Every parliamentary written question tabled by David Simmonds this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 20 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84211 on Peatlands: Controlled Burning, (a) what advice the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council has provided and (b) what assessment has been made by her Department in relation to potential wild fire risks on Dartmoor from changes proposed by Natural England to grazing practices.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the departmental blog entitled Biodiversity Net Gain: what's changing and what it means for you, published 20 April 2026, for what reason the existing exemption for s
Government consulted on removing the exemption for small scale self-build and custom build development in the 2025 consultation on Improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. Most respondents support...
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124787 on Forestry Commission: Appeals, on how many instances appeal panels have recommended against upholding a Restocking No
Reference Committees have recommended the Restocking Notice should be withdrawn in five cases in 2025, and in one case to date in 2026.
Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance has been given to local authorities on removing unauthorised moorings on rivers; and what is the division of responsibilities between (a) councils and (b) Environment Agency.
Navigation authorities are responsible for managing operations on their waterways and the Government does not direct that. Boaters are expected to comply with the terms of their licences for the benefit of all waterway users, including any restrictions on mooring. In instances of non-compliance, navigation authorities have enforcement powers. Where a boat is occupied, particularly in cases involving potential vulnerability, navigation authorities seek to work with local authority housing and safeguarding teams to assess welfare concerns and avoid disproportionate outcomes. There is no specific national guidance on the division of responsibilities between councils and the Environment Agency (EA) for removing boats from unauthorised moorings, as such situations typically involve shared and locally determined responsibilities. The EA engages with local authorities on the potential use of its powers to remove unregistered boats from its waterways. Where a boat is moored without permission on land owned by a local authority, the authority leads on arranging its removal with the EA providing support and coordination where appropriate.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57661 on Water Charges, what estimate he has made of the average household water bill in each year from 2025 to 2030.
The price controls set by Ofwat under Price Review 2024 came into effect on 1st April 2025. The average customer bill will increase by 36% over the next five years. These bill rises equate to around £3 additional per month on average, before inflation, over the next five years. This will pay to fix crumbling infrastructure, which will dramatically reduce sewage spills and lead to cleaner rivers, lakes and seas. The Secretary of State has secured agreement with Ofwat that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, for what reason a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not required for that guidance.
Applicants are advised to consider the interim planning guidance as part of their planning application, but the interim guidance is not statutory. Therefore, it is not a regulatory provision and as such a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not currently required.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, how many new developments and dwellings currently undertake air quality assessments; and when such are assessments required.
All developments subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment are required to undertake air quality assessments. Air quality assessments may also be required for developments where national assessment indicates that relevant limit values for air pollutants have been exceeded or are near the limit, or where the need for emissions reductions has been identified. The information regarding how many new developments and dwellings currently undertake air quality assessments is not collated centrally.
Food and Rural Affairs, how local authorities are charged for the costs of residual waste disposal through (a) incineration and (b) landfill.
For too long the nation has seen recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning or burying waste. The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular 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. Key to this commitment is the reduction of residual waste. Charges for waste disposal are usually expressed as a pound per tonne cost and paid monthly in arrears depending on the tonnage managed under the contractual relationship. The overall cost of waste disposal will depend on a number of variables, associated with their contracts. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report UK Gate Fees report 2023-24 | WRAP. The disposal of waste in landfill is also subject to the Landfill Tax. Landfill Tax rates - GOV.UK
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19349 on Nature Conservation: EU law, what amendments to assimilated EU law are being considered.
Future plans for the reporting period 24 June to 23 December 2025 will be included in the fourth Assimilated Law Parliamentary Report. Past reports can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/retained-eu-law-reul-parliamentary-report.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21148 on Air Pollution, which local authorities his Department is discussing Clean Air Zones with.
The Government has agreed local plans with all areas in the NO2 programme except for Stoke-on-Trent/Newcastle-under-Lyme. Seven Clean Air Zones have been implemented by local authorities under the previous Government where local plans had evidenced them to achieve legal NO2 levels in the shortest possible time. Government engages with these local authorities on a range of issues, including the operation of their Clean Air Zones, Local authorities with established Clean Air Zones are:BathBirminghamBradfordBristolPortsmouthSheffieldTyneside (Newcastle/Gateshead)
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) publish a response to and (b) implement the policies set out in the consultation on statutory litter enforcement guidance that closed in April 2024.
Defra recognises the role that appropriate and proportionate enforcement can play in helping local authorities keep streets clear of litter. Defra is considering the benefits of bringing forward statutory litter enforcement guidance and any new guidance w...
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 20 September 2024 to Question 5409 on Recycling and to Question 5225 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, whether it is her policy that the minimum residual fr
Simpler Recycling will mean that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials at home, work or school, ending the confusion over what can or cannot be recycled in different parts of the country.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to local authority decisions on the configuration of household waste
Local authorities must comply with all relevant Equalities Act duties and in England this will include the socio-economic duty in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to implement the policies set out in Annex A of the Government response to the consultation on Consistency in household and business recycling in England, updated on 2
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. By default, the primary legislation requires that the recyclable waste streams are collected in separate containers, unless this is technically or economically impra...
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1516 on Housing: Gardens, what the timetable is for the review of the effectiveness of all available options to manage unplanned in
Defra is considering how best to take forward the review of the effectiveness of all available options to manage unplanned increases in impermeable or hard surfaces.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to limit the number of bins into which councils require householders to separate their rubbish.
The Government is committed to delivering the Collection and Packaging Reforms to the announced timelines, including the Simpler Recycling policy in England, subject to spending review outcomes. Ministers are reviewing final policy positions relating to S...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) banning and (b) further regulating wood burning stoves in domestic dwellings.
Domestic wood burning stoves make a significant contribution to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions nationally, with implications for the health of everyone exposed to smoke. Defra is currently considering options for action to reduce the impact of ...
Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing thresh
The Government is considering how best to implement its ambitions on sustainable drainage.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will disapply the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
A healthy natural environment is critical to a strong economy. This government is committed to delivering for nature and will work with stakeholders, including nature conservation organisations, to develop an approach that both restores nature and enables economic growth. We will only legislate where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of her policies on (a) the mitigation credit market and (b) investor confidence in nature markets.
This government was elected on a mandate to get Britain building again, alongside protecting and restoring the natural environment. We are determined to transform the system to ensure a win-win for people and nature. The existing nutrient mitigation market plays an essential role in enabling housing to go ahead in areas affected by nutrient neutrality without making pollution worse. The Government is continuing to support mitigation provision through Natural England’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, which work with and alongside private sector providers.