Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the global fashion industry's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government’s Net Zero Strategy sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet our net zero target by 2050. The fashion and textiles industry is estimated to account for between 4% and 8% of global emissions. More than 70% of these emissions occur during the production of a garment. Emissions of air pollutants from textiles treatment facilities are controlled through environmental permits, using best available techniques (BAT). Operators must not exceed limits on allowable emissions.
The Government's Resources & Waste Strategy for England identified textiles as a priority sector for action. We fund Textiles 2030, a voluntary partnership with industry to reduce the environmental impact of textiles, with signatories covering over 62% of all clothing put on the UK market. This programme is underpinned by ambitious science-based targets, including halving the carbon footprint of new products and reducing the water footprint by 30%, both by 2030. This initiative is driving forward action on design, circular business models and recycling.
We are considering what wider framework of policy measures could best help reduce the environmental footprint of fashion, potentially using a range of powers from our landmark Environment Act 2021.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a requirement for all waste management companies to measure their carbon emissions more accurately beyond just EfW sites.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Defra has made no assessment of the potential merits of establishing a requirement for all waste management companies to measure their carbon emissions.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of HVO fuel on levels of air pollution.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Defra's independent Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) published a report entitled: "Road Transport Biofuels: Impact on UK Air Quality" in 2011. AQEG recently reviewed this report and were confident its conclusions were still valid.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he taking to tackle soil degradation.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is developing a Soil Health Action Plan for England that aims to prevent soil degradation and improve soil health. It will deliver a strategic plan for multiple outcomes, encouraging appropriate land management practices that are sensitive to soil health, the environment and food production.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reconsider his policy on reversing bans on the import of (a) fur and (b) foie gras.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government’s position remains that for both fur and foie gras, we will review the evidence and consider next steps. This has not changed. Fur farming has been banned in England and Wales since 2000 and 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Regarding foie gras, the Government has made clear that the production of force-fed foie gras raises serious welfare concerns. The practice is already prohibited in England and Wales under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. We are now able to consider any further steps that could be taken in relation to foie gras that is produced overseas using force feeding practices, such as restrictions on import and sale. We continue to gather information and speak to a range of interested parties about the issues involved.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money was raised from the Plastic Bag Charge in the last calendar year; and how much of that amount was directed to charitable causes.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
During 2020/21, retailers reported they collected £24.8 million in gross proceeds from the single use carrier bag charge. Despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers voluntarily reported that £10.9 million was donated to good causes, contributing to the £190 million donated since the charge was introduced in 2015. Whilst not required by legislation, once retailers have deducted reasonable costs for administration, it is expected they will donate all proceeds to good causes, particularly environmental causes.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health for Social Care on implementing a cross-departmental strategy to tackle the impact of poor air quality on people’s health.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. However, we absolutely recognise that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution, which is why we are working across Government to take the range of action set out in the Clean Air Strategy.
On 16 March my Noble Friend Lord Kamall referenced in a debate on the Health and Care Bill that the next meeting of the Health Promotion Task Force would have a focus on air quality.
I recently held a round table meeting with Ministers and officials from other Government departments to discuss the range of cross-Government policies that affect air quality and its impact on public health, with a particular focus on targeting action where people are most likely to be exposed to poor air quality.
The Government recently launched a consultation on our two proposed targets for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) - a pollutant of significant harm to health:
This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country. The population exposure reduction target will drive action even where concentration targets have already been achieved. We plan to set out our pathways to delivering these targets through the Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023.
The Government has allocated £880 million to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceedances under the 2017 NO2 Plan. We are also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to mitigate the impact of high levels of air pollution on the health of people living in affected urban areas.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. However, we absolutely recognise that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution, which is why we are working across Government to take the range of action set out in the Clean Air Strategy.
On 16 March my Noble Friend Lord Kamall referenced in a debate on the Health and Care Bill that the next meeting of the Health Promotion Task Force would have a focus on air quality.
I recently held a round table meeting with Ministers and officials from other Government departments to discuss the range of cross-Government policies that affect air quality and its impact on public health, with a particular focus on targeting action where people are most likely to be exposed to poor air quality.
The Government recently launched a consultation on our two proposed targets for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) - a pollutant of significant harm to health:
This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country. The population exposure reduction target will drive action even where concentration targets have already been achieved. We plan to set out our pathways to delivering these targets through the Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023.
The Government has allocated £880 million to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceedances under the 2017 NO2 Plan. We are also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's timetable is for making a decision on banning the import of fur and foie gras products.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Now we have left the EU, the Government is able to explore potential action in relation to animal fur, in line with the Government’s commitment to improving animal welfare standards as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. We are reviewing the evidence gathered both from our Call for Evidence and wider engagement with the fur trade and stakeholders, and a summary of responses will be published soon.
Regarding foie gras, the Government has made clear that the production of force-fed foie gras raises serious welfare concerns. We are now able to consider any further steps that could be taken in relation to foie gras that is produced overseas using force feeding practices, such as restrictions on import and sale. We continue to gather information and speak to a range of interested parties about the issues involved.
We will update members accordingly when this evidence gathering process is concluded for both fur and foie gras.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to rewild white-tailed eagles.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government committed in the 25 Year Environment Plan to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species where there are clear environment and socio-economic benefits.
Additionally, we will shortly be establishing an England Species Reintroductions Task Force to provide a collective evidence-based view on potential species for conservation translocation and reintroduction in England.
Both Forestry England and Defra have supported The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation project to reintroduce white-tailed eagles to the Isle of Wight. By establishing a population on the south coast, it is hoped that the birds will also connect existing communities in Scotland, France, the Netherlands and Ireland, helping to secure a long-term future of the white-tailed eagle in Europe.