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1658857

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Microplastics: Pollution Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent microplastic fibre pollution.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9923
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government has taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (eg. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic micro-beads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>Defra have been working closely with industry to understand the costs of installing microfibre filters on washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine dependant on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or re-useable. Defra’s Plan for Water includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL9924 question first answered 15/09/2023 12:17:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1658858

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Washing Machines: Microplastics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the costs of installation of microplastic fibre capture filters on domestic washing machines; and what engagement they have had with industry regarding the feasibility of installing such filters.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9924
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government has taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (eg. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic micro-beads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>Defra have been working closely with industry to understand the costs of installing microfibre filters on washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine dependant on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or re-useable. Defra’s Plan for Water includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL9923 question first answered 15/09/2023 12:17:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1658859

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Water Companies: Microplastics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with water companies to explore the management of microplastics in sewage sludge.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to safeguarding the natural environment from harms. We have been collaborating with water companies on the investigation of microplastics in wastewater treatment through the National Chemical Investigations Programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency have published their strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use. This strategy explores options for modernising and harmonising the regulatory framework with the aim of ensuring the management and use of sludge supports healthy and productive land and soil. The Government is currently examining the strategy’s impact on our environmental outcomes and water and farming industries.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:16:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1658860

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Rivers and Seas and Oceans: Microplastics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve methods to measure the amount and types of microplastic and microfibres in rivers, lakes, seas and their sediments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra intends to publish a report that it commissioned on improving the sampling and analytical protocols to determine the quantities, loads and types of microplastics in surface waters and sediments, later this year. Following this, working with the Environment Agency, Defra will consider the approaches to sampling surface waters and sediments to develop provisional standard operating procedure guidelines that will be used to improve sampling, processing and analysing of microplastics in river waters and sediments.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:16:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1658879

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Hornets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to contain the spread of the Asian hornet to the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL9945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) in response to the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on honey bees and pollinators. The Contingency Plan details what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur and has been regularly updated with the most recent version published in January 2023.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. Contingency action is delivered on the ground by the National Bee Unit (NBU) – part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. As of 6<sup>th</sup> September 2023, the NBU have located 37 Asian hornet nests which have been destroyed.</p><p> </p><p>Genetic analyses of hornet and nest samples are done to determine relatedness and assess whether Asian hornets are established in England. Evidence from previous years suggested that all 13 Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 were separate incursions and there is nothing to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. We have not seen any evidence which demonstrates that Asian hornets discovered in England this year were produced by queens that overwintered. More detailed analysis will be done over winter to assess this.</p><p> </p><p>Raising awareness is a key aspect of the response. We ask anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian hornet to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:16:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name 2023-01-03_Asian_hornet_contingency_plan_Public_version_English-AC (1).pdf title Asian hornet contingency plan
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1658880

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees and Honey
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of Asian hornets on (1) honey production in the UK, and (2) the decline in pollinators.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL9946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>It is estimated that less than 20% of the honey sold in the UK is produced domestically. To date contingency action has been taken against incursions of Asian hornet into the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. From detailed analysis of all the Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 there is no evidence to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. Therefore, the impact on UK honey production is thought to be minimal.</p><p> </p><p>Nevertheless, we recognise that if Asian hornet were to become established in the UK, it is likely that there would be significant impacts on honey bees and wild pollinators. This is why we continue to take contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet.</p><p> </p><p>Pollinators are a priority for this government, and we are taking action alongside many partners to implement the National Pollinator Strategy’s provisions. The National Pollinator Strategy Action Plan was published in May 2022 and sets out more specifically how we will continue to act to fulfil the vision, aims and objectives of the Strategy over the period 2021-2024, including in relation to tackling the threats from non-native invasive species like the Asian hornet.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:15:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1658882

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Lighting: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the results of Star Count 2023 project published by CPRE, the countryside charity.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL9948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government has not made a formal assessment of the results of CPRE’s Star Count 2023. We recognise that light pollution may have an impact on people and the environment and have put in place a range of measures to ensure that artificial light is managed effectively. These include controls in the planning system, the statutory nuisance regime, and improvements in street lighting.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:15:01 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1658895

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: UK Trade with EU
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether any changes to labelling requirements for food products being exported from the UK to the EU are currently scheduled; and if so what they are.
tabling member printed	Lord Weir of Ballyholme
uin	HL9961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The labelling requirements for food placed on the markets of each EU Member State should be available from each of those countries’ relevant competent authorities. Companies can also find information from the European Commission on food labelling rules in the EU on the European Commission’s website.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL9962 question first answered 18/09/2023 12:24:52 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4970 label Biography information for Lord Weir of Ballyholme

1658896

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: EU Countries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what labelling is currently required for food products travelling from the UK to the EU.
tabling member printed	Lord Weir of Ballyholme
uin	HL9962
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The labelling requirements for food placed on the markets of each EU Member State should be available from each of those countries’ relevant competent authorities. Companies can also find information from the European Commission on food labelling rules in the EU on the European Commission’s website.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL9961 question first answered 18/09/2023 12:24:52 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4970 label Biography information for Lord Weir of Ballyholme