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1700737

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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
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 impact of flooding on farmland on the likelihood of food shortages and loss of farm income.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open market with the value of commodities established by those in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The recent prolonged period of wet weather has impacted the UK arable and livestock sectors in several ways. These include late/limited planting opportunities for arable and horticulture crops; delayed turn out of grazing animals and the associated risk of diseases in keeping animals housed indoors for longer periods than usual, concerns about the potential scarcity and cost of straw; a build-up of stored slurry and reduced application opportunities; and wider concerns about the impact on mental health of farmers. Yields and productivity will also vary depending on individual farmer decisions, region, area and in the case of the arable sector, crop and soil type amongst other factors.</p><p> </p><p>A number of individual farms have clearly been affected by the wet weather. While the current market assessment is that there may be implications over the coming months for certain commodities, particularly in the expected yield and quality of several arable crops this summer/autumn, it is still too early to predict the full impact on domestic food production, especially if the weather improves in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the on-going situation, working closely with the industry and through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG). The UK AMMG held an interim meeting on 16 April to specifically consider the impacts of the weather on each commodity sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Farming Recovery Fund has been opened to provide farmers support to recover from uninsurable damage with grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was before exceptional flooding of Storm Henk. The fund was initially opened in nine English local authority areas where the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated to help farms which have experienced the highest levels of flooding. Eligibility for the Fund is actively under review.</p><p> </p><p>This forms part of a package of support available to farmers through the Flood Recovery Framework, including a grant of up to £2,500 through the Business Recovery Grant Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. It examines trends relevant to food security to present the best available understanding. The report was last published in December 2021 and will next be published by December 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Starting this year, we are strengthening our food security monitoring by producing the Annual Food Security Index. This will complement the UKFSR with a shorter and more regular report. The first version will be published at the Farm to Fork Summit in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>The next UKFSR, which will be published later this year, will include analysis on the risk of flooding to food security as part of its assessment of longer-term climate-related trends.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3774 HL3775 question first answered 24/04/2024 13:45:13 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1700738

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Agriculture: Floods
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to help farmers deal with unrecoverable losses from flooding on farmland, and the loss of crops and livestock.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open market with the value of commodities established by those in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The recent prolonged period of wet weather has impacted the UK arable and livestock sectors in several ways. These include late/limited planting opportunities for arable and horticulture crops; delayed turn out of grazing animals and the associated risk of diseases in keeping animals housed indoors for longer periods than usual, concerns about the potential scarcity and cost of straw; a build-up of stored slurry and reduced application opportunities; and wider concerns about the impact on mental health of farmers. Yields and productivity will also vary depending on individual farmer decisions, region, area and in the case of the arable sector, crop and soil type amongst other factors.</p><p> </p><p>A number of individual farms have clearly been affected by the wet weather. While the current market assessment is that there may be implications over the coming months for certain commodities, particularly in the expected yield and quality of several arable crops this summer/autumn, it is still too early to predict the full impact on domestic food production, especially if the weather improves in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the on-going situation, working closely with the industry and through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG). The UK AMMG held an interim meeting on 16 April to specifically consider the impacts of the weather on each commodity sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Farming Recovery Fund has been opened to provide farmers support to recover from uninsurable damage with grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was before exceptional flooding of Storm Henk. The fund was initially opened in nine English local authority areas where the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated to help farms which have experienced the highest levels of flooding. Eligibility for the Fund is actively under review.</p><p> </p><p>This forms part of a package of support available to farmers through the Flood Recovery Framework, including a grant of up to £2,500 through the Business Recovery Grant Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. It examines trends relevant to food security to present the best available understanding. The report was last published in December 2021 and will next be published by December 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Starting this year, we are strengthening our food security monitoring by producing the Annual Food Security Index. This will complement the UKFSR with a shorter and more regular report. The first version will be published at the Farm to Fork Summit in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>The next UKFSR, which will be published later this year, will include analysis on the risk of flooding to food security as part of its assessment of longer-term climate-related trends.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3773 HL3775 question first answered 24/04/2024 13:45:13 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1700739

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Agriculture: Floods
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 threat to food security and farm productivity of the ongoing flooding on farmland across large parts of the country, and steps they intend to take to secure a steady supply of affordable vegetables and meat from UK sources.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open market with the value of commodities established by those in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The recent prolonged period of wet weather has impacted the UK arable and livestock sectors in several ways. These include late/limited planting opportunities for arable and horticulture crops; delayed turn out of grazing animals and the associated risk of diseases in keeping animals housed indoors for longer periods than usual, concerns about the potential scarcity and cost of straw; a build-up of stored slurry and reduced application opportunities; and wider concerns about the impact on mental health of farmers. Yields and productivity will also vary depending on individual farmer decisions, region, area and in the case of the arable sector, crop and soil type amongst other factors.</p><p> </p><p>A number of individual farms have clearly been affected by the wet weather. While the current market assessment is that there may be implications over the coming months for certain commodities, particularly in the expected yield and quality of several arable crops this summer/autumn, it is still too early to predict the full impact on domestic food production, especially if the weather improves in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the on-going situation, working closely with the industry and through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG). The UK AMMG held an interim meeting on 16 April to specifically consider the impacts of the weather on each commodity sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Farming Recovery Fund has been opened to provide farmers support to recover from uninsurable damage with grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was before exceptional flooding of Storm Henk. The fund was initially opened in nine English local authority areas where the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated to help farms which have experienced the highest levels of flooding. Eligibility for the Fund is actively under review.</p><p> </p><p>This forms part of a package of support available to farmers through the Flood Recovery Framework, including a grant of up to £2,500 through the Business Recovery Grant Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. It examines trends relevant to food security to present the best available understanding. The report was last published in December 2021 and will next be published by December 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Starting this year, we are strengthening our food security monitoring by producing the Annual Food Security Index. This will complement the UKFSR with a shorter and more regular report. The first version will be published at the Farm to Fork Summit in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>The next UKFSR, which will be published later this year, will include analysis on the risk of flooding to food security as part of its assessment of longer-term climate-related trends.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3773 HL3774 question first answered 24/04/2024 13:45:13 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1697674

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
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	UK Internal Trade: Labelling
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received on 'not for EU' labelling provisions; and what steps they will take to reduce the regulatory burden and costs of introducing them on small and medium-sized companies.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3466
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2024 answer text <p>We have, and will continue to, engage with businesses extensively on NIRMS and GB-wide labelling requirements. A six-week public consultation on the GB wide labelling proposals closed on 15 March. As set out during that consultation, we are considering steps to reduce burdens which might be appropriate, such as for small and medium sized businesses. The responses are now being analysed and we expect to publish a response to the consultation in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 04/04/2024 12:58:13 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1681334

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
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	Seeds: Pesticides
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Harlech on 4 December (HL Deb col 1352), what plans they have for (1) regulating seed treatment technology, and (2) establishing a parallel trade scheme for plant protection products.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL1450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>We have implemented temporary and targeted measures to ensure farmers have continued access to seed treatments authorised for that purpose in the EU, and access to parallel products through reinstatement of permits. This is not a permanent solution, rather the measures are designed to provide manufacturers sufficient time to submit applications for authorisation of both existing and new products and for industry to increase the supply of alternative products to bolster choice and competitiveness for all pesticide users.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 22/01/2024 17:38:56 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1674238

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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	Agriculture: Flood Control
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 role of farmland in mitigating potential flood damage by retaining excess water on fields in times of floods, and whether they have plans to reward farmers in this regard.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL715
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2023 answer text <p>Farmers and land managers can, and do, play a key role in helping to mitigate flood risks, by taking actions which encourage infiltration into the soil, transpiration, slowing the flow of water through a catchment and, in the event of a flood, temporarily storing water away from a watercourse to help protect communities, infrastructure and businesses (including agricultural businesses) downstream.</p><p> </p><p>There will be measures that benefit flood risk mitigation in all three Environmental Land Management schemes: Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Some areas of land will flood naturally. Anyone farming on a natural flood plain should expect water to enter the flood plain as a result of natural processes. There is no right to compensation or other payments for natural flooding.</p><p> </p><p>In some cases, the Environment Agency will create a temporary flood storage area on private land using its powers under the Water Resources Act 1991. These areas are designed in liaison with land managers and operated by the Environment Agency. Landowners are entitled to compensation to cover the losses and damages they incur when such a scheme is carried out on their land.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 07/12/2023 13:05:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1668168

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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: Flood Control
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 contribution of the Environment Agency to the regular maintenance of major rivers and water courses; and what assessment they have made of whether any lack of maintenance has contributed to recent flooding.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL53
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2023 answer text <p>There are around 238,000 assets registered by the Environment Agency that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England, including 76,000 assets owned and maintained directly by the Environment Agency, plus approximately 162,000 assets owned by other parties including Risk Management Authorities and Private owners. Of these, 64,000 are classified by the Environment Agency as high consequence system assets – meaning those which provide the greatest level of protection to people and property. Assets are used to maintain major rivers and water courses.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency regularly inspects over 154,000 assets that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England whether owned and maintained by the Environment Agency or other Risk Management Authorities or private individuals.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency is currently inspecting assets impacted by Storms Babet and Ciaran. The Environment Agency estimate 2,300 properties flooded during these recent storms, with 139,000 properties better protected by flood and coastal risk management schemes.</p><p> </p><p>As of October 2023, (prior to the recent Storm Babet and Ciaran), the number of Environment Agency assets that were at or above the required condition in a high consequence Risk Management System was 94.5%. For assets owned or maintained by other parties this was 90%.</p><p> </p><p>A high consequence system is a location where there is a high concentration of properties. Flood risk is reduced by several flood defences working together to protect an area. Where assets are below their required condition this identifies that work is required. This does not mean assets have structurally failed or that performance in a flood is compromised.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency publishes details of planned maintenance activities in the river and coastal maintenance programme, and further details can also be found in the Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report (see attached).</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/11/2023 16:48:05 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Flood and coastal erosion risk management report.pdf title flood/coastal risk management report
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1668169

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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: Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether slumps in embankments in rural areas contributed to recent flooding events; and what steps they are taking to ensure embankment slumps are repaired.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL54
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency works closely with other Risk Management Authorities such as local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards to manage flood risk.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency maintains over 7,300km of embankments. In the last two years about 25% of the resource allocation from Flood Defence Grant in Aid was spent on maintaining our embankments.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has been inspecting assets that may have been impacted by recent storms Babet and Ciaran. Over 2,200 inspections have been undertaken by Environment Agency inspectors and supply chain partners to date. Some assets are still not accessible due to ongoing high-water levels, and to get a full picture on the range of impacts may take a few weeks.</p><p> </p><p>If the performance of an asset is reduced, then action will be taken to ensure that flood risk continues to be effectively managed until the asset meets the required condition.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency continues to have people on the ground supporting local communities and inspecting flood defence assets, and where required is developing plans based on the level of risk to return assets to their required condition.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/11/2023 15:47:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1664801

registered interest
date	16/10/2023
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	Animals and Plants: Customs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are carried out on animal and plant products at UK borders; and what quarantine arrangements are in place for potentially infected products.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL10563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Checks are currently carried out on products of animal origin (POAO) and plant and plant products (P&amp;PP) arriving in GB from outside of the EU, and on live animals and high-risk P&amp;PP imports from the EU. The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) will deliver a new sanitary and phytosanitary regime applicable to all imports to GB with changes starting from January 2024. Under BTOM, controls will be risk-based and calibrated to the specific commodity and country of origin. Additional physical controls on certain EU imports will be conducted at Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points (CPs) on a risk basis from April 2024. BCP and CP specifications vary according to the type of commodities received. BCPs and CPs contain suitable facilities for containing non-compliant consignments.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 23/10/2023 13:55:15 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1660000

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
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	UK Trade with EU: Veterinary Medicine
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why a qualified veterinary surgeon must sign off each consignment of Quorn for export to the EU, given that that product contains no meat or dairy content.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL10110
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>Quorn products containing no animal component would not require an export health certificate (EHC) for import into the EU.</p><p> </p><p>Quorn products that contain egg-based ingredients will require an EHC for entry into the EU. EU law (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692) requires imports of animal products including products containing egg or egg product to be accompanied by an EU EHC that must be signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the exporting third country, guaranteeing that the conditions for entry into the EU have been met.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 18/09/2023 13:46:34 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering