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 - Shadow Minister (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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 - Shadow Minister (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:
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.
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 she plans to respond to the consultation on the proposed ban of the manufacture supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic, published on 14 October 2023.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The consultation on the proposed ban of wet wipes containing plastic closed on 25th November. The Government response to the outcome of this consultation will be published in due course.
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 legal mechanism her Department plans to use to ban wet wipes containing plastic.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Subject to consultation, the UK Government plans to legislate for the proposed ban on wet wipes containing plastic using powers under section 62(3) of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act (2008) and section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act (1990).
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, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2023 to Question 183276 on Grass: Plastics, what steps her Department plans to take to help people and companies make the right choice, in the context of the purchase of artificial grass.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
We have taken a number of steps to help people and companies make the right choice in the purchase and use of artificial grass. In the 25 Year Environment Plan, we committed to introduce stronger new standards for green infrastructure and to support local authorities to assess provision. This new Green Infrastructure Framework was launched by Natural England in February. This shows what good green infrastructure looks like and helps local authorities, developers and communities to improve provision in their area. Included in this framework is a planning and design guide that references guidance on permeable surfaces in front gardens and advice from the RHS on the greening of front gardens, driveways and parking areas.
The Environment Act 2021 contains an ambitious package of reforms to restore and enhance nature and green spaces. This includes a new mandatory requirement for biodiversity net gain in the planning system, to ensure that new developments enhance biodiversity. In future, eligible developments will be required to enhance biodiversity through the biodiversity net gain requirement. This will incentivise more nature positive development.
The strengthened biodiversity duty, which came into force on 1st January 2023, requires all public authorities to consider how they can conserve and enhance biodiversity through the exercise of their functions. Public authorities will also have to have regard to Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Species Conservation Strategies and Protected Site Strategies in complying with the duty.
More widely, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities consulted in December 2022 on updating the National Planning Policy Framework to recognise the threat to wildlife created by developers using artificial grass when building new homes. The response to this consultation will be published in the Autumn.
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, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) ban and (b) tax on artificial grass for domestic use.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Defra has no plans to make an assessment of the merits of banning or taxing the use of artificial grass. While there are no plans to make such an assessment, we are clear its use should wherever possible follow published advice and guidance, including advice in the Green Infrastructure Framework launched by Natural England in February. Included in this framework is a planning and design guide that references guidance on permeable surfaces in front gardens and advice from the RHS on the greening of front gardens, driveways and parking areas. The framework sets out how the installation of artificial grass can have negative impacts on biodiversity and drainage for flood prevention if installed in place of natural earth or more positive measures.
We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic plastic products and materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary plastic products. Our 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Given the scale of the plastics problem, we need to take a targeted and evidence-led approach to tackling the issues of plastic waste.
More widely, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities consulted in December 2022 on updating the National Planning Policy Framework to recognise the threat to wildlife created by developers using artificial grass when building new homes. The response to this consultation will be published in the Autumn.
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 her Department's expected timescale is for (a) opening and (b) closing its consultation into banning plastic in wet wipes; and who will be invited to submit views.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In the Plan for Water published in April, the Government announced our intention to ban wet wipes containing plastic, subject to public consultation, the details of which will be available in due course.
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, if she will publish the questions her Department plans to ask in its consultation on banning plastic in wet wipes.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In the Plan for Water published in April, the Government announced our intention to ban wet wipes containing plastic, subject to public consultation, the details of which will be available in due course.