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  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will work with insurers to ensure an accurate risk assessment is carried out on the threat to public health posed by toxins in flood water.

    Rory Stewart

    The ABI were closely involved in developing a code of practice for flood damaged buildings. This covers the repair of flood damaged buildings and sets standards for ensuring this kind of work is carried out safely and effectively including avoiding any increased risk to public health.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many occasions the Thames Barrier has been used in each of the last 30 years.

    Rory Stewart

    The following table shows the number of Thames Barrier closures in each flood season since its opening in 1982. A “flood season” is defined as the time period from September to April.

    Year

    Combined Tidal/Fluvial

    Tidal

    Grand Total

    1982 – 1983

    0

    1

    1

    1983 – 1984

    0

    0

    0

    1984 – 1985

    0

    0

    0

    1985 – 1986

    1

    0

    1

    1986 – 1987

    0

    1

    1

    1987 – 1988

    0

    0

    0

    1988 – 1989

    0

    1

    1

    1989 – 1990

    3

    1

    4

    1990 – 1991

    0

    2

    2

    1991 – 1992

    0

    0

    0

    1992 – 1993

    0

    4

    4

    1993 – 1994

    4

    3

    7

    1994 – 1995

    2

    2

    4

    1995 – 1996

    0

    4

    4

    1996 – 1997

    0

    1

    1

    1997 – 1998

    0

    1

    1

    1998 – 1999

    0

    2

    2

    1999 – 2000

    3

    3

    6

    2000 – 2001

    8

    16

    24

    2001 – 2002

    1

    3

    4

    2002 – 2003

    12

    8

    20

    2003 – 2004

    0

    1

    1

    2004 – 2005

    0

    4

    4

    2005 – 2006

    0

    3

    3

    2006 – 2007

    0

    8

    8

    2007 – 2008

    0

    6

    6

    2008 – 2009

    4

    1

    5

    2009 – 2010

    3

    2

    5

    2010 – 2011

    0

    0

    0

    2011 – 2012

    0

    0

    0

    2012 – 2013

    5

    0

    5

    2013 – 2014

    41

    9

    50

    2014 – 2015

    0

    1

    1

    Grand Total

    87

    88

    175
  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will review the National Adaption Plan in order to reflect the risk to public health from toxins in flood water.

    Rory Stewart

    Due to dilution and the lack of high-risk enteric infectious diseases endemic in the UK, the relative risks from contaminated floodwater are low, especially if public health advice is followed. Public Health England carries out active surveillance for outbreaks of infectious diseases, and other illnesses.

    The first National Adaptation Programme report identifies the actions needed to prepare for the impacts of climate change, including the threats of extreme weather and flooding, and addresses the risks identified in the first UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) published in January 2012. Work is under way on preparing the second CCRA which will underpin the second National Adaptation Programme report due around 2018.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to educate local flood resilience groups on the dangers of toxins in flood water.

    Rory Stewart

    Public Health England publishes guidance on health issues that responders might encounter during flood recovery. We understand that many flood action groups already ensure that anyone dealing with floodwater is aware of potential contaminants. Advice is also available on many local authority websites.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that flood maps clearly show landfill sites to aid in the assessment of risk to public health in the event of flooding.

    Rory Stewart

    The Environment Agency holds data on both flood risk and landfill sites which are available free of charge for non-commercial use.

    The Environment Agency data on flood risk and landfill sites is available on gov.uk. Further developments are planned to allow the clear presentation of combinations of different maps.

  • Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many defibrillators are provided in each building her Department manages.

    George Eustice

    The Department currently manages a combined estate with the Environment Agency. Across a total of 163 occupied buildings, there are currently 47 with Automated External Defibrillators (AED) installed. Some buildings have more than one AED providing a total of 54 AEDs currently available across the combined estate. 23 further buildings are due to have an AED installed shortly.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Written Statement of 12 January 2016, HCWS 462, on December Environment Council, what steps she plans to take to improve the implementation of EU Nature Directives.

    Rory Stewart

    The REFIT review of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives is due to conclude in spring 2016. We will work with other EU Member States to identify how we can best work together to improve implementation of the Directives in the light of the Commission’s conclusions.

    We are continuing to work closely with Natural England and business and conservation organisations to further improve our domestic implementation of the Directives. For example, Natural England is working with Woking Borough Council on a strategic plan for great crested newt conservation, which will protect and enhance newt populations whilst reducing burdens on housing developments.

    www.gov.uk/government/consultations/great-crested-newt-pilot-scheme-in-woking-opportunity-to-comment

    “

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what cross-departmental structures her Department has established with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport since May 2015 to ensure progress on meeting the EU target of 15 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020.

    Andrea Leadsom

    My rt. hon Friend has regular meetings with colleagues from all Departments with an interest in Climate Change and Energy policy.

    The 2020 renewables target is relevant to a number of government policies, and my Department ensures that all views across government are taken into account.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many police officers of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary she estimates will be deployed in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Estimates of Civil Nuclear Constabulary deployment fluctuate depending on the forecast levels of protection needed for sites and materials in transit. As sites move to decommissioning the numbers of officers will fall, and will conversely increase as any new nuclear facilities come on line.

    Current deployment figures provided by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and estimates for deployed officer numbers in future years are below. These figures are for operational officers and Special Envoy Groups (Civil Nuclear Constabulary Officers charged with protecting nuclear material in transit). Figures do not include officers in training, dog handling, or administration.

    Financial year

    2015-2016

    2016-2017

    2017-2018

    2018-2019

    2019-2020

    Operationally deployed officer number

    1113

    1118

    1037

    987

    931
  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what expenditure has been allocated to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is funded by industry through arrangements for it to charge nuclear sites for provision of service to those sites, as set out in the Energy Act 2004. The published Civil Nuclear Police Authority business plan sets out the forecast expenditure up to 2017/18:

    Financial year (£000)

    2014-15 (actual)

    2015/16 (budget)

    2016/17 (budget)

    2017/18 (budget)

    Staff Costs

    71,296

    78,203

    83,700

    87,200

    Non-Staff Costs

    21,392

    28,077

    32,000

    31,500

    Capital Spending

    2,006

    3,364

    4,500

    1,600

    Some costs that are not for provision of service to nuclear sites, such as the cost of redundancies or employment tribunals, and including other factors cannot be charged to industry and are covered by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. In 2015/16, £268,000 has been budgeted to cover such costs by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.