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Written Question
Disposable Wipes: Plastics
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the report on the plastic in wet wipes consultation.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Following the public consultation on the proposed ban of wet wipes containing plastic, Defra has been working with the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and NI Executive to prepare a UK-wide Government response. This will be published this Spring.


Written Question
Disposable Wipes: Plastics
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

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 has the results of the consultation on plastic in wet wipes not yet been published.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have been working closely with the Devolved Administrations to publish a UK-wide Government Response and agree a joined-up approach to the proposed ban across the UK. Our shared goal is to deliver a ban that is effective and proportionate. The UK-wide Government Response will be published this Spring.


Written Question
Non-native Species
Monday 12th February 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to control the prevalence of (a) floating pennywort, (b) Himalayan balsam, (c) signal crayfish, (d) Japanese knotweed and (e) American mink.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the threats posed by invasive species and has a comprehensive Great Britain Non-native Species Strategy designed to co-ordinate action to tackle these threats.

Floating pennywort, Himalayan balsam and signal crayfish are listed as a ‘Species of Special Concern’ under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019, which means that they cannot be brought into GB, kept, bred, transported, sold, used or exchanged, allowed to reproduce, grown or cultivated, or released into the environment. This legislation is aimed at preventing further introduction and spread of these species.

Japanese knotweed and American mink are listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to allow American mink to escape into the wild, and to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild.

Floating pennywort, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed control.

In partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural England, Defra is funding specialist scientists at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), an inter-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, to conduct biological control (biocontrol) research into the use of naturally occurring, living organisms to tackle floating pennywort, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. Biocontrol could provide a more cost- and time-effective way of managing these invasive plants as compared to manual removal.

Before any release of biocontrol agents, experts at CABI conduct extensive research and safety testing to ensure that native species will not be targeted, and then obtain formal approval to release them. This research is in its early stages, and releases at trial sites are ongoing for a weevil from Argentina, Listronotus elongatus, that targets floating pennywort; a psyllid from Japan, Aphalari itadori (a sap-sucking insect), that targets Japanese Knotweed; and a rust fungus that targets Himalayan balsam. Information about the research can be found on the CABI website and additional information can be found on the Japanese Knotweed Alliance website.

Defra is also part of a national partnership formed between government and non-government organisations that developed the Great Britain Floating Pennywort Strategy to manage this invasive plant.

Additionally, the Government run awareness raising campaigns such as ‘Be Plant Wise’ and Invasive Species Week. These campaigns provide species information and online training materials on biosecurity for industry and the general public. The Government has also developed guidance on how to prevent the spread of invasive non-native plants, and how to treat and dispose of them, which can be found on GOV.UK:

How to stop invasive non-native plants from spreading - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Signal crayfish

To support on-going management of large and damaging populations of signal crayfish in a feasible, effective and economically viable way Defra has put in place management measures for this widely spread species with containment and exclusion zones for signal crayfish. This approach prevents spread through restricting and controlling the commercial use of the species and preventing the live movement of the species entirely. This is aimed at preventing its continued spread into uninfected waterbodies in England.

American mink

Natural England are funding 5 partner-led projects (2023-25) which will be controlling mink to benefit water vole populations through the Species Recovery Grant Scheme. The total value of these projects is £479k and include projects to build on the work carried out in East Anglia to develop a mink free area stretching from Lincolnshire to the Thames

In the last financial year for which there is data, 2022/23, the Environment Agency spent £136,800 on 8 projects that controlled mink. The Environment Agency’s partners (including local authorities, Natural England, water companies and eNGO’s) contributed an extra £126,900 to those projects.

Local Action Group funding

Local Action Groups, with support from government, play an invaluable role in actively reducing and eradicating invasive non-native species.  Defra is currently funding twelve Local Action Groups (LAGs) across all regions in England to control invasive species through its Local Invasive Species Management Fund. The two-year fund totalling just over £300,000 is being used by LAGs mostly to remove invasive plants including floating pennywort, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. A small number of LAGs are conducting mink trapping and signal crayfish control. Most of these projects also involve training volunteers, awareness-raising and community engagement.


Written Question
Electronic Cigarettes
Friday 9th February 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of disposable vapes on (a) rivers, (b) oceans and (c) animals.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

When littered, disposable vapes can introduce plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, lead, mercury, and flammable lithium-ion batteries into the natural environment. These items and substances contaminate waterways and soil, posing a risk to the environment and animal health. Defra is currently undertaking an impact assessment which will outline the environmental harm posed by disposable vapes and the environmental benefits of our upcoming ban on their sale and supply. Defra has also commissioned external research to further understand the environmental harms of disposable vapes, which will be published in due course.


Written Question
Animals: Exports
Friday 9th February 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

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 his Department has made of the welfare of animals exported live from the UK.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 19th January 2024 (PQ 9278).


Written Question
Rivers: Biodiversity
Tuesday 6th February 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the (a) biodiversity (b) native fish stocks (c) native insect populations and (d) native plant populations in UK rivers.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We recognise that rivers are an important national asset forming a key part of our natural environment by providing green and blue corridors along which biodiversity can flourish.

We are committed to recovering nature, including restoring our freshwater habitats, which is why we have now set four legally binding targets for biodiversity in England. By 2030 we have committed to halt the decline in species abundance and by 2042 we aim to reverse species decline; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats.

Action towards these targets will drive essential improvements to our freshwater habitats. The indicator for our species abundance targets includes freshwater invertebrates, which are an indicator of the health of an overall water body, fish species and vascular plants. Wildlife-rich freshwater habitats, including rivers, will also be counted towards our habitats target. Restoration of these habitats will therefore be vital to delivery.

We are taking a broad range of actions to increase the biodiversity of our rivers in England. We will shortly be able to announce successful applicants to our 25-million-pound Species Survival Fund grant scheme, which we launched last year, which will create and restore a range of habitat types, including rivers.

Our Landscape Recovery scheme is aiming to provide over £40 million of funding for 56 projects. Projects under Round 1 are already underway and aiming to restore more than 600 km of rivers, including through the Adur River Restoration project and the Killerton Three Rivers Landscape Recovery project.

We are also rolling out Nature Recovery Projects across the country to create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife. We have launched 12 landscape-scale projects over the past two years across over 200,000 hectares of habitat. Many of these projects are supporting riverine habitats, for example the Lost Wetlands project in Cheshire is using nature-based solutions to connect wetlands to their rivers, recover ghost ponds and create riverine woodlands.

Regarding fish stocks specifically, the Environment Agency funds projects that have a direct benefit to native fish populations. Fishing rod licence income is invested through the Fisheries Improvement Programme which includes barrier removal and fish passes. In 2022/23 the projects improved 52km of river, protected a further 20km and enhanced 237ha of Stillwater fisheries.


Written Question
Water Supply: Greater London
Wednesday 24th January 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help ensure London has a safe and sustainable water supply; and what steps he is taking to help minimise the environmental impact of London's water supply.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra works closely with water companies, including Thames Water, to ensure that they meet their regulatory requirements in relation to security and resilience as set out on the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) 2022 – including preparedness for short-term risks.

Defra published its Plan for Water which set out the importance of ensuring a clean and plentiful water supply. It estimated 4,000 million litres per day of extra capacity is needed in England by 2050 to sustainably meet the pressures on public supply from climate change, population growth and the needs of a healthy environment. The Plan sets out our commitment to a twin track approach to improving water supply resilience, with action to reduce water company leaks alongside investing in new supply infrastructure.

Last year, regional water resources groups and water companies, including Thames Water, consulted on their draft water resources plans. These statutory plans set out how each company will secure water supplies sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies consider all options, including water demand management and new water resources infrastructure. The plans are scrutinised by water regulators and the Environment Agency is advising the Secretary of State’s decisions on the next steps for the plans.

Drinking water quality in England is of an exceptionally high standard and among the best in the world. Water companies have a statutory duty to carry out regular risk assessments and sampling for any substance that may pose a risk to human health to make sure that drinking water supplies remain safe to drink. The Drinking Water Inspectorate monitor water companies’ compliance with our drinking water regulations and, where necessary, take enforcement action.


Written Question
Salmon: Fish Farming
Monday 22nd January 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) improve the welfare of farmed salmon and (b) reduce the environmental impact of salmon farms.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

a) Defra and the devolved governments commissioned the Animal Welfare Committee to update its 2014 opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing and this was published in September 2023. We are studying their recommendations carefully to determine next steps.

b) We take all matters relating to the marine environment seriously and are seeking to ensure that the ocean is managed sustainably. Through our membership of North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), the UK has committed to minimising the impact of salmon farming on wild salmon populations. Within the UK, all marine salmon farming currently takes place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As aquaculture and marine management are devolved competencies, managing the environmental impact of current salmon farming activity is the responsibility of their devolved administrations.


Written Question
Dogs: Animal Welfare
Monday 22nd January 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle the (a) cropping of dogs ears and (b) importation of dogs with cropped ears.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is already an offence in England and Wales to carry out non-exempted mutilations on dogs, this includes the cropping of dog’s ears.

In August 2021, we consulted on proposed changes to the commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into Great Britain including the importation of dogs with cropped ears.

We are carefully reviewing the feedback from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published in due course.


Written Question
River Thames: Pollution Control
Monday 8th January 2024

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help reduce pollution in (a) the Thames and (b) Beverley Brook.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government published the Plan for Water in April 2023 – our comprehensive strategy for managing our water environment, including our rivers. It brings together the significant steps we have already taken with a suite of new policy actions. It aims to change the way that we manage water, improve water quality, and continue to secure our water supply.

The Plan for Water is underpinned by three main things:

  1. Increased investment for improvements – including £2.2 billion from water companies to spend on new and better infrastructure in the next two years, more funding for catchment-scale groups, and increasing slurry grant funding for farmers.
  2. Strong regulation – including more Environment Agency (EA) inspections of wastewater treatment works, banning plastic wet wipes (subject to consultation) and new restrictions of ‘forever’ chemicals that damage our waters.
  3. Tougher enforcement – including bigger penalties for water companies and tighter control over water company dividends.

The EA both responds to and investigates serious pollution incidents, such as the extensive work mitigating the impact of a category 1 oil spill in March 2022. There have been no serious (Cat 1&2) pollution incidents on the Beverley Brook since then.

The EA permits discharges to the Beverly Brook to control and improve water quality. There is one large continuous discharge which is treated final effluent from Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works to increase river flow and prevent it drying up. There are five permitted, combined sewer overflows which discharge storm sewage after heavy rainfall. None of these have significant environmental impact. Other sources of pollution are road run-off and misconnected domestic properties.

The EA works with partners to remove pollution sources entering rivers. ‘Outfall Safaris’ are taking place to assess possible pollution inputs and these are managed by the Zoological Society of London and supported by the EA, South East Rivers Trust, and members of the public. These are investigated by Thames Water and rectified, often aided by the Local Authority. In 2022, three outfall improvements were completed with a further two this year and seven more identified.

Monitoring by the EA over many decades shows that general water quality of the tidal Thames has been improving with increased regulation of sewage treatment. Harm however can still be done to the river by storm sewage discharges after rainfall. The London Tideway Tunnels will begin to receive flow in 2024 capturing the majority of these sewage spills, further protecting our aquatic habitat.

The EA recognises that the performance of the water sector is not where it needs to be, and that robust regulation is a key element of the required improvement. That is why in June 2023, the EA launched its Water Industry Transformation Programme, outlining that it would be transforming the way it regulates the sector, embedding a new approach that targets resource and interventions to uncover non-compliance and drive better performance from the water industry. This includes looking at how incidents are investigated and how they are categorised.

The EA will soon have new powers to deliver civil penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce.

Actions that the EA is taking as the water industry regulator are set out in the annual water company performance report, published 12 July 2023.