Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37074 on Low Alcohol Drinks, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of amending the marketing and labelling rules for the alcohol-free drinks to increase it from 0.05% to 0.5% ABV.

The Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. While the Government has not made a specific assessment of changing the alcohol-free threshold, both Defra and DHSC will continue to work together to understand the opportunities presented by alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks. This will support the government’s Growth and Health missions by both encouraging growth in the alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks sector and also as a potential way to address alcohol related harms.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated cost is to the public purse of compliance with the Aarhus Convention.

The UK Government is committed to the effective implementation of our international obligations. The UK has been a party to the Aarhus Convention since ratification in 2005 and has long given effect to aspects of the Convention in domestic legislation. The Government has not estimated the cost of upholding its international law obligations as a Party to the Convention. Over the past decade, the UK has been found to not be compliant with aspects of the Aarhus Convention. To ensure that the UK upholds its international law obligations, the Government is undertaking a call for evidence to gather views on the best way to bring policies concerning access to justice in line with our obligations under the Convention. Where new policy contains provisions relevant to matters covered by the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice, the implications of the UK’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention are considered in the same manner as the UK’s other domestic and international legal obligations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of implementation of the Aarhus Convention.

The UK Government is committed to the effective implementation of our international obligations. The UK has been a party to the Aarhus Convention since ratification in 2005 and has long given effect to aspects of the Convention in domestic legislation. The Government has not estimated the cost of upholding its international law obligations as a Party to the Convention. Over the past decade, the UK has been found to not be compliant with aspects of the Aarhus Convention. To ensure that the UK upholds its international law obligations, the Government is undertaking a call for evidence to gather views on the best way to bring policies concerning access to justice in line with our obligations under the Convention. Where new policy contains provisions relevant to matters covered by the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice, the implications of the UK’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention are considered in the same manner as the UK’s other domestic and international legal obligations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish an update of the document entitled The 2011 Rural-Urban Classification for Output Areas in England, published on 13 September 2013, in the context of (a) local government reorganisation and (b) housing developments.

The Office for National Statistics published the 2021 Rural Urban Classification for Output Areas and other geographies on 6 March 2025. This takes account of the 2021 Census, local Government reorganisation and development since 2011. Details can be found here with links to resources published by the Office for National Statistics.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30643 on Nightclubs and Public Houses: Planning, what guidance his Department has issued on noise and statutory nuisance; and whether his Department has issued guidance on the agent of change principle.

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA. If local authorities consider that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, they must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible). Further guidance on planning policy on noise, which includes advice on the agent of change’ principle, is published by MHCLG.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2025, to Question 22329, on Noise: Pollution Control, whether his Department has published guidance on established use in statutory nuisance complaints for (a) long-standing chiming clocks and (b) church bells.

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA. If local authorities consider that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, they must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible). Further guidance on planning policy on noise, which includes advice on the agent of change’ principle, is published by MHCLG.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30440 on Housing: Construction, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling developers to meet biodiversity net gain through off-site credits.

The biodiversity gain hierarchy makes clear that a developer should first look to deliver their 10% BNG on-site. If they cannot achieve all or part of the 10% on-site, they must achieve the BNG off-site either on their own land, or by purchasing biodiversity units through the off-site market. If the type of units they need are unavailable in the market, they can purchase statutory biodiversity credits as a last resort. Developers must follow this hierarchy as set out in legislation. The Government is working with stakeholders to monitor the implementation of BNG to make sure it is working as intended.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30440 on Housing: Construction, whether SANGS payments and other nature mitigation payments can be offset towards BNG payments.

We have published GOV.UK guidance on “what you can count towards a development’s biodiversity net gain”. This confirms that Suitable alternative natural green space can count in part, and also lists other schemes which can count either in full or in part towards biodiversity net gain.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gate fees on local authorities' collection of household residual waste.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report UK Gate Fees report 2023-24 | WRAP.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, whether state taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report, including those for Energy from Waste (EfW). No taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 14 February 2025 to Question (a) 29078 and (b) 29080 on Property Development: Air Pollution, whether air quality assessments for developments subject to an Environment Impact Assessment are a statutory requirement.

The degree to which air quality is assessed depends on the likely significant effects of the development on the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32543 on Sewers, whether the implementation of SuDS will be (a) subject to the 10 unit threshold previously proposed and (b) not apply to permitted development, including change of use.

The Government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on 12 December 2024.This update expanded the requirement for applicants to take a more holistic approach so that it is clear that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where they could have drainage impacts and take the opportunities which this offers to provide a range of benefits, but in a way which is proportionate to the nature and scale of the scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September 2024 to Question 4992 on Greenpeace, whether his Department engages with (a) Just Stop Oil and (b) Extinction Rebellion.

The Department has not engaged with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2025, to Question 23647, on Planning Permission: Air Pollution, for what reason the interim guidance was approved without an (a) public sector equality duty assessment and (b) environmental principles assessment.

The environmental principles were considered throughout the development of the interim guidance, and the policy has due regard to the aims of the public sector equality duty. The Answer of 20 January 2025, pursuant to Question 23647 was interpreted as a request for the publication of a formal assessment of how the environmental principles were applied and publication of an equality impact assessment. Publication of these assessments is not required.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned research on the level of (a) water usage and (b) waste water produced in water company areas.

Water companies report on water use in water resources management plans (WRMPs) annual reviews. The Environment Agency published this data on 7 October 2024. The Government requires water companies to forecast water usage in their 25-year WRMPs. The Environment Agency published a summary of these on 20 December 2024. As of September 2024, the Government commenced a duty on sewerage undertakers to plan for wastewater capacity need in their 25-year drainage and wastewater management plans (DWMPs). DWMPs are expected to be published in 2027/8 and reviewed annually.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department issues guidance on the frequency of household rubbish and recycling collections.

Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly. Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The Government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 17 and 60 of the policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of those policies on great crested newts.

At this stage, the Government has not yet finalised its assessment of how it can further support local authorities to tackle litter. Any new announcements will be announced in the usual way.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 14343 on Litter, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the compliance of (a) local authorities and (b) outsourced companies with the provisions of the non-statutory Code of Practice on issuing fines to receive greater (i) revenue and (ii) profits.

Local authorities remain responsible for the whole enforcement process. Authorities that outsource any area of enforcement to private companies should ensure that the contractor fulfils all the requirements set down for the authority itself. This position is set down in existing advisory guidance on enforcement of environmental offences available here.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18950 on Planning Permission: Air Pollution, if he will make an estimate of the average additional cost resulting from that interim guidance for a new building dwelling in areas with poor air quality.

The interim planning guidance applies to developments which would normally require an air quality assessment, regardless of location and is expected to have minimal impact on the cost of new developments. As this is interim guidance an assessment of cost is not required.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 13 October 2023 to Question 201037 on Rivers: Environment Protection, what steps his Department has taken to support the implementation of the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack.

For too long, water companies have pumped record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top Government priority. That is why on 23 October, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works. Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our holistic programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. In 2024/2025, there are over 45 chalk stream projects receiving funding from the Government's Water Environment Improvement Fund, each leveraging private investment.