Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to take to ensure that the contents of the 42 containers of plastic being returned by the Malaysian Government are recycled in the UK.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Thirty-five of the containers have already arrived in England and the remaining seven were scheduled to leave Malaysia before the end of January. The Environment Agency, as competent authority of England, is overseeing the voluntary return of all 42 containers of waste. The return of these containers is being managed and financed by the parties involved in the original export to Malaysia as it is their responsibility. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring their return to England and subsequent lawful recovery or disposal of the waste in the UK.
The Government is deeply concerned about the illegal trade in waste, including reports of illegal plastic waste exported from the UK to Malaysia. Recognising the difficulties experienced by some countries in managing imports of plastic waste, the Queen’s Speech on 19 December last year included a commitment to ban the export of polluting plastic wastes to countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. We will consult this year on the date by which this should be achieved.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will undertake an investigation into the reasons that plastic waste declared illegal by the Malaysian Government was granted permission to be exported.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK authorities did not authorise this shipment. Under the current EU legislation there is no obligation on the exporter to obtain permission for this type of waste prior to its export. As part of the Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government has committed to review the regulatory framework covering waste shipments to ensure that we improve the quality of UK waste exports.
In this case the paperwork necessary to allow the import of the 42 containers had not been put in place by the importer. UK exporters have an obligation to ensure appropriate permissions from overseas authorities have been obtained prior to export of any waste. The 42 containers of waste, which are in the process of being returned to England, were exported to Malaysia without an “Approved Permit” import licence from the Malaysian Department of National Solid Waste Management. The return of these containers is being managed and financed by the parties involved in the original export to Malaysia as it is their responsibility.
The Government is deeply concerned about the illegal trade in waste, including reports of illegal plastic waste exported from the UK to Malaysia. Recognising the difficulties experienced by some countries in managing imports of plastic waste, the Queen’s Speech on 19 December last year included a commitment to ban the export of polluting plastic wastes to countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. We will consult this year on the date by which this should be achieved.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what channels of communication his Department uses to alert the general public to a pollution episode.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
During air pollution episodes, Defra works closely with Public Health England and a network of health charities to ensure that key health messages are communicated to those who are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, in addition to communicating through our normal digital channels.
We recommend people visit http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/ for the latest forecasts and health advice or check our Twitter feed @DefraUKAir.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish his resources and waste strategy.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Through its Clean Growth Strategy, the Government said it would work towards no food waste entering landfill by 2030.
Defra Ministers and officials have regular discussions with other government departments and ministers, including HM Treasury, on actions that will help to support local authorities to collect more food waste so that the amount sent to landfill continues to decline.
Our Resources and Waste Strategy, which we will publish later this year, will outline our plans for food waste.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
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 the Chancellor of the Exchequer on potential funding for separate food waste collections in England.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Through its Clean Growth Strategy, the Government said it would work towards no food waste entering landfill by 2030.
Defra Ministers and officials have regular discussions with other government departments and ministers, including HM Treasury, on actions that will help to support local authorities to collect more food waste so that the amount sent to landfill continues to decline.
Our Resources and Waste Strategy, which we will publish later this year, will outline our plans for food waste.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for funds he has had for the capital grant scheme for peat restoration.
Answered by George Eustice
The capital grant scheme for peat restoration received 5 applications for funds.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how members of the public will be able to contribute to her Department's forthcoming consultation on the 25 year plan for the environment.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Falkirk, John McNally, on 29 November 2016, PQ UIN54298.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's announcement of 17 December 2015 on improving air quality in cities, what progress her Department has made on deciding what resources, funding and guidance will be made available to the five local authorities which are introducing clean air zones.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades and we are working at local, national and international levels to continue those improvements. The UK currently meets legal limits for almost all pollutants.
The national air quality plan for NO2, published in December last year, combines targeted local and national measures, forming part of a wider approach that exploits new and clean technologies, such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. As part of the national plan we are requiring five cities to implement Clean Air Zones. The relevant cities are Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton.
The Joint Air Quality Unit has been established to deliver the national plan and is working in close cooperation with local authorities. The unit will provide guidance and support to local authorities to implement the plan by producing a Clean Air Zone framework which will set out how zones should be implemented, ensuring consistency across English local authorities. This will allow businesses and individuals to make straightforward economic decisions about which vehicles to purchase, and how and when they use them. We will support local authorities to make improvements to air quality through a variety of measures, including the Air Quality Grant, a competitive fund supporting local action to improve air quality.
We are also providing dedicated support for the five cities which are required to implement Clean Air Zones by funding local scoping studies. In addition, we will provide funding to help these local authorities implement the zones and, where necessary, support the implementation of additional measures.