Asked by: Eric Ollerenshaw (Conservative - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what responsibilities and obligations were inherited by the Environment Agency from predecessor bodies for the maintenance of particular flood defences in Lancaster and Fleetwood; and whether those responsibilities and obligations remain in place.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
The Environment Agency inherited jurisdiction over flood defences within the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency that were previously maintained by the National Rivers Authority, and prior to that North West Water. Several Acts of Parliament have accompanied these changes.
The Environment Agency understands that responsibilities and obligations from predecessor bodies have been consolidated and remain in place.
Coastal jurisdiction is split between local authorities for coast protection and the Environment Agency and its predecessors for sea defences. This position was clarified by the Shoreline Management Plan 2010.
Inland, the Environment Agency has a role in managing flood risk from “main rivers” (as defined by Defra). This can include maintenance of flood risk management assets on a permissive and affordable basis and in line with Treasury Rules and Defra Guidance. Maintenance work is undertaken as identified by the Catchment Flood Management Plans that guide the level of work needed at a particular location.
Asked by: Eric Ollerenshaw (Conservative - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on beak trimming; and what assessment her Department has made of the results of Bristol University's recent research on this topic.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government is working with the Beak Trimming Action Group (BTAG), which includes representatives from industry, welfare groups and scientists, to find ways to manage flocks of laying hens without the need to trim beaks.
As part of this process, Defra is currently funding a peer reviewed research study by the University of Bristol to assess the effectiveness of management strategies in reducing injurious pecking in non-beak trimmed laying hens. Our intention is to consider all available advice and evidence, including the outcome of the on-going research study, in the review we are conducting in 2015.