Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any (a) financial incentive and (b) other support is available to farmers for clearing (i) drainage ditches and (ii) storm drains with the aim of reducing flood risk on (A) their land, (B) public land and (C) community areas.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All farmers and land managers are encouraged to manage the land in a way that supports and enhances the environment whilst reducing impacts on others, such as climate risks.
Where this is a watercourse, they are known as riparian landowners and are required, under common law, to keep the watercourse clear of anything which could cause an obstruction to the flow of water on their land, or downstream if washed away. This includes maintenance of the bed and banks, as well as any trees or shrubs growing on the banks. They must also ensure that any structures such as culverts, trash screens, and mill gates are cleared of debris and allow the flow of water.
In addition, landowners and/or occupiers owe a duty of care to their neighbours, undertaking those works that readily lie within their capability and their means to limit any potential flood impact on neighbouring land or buildings. In some circumstances the beneficiaries of any work may be reasonably expected to contribute towards the costs.
HM Government is introducing 3 new schemes that reward environmental land management: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes. Through these schemes, farmers and other land managers will be supported to improve the environment and help manage environmental hazards, such as flood risk.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2022 to Question 62806 on Cannabis: Medical Treatments, with reference to the Government's Life Sciences Vision, published 6 July 2021, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the decision not to assess the potential economic merits of establishing a British-based medical cannabis industry with the UK's aspiration to be the world leader for the development, testing, access and uptake of new and innovative treatments and technologies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
In developing the UK's Life Science Vision we have conducted wide engagement across the sector, including those involved with a wide range of therapeutic modalities, to understand matters of regulation, access and uptake of new products.
The Government is confident that it’s broad based strategy, focussed on improving the competitiveness of every aspect of the UK Life Science environment, is the correct approach, and will enhance the UK’s competitiveness across all therapeutic modalities.
As part of BEIS work on regulation for innovation we are reviewing the TIGRR report and will be continuing delivery plans in due course.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of plastic and tin deposit return schemes; and when she plans to set out the Government's position on such schemes.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In its 2019 manifesto, the Government committed to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. We expect the introduction of a DRS to deter littering of in-scope containers; increase recycling of in-scope containers; provide higher quality recyclate for reprocessors; and change consumer behaviours with potential knock-on effects to other environmental activities. Further details on when a Deposit Return Scheme will be introduced will be set out in due course in the Government consultation response.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the backlog in court cases; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of setting up temporary courts to help reduce the backlog in cases.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is committed to supporting the recovery of the courts and our decisive action kept justice moving during the pandemic. As a result, the outstanding caseload in the Crown Court had reduced from 60,400 cases in June 2021 to 57,900 cases at the end of March 2022. However, since April 2022 the caseload has been increasing again and it stood at 61,200 at the end of August. In the Magistrates' Courts, the criminal caseload has fallen from 445,000 in July 2020 to 360,611 in August 2022 – a reduction of over 20%.
Now that barristers have returned to work, we can work together to drive down the backlog and ensure victims see justice served sooner.
Nightingale courts were essential in keeping the wheels of justice turning throughout the pandemic. They opened across the estate to provide additional capacity for the Crown Court either directly or by hosting other work which made space for jury trials in the existing estate when social distancing restricted our ability to carry out face-to-face hearings. Since social distancing restrictions have been lifted, we have been able to re-open courtrooms. There is now 500 Crown courtrooms available, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the need for additional capacity has been reduced.
We are currently operating 30 temporary Nightingale courtrooms, with the decision to extend these based on regional operational need and venue availability.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the UK's oil refining capacity and (b) potential opportunities for refining (i) bio oils and (ii) other greener products.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK remains well-supplied from a diverse range of sources and refining capacity is assessed as adequate. UK demand for diesel is met by a combination of domestic production and imports. There is an oversupply of petrol and the UK is a net exporter. BEIS continually monitors the fuel supply market to remain aware of current supply levels and publishes weekly national average forecourt stock levels. All UK refinery operators are in the process of exploring opportunities to move to greener products and transition towards the Government’s net zero target.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of (a) the implications for his policies of rising energy costs for park homes and (b) the potential merits of providing support for park home residents with installing insulation.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support to help households with the cost of living crisis. This includes support of £400 for energy bills for households who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents. The Government is working with a range of organisations to finalise the details of the Alternative Funding and have the process up and running for applications this winter. Park homes are eligible for support with insulation from the Energy Company Obligation and Sustainable Warmth scheme.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of virtual planning inquiries on the timescales for work undertaken by planning inspectors in the Planning Inspectorate.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
During the height of the Pandemic holding planning inquiries virtually ensured those cases progressed without undue delay during lockdowns. Since September 2021 the Planning Inspectorate has moved to a 'mixed model' where the appointed Inspector on a case decides the most appropriate format for hearing oral evidence, taking the views of the parties on the case into consideration. In practice this often means holding some of the inquiry in person and complementing it with virtual elements. Given the wide range of factors that influence the timing and lengths of inquiries and the mix of formats used, it has not been possible so far to separate out a specific link between format and timescales for decision.
Local planning authorities are required to publish all planning applications on their planning register and to undertake a formal period of public consultation of no less than 21 days, prior to deciding an application. Where an application straddles the boundaries of two or more local planning authorities, publicity should be undertaken separately in each local planning authority area. Local planning authorities will need to agree between themselves whether publicity beyond the statutory minimum in each area is appropriate. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will increase the opportunities for involvement in the planning system to ensure development is brought forward in a way that works best for local people. Alongside traditional forms of engagement, digital engagement will remove barriers to engagement and provide new opportunities for local people to engage. We are clear that communities must have a say on development that affects them and they will retain the right to comment on planning applications.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to ensure that local communities in neighbouring local authorities have an opportunity to contribute their views to development proposals where those developments are proposed on the borders of the neighbouring authority.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
During the height of the Pandemic holding planning inquiries virtually ensured those cases progressed without undue delay during lockdowns. Since September 2021 the Planning Inspectorate has moved to a 'mixed model' where the appointed Inspector on a case decides the most appropriate format for hearing oral evidence, taking the views of the parties on the case into consideration. In practice this often means holding some of the inquiry in person and complementing it with virtual elements. Given the wide range of factors that influence the timing and lengths of inquiries and the mix of formats used, it has not been possible so far to separate out a specific link between format and timescales for decision.
Local planning authorities are required to publish all planning applications on their planning register and to undertake a formal period of public consultation of no less than 21 days, prior to deciding an application. Where an application straddles the boundaries of two or more local planning authorities, publicity should be undertaken separately in each local planning authority area. Local planning authorities will need to agree between themselves whether publicity beyond the statutory minimum in each area is appropriate. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will increase the opportunities for involvement in the planning system to ensure development is brought forward in a way that works best for local people. Alongside traditional forms of engagement, digital engagement will remove barriers to engagement and provide new opportunities for local people to engage. We are clear that communities must have a say on development that affects them and they will retain the right to comment on planning applications.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Life Science Vision, published on 6 July 2021, what discussions he has had with representatives of the domestic medical cannabis sector on the speed of uptake of proven products and potential barriers to the spread of new technologies.
Answered by George Freeman
We developed the Life Sciences Vision with wide engagement across the sector, including those involved with a wide range of therapeutic modalities. As part of this we considered carefully matters of regulation, access and uptake of new products – but not specifically with medicinal cannabis producers. We were careful to consider wider work on this issue, including the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform report.
Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the pilot scheme for voluntary right to buy from housing associations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government is grateful for the participation of the Midlands housing associations in piloting the Voluntary Right to Buy. The Midlands pilot was independently evaluated by RSM Consulting, which was published in 2021 here.
Since 1980 Right to Buy has enabled over two million social housing tenants to become homeowners.