 | 134 |
October 2019 | 82 |
November 2019 | 159 |
December 2019 | 102 |
January 2020 | 37 |
February 2020 | 94 |
March 2020 | 187 |
April 2020 | 74 |
May 2020 | 68 |
June 2020 | 53 |
July 2020 | 77 |
August 2020 | 92 |
September 2020 | 371 |
October 2020 | 225 |
The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs due to time.
Scientific instrumentation used for detecting odours in the outdoors can only be used to assess a very small number of gases, and the detection limits in these instruments may not be low enough to detect all the compounds responsible for odour annoyance detected by the human nose. The Environment Agency makes use of ambient air monitoring using instruments for specific odorous gases where this will yield useful results.
The Environment Agency regularly reviews new equipment with potential for use in field odour assessments as and when it becomes available. However, so far these solutions have not been found to be as robust and versatile as the current methods used.
The Environment Agency (EA) conducted an emissions to air assessment of the new application and is satisfied that air quality levels will not be impacted and there will be no additional emissions from landfill gas or risk of additional odour.
The operator's Odour Management Plan complies with EA guidance and reflects the industry best practice. The EA is satisfied it will minimise the risk of odour pollution, and that they have sufficient controls within the permit conditions to enable further measures to be implemented if required. The benefit of the variation is that the Operator could complete the landfill sooner (by 2024 not 2026) accelerating the progressive capping of the site.
The operator's gas management plan complies with the relevant landfill directive and permit conditions and the EA does not consider emissions from the installation will cause significant pollution to the environment or harm to human health. The increase in annual tonnages at the site would not change the amount of gas produced but would bring forward the peak gas production rate. The site is already permitted to operate a gas utilisation plant which has the capacity to combust the maximum volume of gas which will be produced.
No recent assessments have been made of odour regulations. The government considers that current provisions under the Environmental Permitting and Statutory Nuisance regimes provide adequate protection.
Landfill sites in England must be operated in accordance with an environmental permit, regulated by the Environment Agency. Where issues could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.
The Environment Agency receives reports of odour from members of the public via the National Pollution Reporting Hotline. The numbers in the table below represent all reports received since January 2019 from members of the public across England, rather than those that have been assessed by a local Environment Agency officer and confirmed to be correctly attributed to a site that the Environment Agency regulates. The Environment Agency does not collate figures centrally for that number.
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year Totals |
2019 | 883 | 1,311 | 755 | 1,122 | 1,223 | 1,265 | 2,267 | 2,219 | 1,571 | 1,034 | 1,093 | 1,867 | 16,610 |
2020 | 4,160 | 2,181 | 1,474 | 1,468 | 1,212 | 1,755 | 1,673 | 1,854 | 2,223 | 992 | NA | NA | 18,992 |
Defra's national monitoring network does not monitor hydrogen sulphide levels.
The Environment Agency (EA) monitors specific sites within the Newcastle-under-Lyme area. In particular, on the Walley's Quarry Landfill site, the EA carried out an ambient air monitoring study between January 2019 and June 2019. The EA deployed a Mobile Monitoring Facility (MMF) to the north of Walleys landfill site between 15 January 2019 and 12 February 2019. Comparison of the hydrogen sulphide data with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines showed that concentrations were below health limits but exceeded odour limits for 6% of this monitoring period. The MMF was then relocated approximately 60 metres to the east between 28 February 2019 and 25 June 2019. Comparison of the hydrogen sulphide data with the WHO guidelines showed that concentrations were below health limits but exceeded odour limits for 1% of the monitoring period.
The EA will be continuing with its regular odour assessments and site inspections and will take appropriate action as part of its regulation of the Walley's Quarry Landfill site, should it identify any areas where the Operator is not compliant with their permit conditions.
Landfill sites are regulated under Environmental Permitting Regulations by the Environment Agency (EA). The EA operates a national network of air quality monitoring sites on behalf of Defra. These are designed to provide a representative sample of air quality across the UK, and will not be specific to individual regulated sites. In addition to its statutory air quality activities, the EA can use air quality monitoring equipment in some circumstances to monitor for certain trace gases that form odorous compounds. This is carried out using the EA’s mobile monitoring facilities.
The illegal dumping of waste, including fly-tipping, is an unacceptable blight on local communities and the environment. The government is committed to cracking down on the waste and carelessness that destroys our natural environment and kills marine life. We are also committed to increasing the penalties for fly-tipping.
Over the last five years we have strengthened and expanded the powers available to tackle the illegal dumping of waste. Local authorities have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £400 to those caught fly-tipping or to householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. Vehicles of those suspected of committing a waste crime, including illegal dumping, can be searched and seized.
Those accused of illegal dumping can be prosecuted and, on conviction, can face a fine, up to 12 months imprisonment, or both in a Magistrates Court; or a fine, up to 5 years imprisonment, or both, in a Crown Court. Local authorities carried out a total of 2,397 prosecutions for fly-tipping offences in England in 2018/19, an increase of 7% on 2017/18. The value of total fines increased by 29% to £1,090,000 compared to 2017/18.
We have invested £60 million in the Environment Agency’s waste crime enforcement work since 2014. This year’s Budget committed the government to investing £7.2 million in the development of electronic waste tracking, as well as £0.5 million in 2020/21 to support innovative approaches to tackling fly-tipping.
In the Resources and Waste Strategy we committed to reforming the regulation of waste carriers, tightening up the regulation of the waste exemptions regime and improving intelligence sharing and joint working between enforcement agencies. The Joint Unit for Waste Crime, led by the Environment Agency and including the National Crime Agency, HMRC, the Police and others, was established earlier this year and has already had a number of operational successes.
The Environment Bill includes a number of measures to help tackle waste crime. It will enable Government to mandate the use of electronic waste tracking; simplify the process for enforcement authorities to enter premises under a warrant; introduce a new power to search for and seize evidence of waste crime; and reduce the cost and bureaucracy when the police seize vehicles involved in waste crime on behalf of the Environment Agency.
The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve additional Covid-related safety measures, and guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.
Throughout the pandemic our immediate focus has been on supporting people impacted by COVID-19 by putting claims into payment as quickly as possible, as well as paying any additional benefit where claimants may be entitled to a higher award. We continue to complete paper based assessments where possible and have introduced telephone assessments.
The specialist mesh services in operation do not currently offer rectopexy mesh removal. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to commission rectopexy services within the specialist mesh centres, to treat those who have been adversely affected by rectopexy mesh. The information requested on the specialist mesh services offering rectopexy mesh removal within the next 12 months is not yet available.
There are no plans to investigate the link between the properties of polypropylene mesh and foreign body reaction, fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders.
The Department has commissioned NHS Digital to undertake a retrospective audit of complications from pelvic mesh from a defined cohort of women. This was announced in the Government’s response to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Review.
Planning is at an early stage and the requirements for this audit are currently being gathered from a range of stakeholders and patient representatives.
The information is not collected in the format requested.
The eight specialist mesh services, currently in operation, have been commissioned to treat women who have experienced complications due to vaginal or abdominal mesh procedures for urinary incontinence or prolapse, including removal of mesh.
NHS England and NHS Improvement are considering the commissioning of care and support for people with complications in the use of mesh inserted for colorectal indications, known as rectopexy mesh. This work includes exploring whether the remit of the existing specialist mesh services can be expanded. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect to make a decision by the autumn.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to interpreters and other staff who risked their lives working alongside UK forces in Afghanistan.
It is why we have introduced a generous funding package, covering healthcare, accommodation, education, and integration. We are committed to working with local authorities and NGOs to ensure Afghans who are resettled in the UK are fully supported.
The information is not held in the format requested. As of 15 June, our Armed Forces are deployed to support the work of 10 Joint Military Commands (JMCs) and three other teams across the UK, broken down as follows:
Region | Total |
JMC East | 447 |
JMC London | 500 |
JMC North East | 414 |
JMC North West | 145 |
JMC Northern Ireland | 98 |
JMC Scotland | 361 |
JMC South East | 437 |
JMC South West | 323 |
JMC Wales | 467 |
JMC West Midlands | 274 |
Logistics Support Team | 42 |
Standing Joint Command Reserve | 20 |
Works Group (Engineers) | 10 |
Total | 3,538 |
Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.
Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.
The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.
Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.
Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.
The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.
Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.
Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.
The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.
Historically, the Church of England has made burial provision for local communities, and continues to do so. The transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities returns the accountability for their maintenance to the community as a whole. Local authority spending priorities are a matter for local discretion.
Data on the transfer of responsibility for closed churchyards to local authorities is not held centrally.
The Law Commission’s current Programme of Law Reform includes a project to consider streamlining and modernising the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.
The Government has provided over £2.1 billion in financial support to the Welsh Government to respond to the covid-19 outbreak. This is made up of Barnett consequential funding to the allocations in England for public services, business support and support to individuals.