Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Severn Water on reviewing the condition of the aquifers it abstracts water from.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency works closely with Severn Trent Water on the current condition of aquifers and the action needed to achieve a sustainable level of abstraction.
Some aquifers in the Severn Trent Water supply area are over-abstracted and it is a challenge to get the right balance between protecting the environment while maintaining security of supply. To meet this challenge Severn Trent Water has one of the largest investment plans in the water industry to manage abstraction licences and groundwater quality.
A detailed assessment on the condition of the aquifers that Severn Trent abstracts may be found in the Severn river basin district river basin management plan: updated 2022 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to restore the condition of groundwater-dependent wetlands to achieve Local Nature Recovery Targets in Worcester.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Recovering nature is a key priority for this Government and wetland habitats are an important component of that.
Under the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme, the impact of Public Water Supply groundwater abstraction on river flows and wetlands has been investigated in a number of areas across Worcestershire. Through this programme the Environment Agency have worked with Severn Trent Water to look at their impact on water levels and flow and have taken steps to address this. Natural England are also working closely with the Environment Agency and Severn Trent on the Water Industry National Environment Programme to deliver improvements to protected sites across Worcestershire.
Identifying priorities for nature is a key objective of Local Nature Recovery Strategies. Defra looks forward to seeing the finished Worcestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is being prepared by Worcestershire County Council as the responsible authority.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the incentives in the Sustainable Farming Incentive for cider apple orchards.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer published in May 2024 includes capital grants to plant cider apple trees as part of an Agro-forestry system, and ongoing payments for actions which could be used in or around cider orchards such as flower rich grass margins blocks or strips, Integrated Pest Management plans, or managing hedgerows. Looking ahead, we will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes including SFI in an orderly way, over time, ensuring they produce the right outcomes for all farmers, for food security and for nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the guidance entitled Official definition of an XL Bully dog.
Answered by Mark Spencer
We developed the definition of an XL Bully dog by convening a group of experts and other stakeholders to define the physical characteristics of the breed type. This included representatives from the police, local authorities, devolved administrations and the Animal Welfare Committee, which advises the Government on animal welfare issues. We reviewed existing breed standards provided by breed registries in the United States and the UK and tested the standard in practice. We have provided further guidance to support owners in applying this.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
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 merits of using DNA testing in the scientific classification of XL Bully dogs.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the assessment of whether an individual dog is prohibited is strictly based on ‘breed type’ and its physical characteristics.
Defra has produced guidance on the physical characteristics of the XL Bully breed type to support Dog Legislation Officers and dog owners to determine whether a dog may be prohibited.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs have been classified as XL Bully dogs since the guidance entitled Official definition of an XL Bully dog was published on 31 October 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer
It is for owners to identify whether they think their dog may be in scope of the ban by referring to the guidance. As of 18 December, we have issued 5242 certificates of exemption for XL Bully dog types and have received 39 completed compensation claims.