Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen enforcement against persistent fly-tipping offenders; and what support is available to local authorities to improve detection, prosecution and prevention.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government recognises the impact of fly-tipping.
This Government is determined to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping and ensure persistent offenders face the consequences. We have increased maximum fixed penalties to £5,000, published guidance supporting councils in seizing vehicles, secured powers for statutory enforcement guidance, and consulted on requiring offenders to put right the harm they cause.
Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its polices of (a) the recommendations related to the restoration of the River Trent in Nottinghamshire and (b) the other recommendations in The Wildlife Trusts' report entitled Rivers 2040; and what steps her Department is taking to support investment in nature-based solutions to improve water quality, restore habitats and reduce flood risk.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to greater use of nature-based solutions, recognising their wide range of benefits. This includes investing at least £300 million in natural flood management by 2036. New regional water councils will help shape and develop opportunities for local partnership working and investment at scale, including in Nottinghamshire.
Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to improve flood resilience in communities at risk of surface water and river flooding; and what support is available to local authorities to deliver flood prevention and natural flood management projects.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to greater use of nature-based solutions, recognising their wide range of benefits. This includes investing at least £300 million in natural flood management by 2036. New regional water councils will help shape and develop opportunities for local partnership working and investment at scale, including in Nottinghamshire.
Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce sewage discharges into the River Trent and its tributaries in Nottinghamshire; and how the Government is holding water companies accountable for improving water quality and reducing pollution incidents.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the Sewage Overflow Programme the Environment Agency has required the water company to implement 38 projects to address overflow issues on the Trent.
Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that proposals to bring Battery Energy Storage Systems within the Environmental Permitting Regulations include requirements for (a) effective regulatory oversight and compliance with Battery Safety Management Plans and (b) consultation with residents living in close proximity to approved Battery Energy Storage System developments on those plans.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is making progress with proposals to include Battery Energy Storage Systems within the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPRs). Officials have met with a range of key stakeholders to define potential thresholds and regulatory requirements. Applications for permits under EPRs are subject to a consultation process.
Asked by: Michael Payne (Labour - Gedling)
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 is taking to support the improvement of flood (a) defences and (b) resilience in Gedling constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Environment Agency inspection of flood risk management assets defending the southern edge of Gedling did not identify any significant damage following winter storms. Maintenance of these assets can include blockage removal, vegetation management, and further interventions where needed, such as recent embankment repairs in Gedling. The Environment Agency estimate that c.£121,000 was spent on maintenance in Gedling in 2023/24, with approximately £300,000 planned for 2024/25.
There are no capital schemes planned in the constituency for this 6-year programme as the River Trent is well defended, benefitting from the £45M 2012 Nottingham Trent Left Bank scheme.
The Environment Agency has several strategic programmes in the constituency which may be added to our future capital pipeline.