Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) stop lead contamination in the food supply chain.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra monitors concentrations of ten heavy metals, including lead, in naturally-growing mosses as part of the European Moss Survey, which takes place every five years. The moss data provide a cost-effective measure of pollution deposition from the atmosphere which complements conventional precipitation analysis.
The latest report for the 2020-2022 survey is publicly available here. It shows that lead deposition has declined since 1990.
The UK Heavy Metals Network forms the basis of the UK’s compliance monitoring for the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010), which covers lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and mercury. Lead in the PM10 fraction of air (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm or less) is measured at 26 sites. The UK has been compliant with applicable limit values in legislation for ambient lead in air for over 20 years.
Further details are publicly available here: Air Pollution in the UK report – Defra, UK.
Treated sewage sludge (commonly called biosolids) can be beneficially spread to agricultural land under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (SUiAR).
Details are publicly available here.
In England the Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing the SUiAR, which are supported by a sewage sludge in agriculture code of practice.
Details are publicly available here.
The SUiAR provides controls that protect the environment and human health when these organic materials are spread to agricultural land. Provided the use of sewage sludge is carried out in accordance with the relevant regulatory controls and good practice guidance is followed, the recycling of sewage sludge to land is an allowable activity.
The SUiAR require that sludge shall be used in such a way that the quality of the soil and of the surface and ground water is not impaired. A person using sludge has to ensure they can meet this requirement of the SUiAR. The requirement is applicable to all relevant contaminants which could, when sludge is used, cause the quality of the soil and of surface and ground water to be impaired. Lead is a contaminant that can be present in sludge and which is specifically listed in both the SUiAR and its supporting sewage sludge in agriculture code of practice.
Emissions of lead from industrial installations in England are subject to stringent emission limits and monitoring requirements under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
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 water companies on the replacement of water pipes to households in which lead has been found in the water supply in (a) England, (b) East Anglia and (c) South West Norfolk constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lead pipes have not been permitted since 1970, but they may be present in older properties.
To reduce the risk of lead leaching into water, water companies treat the water with orthophosphate which reduces the problem significantly. Any failure of the lead standard of 10 micrograms per litre is investigated thoroughly by water companies with resamples being taken. Failures of the standard are generally caused by internal lead pipework and fittings which are the responsibility of the owner.
In Defra’s Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat, we supported action by the water industry to trial approaches to reduce exposure to lead which have been agreed in water companies’ business plans for 2025-2030. Two Green Recovery projects, approved by Ofwat, are also trialling replacement of customer supply pipes made of lead.
On public drinking water – the Drinking Water Inspectorate are the body who provide the independent assurance that public drinking water supplies are safe.
Drinking water for the human consumer remains safe as it is tested and appropriately treated before distribution to the tap, so the human health risk from drinking water remains very low.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
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 ensure that water companies assess the levels of lead in domestic drinking water supplies.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lead pipes have not been permitted since 1970, but they may be present in older properties.
To reduce the risk of lead leaching into water, water companies treat the water with orthophosphate which reduces the problem significantly. Any failure of the lead standard of 10 micrograms per litre is investigated thoroughly by water companies with resamples being taken. Failures of the standard are generally caused by internal lead pipework and fittings which are the responsibility of the owner.
In Defra’s Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat, we supported action by the water industry to trial approaches to reduce exposure to lead which have been agreed in water companies’ business plans for 2025-2030. Two Green Recovery projects, approved by Ofwat, are also trialling replacement of customer supply pipes made of lead.
On public drinking water – the Drinking Water Inspectorate are the body who provide the independent assurance that public drinking water supplies are safe.
Drinking water for the human consumer remains safe as it is tested and appropriately treated before distribution to the tap, so the human health risk from drinking water remains very low.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) assess and (b) help mitigate the risk of lead contamination in agricultural land in (i) England, (ii) East Anglia and (iii) South West Norfolk constituency.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra monitors concentrations of ten heavy metals, including lead, in naturally-growing mosses as part of the European Moss Survey, which takes place every five years. The moss data provide a cost-effective measure of pollution deposition from the atmosphere which complements conventional precipitation analysis.
The latest report for the 2020-2022 survey is publicly available here. It shows that lead deposition has declined since 1990.
The UK Heavy Metals Network forms the basis of the UK’s compliance monitoring for the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010), which covers lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and mercury. Lead in the PM10 fraction of air (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm or less) is measured at 26 sites. The UK has been compliant with applicable limit values in legislation for ambient lead in air for over 20 years.
Further details are publicly available here: Air Pollution in the UK report – Defra, UK.
Treated sewage sludge (commonly called biosolids) can be beneficially spread to agricultural land under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (SUiAR).
Details are publicly available here.
In England the Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing the SUiAR, which are supported by a sewage sludge in agriculture code of practice.
Details are publicly available here.
The SUiAR provides controls that protect the environment and human health when these organic materials are spread to agricultural land. Provided the use of sewage sludge is carried out in accordance with the relevant regulatory controls and good practice guidance is followed, the recycling of sewage sludge to land is an allowable activity.
The SUiAR require that sludge shall be used in such a way that the quality of the soil and of the surface and ground water is not impaired. A person using sludge has to ensure they can meet this requirement of the SUiAR. The requirement is applicable to all relevant contaminants which could, when sludge is used, cause the quality of the soil and of surface and ground water to be impaired. Lead is a contaminant that can be present in sludge and which is specifically listed in both the SUiAR and its supporting sewage sludge in agriculture code of practice.
Emissions of lead from industrial installations in England are subject to stringent emission limits and monitoring requirements under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) stop lead contamination in waterways.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency identifies and prioritises sources of metal pollution, including waterways contaminated by lead, and conducts regular and routine water quality inspections, in line with their regulatory duties. The results are published on the Environment Agency’s public water quality archive website.
The Government has set a long-term statutory target under the Environment Act to reduce by half the 1,500km of English rivers polluted by target metals (including lead) from abandoned metal mines by 31 December 2038. To achieve this target, the Government is building mine water treatment schemes and diffuse interventions under the Water & Abandoned Metal Mines Programme - a partnership between Defra, the Environment Agency and the Mining Remediation Authority - to prevent metals from abandoned metal mines, including lead, from polluting rivers.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 5973 on Lead: Paint, whether his Department is taking steps to prepare new guidance.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not currently plan to issue new guidance on lead paint.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
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 improve services in rural isolated communities.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural communities. To achieve this, we are ensuring that the needs of people and businesses in rural areas are at the heart of our policymaking.
We recognise that there are significant challenges facing rural communities, and that the Government must play its part in overcoming them. We know that prosperous, thriving rural communities require improvements in rural transport and digital infrastructure, the availability of affordable housing and energy, and access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
That is why this Government is committed to rural proofing, ensuring that rural areas are not overlooked, that all intended outcomes of the missions are deliverable in rural areas, and all policy decision-making takes account of the issues facing rural communities. Defra leads on rural proofing, but individual departments are responsible for ensuring that their policy decision-making is rural proofed.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
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 ensure that environment regulations are upheld on intensive livestock farms in (a) East Anglia and (b) South West Norfolk constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
To ensure compliance with environmental regulations, permitted farms in East Anglia have routine inspections as an essential part of Environment Agency (EA) regulation. Within East Anglia there is a target of completing more than 80% of one hundred intensive farm site visits for the performance year 2024-2025. This target is on track to be met. Inspections incorporate permitting aspects linked to business plans as well as environmental legislation, such as Farming Rules for Water and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
Farms with a high standard of compliance and within the Pig and Assurance Scheme are inspected once every three years by the EA and annually in the other two years by certified bodies. Farms not in the assurance scheme are inspected by the Environment Agency a minimum of once in every three years, depending on risk. Inspections are recorded on the National Compliance Assessment Database. Any permit condition breaches are given a Compliance Classification Scheme (CCS) score. CCS scores affect subsistence charges for farms that are not in the Pig and Poultry Assurance Scheme.