Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 effectiveness of existing environmental adaptation measures in helping businesses build resilience to climate-related disasters.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Secretary of State to produce a National Adaptation Programme in response to the Government’s most recent Climate Change Risk Assessment, on a five-yearly cycle. The third National Adaptation Programme, published in July 2023, includes actions to address climate change risks to businesses through a combination of investment in resilience measures to tackle flooding and coastal erosion risks, evidence gathering (including annual business survey questions), business engagement and nature-based solutions. The Climate Change Committee provides a biennial assessment of progress in adapting to climate change. The next progress report, assessing the actions taken under the third National Adaptation Programme, is due in 2025. Alongside delivering the third National Adaptation Programme, Defra is committed to further strengthening this government's approach to climate resilience and will bring forward plans in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 his international counterparts on the future of EU fishing rights in the UK's exclusive economic zone.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not held discussions with the EU on future access arrangements but have signalled willingness to listen to their proposals.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 potential impact of the UK leaving the EU (a) Single Market and (b) Customs Union on the export of agri-food products from the UK to the EU.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government cares deeply about the trading relationship with the European Union; The Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) underpin relations between the UK and the EU. Although the TCA allows zero tariffs and zero quota trade, leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union had an impact on the export of agri-food products, as have other changes in trade policy such as new Free Trade Agreements with other countries, and global shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
We are working to reset our relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to UK-EU trade. We will seek to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement to boost trade and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in the UK and the EU. We have been clear that our trading relationship can be improved but we are not rejoining the single market or customs union, and we will not return to freedom of movement.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department have had with the EU on cooperation on chemicals regulation.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to protecting human health and the environment. We are currently considering the best approach to chemicals regulation in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for greater data sharing on chemicals regulation with the European Union.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to protecting human health and the environment. We are currently considering the best approach to chemicals regulation in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many submissions were received in response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories; and when her Department plans to publish its response to that consultation.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
A total of 49 responses were submitted to the Call for Evidence on biodiversity and conservation funding in the Overseas Territories, and a summary of those responses will be published in due course. Decisions on future funding arrangements for the Overseas Territories, including any domestic replacements for EU funding, will be considered as part of the next full spending review.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department’s response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories will include plans to replace the EU environmental funds of BEST and LIFE.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
A total of 49 responses were submitted to the Call for Evidence on biodiversity and conservation funding in the Overseas Territories, and a summary of those responses will be published in due course. Decisions on future funding arrangements for the Overseas Territories, including any domestic replacements for EU funding, will be considered as part of the next full spending review.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 estimate of the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) money spend on infrastructure required to prepare for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Eustice
At Autumn Budget 2017, HM Treasury committed £3 billion to help Departments and Devolved Administrations make necessary preparations for leaving the EU in 2018/19 and 2019/20. This was subsequently increased by £0.5bn in the 2018 Budget, meaning the Government has invested over £4bn helping Departments and the Devolved Administrations prepare for EU Exit scenarios since 2016, including ‘no-deal’. This breaks down as:
£412m of additional funding over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for International Trade and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office at Autumn Statement 2016.
£286m of additional funding for 2017/18. A full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 2017/18:
Over £1.5bn of additional funding for 2018/19. A full breakdown of which can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March:
Over £2bn of additional funding for 2019/20. A full breakdown of which can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS1205, laid on the 18th December:
Of the £1.5bn funding for 2018/19, Defra was allocated £310m with a further £10m being repurposed from existing budgets. The details of this allocation were not included in the 2018/19 Main Estimate but will be confirmed in the Supplementary Estimates, which is normally published by February each year.
Of the £2bn funding for 2019/20, Defra was allocated £410m. This funding will support ongoing preparations in all scenarios with a further process expected to draw upon additional funds in 2019/20 to manage emerging no deal risks if and when they materialise.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 Chancellor of the Exchequer on his Department spending more UK-wide expenditure outwith the Barnett formula in Scotland over the last twelve months.
Answered by George Eustice
The Chancellor frequently has confidential discussions with his Cabinet colleagues on all aspects of public expenditure. Spending plans are published alongside the main fiscal events at the Autumn Budget and Spring Statement.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of the UK Overseas Territories being able to access the EU’s LIFE fund for larger scale environmental projects.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Overseas Territories can currently access the EU LIFE programme according to the LIFE regulation 2014-2020 so no such assessment has been made.