Guidance: Protecting our water, soil and air

Updated: Added a new link to the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice for reducing ammonia emissions.

Protecting our Water, Soil and Air: A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers (the ‘CoGAP’) offers practical interpretation of legislation and provides good advice on best practice. Good agricultural practice means a practice that minimises the risk of causing pollution while protecting natural resources and allowing economic agriculture to continue.  It has been written by technical specialists from Defra and Natural England.

All farm staff and contractors on the farm who handle, store, use, spread or dispose of any substances that could pollute water, soil or air should be aware of their responsibilities and know about the causes and results of pollution. They should know how and when to operate and maintain the equipment they use, and know what to do in an emergency.

The CoGAP provides an important point of reference, based around the main operations that farmers, growers and land managers might undertake; the advice covers activities carried out in the field, but also management plans, farm infrastructure and waste management.




Official Statistics: Rural innovation statistics

Updated: Published today, latest statistics on business innovation in rural areas

The Department for Business Innovation & Skills define innovation activity where enterprises have been engaged in any of the following:

  1. Introduction of a new or significantly improved product (good or service) or process;
  2. Engagement in innovation projects not yet complete or abandoned;
  3. New and significantly improved forms of organisation, business structures or practices and marketing concepts or strategies;
  4. Activities in areas such as internal research and development, training, acquisition of external knowledge or machinery and equipment linked to innovation activities.

Metadata

Indicators:

  • businesses engaged in broader innovation

Data source: BIS Innovation survey

Coverage: England

Rural classification used: Office for National Statistics Rural Urban Classification

Next release date: tbc

Defra statistics: rural

You can also contact us via Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefraStats




Guidance: MOD byelaws: Dumfries and Galloway

Updated: Updated the web content after the latest internet review.

To be reviewed

The following sites are on the current programme to be reviewed. Unfortunately in some cases the department no longer holds copies of the relevant byelaws listed below or byelaws do not currently exist and consequently in these cases no active hyperlink is in place. It is possible, however, that copies may still be held in local county record offices, but no physical check has been made by MOD.

Lapsed

Over the years the MOD has sold or transferred the freehold or relinquished the leasehold at a significant number of sites that were once the subject of byelaws. This list may also be helpful in showing for environmental and historical research those areas of the country once occupied by MOD. Unfortunately in some cases the department no longer holds copies of the relevant byelaws listed below and consequently in these cases no active hyperlink is in place. It is possible, however, that copies may still be held in local county record offices, but no physical check has been made by MOD.

Revoked

Over the years the MOD has reviewed existing byelaws, in the process revoking previous byelaws. The MOD has also revoked byelaws on land that is in the process of being disposed of. This list may be helpful in showing for environmental and historical research those areas of the country once occupied by MOD. Unfortunately in some cases the department no longer holds copies of the relevant byelaws listed below and consequently in these cases no active hyperlink is in place. It is possible, however, that copies may still be held in local county record offices, but no physical check has been made by MOD.

  • Burrow Head Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range byelaws 1938 ^
  • [Luce Bay (in the County of Wigtown) Air Gunnery and Bombing Range byelaws 1938]( [See Attached]

    ^  No copy of the Byelaw document is currently available
    

Ministry of Defence: byelaws review

List of Byelaws to be Reviewed

Public access to military areas

The defence training estate

Military ranges firing notices




Guidance: Code of practice for the sustainable use of soils on construction sites

Updated: We have clarified the status of this old publication, which has been retained for reference purposes.

This document, which dates from 2009, has not been reviewed or updated since. It may not exactly reflect current legislation or controls. It still provides relevant advice, and has been retained for reference purposes.

This code of practice is a practical guide to assist anyone involved in the construction industry to protect the soil resources with which they work. It is particularly intended for use in England.




Research and analysis: COMEAP: mortality effects of long-term exposure to particulate air pollution in the UK

Updated: Added link to new COMEAP report on ‘Particulate air pollution: effects on mortality’.

COMEAP has published updated advice on this topic; see ‘Particulate air pollution: effects on mortality’.

This report deals with answering what, at first glance, appear to be relatively simple questions regarding the effects of particulate air pollution on mortality in the UK. We have tried to explain not only the approaches we have used to answer the questions, but also the limitations of the interpretations that can be put on the results. We anticipate that it will be useful to policy makers and elected representatives, and hope also that it will make a helpful contribution to public awareness and understanding of the health effects of air pollution.

In summary:

  • Airborne particles comprise an anthropogenic component and a natural component.

  • There is an interest in the effects of air pollution on mortality in terms of the impact that policies for reduction would have, or the current burden in terms of public health.

  • These effects can be expressed at the population level in terms of life expectancy, and on loss or gain in life years. The burden can also be expressed in terms of deaths occurring in a specified year across the population.

  • As everyone dies eventually no lives are ever saved by reducing environmental exposures – deaths are delayed resulting in increased life expectancy.

  • These measures are averages or aggregates across the population; it is not known how the effects are distributed among individuals.