Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the short- and long-term improvements to health resultant from the reduction in air pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to prevent levels of traffic and air pollution returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, particularly in cities, towns and other urban areas, and along major transport routes.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Nitrogen dioxide pollution at the roadside has almost halved during the lockdown period as a result of reduced emissions from traffic, with much smaller reductions observed for particulate matter in urban areas. Emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from energy use and transport are likely to be much lower than in normal times, on account of reduced energy demand and much lower road traffic. The Government recently launched a rapid call for evidence to ensure we can fully understand any changes that may have occurred in terms of pollution emissions, concentrations and human exposure over the current period. Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group is analysing those responses.
Our ambitious aims to decarbonise transport, improve air quality and support more active forms of travel have not changed. The Transport Secretary set out our plan to encourage new travel habits and support zero emission forms of travel - a clear signal of our commitment to delivering on these aims. As we rebuild our economy in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we must continue to shape an economy and society that are cleaner, greener and more resilient.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact of the temporary closure of recycling companies on waste disposal authorities, and (2) the ability of those authorities to store or otherwise dispose of or deal with the recyclates collected or received from waste collection authorities.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Recycling companies rely on Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) to provide them with some of the materials which can then be used to make new products. Defra officials have been working closely with local authorities and the waste sector to keep HWRCs open. There is no reason in law why HWRCs cannot be open and where possible, local authorities should seek to retain access to HWRC services for their residents to dispose of waste. The Government is not setting a date by which HWRCs should be open. We recognise that the opening of HWRCs will depend on local circumstances and resource availability. A “one size fits all” approach is not appropriate. The decision to open a HWRC remains with the relevant local authority. Our most recent guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/managing-household-waste-and-recycling-centres-hwrcs-in-england-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
Indications are that most local authorities have been able to maintain collection services for packaging and food waste and continue to send materials to be recycled. Material recovery facilities which receive, separate and prepare recyclable materials for reprocessing and recycling companies, have been operating whilst maintaining social distancing measures. The impacts of COVID-19 and related restrictions on these facilities and the recycling sector are being closely monitored by Defra. In addition, the Charted Institute for Waste Management (CIWM) has worked with Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), local authority bodies and commercial waste collectors to establish the WasteSupport platform to assist local authorities to access additional capacity in the commercial waste collection sector for processing waste.
For some materials (including waste electrical equipment, furniture , and textiles) there are particular challenges and Defra is in regular discussions with these sectors, including the reuse/repair and reprocessing organisations, about these.
The Environment Agency has published time-limited Regulatory Position Statements (RPSs) to allow some flexibility for local authorities and other operators where, for reasons beyond their control, compliance with certain regulatory requirements may not be possible due to COVID-19. These include the ability to store more material at a permitted site than the permit usually allows. Each COVID-19 RPS sets out when it can be applied and conditions that will need to comply with, to ensure that the risks to the environment and human health are minimised. More details can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covid-19-regulatory-position-statements.
Defra has published guidance on prioritisation of waste services and on management of HWRCs during the current pandemic and continues to monitor the situation with local authorities and industry bodies.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the most recent flooding in Earby; and whether the proposed further flood mitigation work there will take place in time to take advantage of any EU funding that has been agreed.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government recognises the impact the recent flooding incidents have had on communities and sympathises with those affected.
The Earby Flood Alleviation Scheme is split into Phase 2 and Phase 3. Phase 2 of the scheme is currently at the Outline Business Case stage and qualifies for £1.03 million in Flood Defence Grant in Aid. The project has sourced the following partnership funding: £635,000 of European Structural Investment Fund; and £15,000 from Pendle Borough Council. The project team are working with Pendle Borough Council to look for options to address the funding gap to allow the project to progress.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the quantity of unpicked (1) apples, (2) cherries, (3) blueberries, (4) raspberries, (5) other fruit, (6) vegetable crops, and (7) other horticultural produce, in 2019, as a result of a shortage of seasonal labour; and what plans they have to address any issues which may arise from any shortage of labour in 2020.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The information requested on quantities of unpicked horticultural produce is not held by Defra.
It is a priority of this Government to enable an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain, which invests in its people and skills.
In 2018, the Government introduced a new pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020 enabling up to 2500 non-EEA migrant workers per year to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible Horticultural sector. The Government has now expanded the Seasonal Workers Pilot for 2020 from 2,500 to 10,000 workers.
The pilot will continue to operate in the edible horticulture sector, to support farmers growing UK fruit and vegetables. This is the sector of agriculture which has been experiencing the most severe seasonal labour shortages, and which the pilot aims to support.
Although the numbers are increasing for 2020, based on the success of the pilot so far, it is not designed to meet the full labour needs of the horticulture sector. This workforce boost will complement the EU workers already travelling to the UK this year to provide seasonal labour on farms during the busy harvest months.
Business will continue to be able to rely on EU nationals living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status and there will continue to be other flexibility in the system, including youth mobility schemes and the MAC has already pointed to the estimated 170,000 recently arrived non-EU citizens currently in low-skilled occupations.
The EU Settlement Scheme, which opened in March 2019 has already received more than 3.2 million applications from EU citizens who are be able to stay and work in the UK. EU citizens and their family members do not need to do anything immediately: there will be no change to their current rights until the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020; and the deadline for applications to the scheme for those resident here by the end of 2020 will be 30 June 2021.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the total annual cost of regular collections of food waste from (1) domestic households, (2) businesses, and (3) other organisations; and how such collection is funded in each case.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
In 2019 the Government published an impact assessment to support its consultation on greater consistency in household and business recycling. In that impact assessment Government estimated that an investment in the range of £180 million - £260 million would be needed to roll out weekly separate food waste collection across households in England. These costs assume that all local authorities make no other change to collection systems and are estimated over a 7 year transition period from 2023 to 2029. This was based on what would be needed to cover additional bins, vehicles and transportation of food waste to AD sites.
Given the additional costs involved in separate food waste collection the Government has stated that it will ensure that local authorities are resourced to meet new costs arising from separate food waste collections including upfront transition costs and ongoing operational costs.
For businesses and other organisations the total annual costs for separate food waste collections were estimated to be £189 million. This estimate is based on all businesses participating in the scheme.
The costs of business food waste collections would be funded by businesses. In the impact assessment published in 2019 our preferred option of having all businesses collect dry recyclable materials (with glass separated) and separate food waste collection showed that business could make greater savings overall and we would expect estimated savings of £1,206 million from the measures proposed to increase recycling in the non-household municipal sector. For very small or micro firms our impact assessment indicated that these might see greater costs from measures to increase recycling and Government is considering options to reduce costs for this sector including possible exemptions from requirements to separately collect food waste.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any decisions about extending the 2026 deadline for registering historic rights of way; and if not, when they expect to make such a decision.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government recognises the need for sufficient time to register public rights of way before the cut-off date. Stakeholder views on whether there is a need to extend the deadline are mixed and will be taken into account, although no decision has yet been taken. We intend to consult the Stakeholder Working Group on rights of way reform before we make a decision.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to assess the results of the five-year River Otter Beaver Trial, led by the Devon Wildlife Trust.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We continue to discuss the ongoing trial with the Devon Wildlife Trust and their partners, with Natural England (NE) and the Environment Agency represented on its Steering and Working Groups. Defra and NE will assess the trial using the reports and recommendations that will be submitted to us by the Trust upon the trial’s conclusion. We will then use these findings to inform decisions on the future of the trial and the beavers on the River Otter.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are on track to meet their commitment, made in December 2014, that the English Coastal Path will be completed and open in 2020; and if not, what are the reasons for any delays.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Work is well underway on all 66 stretches of the England Coast Path - a new National Trail around all of England’s coast. A European court judgement in April 2018 affected how Natural England could assess the impact of England Coast Path proposals on environmentally protected sites, and progress on the England Coast Path slowed as a result. While this means the path in its entirety is unlikely to be open in 2020, Natural England will work towards opening as much of the England Coast Path as possible throughout 2020.
The England Coast Path when completed will stretch approximately 2,717 miles around the coast. To date 385 miles (14%, 12 stretches) have been completed and new rights commenced, with a further 98 miles (4%, 4 stretches) undergoing establishment works before they are open for the public to walk. A summary of progress on each of the 16 open and approved stretches, with opening dates where known, is included in Tables A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. It is not currently possible to give estimated opening dates for many of the stretches still in progress. This is because the timeline for the final stages of the process depends on several factors including the number and nature of comments during the public consultation and the complexity of implementing works on the ground.
Table A - Open stretches
Stretch name | Opening date |
Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove | 29/06/2012 |
Allonby to Whitehaven | 11/04/2014 |
North Gare to South Bents | 12/04/2014 |
Sea Palling to Weybourne | 12/12/2014 |
Brean Down to Minehead | 15/03/2016 |
Camber to Folkestone | 19/07/2016 |
Folkestone to Ramsgate | 19/07/2016 |
Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge | 21/07/2016 |
Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling | 24/10/2016 |
South Bents to Amble | 26/07/2018 |
Skegness to Mablethorpe | 27/02/2019 |
Newport Bridge to North Gare | 18/09/2019 |
Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works
Stretch name | Opening date |
Walney Island | February 2020 (estimate) |
Whitehaven to Silecroft | TBC |
Ramsgate to Whitstable | TBC |
Maldon to Salcott | TBC |
Table C - Unopened stretches
Region | Stretches |
South West | 8 |
West | 4 |
South | 7 |
South East | 6 |
Essex | 8 |
East | 7 |
North East | 5 |
North West | 5 |
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which sections of the English Coastal Path are now open; and what are the expected opening dates of those sections in each area which are not yet open.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Work is well underway on all 66 stretches of the England Coast Path - a new National Trail around all of England’s coast. A European court judgement in April 2018 affected how Natural England could assess the impact of England Coast Path proposals on environmentally protected sites, and progress on the England Coast Path slowed as a result. While this means the path in its entirety is unlikely to be open in 2020, Natural England will work towards opening as much of the England Coast Path as possible throughout 2020.
The England Coast Path when completed will stretch approximately 2,717 miles around the coast. To date 385 miles (14%, 12 stretches) have been completed and new rights commenced, with a further 98 miles (4%, 4 stretches) undergoing establishment works before they are open for the public to walk. A summary of progress on each of the 16 open and approved stretches, with opening dates where known, is included in Tables A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. It is not currently possible to give estimated opening dates for many of the stretches still in progress. This is because the timeline for the final stages of the process depends on several factors including the number and nature of comments during the public consultation and the complexity of implementing works on the ground.
Table A - Open stretches
Stretch name | Opening date |
Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove | 29/06/2012 |
Allonby to Whitehaven | 11/04/2014 |
North Gare to South Bents | 12/04/2014 |
Sea Palling to Weybourne | 12/12/2014 |
Brean Down to Minehead | 15/03/2016 |
Camber to Folkestone | 19/07/2016 |
Folkestone to Ramsgate | 19/07/2016 |
Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge | 21/07/2016 |
Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling | 24/10/2016 |
South Bents to Amble | 26/07/2018 |
Skegness to Mablethorpe | 27/02/2019 |
Newport Bridge to North Gare | 18/09/2019 |
Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works
Stretch name | Opening date |
Walney Island | February 2020 (estimate) |
Whitehaven to Silecroft | TBC |
Ramsgate to Whitstable | TBC |
Maldon to Salcott | TBC |
Table C - Unopened stretches
Region | Stretches |
South West | 8 |
West | 4 |
South | 7 |
South East | 6 |
Essex | 8 |
East | 7 |
North East | 5 |
North West | 5 |
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to improve and extend the footpath network since the publication of their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in 2017 on 21 April 2017.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) does not contain measures to improve and extend the national footpath network. However, funding has been provided under the CWIS to improve walking routes alongside highways and to improve road crossings in towns and cities, including through the £210 million Cycle Ambition Cities programme.