Written questions by Cooper.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that air pollution levels near (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) GP surgeries do not exceed the World Health Organisation's recommended limits.

This Government is committed to continue reducing everyone’s exposure to air pollution. We are developing a series of further interventions to reduce emissions from key sources. We have set a Population Exposure Reduction Target for PM2.5, which will continue to reduce peoples’ average exposure across the country. We will consider WHO guidelines as part of an evidence led process when considering future targets and plan to publish a revised Environmental Improvement Plan later this year, which will set out the action we intend to take on air quality.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8712 on Animal Welfare, what steps he plans to take to help improve animal welfare.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. In our manifesto we laid out that we will ban trail hunting, ban the importation of hunting trophies, end puppy smuggling and farming and ban the use of snare traps. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February to Question 28158 on Public Lavatories: Men, whether he will produce guidance for local authorities on he provision of sanitary waste bins in men's bathrooms.

The maintenance of public toilets is a matter for local authorities. The Government has no plans to produce guidance for local authorities on the provision of sanitary waste bins in men's bathrooms.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require the provision of sanitary waste bins in men's bathrooms.

The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers. It does not, however, have powers to compel the provision of sanitary bins in public toilets. The maintenance of public toilets is a matter for local authorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10820 on Trapping, what his timetable is for banning the use of snares.

As stated in the reply to Question 10820, Defra is considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snare traps in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to re-open water testing Laboratories that are Regulation 31 certified.

The water industry must comply with Regulation 31 and they cannot purchase and install a product from a supplier without first assuring themselves that the product has been approved or meets the requirements of Regulation 31. The Government recognises that it is critically important that there are effective procedures and regulatory oversight and the Drinking Water Inspectorate has been pro-actively supporting the industry towards accessing additional laboratory facilities and services with respect to Regulation 31 testing.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2024 to Question 6534 on Land Drainage: Property Development, whether he (a) has made and (b) plans to make an assessment of the potential regulato

A full regulatory impact assessment, including consideration of costs and benefits, would be prepared as part of any implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. No such assessment is available at this stage.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increasing use of pea protein in food products.

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that ...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the Food Standards Agency on listing pea protein as an allergen.

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that ...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October to Question 6533 on Disposable Wipes: Plastics, on what date he plans to bring forward proposals to implement a ban on the sale of wet wipes contai

The Government is working together with the devolved governments to understand the issue, with a view to legislate to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to reply substantively to the correspondence of 23 January 2024 from the Hon. Member for St Albans on behalf of her constituent, his Department’s reference MC2024/01885,

Correspondence MC2024/01885 is undergoing clearance processes and will be issued shortly. MC2024/01885 was one of a very large number of correspondences on this topic received by the department which contributed to delays in responses. Following dissoluti...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to require sustainable drainage systems for new housing developments under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Planning policy requires that Sustainable Drainage Systems are included in all new major developments, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The Government is currently assessing how best to implement its ambitions on sustainabl...

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to prohibit the sale and use of wet wipes containing plastic.

This Government has called for the banning of the sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on vaccinating badgers to help tackle the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Over the past few years, several initiatives have been introduced to encourage take up of badger vaccination over larger, more contiguous areas. Bolstering APHA field teams to deliver badger vaccination in several areas where licensed badger culling had e...

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the guidance entitled Local Sites: Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management, published by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister in 2006, whether local wildlife trusts require landowner permission to designate an area as a local wildlife site.

Local Wildlife Sites are designated by local authorities for their significant nature or geological conservation value and should be identified, mapped and safeguarded through Local Plans. Local Wildlife Sites Partnerships, set up by the local authorities for their areas, have responsibility for selecting the sites. The Partnerships are often hosted by or include the Local Wildlife Trust and may include landowners. The decision for selection (or deselection) of sites, informed by local criteria and surveys, rests with the relevant Partnership. Each Partnership determines the approach to site selection for their area. Although they do not require landowners’ consent prior to designation, they will require approval to undertake necessary surveys on the land and should engage with relevant landowners before selecting sites.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers before October 2027.

Yes. This Government is committed to creating a roadmap to a zero-waste economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer; waste is reduced; we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs; our economy prospers; and nature thrives. We are reviewing the suite of packaging reforms and are going to work with our devolved government counterparts, industry and other stakeholders to determine the next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme. I would be happy to update the House in due course.