Written questions by Jogee.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish all correspondence between the Environment Agency and his Department on the Walleys Quarry Landfill site in each of the last five years.

The Hon Member has requested a significant amount of information. Some of this correspondence may be subject to the conventions regarding access to papers of a previous Administration. Publishing some items of this correspondence could also risk prejudicing ongoing regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to the site. To fully review all of this correspondence would incur disproportionate cost. With this in mind I would like to offer a meeting with the Hon Member to discuss the issues at the site and actions underway.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the correspondence received by his Department from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council on the Walleys Quarry Landfill Site in each of the last five years.

The Hon Member has requested a significant amount of information. Some of this correspondence may be subject to the conventions regarding access to papers of a previous Administration. Publishing some items of this correspondence could also risk prejudicing ongoing regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to the site. To fully review all of this correspondence would incur disproportionate cost. With this in mind I would like to offer a meeting with the Hon Member to discuss the issues at the site and actions underway.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the correspondence received by his Department from Staffordshire County Council on the Walleys Quarry Landfill Site in each of the last five years.

The Hon Member has requested a significant amount of information. Some of this correspondence may be subject to the conventions regarding access to papers of a previous Administration. Publishing some items of this correspondence could also risk prejudicing ongoing regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to the site. To fully review all of this correspondence would incur disproportionate cost. With this in mind I would like to offer a meeting with the Hon Member to discuss the issues at the site and actions underway.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive on his departmental priorities.

The Secretary of State had a call with Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on his second full day (9 July) where they committed to constructive partnership working and identified early shared priorities to collaborate on including tackling water quality issues, and reducing waste and pollution in order to protect our natural resources and grow the economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Environment in the Scottish Government on his departmental priorities.

The Secretary of State had a call with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands on his second full day (9 July) where they committed to constructive partnership working and identified early shared priorities to collaborate on including protecting our natural resources to grow the economy through circular economy measures; supporting farmers and improving food security; and, sharing information on land use reform and access to nature.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Environment in the Welsh Government on his departmental priorities.

The Secretary of State had a call with Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on his second full day (9 July) where they committed to constructive partnership working, and identified early shared priorities to collaborate on to protect our natural resources and grow the economy, including initiatives to build a circular economy and measures to improve the water quality in our shared rivers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulation of landfill sites.

No recent formal assessment has been made, although published Environment Agency data (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-activities-regulated-by-the-environment-agency-2022/review-of-activities-regulated-by-the-environment-agency-2022 ) shows that there are only a handful of serious pollution incidents from landfill sites each year. The regulatory framework in place is designed to serve operators and protect the local community. Where poor performance does occur the Environment Agency has a range of powers to bring sites back into compliance and, where necessary, to take enforcement action against operators. These enforcement powers include the use of civil sanction Stop Notices under the Regulatory and Enforcement Sanctions Act 2008, and the ability to suspend or revoke an environmental permit, or to close a site down where there is evidence of harm or risk to the environment or human health under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) 2016 Regulations, as well as to take criminal prosecutions under that legislation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Office for Environmental Protection.

This Government is committed to protecting the environment. We look forward to positive engagement with the Office for Environmental Protection. Their wide-ranging work is vital in supporting the environmental outcomes we all want to see, including restoring nature, and cleaning up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans take to support (a) farmers and (b) the farming sector in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

We will deliver a resilient and healthy food system, with a new deal for farmers that works for farmers, food security and nature. The only way to do this effectively is to listen to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside and nature. The Government is doing this and assessing data and information about what is working and what is not before setting out detailed plans. Ministers will confirm plans for further rollout of farming grants and schemes shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the enforcement powers of the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency publishes an annual Review of Activities Regulated by the Environment Agency setting out details of enforcement action taken. The most recent of these reports was published in March this year and sets out statistics demonstrating the effectiveness of the regulatory activities of the Agency, including enforcement. In relation to waste crime, the Environment Agency’s has a wide range of investigatory and enforcement powers, including powers of entry, powers to search and seize evidence and to access communications data. Further regulatory reform is underway. The Environment Agency also has powers to sanction offenders using Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs). In addition to the formal review, individual incidents and criminal investigation provide the regulators opportunity to learn lessons and identify further ways to frustrate the efforts of those who are determined to make profits, breaching environmental controls with no regard to their impact on the environment and local people.