Written questions by Bool.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Environment Agency to prevent companies from importing waste carpet from the EU.

Waste is a commodity, and there is a legitimate global market for secondary materials. The transfrontier shipment of waste, including waste carpet, is subject to strict controls that are set out in the UK’s legislation. All waste shipments from the EU to the UK must comply with these controls. The Environment Agency (EA) is England’s competent authority and conducts compliance activities on an intelligence led, risk-based approach to ensure that imports of waste to England are in compliance with the legislative controls. The EA welcome any information regarding possible illegal movements via their incident reporting system or via Crimestoppers.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248.

We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing. Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248.

There have been no discussions with the Environment Agency about the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of providing financial support to businesses with the cost of the removal of unusable stock, in the context of the withdrawal of the regulatory guidance statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248.

We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing. Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.