Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the potential financial impact of flooding in communities across the UK.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The joint Government and insurance industry Flood Re scheme aims to promote affordability and availability of insurance for UK households at high flood risk. In 2022/23, Flood Re provided cover for over 265,000 household policies. More than 500,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch.
In April 2022 the Government made regulations to allow Flood Re to pay claims from insurers which include an amount for resilient repair (Build Back Better) up to a value of £10,000 over and above the cost for like-for-like reinstatement. Build Back Better will further help eligible flooded households become more resilient to flooding, enable homeowners to return more quickly after any future flooding, and will help reduce the cost of damages after a flood.
In October, the Government also announced a significant package of support that will be available to eligible areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding as a result of Storm Babet. Areas reporting over 50 flooded properties at Lead Local Flood Authority will be eligible. The Flood Recovery Framework includes:
The Government is also making payments of up to £5,000 available to help eligible flooded householders and businesses to install Property Flood Resilience measures to make their properties more resilient to future flooding (Defra).
This is in addition to the Government’s commitment to double the funding from £2.6 billion (for 2015-21) to £5.2 billion (over a period of 6 years from 2021) to reduce the harm and damage caused by flooding and coastal erosion, protecting people’s lives and minimising the disruption to their livelihoods.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the wellbeing of Jobcentre staff.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP continues to review and refine its wellbeing offer to ensure it remains up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to all. We have a DWP Colleague ‘My Wellbeing button’. The button enables quick, easy access to our DWP Wellbeing support offer from everyone’s desktop and takes colleagues to a newly designed wellbeing triage page where colleagues can quickly access the right information and support based on their needs. For example, ‘I need support today’ through to ‘I am looking for guidance as a line manager’. The purpose of this button is to raise the visibility of our wellbeing offer and provide a quick and streamlined journey to the service required, strengthening our culture of putting colleague wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Within the Wellbeing button, the below support can be found:
‣ Employee Assistance Provision which includes:
‣ Flu vaccinations: Information for all DWP colleagues who are not able to access, or are not eligible for, the NHS flu vaccine can claim a refund if they choose to have a flu vaccination in 2023/24.
‣ Details of key wellbeing dates across the year which includes events/webinars to promote the day along with helpful tips for staff.
‣ A network of over 1,000 wellbeing advocates. Colleagues who have been given permission to give 5% of their time to support employee wellbeing. Colleagues can call them to discuss the wellbeing support offer and they actively promote the offer through giving presentations locally. We also have a Buddy Network who are volunteers that colleagues can call if they ever feel lonely and simply want a chat and have a wellbeing check-in.
‣ Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) who are specially trained colleagues who offer immediate support to others experiencing mental ill health or emotional distress. They also look out for early signs of developing issues and promote mental health awareness across the Department.
‣ Community Networks, these range from networks offering support with the Menopause, Cancer, alcohol, religion and more. They offer peer to peer support and regularly run events.
‣ Eye test – colleagues can access a free eye test once every two years or more frequently if advised by an optician or medical advisor, or if they are having visual problems whilst working at a workstation.
‣ Sanitary provision - DWP provide free sanitary products across the DWP Estate for anyone with an immediate need, to support colleague health and wellbeing.
‣ Charity for Civil Servants who offer Independent, impartial financial and emotional support to all Civil Servants. Assistance includes help for carers, financial support and advice, wellbeing support, mindfulness, anxiety support, nutrition, sleep, menopause, bereavement and Podcasts and Webinars
‣ Wellbeing and Resilience Toolbox which can be accessed by Line managers to lead their own team training on resilience, slide packs and facilitator packs are available to talk their team through sessions.
‣ 5 step Wellbeing Conversation Tools - a tool to help colleagues discuss how they are feeling, identify early warning signs of emotional distress, and explore a way forward.
‣ Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) – This document is to aid employee and line manager discussions (related to mental health/wellbeing). The WRAP is designed to help employees to reflect on the causes and symptoms of their own workplace mental health and wellbeing challenges, and to take practical steps to manage these.
‣ Stress evaluation tool – this tool is designed to assist staff to concentrate on pro-active and preventative measures to good stress management.
Annually we update the DWP voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) voluntary report on Gov UK.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support is available to farmers who have just lost their harvests due to flooding since 1 January 2023.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government announced a significant package of support, via the Flood Recovery Framework, to areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding as a result of Storm Babet. The Framework provides funding for eligible households and businesses and includes a £2,500 Business Recovery Grant for SMEs, including farm businesses, which have suffered severe impacts from flooding if unable to be recovered from their farming insurance, and Council Tax discounts. Farmers in eligible areas may also access grants up to £5,000 per property to install Property Flood Resilience measures where they have internal flooding to homes or business premises.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of coastal erosion to the local (a) community and (b) economy in Lowestoft.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Coastal erosion is a natural process that always has and will shape coastlines around the world.
Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) are developed and owned by the local councils and coastal protection authorities. These provide long-term strategic plans which identify approaches for managing the flood and coastal erosion risks at every stretch of coastline. The EA are supporting local authorities to update and strengthen the SMPs by 2024 through a technical refresh project to ensure they are up to date, using the best evidence in their recommendations and focus attention on priority areas for investment and adaptation. Over £2m will be used for this project and will include the development a new digital on-line tool to improve access, understanding and use of SMPs.
We are investing £5.2 billion between 2021 and 2027 to better protect communities across England from flooding and coastal erosion. In addition, we are investing £200 million as part of the Flood and Coastal Innovation Resilience Programme in 25 areas across England to take forward wider innovative actions that improve resilience to flooding and coastal erosion.
As part of this programme, Defra has provided £8.4 million funding to East Suffolk Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council. The Resilient Coasts Project will offer a complete suite of planning, engagement, technical and financial tools to support coastal transition for communities. The learning will be shared with other coastal authorities and could also be applied to the rest of the UK coast.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support his Department provides to National Plant Collection holders who have suffered (a) flood and (b) storm damage.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government acknowledges the terrible impact Storm Babet and Storm Ciarán have had on householders and businesses and sympathises with those affected. There is no specific funding for National Plant Collection holders however, the Government has triggered the Flood Recovery Framework, to provide funding for affected households and businesses as a result of severe flooding caused by the storms.
In addition, the Government will be activating the Defra Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme for areas affected by Storm Babet. Eligible flood-hit property owners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 has taken to improve the (a) water quality and (b) biodiversity of (i) lakes, (ii) rivers and (iii) waterways (A) nationally and (B) in Romford constituency.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In April, we published our landmark Plan for Water, to deliver clean and plentiful water for people, businesses and nature. The Plan for Water set out a suite of policy actions to tackle every source of pollution and increase our resilience to drought. This is essential to provide habitats for biodiversity to thrive. The Plan is underpinned by three things:
(A) In Romford constituency
As a member of the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne (RBI) Catchment Partnership, the Environment Agency is working with local partners to improve the water quality and biodiversity of waterbodies within Romford. Examples of current projects within Romford are:
Yellowfish and Junior River Wardens Project - The Environment Agency is working with Groundwork East to deliver a combined Yellowfish and Junior River Wardens project working with schools along the River Ingrebourne and River Rom. This unique new approach will help embed and sustain local learning, education and messaging around surface water and river health. Junior River Wardens helps participants experience the valuable role they can have monitoring water quality. Yellow Fish is shown to increase public awareness of issues affecting local rivers and the wider environment and how everyone can play a part.
Mink Eradication - The RBI Catchment Partnership is working collaboratively to deliver a catchment wide approach to Mink Eradication, building on the Mink Eradication project Essex Wildlife Trust have been running across Essex. Mink are a problematic invasive species in this location who pose a threat to water voles and other native species. Thames Chase Trust have applied for funding from the Environment Agency next financial year to further build on this catchment wide approach and deliver a project to trap Mink on the River Rom.
Additionally, as a statutory consultee in the planning process, the Environment Agency comments on development proposals that could potentially impact main rivers in Romford. They make sure that where possible developments comply with the Water Framework Directive as embedded within the river basin management plan. This ensures that they secure benefits for biodiversity and river geomorphology.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure the long-term stability of (a) NGOs and (b) aid agencies that (i) provide humanitarian support and (ii) have other operations in Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is one of FCDO's largest bilateral aid programmes this financial year, at £100 million. Since April 2021, the UK has disbursed over £600 million in aid for Afghanistan, providing lifesaving support to the most vulnerable. The UK has recently launched two multi-year humanitarian programmes from 2023 - 2026, through which we will spend up to £400 million through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs. The UK is also funding NGOs through our Supporting Afghanistan's Basic Services programme. We continue to support the World Bank's Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the level of financial resilience in the charity sector.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS Ministers and senior officials meet regularly with civil society representatives to discuss a wide range of issues including challenges faced by the sector.
We also recognise that charities are seeing higher levels of demand for their services. That is why in the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a package of over £100 million for charities and community organisations in England. This funding is split into two strands and is supporting organisations in need right now. The £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund has closed for applications, and is awarding funding to frontline organisations supporting vulnerable individuals and households. The second strand, the £25 million VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, will support longer-term sustainability, and will launch later this year for applications.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to support humanitarian projects in Somalia.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is a significant donor to the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. This financial year we have allocated £48 million in response to the humanitarian crisis, providing cash support, water and sanitation services, and specialised health and nutrition treatment. This includes £11 million pivoted towards El Niño prevention and response projects as Somalia faces record levels of flooding. At the Global Food Security Summit on 20 November, the UK announced up to £100 million support over the next five years to help communities to re-establish and recover livelihoods and build resilience to future climatic shocks, breaking the cycle of humanitarian crises by investing in resilient, long-lasting change.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence by Fawzia Koofi to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 October 2023, Q3, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, how much UK aid has been allocated to women-led organisations based in Afghanistan in each of the last two financial years for which information is available; and if he will take steps to ensure that the procedures for applying for UK aid are simplified for women-led organisations based in Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Afghanistan is one of FCDO's largest bilateral aid programmes this financial year, with a planned £100 million budget. Since April 2021, the UK has disbursed over £600 million in aid for Afghanistan. We remain committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached are women and girls. We achieved this in 2021-2022 and are on track to do so in 2022-2023. Through the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund, our support contributes to a $20 million project to support civil society and NGOs with a focus on women-led organisations. FCDO officials regularly engage with Afghan women and women's groups to ensure that we are aligned in the design and delivery of our programmes.