Taking action to ensure that our clean energy supply chains are resilient is a key priority across our missions - both to make the UK a clean energy superpower and kickstart growth.

The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered with the British Geological Survey, is currently undertaking an updated criticality assessment, which will assess the economic vulnerability and supply risk of over 80 candidate materials, including zinc.

Metals from abandoned mines impact water quality and aquatic wildlife in more than 150 kilometres of the South Tyne catchment, and these metals ultimately accumulate in the Tyne estuary sediments.

The Environment Agency (EA) has investigated the environmental impacts of zinc and lead from historic mine activity in the upper reaches of the River Tyne, particularly in the Rivers Nent and West Allen, which are two of the most metal-polluted rivers in England.

EA surveys in 2017 and 2018 showed populations of brown trout in the River Nent were about half that of a similar, unpolluted, control catchment. EA studies of river-flies (invertebrates) in the Nent and West Allen catchments also found decreased abundance and variety. The concentrations of zinc in the River Nent are high enough to be acutely toxic to fish but the brown trout appear to have adapted after two centuries of exposure.

The EA is working in partnership with the Coal Authority and Defra to implement measures to control inputs of metals in the Tyne headwaters as part of the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme. In 2022/23, construction of the Nent Haggs mine water treatment scheme will be completed; once fully operational in 2023, this should capture up to 3 tonnes of zinc and cadmium each year and improve water quality in 60km of rivers. Other measures are being developed to stop metals polluting the River South Tyne and decrease the amount of metals that accumulate in Tyne estuary sediments.

We are currently consulting on a target to reduce the length of rivers pollution by metals from Abandoned Metal Mines by 50% by 2037 in the Environment Act Targets consultation. This will include zinc and lead pollution.

Zinc and lead are known to induce adverse effects on marine life. River Tyne sediments exhibit higher levels of these metals compared with other parts of the UK, due to the historical industrial and mining activities associated with the river. There is currently insufficient evidence as to whether concentrations of zinc and lead in the form found in River Tyne sediments are having an impact on marine life.

However, in recognition of wider evidence of the impacts of mining pollution more generally, we are currently consulting on a target to reduce the length of rivers pollution by metals from abandoned metal mines by 50% by 2037 in the Environment Act Targets consultation. This will include lead and zinc metal pollution.

This will drive action across the country and builds on work by the Environment Agency, in partnership with the Coal Authority and Defra, to implement measures to control inputs of metals in the Tyne headwaters as part of the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 64550 on 1 November 2021 and to the eligibility criteria for the Building Safety Fund. Building owners are made aware of why their building is ineligible when a decision is made.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 64550 on 1 November 2021 and to the eligibility criteria for the Building Safety Fund. Building owners are made aware of why their building is ineligible when a decision is made.

The Government has always been clear that a risk-based professional judgement should be made regarding the safety of a building's external wall system and would encourage building owners to consult a competent professional who will be able to advise.

A number of factors should be considered when considering the external walls of buildings such as building height, cavity barrier provision, ability to pass a large-scale test (i.e., BS 8414/BR135) and consideration of other fire safety measures such as sprinklers. We cannot comment on specific building situations, however we would always encourage those undertaking these assessments to use an approach proportionate to the level of risk in each building.

We are developing more risk-proportionate guidelines for fire risk assessors, including PAS 9980 and new statutory fire safety guidance.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) carried out a rapid scoping exercise on nutrition and immune function in relation to COVID-19 which included consideration of zinc. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Public Health England (PHE) and the SACN also carried out assessments of the available evidence on vitamin D and COVID-19. None of the studies found robust evidence to support taking zinc or vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19. NICE, PHE and the SACN are continuing to monitor evidence as it is published and will review and update guidance if necessary.

The longstanding Government advice is that between October and early March everyone is advised to take a supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 international units) of vitamin D a day to protect their bone and muscle health. This is because we cannot make vitamin D from sunlight in the United Kingdom at this time of year. From January, the Government is providing a free four-month supply of daily vitamin D supplements to adults on the clinically extremely vulnerable list that have opted in to receive the supplements and residents in residential and nursing care homes in England. The Government has prioritised groups that were asked to stay indoors more than usual over the spring and summer due to national restrictions.

The Department has assessed the zinc intake of children using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The most recent results¹, combining intake data, from children surveyed between 2008 and 2011 show that the proportion of individuals with intakes of zinc below the lower reference nutrient intake (LRNI) is now lower in both four-10 year olds and 11-18 year olds than it was in the earlier survey of this group² conducted in 1997, indicating improvement. 6 %, of four-10 year olds now have intakes below the LRNI compared to 15%, in 1997. 15%, of 11-18 year olds now have intakes below the LRNI compared to 21%, in 1997.

Habitual intakes of nutrients below the LRNI put individuals at greater risk of becoming deficient, but having a low intake of zinc over the NDNS survey period does not necessarily mean that an individual is deficient. For zinc the dietary reference values were set in 19913 and were based on the amount of zinc needed to balance daily losses, rather than an amount needed to maintain or promote functional health effects.

Zinc is an essential component of a number of proteins involved in biological processes in the human body and the symptoms of zinc deficiency are wide ranging. Research testing the benefits of zinc supplements have mainly focused on countries in the developing world where malnutrition is prevalent. Results on the physical effects, such as growth⁴, wound healing⁵, immunity⁶,diarrhoea⁷ and the mental effects⁸ of zinc have generally been inconsistent.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition reviews the results of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey and has not raised particular issues about zinc to the Department.

References:¹ Bates B, Lennox A, Prentice A, Bates C, and Swan G (Eds.) (2012) National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Headline results from Years 1, 2 and 3 (combined) of the rolling programme (2008-09 – 2010-11)² Gregory J, Lowe S, Bates a, Prentice A, Jackson LV, Smithers G, Wenlock R and Farron M (2000) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: young people aged four to 18 years, Volume 1: Report of the diet and nutrition survey London HMSO.³ Department of Health (1991) Dietary reference values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on health and social subjects No. 41. London HMSO.⁴ Ramakrishnan U, Nguyen P, Martorell R (2009) Effects of micronutrients on growth of children under five years of age: meta-analyses of single and multiple nutrient interventions. Am J Clin Nutr. 89 (l):191-203.⁵ Wilkinson EA (2012) Oral zinc for arterial and venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 15;8:⁶ Hemila H (2011) Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. Open Respir Med J. 5:51-8.⁷ Lazzerini M, Ronfani L. (2012) Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Jun 13;6⁸ Black MM (2003) The evidence linking zinc deficiency with children's cognitive and motor functioning. J Nutr. 133(5 Suppl 1):1473S-6S.

The Department collects information on intakes of nutrients, including zinc, through the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). Average daily intakes of zinc in different population groups are compared with reference values including the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI), which is the amount of a specific nutrient that is sufficient for only a few individuals with low needs. Habitual intakes below this level are almost certainly inadequate for most individuals.

The proportion of different age groups with average daily intakes of zinc below the LRNI is shown in the following table: