Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Pow Excerpts
Thursday 17th March 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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I think the hon. Lady will find that we are doing quite a lot of research on marine plastics. Plymouth University has done some work for us on that. I am very clear: we do want action across Europe. That is why we have worked with partners in the OSPAR convention, and why we have pressed to get a voluntary undertaking by the industry to get rid of microbeads. As I said in my initial answer, we have also been very clear that we do not rule out regulatory steps, if necessary.

Rebecca Pow Portrait Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)
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8. How many flood defence schemes are planned to (a) begin and (b) complete construction in 2016.

Rory Stewart Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rory Stewart)
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Some 246 schemes were begun in 2016-17, and 190 are due for completion.

Rebecca Pow Portrait Rebecca Pow
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Will the Minister kindly update the House on progress with the legislation that is required to set up the Somerset rivers authority as a separate precepting body, so that we can fund flood protection for the future? Local authority budgets are currently covered by a special caveat, but legislation is required to set up the precept for 2017-18.

Rory Stewart Portrait Rory Stewart
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As my hon. Friend is aware, DEFRA committed £1.7 million to the Somerset rivers authority. That authority has now decided that its preferred solution is a precept, and a shadow precept will come into effect from April this year. We look forward to discussing the long-term financial arrangements directly with the authority.