Topical Questions 2023-10-19
2023-10-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Met Office has issued warnings about significant storms. The Environment Agency is mobilising emergency operations and lining up temporary defences in various parts of the country.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities, noting that the Met Office has issued various warnings for potentially significant storms, leading to the Environment Agency's actions and encouragement for households to register for flood alerts and take appropriate action.
The Met Office has issued various warnings. Indeed, as the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow), pointed out, we are preparing for potentially significant storms, which is why the Environment Agency has mobilised its emergency operations centre and why temporary defences are being lined up in different parts of the country. We continue to encourage households to register for flood alerts and warnings and to take action, where appropriate.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Ball Corporation has invested £200 million to create Europe's largest and most modern aluminium drinks can manufacturing plant in Burton Latimer. The company is concerned about potentially unfair market distortions as a result of the decision to exclude glass from the deposit return scheme.
Will the Secretary of State meet Ball Corporation to explore her plans to support drinks can producers against potentially unfair market distortions due to the exclusion of glass from the DRS?
I decided not to proceed with glass in the DRS because of the complications that would bring to its introduction; I would have thought his local company would benefit from that. However, I know that the chief executive recently had a constructive and useful meeting with the recycling Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow), who will take away the comments from that for further consideration as we finalise our policy.
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Assessment & feedback
Meeting Ball Corporation directly was not committed to explicitly.
Working With Partners
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The smoke from heather burning on the moors has caused a spike in poor air quality, reaching levels four times the legal limit and affecting constituents with respiratory problems.
Will the Government bring in an outright ban on heather burning practices, which affect health, natural environment, and climate?
The hon. Lady will be aware of the action that has been taken—that Ministers required Sheffield City Council to take—to accelerate measures to improve air quality. On the wider measures that she talks about, we are not seeking to ban important practices, but of course things continue to evolve. Air quality is improving and she should be grateful not only to her local councils but to the Government for making that happen in her constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
A ban on heather burning was avoided.
Air Quality Is Improving
Not Seeking To Ban
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Dunstable downs rotary club is paying for the planting of 4,000 trees at Chute wood to combat climate change.
Will the Minister commend this action and encourage other organisations to plant more trees in combating climate change?
That was worth the wait! I will absolutely commend Dunstable downs rotary club, and the work that this Government are undertaking, because trees are essential. They are the larder and the shelter for our wildlife. They are vital for our ecosystem. They protect us from flooding, prevent us from overheating and are at the forefront of this Government's plan for the environment. That is why we are rolling out local nature recovery strategies to support more good volunteering in our local authorities.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Avian influenza has had catastrophic effects for two years, with Animal and Plant Health Agency vets working round the clock.
Will the Minister give an update on work taking place to alleviate the impact of avian influenza?
Work is ongoing on avian influenza. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have suffered two years of catastrophic effects of that disease. Animal and Plant Health Agency vets are working round the clock with primary producers to protect their flocks. I do not want to jinx myself, but at the moment we are making good progress. We will continue to work hard with the sector to protect it and ourselves from that terrible disease.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The constituency is home to several chalk streams, with concerns raised about the unique ecology of these rivers.
What can the Government do to reassure constituents that the unique ecology of chalk streams is a priority?
As my right hon. Friend knows, I know that area well. I used to live in Whitchurch, which has the River Test flowing through it. We are making progress with our chalk stream action plan, but he will also be aware of the amendment that the Government agreed to work with Viscount Trenchard on and which is now part of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which I hope will become an Act very soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific reassurance was not provided directly.
Working With Partners
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
Seed potato crops are affected by heavy rain in the north of Scotland, raising concerns about supply for next year.
Will the Minister encourage the Scottish Government to help the farmers dealing with a difficult situation?
The hon. Gentleman has done that with his question. I do not diminish the effect that the rain is having on the seed potato crop; once seed potato is under water for more than a week it will probably be destroyed. Scottish seed potatoes are some of the finest seed produced anywhere in the world and I encourage him to seek contact with the Scottish Government to get them to help.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
Kirklees Council is looking to invest in its food waste recycling strategy, but it still awaits full clarification and details from the legislation.
Will the Minister advise when full clarification will be sent to councils regarding their investment in food waste recycling?
That clarification will be coming very soon and within it the new simpler recycling approach will include mandatory collection of food waste.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Publicly owned Scottish Water has invested £668 million since 2010 in improvements and committed another half a billion pounds between 2021 and 2027, resulting in its waters being classified as being in 'good ecological condition'. However, English bill payers face higher costs for what is perceived to be poorer quality water.
Publicly owned Scottish Water has invested £668 million since 2010 in improvements and committed another half a billion pounds between 2021 and 2027. That is why Scottish Water has had its product—the waters around Scotland—classified as being in “good ecological condition”. Why do English bill payers pay the most and get the mankiest water?
The hon. Gentleman is wrong about that. There is a lot of chatter about water; we should never undermine the cleanliness of the drinking water that people enjoy. The interministerial group is working on different ways of measuring ecological status across the United Kingdom and we are looking to see what we might do about that. We made the change in 2016, which other parts of the United Kingdom did not, and we continue to work together as responsible Governments. I remind the hon. Gentleman, only 4% of storm overflows in Scotland are monitored—they would be better off getting on with that.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address why English bill payers pay more and get perceived poorer quality water compared to Scotland
The Hon. Gentleman Is Wrong About That
We Made The Change In 2016, Which Other Parts Of The United Kingdom Did Not
Response accuracy