Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 the Answer of 16 April 2012 to Question 100484 on Air Pollution: Greater London, Hansard Column 37W, who changed the arrangements for issuing a press release when the first ozone air pollution episode occurs each year, with annual reviews; and if she will publish relevant dated decision records.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The arrangements referred to date back more than 14 years and span successive Governments and changes to departmental processes. It has not been possible to identify records establishing who made the change referred to, or any associated dated decision records for publication.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will work with DCMS, the Met Office and public service broadcasters to agree and publish a standing protocol for the rapid dissemination on television and radio of official, episode-specific air-pollution warnings and protective advice, distinct from routine forecast coverage and subscriber notifications, while respecting broadcasters’ editorial independence.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We keep our approach to communicating air quality information under review to ensure relevant information is made available to the public in the most effective way, including consideration of alternative channels. This also involves collaborating with other Government departments and public bodies as needed.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to answer WPQ 34451.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 29 October 2026 to PQ UIN 34451.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the £9 million Tranche 2 international nature funding already approved for the Legacy Landscapes Fund.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has invested £20 million in the Legacy Landscapes Fund as planned. The £9m Tranche 2 was intended for a new, separate programme. Following ODA budget reductions, Defra has prioritised existing programmes to support partner countries to achieve 30x30.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy to commit £29m in support of the 30x30 initiative made at the CBD COP15 in 2022.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is on track to invest up to £29 million to support partner countries' efforts to deliver the global 30x30 target. Since COP15, Defra has invested £20 million in the Legacy Landscapes Fund and supported countries to achieve 30x30 through new Darwin Initiative and other international nature projects.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, of the water company inspections that were due to take place in 2025/26 (a) how many enforcement notices were served following inspection and (b) how many improvement works were required to be undertaken on a voluntary basis.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
After the 2025–2026 inspections, the Environment Agency served 3 Enforcement Notices and issued 728 compulsory actions for serious permit breaches.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to announce the restoration of eligibility to apply to the UK's Darwin Initiative to all Commonwealth developing countries prior to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Round 32, eligible Darwin Initiative projects will focus on one or more of 13 global biodiversity hotspots across 36 countries. These hotspots were chosen because they are where the Darwin Initiative is likely to deliver the greatest biodiversity gains per pound invested. The hotspots combine some of the highest concentrations of threatened, irreplaceable species; long-term ODA eligibility and potential to reduce poverty; enabling conditions for lasting, transformative change; and, in some cases, a critical role in regulating climate and global food systems that the UK relies on. The Government recognises that critical conservation and development work is taking place beyond the eligible hotspots and countries, and that those needs and contributions continue to matter.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the planned budget envelope for Round 32 of the Darwin Initiative is.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Darwin Initiative continues to support communities to find just, scalable and sustainable ways to conserve and restore nature, while growing their economies and reducing poverty. Funding levels are subject to normal government business planning and approvals processes, and we are not providing a specific budget envelope for Round 32 at this stage. We expect the Initiative to continue supporting substantial new investment, focused on delivering the greatest possible impact for biodiversity, local communities and sustainable development.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 the Environment Agency inspections carried out at wastewater treatment works and at water-company-operated sewage pumping stations and combined sewer overflows in 2025-26, if she will publish a breakdown of (a) how many, and which, sites inspected were found to be in breach of environmental permit conditions, (b) what number of, and which, sites were found to be in breach of environmental permit conditions on more than one occasion (if inspected more than once), (c) what environmental permit conditions were breached on each occasion at each site, (d) what fines were issued to water companies following breaches, for which site and for what breach, and (e) whether such fines have been paid by the water company in question, and if they were paid in the full amount requested by the Environment Agency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Site-level inspection findings, including permit breaches, are available through the Environment Agency’s (EA) public register. Water companies’ environmental performance, including discharge permit compliance, is also reported annually on GOV.UK. Details of court-imposed fines following EA prosecutions are published on GOV.UK. Fines are determined by the courts; the EA does not hold information on their administration or payment.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason some Commonwealth countries have been excluded from participation in the UK's Darwin Initiative to protect and restore international nature.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Round 32, eligible Darwin Initiative projects will focus on one or more of 13 global biodiversity hotspots across 36 countries. These hotspots were chosen because they are where the Darwin Initiative is likely to deliver the greatest biodiversity gains per pound invested. The hotspots combine some of the highest concentrations of threatened, irreplaceable species; long-term ODA eligibility and potential to reduce poverty; enabling conditions for lasting, transformative change; and, in some cases, a critical role in regulating climate and global food systems that the UK relies on. The Government recognises that critical conservation and development work is taking place beyond the eligible hotspots and countries, and that those needs and contributions continue to matter.