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, how many of the cases in the backlog of water company enforcement cases in England identified by Independent Water Commission as of January 2025 a) have now been resolved and b) are now awaiting a final resolution; and if she will publish a breakdown of what the resolution was for each of the cases in the backlog that have now been resolved.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency has resolved its historic backlog of water company enforcement cases from 2021 and earlier, as recommended by the Independent Water Commission. Case outcomes that result in criminal convictions or civil sanctions, including enforcement undertakings, are published in accordance with the regulator's enforcement and sanctions policy.
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 the government will support the motion at the UN Fisheries Resolution to end bottom trawling on high seas seamounts.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is participating in the UN negotiations on the Fisheries Resolution. We are supportive of the draft motion in principle, in line with our previous support for increased protection of seamount ecosystems in other international fora. However, those negotiations are live and ongoing.
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 Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2026 to Question 35228, what changes to the Met Office’s remit, commissioning and funding would be necessary for it to issue air-pollution warnings based on expected health impacts, separately from forecasts and threshold alerts, and proactively distribute those warnings in press releases to news media.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Met Office is commissioned by Defra to provide air-quality forecasts.
Introducing a separate air-pollution warning service based on expected health impacts, with warnings proactively distributed to news media through press releases, would require agreement between relevant government departments on responsibilities, commissioning and funding. As the department responsible for air-quality policy in England, Defra would need to lead consideration of such a service, working with the Met Office, the independent Public Weather Service Customer Group and relevant public-health bodies. Any changes to the Met Office’s remit, commissioning or funding would depend on the agreed scope and delivery arrangements.
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 Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether a second meeting of the Climate Security Taskforce will take place in 2026.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss met for the first time on 20 October 2026. A summary of the meeting can be found on GOV.UK. The Taskforce will not formally convene again in 2026. Its next meeting will be in early 2027.