Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Environment Act 2021: Implementation

Thursday 9 December 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Work on implementing the Environment Act 2021 is underway, including developing environmental targets and consulting on waste management reforms.
  • The Secretary of State has instructed water companies to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows through strategic policy statements and legislative measures.
  • The Government is considering the benefits of hemp cultivation for environmental products but notes that licensing for medical hemp is a Home Office responsibility.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Environment
Context

The question arises from the progress made on implementing provisions of the Environment Act 2021.

Question

What recent progress has been made on implementing the provisions of the Environment Act 2021?

Answer from George Eustice

Work on implementing the Environment Act is well under way. We have started developing legally binding environmental targets, consulted on measures to reform waste management, published a draft principles policy statement and a consultation on due diligence in supply chains. The Office for Environmental Protection has been legally established.

Answered
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Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Environment
Context

The question concerns the implementation of measures to limit storm overflows by private water companies.

Question

How is the Secretary of State working with private companies to implement measures on limiting storm overflows?

Answer from George Eustice

We have made it clear to water companies that they must significantly reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows as a priority. We have set out that expectation through the strategic policy statement for Ofwat; we have also taken action to place it on a legislative footing in the Environment Act.

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Q3 Ronnie Cowan SNP
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The question explores the possibility of subsidizing hemp growth to promote environmentally friendly products and support farmers.

Question

Has the Government looked at the possibility of subsidising the growth of hemp, which allows us to make environmentally friendly cloth and biodegradable plastics and is a very good break crop for farmers to incorporate?

Answer from George Eustice

I know that there are the benefits he mentions from growing hemp. Licenses for medical hemp is an issue led by the Home Office, but it is an interesting crop; more people are starting to look at it and grow it. The hon. Gentleman raises an important point.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific subsidies or government backing not addressed.

How: Licenses For Medical Hemp Is Led By The Home Office

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Q4 Philip Hollobone Con
Environment
Context

The question concerns whether biodiversity net gain will apply to existing planning applications.

Question

Will the Secretary of State ensure that the obligation on developers for biodiversity net gain applies to planning applications already in the pipeline, not just new applications?

Answer from George Eustice

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Biodiversity net gain will be an important policy tool to support work in local nature recovery strategies and make space for nature in new developments. On his point about timing, I think the measure will take effect in 2023 and will apply at that point to applications going for determination when it is active.

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Q5 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Environment
Context

The question addresses the rise in fly-tipping and enforcement actions due to staff and resource shortages.

Question

Fly-tipping incidents increased by 16% to March this year. The number of enforcement actions has decreased because of a lack of staff and resources. How does the Secretary of State think that the implementation of the Environment Act will ever improve those figures and clean up our country?

Answer from George Eustice

As the hon. Lady will know, we have a significant number of staff—more than 10,000—in the Environment Agency. Waste crime and fly-tipping have been a priority for them, and a number of successful prosecutions have been brought.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific improvements due to the Environment Act not addressed.

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