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1131899

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Chemicals: Regulation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 4 June (HL15892), why, if the terms DecaBDE and DecaPBDE are interchangeable, DecaBDE has been banned whilst production of DecaPBDE continues.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL16317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>DecaBDE refers to Decabromodiphenyl Ether, a substance which falls under a wider group of chemicals known as Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). DecaBDE has not been produced in the UK since the late 1990s. DecaPBDE is not a term that is generally used to describe this or any other substance and no such substance is produced in the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 14:49:09 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1131443

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Sewage: Whitburn
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the average volume of storm sewage discharge has reduced since the completion of the scheme at the Whitburn long sea outfall in December 2017 compared to the average volume when using the previous system.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
	uin	HL16237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>Based on the current available data there has been an approximate 37% reduction in spill numbers and a 43% reduction in spill volume since the completion of the enhancement works, against the average for the previous ten year period.</p><p> </p><p>Prior to the completion of the enhancement works at Whitburn long sea outfall, records showed an average of 27 storm sewage discharge ‘spills’ totalling around 660,000 cubic metres each year for the ten year period from 2008 to 2017.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, the first year of operation for the enhanced system, records show 17 storm sewage discharge ‘spills’ totalling around 380,000 cubic metres.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 13:38:16 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4285 label Biography information for Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

1131445

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Sewage: Tyne and Wear
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs next plans to hold discussions with (1) Northumbrian Water, (2) Sunderland City Council, and (3) South Tyneside Council, on further reducing the impact of sewage discharges on beaches at (a) Sunderland, and (b) Whitburn.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
	uin	HL16239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The bathing beaches at Sunderland and Whitburn consistently achieve ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ quality under the Bathing Waters Directive. As required environmental standards are being met, the Environment Agency, which acts on behalf of the Government on local environmental planning matters, has no immediate plans to meet with Northumbrian Water or the local authorities about reducing the impact of sewage discharges. <br> <br> The Environment Agency will continue to monitor bathing water quality and meet regularly with Northumbrian Water to discuss any improvements when they are required. It also gives planning advice to local authorities such as Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council on any matters that concern bathing water quality.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 12:26:06 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4285 label Biography information for Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

1131451

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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 Supply
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to balance the demands for water from a growing population with the amount of water in the environment that can sustainably be withdrawn as a result of the impact of climate change.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL16245
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The government is working closely with other water regulators and the water industry to improve the resilience of water supplies. The government recognises continued action is required and it is committed to a ‘twin track approach’, of reducing demand for water and increasing supply in parallel.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies have a statutory duty to provide clean and reliable water to customers under the Water Industry Act 1991. To fulfil this duty there is a statutory requirement to maintain water resources management plans, which balance water supply and demand at least twenty-five years into the future.</p><p> </p><p>The government, the Environment Agency and Ofwat issued guidance to water companies in 2016 on how they should be planning to supply water to a growing population, while protecting and enhancing our environment, including taking appropriate action to respond to climate projections. Water companies are currently revising their plans.</p><p> </p><p>The government is taking steps to improve water resources planning to ensure that there is better collaboration between water companies and other water using sectors on their water supply resilience. This includes the Environment Agency developing a National Framework for water resources, which use evidence to illustrate the regional and national challenge of water availability. The government has also consulted on legislative improvements to ensure that water companies’ plans are informed by effective collaboration.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency is also implementing the abstraction plan, published in 2017. This includes work to bring together the Environment Agency, abstractors and catchment groups to develop local solutions to protect and enhance the environment, and improve access to water.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 12:25:41 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1131444

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Sewage: Whitburn
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what the volume of storm sewage discharge has been since the completion of the scheme at the Whitburn long sea outfall in each month since December 2017 for which figures are available.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
	uin	HL16238
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>Verified data is provided for the total volume of discharge for each month between January 2018 and December 2019 when discharge events occurred.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Date</p></td><td><p>Volume of storm sewage discharged (m<sup>3 ) </sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2018</p></td><td><p>10387.50 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>95323.50 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2018</p></td><td><p>114946.50 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>46641.00 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>55095.00 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>37882.50 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2018</p></td><td><p>16317.00 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2018</p></td><td><p>0 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2018</p></td><td><p>0 m<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 12:08:36 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4285 label Biography information for Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

1129587

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Tree Planting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trees they estimate were planted in each of the last six quarters for which figures are available in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland; whether this is in line with their commitment to plant 11 million trees in this Parliament; and if not, what steps they will take to meet that target.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Young of Old Scone
	uin	HL16072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains committed to planting 11 million trees in this Parliament, 2017 to 2022. Woodland creation is a key activity of our 25 Year Environment Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The Forestry Commission routinely publish statistics on planting rates as part of their Corporate Performance Indicators.</p><p> </p><p>The published figures which report on new planting of woodland in England supported by the Countryside Stewardship, part of the Rural Development programme for England, are based on the area of grant claims approved for payment and are reproduced in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Period (Quarter)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Woodland Area (hectares)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Tree Numbers</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan - Mar 2019</p></td><td><p>69</p></td><td><p>113,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct – Dec 2018</p></td><td><p>227</p></td><td><p>366,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July - Sept 2018</p></td><td><p>477</p></td><td><p>748,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April – June 2018</p></td><td><p>245</p></td><td><p>380,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan – March 2018</p></td><td><p>99</p></td><td><p>159,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct – Dec 2017</p></td><td><p>105</p></td><td><p>181,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Government’s support for this woodland creation has predominantly been from the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further Government support has been through the Environment Agency and National Forest Company.</p><p> </p><p>In the Autumn Budget the Government announced an additional £60 million for tree planting initiatives, comprising £10 million to fund urban tree planting and £50 million for a Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme. This will add to other new planting in the pipeline, supported by the High Speed 2 Woodland Fund, the Woodland Carbon Fund and Government’s kick start investment in the Northern Forest.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 18/06/2019 16:34:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1755 label Biography information for Baroness Young of Old Scone

1130849

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Trees: Diseases
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threats from disease to hornbeam trees (Carpinus betulus) in England and Wales.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL16216
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>Details of pest and disease threats to hornbeam (<em>Carpinus betulus</em>), along with other plant and tree species, are included on the UK plant health risk register, which can be accessed here: <a href="https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/" target="_blank">https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/</a>. Of the 1,040 entries on the risk register, ten of these have hornbeam specifically listed as a major host species, although hornbeam may be a minor host in relation to certain other pests and diseases listed (e.g. those which are polyphagous in nature on broadleaved trees). The risk register includes information about current mitigations in place and priorities for future actions.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:55:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1130221

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	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: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many tenant farmers in England are awaiting their (1) Environmental Stewardship (ES) payments, (2) Countryside Stewardship (CS) payments, for 2018; and whether all ES and CS payments for 2017 have been made.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
	uin	HL16082
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>The Rural Payments Agency has paid all CS 2017 eligible claims bar those held for legal reasons such as probate. On CS 2018, 95% of eligible claimants received an advance payment by early April; 30% of eligible claims have received their final payment and we expect to pay 95% of eligible claims by August 2019.</p><p> </p><p>On ES, around 92% of 2017 eligible claims have now received a payment and we are on track to complete 95% by the end of July 2019. Just over 52% of 2018 eligible claimants have received their advance payment and just under 21% have received their final payment.</p><p> </p><p>Regrettably, we cannot confirm how many of these are tenant farmers as we do not record the agreement holders’ occupant status.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:34:39 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

1129581

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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 Supply
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to whether there will continue to be sufficient supplies of water for all purposes, including domestic purposes, if climate change continues as expected.
	tabling member printed	Lord Trefgarne
	uin	HL16066
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government is working closely with other water regulators and the water industry to improve the resilience of water supplies. The Government recognises continued action is required and it is committed to a ‘twin track approach’ of reducing demand for water and increasing supply in parallel.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies have a statutory duty to provide clean and reliable water to customers under the Water Industry Act 1991. To fulfil this duty, there is a statutory requirement to maintain water resources management plans, which balance water supply and demand at least twenty-five years into the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Government, Environment Agency (EA) and Ofwat issued guidance to water companies in 2016 on how they should be planning to be resilient to foreseeable risks, including taking appropriate action to respond to climate projections. Water companies are currently revising their plans.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is taking steps to improve water resources planning to ensure that there is better collaboration between water companies and other water using sectors on their water supply resilience. This includes the EA developing a National Framework for water resources, which will identify high priority water users who are unable to meet their demand or are likely to need to expand and set expectations on collaboration at a regional scale. The Government has also consulted on legislative improvements to ensure that water companies’ plans are informed by effective collaboration.</p><p> </p><p>The EA is also implementing the abstraction plan published in 2017. This includes work to bring together the EA, abstractors and catchment groups to develop local solutions to existing pressures and to prepare for the future.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:34:16 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1813 label Biography information for Lord Trefgarne

1130259

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	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: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the timescale of their plan for UK farming subsidies after Brexit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL16120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>The Health and Harmony Consultation closed on 8 May 2018. Over forty thousand responses were received from a wide range of people including farmers, environmental and food/farming related organisations and the general public. All responses have been analysed and are being used to inform our policies on future farm support.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published its policy response on 14 September setting out a future for food, farming and the environment in a green Brexit, together with reports on its analysis of the impacts of removing direct payments and economic rationales for future government intervention.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s assessment was to adopt a gradual transition from the current approach to the new, avoiding a cliff-edge for farm businesses - noting the negative experiences in New Zealand when rapid changes were adopted. Our proposals therefore outline a 7 year transition period.</p><p> </p><p>We are applying reductions to Direct Payments in a fair way, with higher reductions initially applied to amounts in higher payment bands. All farmers will see some reductions from the start of the transition. We plan to begin making these reductions in 2021, with the final year for Direct Payments being 2027. We believe that this approach balances the views of those who feel recipients of the highest payments should initially face higher reductions, with the strong calls for the reductions to be shared amongst all farmers from the start of the transition and in a way that prepares the industry for change. The transition period also needs to be long enough to give farmers sufficient time to adapt and prepare for the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, which starts in 2024.</p><p> </p><p>The ELM National Pilot, starting in late 2021, will assess the end to end operability and deliverability before the scheme is rolled out in 2024. This will allow us to identify and refine any issues or barriers that occur in practice. We are working closely with a range of agricultural and environmental stakeholders to collaboratively design the new scheme, and to test and trial new approaches and investigate innovative mechanisms for the delivery of environmental outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>Defra recognises the challenges around the uncertainty and outcome of the timing of leaving the EU. It is planning for every contingency to ensure a smooth departure from the EU, including detailed ’no deal’ plans.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:32:45 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1129570

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Air Pollution: Monitoring
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the Automatic Urban and Rural Network continuous monitoring stations that record air pollution have been closed down in each of the last three years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL16055
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>The Automatic Urban and Rural Network has expanded over the last three years from 152 open stations at the end of 2016 to 164 open stations today.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019 one station closed and its relocation is in progress. In 2017, three stations closed, two of which were relocated and one of which was replaced. In 2016, five stations were closed, one of which was replaced, one of which was relocated, and three of which were not replaced or relocated.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:30:54 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1127992

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Animal Welfare: Grants
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what grants were made by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to animal welfare groups in each of the last five years; to which groups they were made; and how much was provided in each grant.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hanningfield
	uin	HL15877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>As part of a government wide digital transparency self-service agenda, government grant data from the previous three years is available online through the Government Grants Information System (GGIS). Data for Defra is combined with data for Defra’s arms-length bodies. As we have no firm definition of what an animal welfare group is these grants would not be easily identifiable on the GGIS.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/06/2019 14:34:46 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2650 label Biography information for Lord Hanningfield

1128132

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: Access
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the omission from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 of provision on open access to inland water.
	tabling member printed	Lord Addington
	uin	HL15946
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has made no assessment of legislating for open access to inland water.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:26:32 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3453 label Biography information for Lord Addington

1128133

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: National Parks
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the length of the unmanaged waterways in National Parks to which access is uncontested and which are open to the public for recreation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Addington
	uin	HL15947
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of what length of unmanaged waterways has a public right of navigation. Of the canal and major river navigation network in England and Wales approximately a quarter has either public navigation rights or are available for licensed navigation as managed by a navigation authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:26:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3453 label Biography information for Lord Addington

1128063

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	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	Beaches: Sewage
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the leaking of sewage onto beaches at (1) Sunderland, and (2) Whitburn.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
	uin	HL15912
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Continuous improvements have been made to the sewerage system in the area, with the latest being the completion of a scheme to reduce storm sewage discharges from the Whitburn long sea outfall in December 2017. This has reduced the frequency in discharges from the system by around 40% compared to the average from the old system.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:24:56 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4285 label Biography information for Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

1128007

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15634), whether DecaBDE is the same chemical as DecaPBDE; and whether production and use of DecaPBDE continues in the UK.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15892
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) is a group of chemicals consisting of brominated hydrocarbons, of which decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is one. When the term DecaPBDE is used in literature it usually refers to DecaBDE.</p><p> </p><p>The UK ceased production of DecaBDE in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. It has been banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants since December 2018 and this will be reflected in the revision to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and also under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, since March 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:24:04 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1127415

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Hen Harriers: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 January (HL12536), what steps they will take in response to the report Patterns of satellite tagged hen harrier disappearances suggest widespread illegal killing on British grouse moors, published in Nature Communications on 19 May, which found that hen harriers are ten times as likely to disappear over grouse moors than elsewhere and that this is the primary cause of their decline; and whether this finding will be reflected in an update to the 2016 Hen Harrier Action Plan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Birt
	uin	HL15826
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Defra and Natural England will continue working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including moorland communities, conservation organisations, police and landowners to implement the Hen Harrier Action Plan, which is kept under regular review.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is also working with the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group on a new action plan to tackle raptor persecution, led by a senior police officer and drawing together representatives from a range of stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 11:01:46 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

1127417

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Smuggling: Cats
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what border checks are carried out to ensure that cats and kittens are not smuggled illegally into the UK from EU countries.
	tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
	uin	HL15828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to preserving the UK’s high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare. The EU Pet Travel Scheme requires all pets travelling to Great Britain on approved routes to be declared. 100% of these are then subject to documentary and identity checks. All commercial EU consignments of dogs or cats receive documentary checks on entry and the Animal and Plant Health Agency conducts further risk based checks away from the border. We have increased resourcing at major UK ports to detect smuggled animals and continue to work collaboratively with Border Force, sharing intelligence in order to disrupt illegal imports.</p><p>On 13 May this year a statutory instrument[1] was laid in Parliament which will introduce a ban on commercial third party sales of puppies and kittens in England. This decision followed a public consultation which received over 6,500 responses, 96% of which supported the proposal. The ban itself is planned to come into force on 6 April 2020 and, once in place, anyone seeking to buy or adopt a kitten will have to deal directly with the breeder or with one of the UK’s many animal rehoming centres. Restricting the sale of kittens to licensed breeders has the potential to help deter people motivated to illegally import kittens for the purpose of financial gain.</p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111186954" target="_blank">The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019</a></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 29/05/2019 14:14:39 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.pdf title Draft Statutory Instrument
	tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

1127416

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Cats: Pet Travel Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that cats and kittens brought into the UK under the pet passport scheme do not carry diseases and parasites, including tapeworm and non-UK types of tick.
	tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
	uin	HL15827
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to preserving the UK’s high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare. The EU Pet Travel Scheme requires all pets travelling to Great Britain on approved routes to be declared. 100% of these are then subject to documentary and identity checks. Documentary checks for cats include a passport, signed by an Official Veterinarian in the country of origin, certifying that the cat has been vaccinated against rabies.</p><p>Since 2012, when the UK harmonised with the EU Pet Travel Scheme, we have no longer required tick or tapeworm treatment for cats or kittens. Risk assessments have been undertaken, both before harmonisation and since, which supported the removal of these requirements. As such, we have no plans to change the import requirements for pet cats. However, we continue to monitor the disease situation and will undertake a further formal risk assessment if evidence indicates that one is warranted.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 29/05/2019 13:44:59 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

1126315

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Glyphosate
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the use of glyphosate is consistent with plans to conserve and increase the population of pollinating insects in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL15675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>For all pesticides, the Government carries out a thorough assessment of the scientific evidence, drawing on advice from experts in the Health and Safety Executive and the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. The current evidence shows that glyphosate pesticides do not carry unacceptable risks to pollinators and can therefore be authorised. Ministers have acted where the evidence shows an unacceptable impact on bees – for example, with respect to neonicotinoids.</p><p> </p><p>Any highly effective means of removing flowering weeds can reduce the food and shelter available to pollinators. We are taking action to provide wildflower-rich habitat through the National Pollinator Strategy, including supporting partnerships of landowners and conservationists on large-scale habitat management projects. In 2015, we introduced new and simple agri-environment ‘packages’ to make it easier for farmers to put flowers back into fields. We are also raising awareness to help everyone support pollinators through action in their gardens and public spaces, through the ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan puts Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at the heart of its approach. This means developing and implementing policies that encourage and support sustainable crop protection with the use of pesticides and their impact kept to a minimum.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 28/05/2019 15:55:21 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1126706

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Landfill: Hillingdon
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Newyears Green Lane landfill site is a special site of contamination; and what steps the Environment Agency has taken to ensure that any drilling into that site poses no risk to the Chiltern Aquifer.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL15723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>On 26 May 2011, in accordance with Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the London Borough of Hillingdon determined the land at the former ‘New Years Green Lane Landfill Site’ as Contaminated Land as defined by Section 78A (2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the Act).</p><p> </p><p>On 6 July 2011, the Environment Agency (EA) agreed to designate the land at New Years Green Landfill as a Special Site pursuant to Section 78C (6) (b) of the Act. The site is now within the regulatory control of the EA under Part IIA of the Act.</p><p> </p><p>There is no proposal to undertake any such drilling activity at the landfill site. However, the EA is involved in the technical review of any drilling proposals at this landfill. As a minimum requirement, any drilling works in the landfill or in areas where waste is suspected must utilise “clean” drilling methodologies to avoid potential cross contamination between different parts of the geology.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/05/2019 11:40:55 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1127425

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Lung Diseases: Medical Equipment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage of respiratory inhalers that (1) end up in landfill, and (2) are incinerated.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
	uin	HL15836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra has not conducted an assessment of the percentage of respiratory inhalers which are ultimately landfilled or incinerated.</p><p> </p><p>Waste holders act in accordance with the waste hierarchy, so where waste does arise it is managed in the most resource-efficient way possible. The reuse or recycling of waste is preferred to energy recovery, through incineration for example, or disposal to landfill.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/05/2019 11:40:02 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2024 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

1126707

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	High Speed 2 Line: Colne Valley
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether HS2 is compliant with the obligations of the EU Water Frameworks Directive in regards to its activity at Colne Valley; whether a risk assessment of drilling in that area has been undertaken; what assessment they have made of the impact of any such drilling on contamination of the watercourse; and what discussions they have had with HS2 about the possible risks posed by such drilling.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL15724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) continues to discuss the assessment of the potential impacts of the High Speed Two (HS2) scheme on European Water Framework Directive (WFD) status with High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) and its contractors for the Colne Valley.</p><p>HS2 Ltd is producing a report about the impacts of the main construction works. Where the EA has issued approvals for enabling and investigation works, it has made sure that HS2 Ltd has assessed the WFD requirements.</p><p>HS2 Ltd has a Code of Construction Practice which requires its contractors to work in accordance with British Standards ‘Investigation of potentially contaminated sites’ (BS 10175:2011) and ‘Code of practice for ground investigations’ (BS 5930:2015). By following the practices set out in this guidance, drilling would not cause contamination or further mobilise any contamination already present in the ground.</p><p>The EA is working with HS2 Ltd to secure the protection of water bodies in the Colne Valley and also advises HS2 Ltd in relation to any potential environmental risks associated with the proposed construction.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/05/2019 11:38:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1125839

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Foxes
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potential secondary uses of the estimated 400,000 foxes killed each year in Britain, including as a source of biofuel.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hanningfield
	uin	HL15629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>In 2000, the Burns Report estimated that 400,000 foxes die each year in Britain on roads, by being shot or through natural causes.</p><p> </p><p>It is the responsibility of those who wish to control foxes by culling to ensure that the carcases are disposed of in accordance with the law. We have made no assessment of potential secondary uses of fox carcases.</p><p> </p><p>Animals killed on roads are typically sent for disposal by incineration, co-incineration or processing (rendering). The fat extracted from rendering is commonly sent to approved biodiesel plants for conversion into biodiesel.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/05/2019 11:52:03 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2650 label Biography information for Lord Hanningfield

1126313

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Glyphosate
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines they have issued to local authorities on the use of glyphosate on grass verges, park paths, walkways, council gardens and road verges.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL15673
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Those who use, or cause or permit others to apply, glyphosate or other plant protection products are subject to a number of legal requirements. This includes a requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the general public. The requirements and approaches to good practice are set out in the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products and an accompanying guidance note. Specific requirements and advice for using a particular product are set out on the label.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 15:16:05 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1126314

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Glyphosate
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the quantity of glyphosate that has been used by each local authority in England and the cost to each of such use in the last five years for which figures are available.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL15674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>This data is not collected. A regular survey of the amenity use of pesticides is conducted as part of the long-standing system of Pesticide Usage Surveys carried out by Fera Science Ltd. The most recent survey gives data and information on usage for 2016 for those local authorities who submitted data. It does not, however, include cost data and does not give figures for individual local authorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 15:13:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1126312

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Glyphosate
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the use of glyphosate.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL15672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The effects of glyphosate on wildlife have been carefully assessed as part of the regulatory process for pesticides. The effects of glyphosate itself were considered by the EU when deciding whether to approve the substance. UK regulatory scientists participated in the assessment made by the European Food Safety Authority and agreed with its conclusions. The Government therefore supported the decision at the end of 2017 to continue the approval of glyphosate.</p><p> </p><p>All products containing glyphosate are individually authorised and the Government will not authorise products for which the scientific assessment suggests that there may be unacceptable effects on wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions on glyphosate are based on regulatory studies which companies are required to commission to support their applications. Relevant published data is also considered. The Government is not carrying out its own research on the environmental impact of glyphosate use because a comprehensive evidence base is already available.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15671 question first answered 21/05/2019 15:08:28 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1126311

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Glyphosate
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of using glyphosate on wildlife, including birds and insects; and what research, if any, they are undertaking into the impact of using glyphosate.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL15671
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The effects of glyphosate on wildlife have been carefully assessed as part of the regulatory process for pesticides. The effects of glyphosate itself were considered by the EU when deciding whether to approve the substance. UK regulatory scientists participated in the assessment made by the European Food Safety Authority and agreed with its conclusions. The Government therefore supported the decision at the end of 2017 to continue the approval of glyphosate.</p><p> </p><p>All products containing glyphosate are individually authorised and the Government will not authorise products for which the scientific assessment suggests that there may be unacceptable effects on wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions on glyphosate are based on regulatory studies which companies are required to commission to support their applications. Relevant published data is also considered. The Government is not carrying out its own research on the environmental impact of glyphosate use because a comprehensive evidence base is already available.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15672 question first answered 21/05/2019 15:08:28 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1127012

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Pollinators
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) highlight the importance to the planet of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies and bats, and (2) protect pollinator species.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
	uin	HL15773
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Protecting pollinators is a priority for this Government. The Government supports two major events to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators and encourage people to take action.</p><p> </p><p>Firstly, our ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign, which we run with a number of partners. In July 2018, with the generous support of our hosts, Shaftesbury PLC, we put on a week long event in Carnaby Street (renamed ‘Carnabee’ Street for the week) to raise awareness of the steps we can all take to protect pollinators. With immense gratitude to our hosts Shaftesbury PLC, this event will be repeated this year from 8 to 14 July.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also organises, in partnership with the Green Flag Awards, an annual Bees’ Needs Champions Awards to recognise and celebrate examples of exemplary initiatives undertaken by schools, local authorities, universities, community groups and bee farmers to support pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is taking a range of other steps to protect pollinator species. In 2014 we published a ten year National Pollinator Strategy, setting out how the Government, conservation groups, farmers, beekeepers and researchers can work together to improve the status of the 1,500 or so pollinating insect species in England.</p><p> </p><p>We are also creating habitat for pollinators. In 2015, we introduced new and simple wildlife ‘packages’ within Countryside Stewardship to make it easier for farmers to provide flower rich margins or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also recently announced £60,000 to develop pollinator habitat mapping and is supporting largescale projects to bring landowners and conservationists together to provide habitat in Devon and Hampshire. Natural England, our statutory nature conservation adviser, continues to work with a range of landowning and NGO partners to support the recovery of threatened species such as the barberry carpet moth, shorthaired bumblebee and chequered skipper butterfly.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting monitoring work. In collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations, we have established a pollinator monitoring and research partnership to gather further data and improve our understanding of the status of pollinators and pollination services in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking steps to reduce pressures on pollinators. We have implemented science led restrictions on neonicotinoids based on scientific evidence that they carry risks to pollinators. We continue to tackle threats from invasive species, such as the Asian hornet, and protect honey bees from pests and diseases through the National Bee Unit’s nationwide team of bee inspectors.</p><p> </p><p>We are safeguarding honey bee health. Collaboration has been a central tenet of the work by the Government and Bee Inspectors to protect honey bee health. Along with beekeeping associations, the Government has carried out a decade of work under the Healthy Bees Plan, drafted in 2009 as a means of sustaining our honey bee population. We will be reviewing this work this year and using valuable lessons from this to develop our future strategy.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 15:04:18 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

1124878

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions there have been between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the need to ensure that small business customers benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Ofwat are the economic regulator for the water industry, and it regulates and monitors the operation of the retail business market. Ofwat published their first annual report on the market, Open for Business<em>,</em> in July 2018. It identified that small and medium sized business customers are not yet experiencing the same benefits that larger customers receive from the retail market, and raised a number of issues that could be affecting this.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat and Mosl, the market operator, have been taking a number of actions to investigate further and address these issues, including for SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat is currently undertaking a further assessment of the market with a view to publishing their second annual report in July.</p><p> </p><p>My Department has ongoing discussions with Ofwat and Mosl about these issues and will discuss the outcomes of the second annual report with Ofwat in due course.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Minister Coffey, the Minister responsible for this policy area, requested that the then Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, use her channels to advertise and promote to small business customers that they can benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 13:37:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1126716

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Electric Vehicles: Batteries
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of electric vehicle batteries in the UK that will need to be recycled in (1) 2020, (2) 2030, (3) 2040, and (4) 2050; and what assessment they have made of the UK's capacity to meet this demand for battery recycling given that there are no lithium-ion recycling facilities in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL15733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not made an estimate of the number of electric vehicle batteries in the UK that will need to be recycled in the future. However, the Government’s Road to Zero Strategy, published last year, set out the ambition that by 2030 50%-70% of new cars sold and up to 40% of new vans sold are ultra low emission and that by 2040 those percentages rise to 100%. Presently, cars and vans have an average lifespan of around 14 years before they become end-of-life vehicles, and figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that in 2018 there were new car registrations of 2,367,147 units and for light commercial vehicles 357,325 units. Of these, 141,234 units were for plug-in and hybrid vehicles.</p><p> </p><p>Second life applications are being explored for batteries which are no longer able to perform as required in electric vehicles. An example is in energy storage solutions, which will delay the point at which the battery has to be recycled.</p><p> </p><p>Electric car batteries are classified as industrial batteries and covered under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. This bans the disposal to landfill of such batteries and their incineration. It also establishes take-back and recycling obligations for industrial battery producers.</p><p> </p><p>The UK’s £246 million Faraday Battery Challenge is playing a leading role in promoting the reuse and recycling of battery components. One of the eight technical challenges set is to be able to recycle 95% of an electric vehicle battery pack by 2035.</p><p> </p><p>A number of live projects are exploring this area including a £10 million Faraday Institution research project. This is developing the technological, economic and policy framework that would allow high percentages of the materials in lithium-ion batteries at the end of their first life to be reused or recycled. In addition, several collaborative research and development projects are looking at reusing, remanufacturing or recycling end-of-life, automotive lithium-ion batteries.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:45:56 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1126696

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Nappies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) reusable, and (2) disposable, nappies on the (a) environment, and (b) collection and disposal of refuse; and what incentives they are encouraging for the use of reusable nappies.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL15713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the need to address the issues associated with the environmental impact of nappies. In line with the Resources and Waste Strategy published in December last year, we are considering the best approach for a range of products.</p><p> </p><p>There are a number of policy measures available to us, including standards and consumer information, and we believe the right approach for each product requires careful consideration taking account of various factors, for example, waste benefits versus energy usage. We are therefore carrying out some new research into the impacts of reusable and disposable nappies. This will help us decide on the best course of action for the future and in terms of Government support.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:26:12 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1125838

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Foxes
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 8 April (HL15102), what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of the disposal of the estimated 400,000 foxes killed each year in Britain, in particular to water courses.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hanningfield
	uin	HL15628
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency has not been made aware of any largescale or widespread practice of dead foxes being disposed of in watercourses.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:19:42 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2650 label Biography information for Lord Hanningfield

1124895

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Biodiversity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to remain closely aligned with the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy after Brexit; and if not, what plans they have to implement a long-term post-Brexit strategy on biodiversity.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that, when the UK leaves the EU, our existing environmental protections are maintained and, where possible, enhanced. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act ensures that the whole body of existing EU environmental law, including the Habitats and the Wild Birds Directives, continues to have effect in UK law following our departure from the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Biodiversity Strategy implements commitments to halt biodiversity loss agreed in 2010 by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.</p><p> </p><p>Biodiversity policy is devolved in the UK. In England, those same international commitments to halt biodiversity loss are implemented through the Biodiversity 2020 Strategy and related documents such as the National Pollinator Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>In the 25 Year Environment Plan, we committed to developing a new strategy for nature to replace Biodiversity 2020. Our intention is to publish this strategy in early 2021 to take forward the new international commitments for biodiversity, in particular the new global biodiversity framework, to be agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, in 2020. It will also set out in more detail how we intend to take forward the ambitions for nature in the 25 Year Environment Plan.</p><p> </p><p>Under the new strategy, the Government will continue to work towards, among other things, clean, safe, healthy, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas; and on land, restoring 75% of our protected sites to favourable condition by 2042 and establishing a Nature Recovery Network. The Nature Recovery Network will expand and connect wildlife rich habitat by developing landscape scale partnerships to manage land in a way that supports the recovery of our much loved wildlife.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:09:40 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1124887

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they taking to comply with the Stockholm Agreement and other agreements on the control of hazardous chemicals for any UK upholstered furniture containing a number of persistent organic pollutants with no available information or register of their chemical composition, in particular, flame retardants.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK has some of the most rigorous chemical regulations in the world. The Government implements the Stockholm Convention through EU Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Chemicals in use also have to go through assessments under the REACH Regulation (No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). All furniture placed on the market in the UK must comply with these regulations.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to improving traceability of chemicals in products and waste and are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on this.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the Government is reviewing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has consulted on whether to introduce a specific requirement for furniture labels to stipulate any flame retardants used in their manufacture. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:03:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1124877

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the Scottish non-household retail water market in encouraging switching by SMEs when compared with the English non-household retail water market.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (a) undertook some analysis of the Scottish SME non-household retail water market during the initial planning stages of opening up the English market; and (b) works closely with Ofwat as they review the English non-household retail market and its operation since opening, including with regard to SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat monitors and assesses the non-household retail water market in England on an ongoing basis. It commissioned customer research to gauge directly customers’ experiences of the market, including views on the interactions between the markets in England, Scotland and Wales. This information was published in July 2018 as the Ofwat <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ORS-final-report-Non-household-customer-insight-survey.pdf" target="_blank">customer insight survey</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat’s first annual assessment of the market, <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/State-of-the-market-report-2017-18-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Open for Business</a>, also published in July 2018, highlighted a number of areas in which to achieve better outcomes for business customers in England, including SMEs.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15551 question first answered 20/05/2019 15:51:11 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1124876

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment has been made by (1) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (2) Ofwat of the (a) Scottish SME non-household retail water market, and (b) the English SME non-household retail water market.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15551
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (a) undertook some analysis of the Scottish SME non-household retail water market during the initial planning stages of opening up the English market; and (b) works closely with Ofwat as they review the English non-household retail market and its operation since opening, including with regard to SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat monitors and assesses the non-household retail water market in England on an ongoing basis. It commissioned customer research to gauge directly customers’ experiences of the market, including views on the interactions between the markets in England, Scotland and Wales. This information was published in July 2018 as the Ofwat <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ORS-final-report-Non-household-customer-insight-survey.pdf" target="_blank">customer insight survey</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat’s first annual assessment of the market, <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/State-of-the-market-report-2017-18-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Open for Business</a>, also published in July 2018, highlighted a number of areas in which to achieve better outcomes for business customers in England, including SMEs.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15552 question first answered 20/05/2019 15:51:11 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1124875

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Insolvency
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent retailers in the water market who sell to SME customers from failing.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>When considering applications from potential retailers, Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water industry, considers whether it would have sufficient financial resources to finance its obligations under the law and to deliver its business plan. Once the retailer enters the market, it is for the retailer to ensure it operates efficiently and is able to continue to operate. In any functioning market some retailers will fail. If a retailer were to fail, as has been seen in other sectors, Ofwat would step in and ensure affected customers are allocated to a new supplier in a seamless way.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 14:58:48 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1124636

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Hill Farming
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to hill farmers.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	uin	HL15504
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>Upland farmers are eligible to receive payments under the Common Agricultural Policy's Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). We will pay Direct Payments for the 2019 scheme year on the same basis as for 2018 and plan to allocate the money paid in Direct Payments for 2020 in much the same way that we do now.</p><p> </p><p>Upland farmers can also apply for a Countryside Stewardship agreement, and many receive support through Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship. The current round of Countryside Stewardship is open for applications until 31 July. This includes a specific Wildlife offer for Upland farmers. Capital grants are also available through the Hedgerow and Boundaries grant, which closed for applications on 3 May.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also pledged to continue to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the Parliament, expected in 2022. The figure includes all EU and Exchequer funding provided for farm support under both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. Furthermore, all Pillar 2 agreements signed by 31 December 2020 will be funded for their lifetime.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 17/05/2019 12:27:30 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1124635

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Beavers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the introduction of beavers in the UK; and of the risk of flooding as a result of their introduction.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	uin	HL15503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is engaged with a number of projects to further our understanding of the impact of beavers on the environment and flooding. We also maintain contact with the Scottish Government to learn from its experience on the River Tay.</p><p> </p><p>The trial reintroduction of beavers on the River Otter in Devon, which started in 2015, will conclude in 2020. The latest annual report from this trial, undertaken by the Devon Wildlife Trust, highlights assessments made on water flows and flood risks. Defra will assess the River Otter trial in 2020 and will seek advice from Natural England.</p><p> </p><p>The Forestry Commission is currently undertaking two enclosed trial releases which will contribute to our understanding of the impacts of beavers on water flow and surrounding ecology.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency is working with a number of projects that are gathering evidence from beaver trial sites to improve our understanding of the opportunities and implications for flood risk management. Natural England and the Environment Agency are working with the University of Exeter to understand how beavers affect water flow in rivers. The results of these trials will inform decisions on future reintroductions of beavers in England</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 17/05/2019 12:26:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1124633

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Eggs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of eggs produced in the UK for enriched colony systems in 2019.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	uin	HL15501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>UK Packing Station egg throughput figures are collated quarterly and cover the vast majority of total eggs produced. Eggs produced from hens in enriched colony systems accounted for 42% of the total throughput in the first quarter of 2019 in the UK. This equates to 1.2 billion eggs.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/05/2019 16:44:27 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1124656

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Peat
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce mandatory targets for the phasing out of the use of peat for compost and horticulture; and whether any such targets will be earlier than the current voluntary targets.
	tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
	uin	HL15524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.</p><p> </p><p>We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15522 HL15523 question first answered 16/05/2019 16:34:42 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1124655

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Peat
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress towards their voluntary targets for the phasing out of the use of peat from compost and horticulture for (1) 2020, and (2) 2030.
	tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
	uin	HL15523
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.</p><p> </p><p>We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15522 HL15524 question first answered 16/05/2019 16:34:42 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1124654

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Peat
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce regular reporting on the proportion of peat being sold in compost and used as a growing medium in horticulture.
	tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
	uin	HL15522
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.</p><p> </p><p>We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15523 HL15524 question first answered 16/05/2019 16:34:42 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1124409

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cattle have been tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and then following slaughter have been negative on post-mortem testing; and what progress has been made in producing an accurate test before cattle are slaughtered.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Golding
	uin	HL15458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The early detection and removal of tuberculosis (TB)-infected cattle before they develop advanced pathology and/or clinical signs of the disease (and thus become highly infectious) is a key element of bovine TB eradication programmes, including England’s 25 Year Bovine TB Strategy. To that effect, we use ante-mortem tests that measure the animals’ immune response to infection with the bovine TB bacterium (<em>Mycobacterium bovis – M. bovis</em>), rather than rely on direct detection methods.</p><p> </p><p>The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, commonly known as the ‘skin test’, together with the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), is the legal standard approved in the EU legislation for the diagnosis of TB in live cattle in the UK. As with cases of TB in humans, only a proportion of those animals infected with <em>M. bovis</em> and reacting to a tuberculin skin test or IGRA display gross lesions of TB when subjected to post-mortem meat inspection in the slaughterhouse.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 (the last year for which an analysis of post-mortem findings is available), approximately 60% of the 32,000 cattle compulsorily removed for bovine TB control reasons in England as skin test reactors or IGRA positives did not have visible lesions of TB on post-mortem and were also negative for <em>M. bovis</em> on bacteriological culture (where performed).</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are constantly striving for new ways to maximise the effectiveness of TB testing of cattle to achieve the objectives of the Strategy. APHA may exceptionally authorise the private use of non-validated diagnostic tests for bovine TB in herds where the disease is persistent, in order to help detect additional infected animals that may have been missed by the approved official tests (rather than to negate a positive result to such tests). A policy position paper on non-validated diagnostics for TB in cattle is now available on the APHA Vet Gateway (<a href="http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/index.htm" target="_blank">http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/index.htm</a>).</p><p> </p><p>Over £4 million was allocated to TB research and development in 2018/19, with the anticipation of a similar spend this financial year. The majority of these finds are being invested in improving diagnostic tests alongside vaccine development. However, validation for a new test to World Organisation for Animal Health standards would only lead to official adoption if it demonstrated proven advantages in the detection of disease alongside the current test portfolio.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/05/2019 16:25:10 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	281 label Biography information for Baroness Golding

1122919

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Birds: Pest Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have permitted Natural England to revoke general bird control licences before the result of any legal challenge to these licences is known.
	tabling member printed	Lord Willoughby de Broke
	uin	HL15310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary</a></p><p>Natural England has issued three new licences.</p><p>Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15309 question first answered 15/05/2019 16:53:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1775 label Biography information for Lord Willoughby de Broke

1122918

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Birds: Pest Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the legal basis for the withdrawal at one day’s notice by Natural England of the general licences for bird control.
	tabling member printed	Lord Willoughby de Broke
	uin	HL15309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary</a></p><p>Natural England has issued three new licences.</p><p>Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15310 question first answered 15/05/2019 16:53:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1775 label Biography information for Lord Willoughby de Broke

1124638

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Butterflies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health of the UK butterfly population.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	uin	HL15506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is organised and funded by Butterfly Conservation, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the British Trust for Ornithology and the UK Government’s nature conservation adviser, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Records are collected by volunteers and provide an invaluable dataset for planning and monitoring action for insect conservation. The scheme’s data is published annually and incorporated into the Government’s UK and England Biodiversity Indicators.</p><p> </p><p>The UK indicator of butterfly abundance shows long term declines since 1976 but has shown no overall trend since 2012, despite increases for some species and decreases for others. We have seen real conservation success stories, often where farmers, landowners, voluntary bodies - such as Butterfly Conservation - and Government have worked together to put the right management in the right place. For example, the high brown fritillary, one of Britain’s most threatened butterflies, having lost 85 per cent of its population since the 1970s, has been the focus of conservation efforts and has seen numbers increase by 271 per cent over the last 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>Short-term increases in numbers across species were also seen in 2018 when the Monitoring Scheme’s most recent data was published in April 2019. More than two- thirds of UK butterfly species were seen in higher numbers than the previous year, with two of the UK’s rarest, the large blue and black hairstreak, recording their best years since records began. The Government knows, however, that butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year in response to weather conditions. The Government must closely monitor the underlying trends and keep conservation actions under review to build on progress and ensure that efforts continue to be targeted effectively.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/05/2019 15:21:47 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1124634

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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	Packaging: Waste
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations; and whether those Regulations need to be reformed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	uin	HL15502
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>In 2017 the Government published a Post Implementation Review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.</p><p> </p><p>In our Resources and Waste Strategy we committed to reform our current packaging producer responsibility system which includes measures to incentivise producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture.</p><p> </p><p>On 18 February 2019 the Government published a consultation on proposals to reform the producer responsibility regime for packaging, including mechanisms to incentivise better design, encourage the use of recycled material and ensure that producers pay the full costs of disposal for packaging they place on the market. The consultation closed on 13 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/05/2019 15:04:23 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1123288

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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	Birds: Pest Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when Natural England expects to introduce new licences for bird control.
	tabling member printed	Lord Crathorne
	uin	HL15344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences. The Secretary of State will consider the present situation with intensity and urgency; his priority is getting this right. The Government has issued a call for evidence <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defra-launches-call-for-evidence-on-decision-to-revoke-general-licences" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defra-launches-call-for-evidence-on-decision-to-revoke-general-licences</a> to help our consideration of the issues of new general licences.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/05/2019 15:03:54 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3380 label Biography information for Lord Crathorne