Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 September 2023.

Following the publication of Ofwat’s performance report the following statement has been issued by the Environment Secretary.

This morning, Ofwat has published its Performance Report on the water sector, announcing that water companies will need to return £114m to customers for underperformance.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey:

Today’s Ofwat report is extremely disappointing. While I acknowledge there is good work ongoing in some companies – cleaning up waterways and investing in vital infrastructure – there is simply not enough of it. The fact that not a single water company is classified as ‘leading’ is unacceptable.

“We have written to the CEOs of every water company in the lowest category of today’s report and my ministerial team and I will meet them in person to scrutinise their improvement plans.

Billpayers should know we require the worst performers to return money directly to customers through their bills.

The Government’s Plan for Water sets out how more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement will transform the current system. I have been clear if these companies do not make improvements across a range of different measures, we and our regulators will not hesitate to use our powers to enforce it.

We are pushing water companies to go further and have changed the rules on bonuses and dividends to ensure billpayers do not reward pollution – or pay for what should already have been delivered.

Our water and sewerage systems are highly complex and under increasing pressure – but that is no excuse. The public has made it clear that a clean and plentiful water supply is a priority. Government and regulators will be closely securitising upcoming business plans to ensure they deliver the best possible deal for customers, the environment and our future water needs.

Factsheet on government action in the water industry

The Government’s Plan for Water sets out how more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement is holding water companies to account and ensuring we have a water sector fit for the future.

More investment

• As part of the Plan for Water, over £2.2 billion of new, accelerated investment will be directed into vital infrastructure to improve water quality and secure future supplies, with £1.7bn of this being used to tackle storm overflows.
• All water companies have been asked to provide actions plans for every storm overflow in England which we will publish shortly.
• We have set stringent targets for water companies to reduce storm overflows – driving the largest infrastructure programme in water company history of £60 billion over 25 years. This includes front-loading action in particularly important and sensitive sites, including bathing waters.
• In a recent recent High Court ruling on this plan, the Government won on all claims considered by the High Court, meaning the plans were considered lawful by the High Court. The ruling also outlined that the Government’s plan goes ‘substantially’ further than the law to drive a reduction in storm overflow discharges.

Stronger regulation

• We are driving up monitoring and transparency so the public can see what is going on – we have increased the number of storm overflows monitored across the network from 7% in 2010, to 91% now, and with 100% expected by the end of the year.
• We are clear water companies must not profit from environmental damage and we have given Ofwat increased powers under the Environment Act 2021 to hold them account for poor performance.
  • On dividends: Using new powers granted to Ofwat by the government, Ofwat is ensuring company dividends are linked to environmental performance.
  • On bonuses for water company executives: Ofwat has outlined a new measure to ensure customers do not fund (via water bills) executive bonus payments where they have not been sufficiently earned through the company’s performance.

Tougher enforcement

• Since 2015, the Environment Agency has concluded 65 prosecutions, securing record fines of over £150 million against water companies. The Environment Agency has also launched the largest criminal investigation into unpermitted water company sewage discharges ever at over 2,200 treatment works.
• We are also scrapping the cap on civil penalties and significantly broadening their scope to target a much wider range of offences. This is toughening our enforcement tools and expanding where regulators can use them. This will deliver a proportionate punishment for operators that breach their permits and harm our rivers, seas and precious habitats.
• In 2022, 93% of bathing waters met the highest standards of ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, up from just 76% in 2010 and despite stricter standards being introduced in 2015.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 September 2023.

Improvements to the traceability system for cattle have been set out by the government.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 September 2023.

Government expands plan to tackle storm overflows, including all coastal and estuary sites .

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 September 2023.

Funding has been extended to cover new courses in arboriculture, which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees.

Current and aspiring foresters and arboriculturists are set to benefit from an additional £1 million in funding, which from today (Thursday 21 September), is being allocated to fund training courses in forestry and arboriculture across England, following an unprecedented demand.

The funding is primarily aimed at those considering changing their careers to one in forestry or arboriculture, as well as those already working in the sector. As the industry continues to grow as a result of the Government’s £675 million tree programme, the funding will create more green jobs and boost the workforce where over 30,000 people are already dedicated to expanding and protecting our precious woodlands, contributing more than £2 billion to our economy every year.

The new funding will cover training courses in a range of areas, including in:

• Chainsaw operation;
• Operating heavy machinery;
• Planning and planting new woodland;
• Deer management;
• Marketing and selling timber;
• Aerial tree pruning; and
• Branch removal

The Forestry and Arboriculture Fund – formerly known as the Forestry Training Fund – has received exceptionally high uptake since its launch in February this year, with over 150 short course training providers having registered to offer courses and 1,100 training places already funded for the next two years.

The fund has today been extended to cover arboriculture courses, with £250,000 ringfenced specifically for courses which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees, through skills such as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling.

Defra Forestry Minister, Trudy Harrison said:

As tree-planting and woodlands across the country increase, so must our forestry workforce.

We are committed to growing the sector and increasing green jobs which will be made possible through this significant funding of Forestry and Arboriculture courses, as we continue to ensure at least 16.5% of the country is covered in trees by 2050.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said:

England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.

The additional funding provided through the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund, will ensure that more people across the country, from all backgrounds, are able to build and diversify their skills in forestry. I encourage anyone looking to join the sector or upskill to apply today.

The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is already playing an instrumental role in helping deliver the government’s England Trees Action Plan, which sets out how we will shape the country for future generations through a significant increase in tree-planting and woodland creation, which is supported by over £675 million from the Nature for Climate Fund.

Early application is encouraged due to the unprecedented demand for courses. Please view our list of training providers and apply for funding on GOV.UK: Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 September 2023.

£25 million for projects using nature to increase flood resilience.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 September 2023.

Action reinforces UK’s commitment to delivering better animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed into law yesterday (18 September), confirming the UK’s position as a world leader in animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

The legislation – which was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, supported by the government – allows the government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed.

The independent evidence on these kind of experiences shows that animals used in the tourist trade are often subject to harsh treatment to ensure their compliance in activities. A study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit published in 2015 concluded that up to 550,000 animals worldwide suffered for tourist entertainment.

Brutal training methods are often used to ‘break in’ Asian elephants to make them safe to be near tourists and partake in unnatural activities like playing football, painting, tourist rides and excessive bathing.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Benyon said:

We know that some foreign tourist attractions often subject majestic animals like elephants to cruel and brutal training methods.

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act is an important step in our commitment to ensure high animal welfare standards both here in this country and abroad, and I encourage holidaymakers to do their research so they can make informed choices that do not encourage poor animal welfare practices.

Conservative MP for Guildford Angela Richardson said:

I am thrilled that the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act has received Royal Assent this week.

This legislation is a world first and will work towards greater protection of vulnerable animals in low welfare settings from being exploited as tourist experiences.

Duncan McNair, CEO Save The Asian Elephants, said:

“Save The Asian Elephants and the millions who have supported our campaign hope the passing into law of the landmark Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act will prove a momentous day for animals everywhere. The measures, resolutely implemented and enforced, will help protect endangered and vulnerable species across the world from extreme exploitation, harm and death in tourism. They will also save many lives of humans too, turned on by maddened elephants and other creatures provoked by torture.

Save The Asian Elephants is hugely appreciative of all who have supported our campaign for these changes, of our government, our Parliament across the party divide, the charity sector and the public. All must now set our hand to starting the transition from brutal and dangerous practices to ethical sanctuaries and wildlife reserves.

Britain can take pride in this world-first law and we must encourage the world to follow suit whilst time remains for so many beleaguered species.

The Act – applicable in England and Northern Ireland – means the government, through secondary legislation, can ban the advertising and offering for sale of these cruel experiences and protect these special creatures from unnecessary harm.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) already has published guidelines and a list of activities which they classify as unacceptable. Reputable and responsible tour operators should not be offering activities that support poor animal welfare.

This new legislation is part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021 we have brought in new laws to recognise animals sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, brought forward a ban on glue traps, and introduced tougher penalties for hare coursing.

Notes to Editors:

Action we’ve already delivered on animal welfare since 2010 includes:

• Recognised animal sentience in law and introduced accountability to Parliament for how well all government policy decisions pay due regard to the welfare needs of animals.
• Ramped up enforcement with:
• Increased maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
• New financial penalty notice powers in addition to other existing penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
• New protections for service animals with ‘Finn’s Law’.
• Raised farm animal welfare:
• Launched the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway with new annual vet visits and grants.
• Implemented a revised welfare at slaughter regime and introduced CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
• Banned traditional battery cages for laying hens, permitted beak trimming via only infra-red technology.
• Raised standards for meat chickens.
• Significantly enhanced companion animal welfare:
• Revamped the local authority licensing regime for commercial pet services including selling, dog breeding, boarding, animal displays.
• Banned the third party puppy and kitten sales with Lucy’s Law.
• Made microchipping compulsory for cats and dogs.
• Introduced offences for horse fly-grazing and abandonment
• Introduced new community order powers to address dog issues
• Provided valuable new protections for wild animals:
• Banned wild animals in travelling circuses.
• Passed the Ivory Act which came into force last year, including one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world, and extended it to five further species.
• Gave the police additional powers to tackle hare coursing.
• Banning glue traps.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning trade in detached shark fins.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptably low animal welfare activities abroad.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 September 2023.

The Government has announced today that ‘American XL Bully’ dogs will be banned.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 September 2023.

New legislation to be introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 August 2023.

Extensions and reappointments of board members at Natural England, the government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 August 2023.

Twelve new projects receive £16 million to restore peatlands across England.

Thousands of hectares of peatlands – from the Great North Bog to the Norfolk Broads – are set to be restored with twelve new projects awarded funding today (26 August) to help tackle climate change and recover biodiversity.

The Government is investing over £50 million in peat restoration, building on its pledge to restore approximately 35,000 hectares of peatland in England by the end of this Parliament, and leave the environment in a better state for future generations.

Peatlands are an iconic feature of England’s landscape – often referred to as ‘our national rainforest’. They contain over half of the country’s terrestrial carbon stores and provide a haven for wildlife, as well as supporting better water quality and natural flood management.

However, 87% of England’s peatlands, including lowland peatlands are degraded, damaged and dried out, emitting tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The funding from government will help restore these environments, in turn helping protect wildlife and restore their critical ability to manage water quality and reduce the risk of flooding.

The projects being awarded funding stretch from Somerset to County Durham and will see iconic peatland habitat, such as the Great North Bog, Dorset Heaths and the Lincolnshire Fens restored.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Our peatlands hold over half of our terrestrial store of carbon, but with just 1% in a near natural state and soils drying out we must take urgent action to prevent further carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Backed by over £16 million of government funding these new landscape-scale projects will drive collaboration and supercharge peatland restoration across the country to tackle climate change and fight biodiversity loss.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England said:

Peatlands bring multiple benefits for society and the economy. They are huge carbon stores and also massive water filters that enable rivers to run clear. They comprise vital natural flood defences because of how they store water and on top of that support, they support many iconic wildlife species such as the Curlew. Wild peatlands also contribute to public health and wellbeing through providing wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Restoring peatland landscapes to a healthy ecological state will ensure these benefits are protected, enhanced and handed on to future generations. I’m delighted these grants will bring more peatlands into the Nature Recovery Network that is so important for delivering our ambition for improving the natural environment in England”.

Government has also recently launched the new £2 million Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot, to be managed by the Environment Agency, which supports government’s Net Zero and sustainable farming ambitions.  Many of our lowland peatlands have historically been drained of water to create drier soils suitable for agricultural use and food production.

The Pilot will fund investigations into more sustainable management of lowland agricultural peat, facilitating local collaboration and enabling the creation of costed water management plans for lowland peat areas in England. Successful projects will drive advancements in our understanding of the lowland peat water challenge to transform the way we use water in England’s lowland regions.

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said:

Peat and peat soils are a great national asset, and better management can achieve so much to tackle climate change, boost biodiversity and support sustainable agriculture. Our discovery pilot is the chance for farmers and land managers to understand how changing the water levels in their lowland peat soils could create new opportunities for long-term sustainable agriculture. I urge anyone working with lowland peat who is interested to get in touch and apply.

In June, Government announced a package of measures and investment to reduce carbon emissions across lowland peat and a commitment to take forward action on the 14 recommendations for sustainable peatland management as put forward by Robert Caudwell, Chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force.

The measures government is taking will also improve resilience to drought and safeguard productive farming on some of our most valuable agricultural land, supporting our rural economy and food producers.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Restoration grants:

Full list of projects:

1. Norfolk – The Buttle Marshes Restoration project led by the Broads Authority will restore 26 hectares of peatland which has been historically drained for arable cultivation.
2. Dorset – The Dorset Peat Partnership will restore 170 hectares of mire and fen habitat under restoration across 16 sites within the Dorset Heaths. The sites are popular with walkers, families and community groups and the project will use engagement opportunities to promote sustainable recreation and conservation.
3. Durham – This project led by Durham County Council and the North Pennines AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) partnership will extend previous restoration and discovery projects supporting the Great North Bog. Restoration is now planned across an additional 1,127 hectares of degraded blanket bog to support biodiversity in Yorkshire and the North Pennines. The project will also engage sources of private finance to support the long-term success of peatland restoration in the area.
4. Somerset – This project will support the restoration and rewetting of 35 hectares of lowland fen peat at RSPB’s Greylake Reserve, building on findings from the Somerset Peat Partnership-led discovery grant. This project will join an adjacent paludiculture fund trial, creating a mosaic of functioning peatland habitat within the Somerset Wetland ‘super’ National Nature Reserve, which supports rare plants such as the Round-leaved Sundew.
5. North Yorkshire – The ‘Moor to Restore’ project create partnerships in the local area and will see over 1,100 hectares of upland bog restored in the North York Moors National Park.
6. Peak District – The Peak District National Authority will work with the ‘Moors for Climate’ partnership restoring peatlands across three sites in the Peak District National Park. The partnership will engage volunteers who will plant species such as sphagnum moss to improve water quality, and community groups will also learn about moorland fire prevention.
7. Peak District – based at Park Hall and Kinder Scout, this project will see the National Trust, funded in part by private finance from United Utilities, restore over 420 hectares of degraded blanket bog.
8. Lincolnshire – The Fens East Peat Partnership will restore over 1,300 hectares of peatland in the Fens East, which includes agricultural peatlands and landscapes already being restored. The partnership will share knowledge and expertise with practitioners facing similar challenges across peatland landscapes.
9. Lincolnshire – Project in the Humberhead Levels area will see the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust restore relic raised bogs which have historically been drained for agriculture or for fuel. Restoration activities will see action to control scrub and improve water level management to improve the landscape. Community events and training days will also be delivered to engage local landowners in peat restoration.
10. Lancashire – The Red Rose Project will restore over 400 hectares of degraded lowland and upland peatlands within the Lancashire area, building on the Peatland Discovery Grants which enabled restoration plans to be developed as a baseline for data collection and landowner engagement.
11. Lancashire – The Holcombe Moor project will restore 135 hectares of peatland using innovative techniques to raise the water levels on blanket bog which has degraded due to industrial pollution, overgrazing and wildfire. The location of the site near to the industrial heartlands of Greater Manchester and Lancashire will provide opportunities for local people to take part in guided walks and connect with nature on their doorsteps.
12. Cumbria – Partnership between the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will restore over 1370 hectares of peatlands across the uplands of Cumbria and the Forest of Bowland.