Tag: Kerry McCarthy

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding the Government has allocated for flood defence maintenance in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20.

Rory Stewart

The Government has confirmed through the Spending Review that, given the potentially devastating impact flooding can have on communities, Defra will protect investment in flood defences. We remain committed to spending £2.3 billion on over 1,500 schemes by 2021, better protecting 300,000 homes from flooding. Flood defence maintenance funding will also be protected, and a planned efficiency programme will generate 10% efficiencies by 2019-20, with all resultant savings reinvested in maintenance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-01-28.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the capacity of landfill operators to pay 10 per cent of qualifying contributions under the Landfill Communities Fund; and if he will allow more flexibility in the sourcing of the match funding.

Damian Hinds

The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is a tax credit scheme into which landfill operators contribute voluntarily. Information on the impact of the changes to the LCF announced at Autumn Statement 2015 is set out in Reform and value of the Landfill Communities Fund. This document can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-and-value-of-the-landfill-communities-fund/reform-and-value-of-the-landfill-communities-fund

The government has received representations from a number of waste operators on this issue. We are taking views into consideration and our priority is to ensure that the LCF operates effectively and encourages money to be spent in the communities that need it.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations were made by the Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise at the Pre Competitiveness Council on 29 February 2016, on the EC Circular Economy package.

Anna Soubry

My noble Friend Baroness Neville-Rolfe represented the UK at the meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 29^th February 2016.

In the discussions on the Circular Economy Package, the UK supported the ambition behind the Circular Economy Action Plan and stressed that action should be prioritised to ensure ambitious use of voluntary approaches and measures to improve the coherence between existing EU legislation and initiatives.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations were made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs at the EU Environment Council on 4 March 2016 on the EU action plan for the circular economy.

Rory Stewart

The Council debated the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. The UK highlighted work that had been done domestically, expressed support for elements of the Action Plan such as industrial symbiosis, and expressed overarching concerns for the proposed waste targets, stressing the need to pay close attention to the costs and benefits. These concerns were shared by Ireland, Lithuania and Portugal. Most Member States also sought reassurance that a joined up approach was being taken by the Commission. The Presidency stated that they will aim for a set of Council Conclusions on the Action Plan to be agreed at June Environment Council.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she consulted the Science Advisory Council on her Department’s decision to remove the limit on the duration of the badger-culling period.

George Eustice

The Science Advisory Council (SAC) has a high-level strategic role and does not normally advise on detailed scientific aspects of policies. Therefore advice has not been sought recently from the SAC on the causes of, or methods of controlling, bovine TB, including badger control. The Guidance to Natural England on licences to control the risk of bovine TB from badgers was published in December 2015 after a public consultation. The Guidance reflects the advice of the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer and Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-05-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has withdrawn the Code of Practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort; and what plans she has to consult with stakeholders and bring forward regulations under the Ragwort Control Act 2003.

George Eustice

The Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort is not being withdrawn. The Code will remain available on the GOV.UK website and all interested parties will be consulted if any changes are made in the future.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance his Department is providing to protect the wildlife and habitats of Gough Island from invasive non-native species; and what support his Department plans to give to Tristan da Cunha Council’s proposal to eradicate those species.

David Evennett

The Government is aware of the threat to the seabirds of Gough Island posed by invasive mice and plants. Research and scoping work has concluded that it should be possible to eradicate both the mice and the invasive groundcover which present the two main threats to the island’s biodiversity. Together with colleagues across government, we are currently reviewing the options for addressing the problem and the necessary action to ensure the protection of these rare and endangered species and to protect the World Heritage Site status of Gough Island.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will provide an update on the mission-led business review.

Mr Rob Wilson

The mission-led business review is in progress. We are reviewing the evidence gathered through the call for evidence and regional events and working with the advisory panel in order to publish findings in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that people who violate the law on protected birds of prey are prosecuted.

Dr Thérèse Coffey

Defra Ministers have received a number of representations, including from Members of this House on behalf of their constituents, highlighting their concerns about illegal persecution of birds of prey such as the hen harrier and wildlife crime more generally.

The Government takes wildlife crime very seriously. All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with strong penalties for committing offences against birds of prey and other wildlife. All incidents of wildlife crime should be reported to the police.

Raptor persecution is a UK wildlife crime priority and has a taskforce led by a senior police officer to develop a plan to prevent crime, gather intelligence on offences and enforce against it. It focuses on the golden eagle, goshawk, hen harrier, peregrine, red kite and white tailed eagle.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit, which Defra funds jointly with the Home Office, monitors and gathers intelligence on illegal activities affecting birds of prey and provides assistance to police forces when required.

It is a matter for the prosecuting authorities to ensure those who commit such offences receive the appropriate penalties as set out in law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising (i) in 2014-15 prices and (ii) as a proportion of her Department’s expenditure in each year since 2010-11.

George Eustice

The Department’s expenditure is audited and published each year. Annual reports and accounts for each of the last five years are available here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2010-11

www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2011-to-2012–6

www.gov.uk/government/publications/defra-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-to-2013

www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014

www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-to-2015

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