Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1002202

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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 what assessment they have made of the findings in the Living Planet Report 2018, published by the World Wildlife Fund and Zoological Society of London, that (1) there has been a decline of 60 per cent in species population sizes between 1970 and 2014, and (2) species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics; and what strategy, if any, they have to address these findings.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL11223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises that there have been declines in species populations across the world since 1970 and that declines have been pronounced in many tropical ecosystems. This downward trend and the impact it has on peoples’ economic and social wellbeing highlights the need to strengthen international efforts to tackle biodiversity loss.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to being the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it. We are already working worldwide, including in the tropics, to tackle biodiversity loss, by:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Investing more than £36 million between 2014 and 2021 to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, and hosting the fourth international Illegal Wildlife Trade conference last month in London. The conference represented a significant step forward in the global fight to eliminate this trade;</p></li><li><p>Committing £210 million of Defra’s International Climate Finance to support projects that aim to protect and restore more than 500,000 hectares of the world’s most biodiverse forests. For example, we are supporting communities in Madagascar to protect mangrove forests, which are important habitats for the protection of many species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth;</p></li><li><p>Ambitious plans under the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan to reverse the decline of many species and help wildlife survive and thrive. We are committed to protecting the oceans, and have called for at least 30 per cent of the oceans to be in Marine Protected Areas by 2030. The UK is also leading the fight against plastic pollution; and</p></li><li><p>Introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales to protect the elephant.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also committed to developing an ambitious post-2020 strategic framework for biodiversity and are working with countries around the world to achieve this under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/11/2018 14:56:26 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

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

884926

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2018
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the 2018 Plenary meeting of Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	135914
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2018 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The sixth Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) met in Medellin, Colombia between 17 and 24 March.</p><p> </p><p>Five new assessments were adopted – four Regional Assessments on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (for Africa; the Americas; Asia-Pacific; and Europe and Central Asia) and a thematic assessment on Land Degradation and Restoration. UK scientists have been at the forefront of delivering these assessments. Thirteen leading UK scientists worked on the assessment for Europe and Central Asia.</p><p> </p><p>The assessments will feed into a global synopsis called Global Biodiversity Outlook to be finalised in 2019 and this will inform future targets and action under the Convention on Biological Diversity. We are determined to play a lead role in the development of an ambitious international biodiversity strategy under the Convention.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 23/04/2018 11:28:34 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

528891

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2016
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress she has made in achieving and implementing the Aichi biodiversity targets.
	tabling member constituency	Brent North
	tabling member printed	Barry Gardiner
	uin	41335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2016 answer text <p>Progress towards implementing and achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets is set out in the UK’s 5<sup>th</sup> National Report (<a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf" target="_blank">www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf</a>) to the Convention on Biological Diversity and in the 2015 report on the UK’s biodiversity indicators (<a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229</a>), published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 05/07/2016 13:15:22 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	146 label Biography information for Barry Gardiner

528893

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2016
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on the integration of her Department's agricultural objectives with its biodiversity objectives.
	tabling member constituency	Brent North
	tabling member printed	Barry Gardiner
	uin	41337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2016 answer text <p>Defra has regular discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including the agricultural industry and environmental organisations. These discussions have included developing our agri-environment schemes, particularly the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, which are designed to deliver biodiversity objectives along with other environmental benefits.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 30/06/2016 14:02:25 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	146 label Biography information for Barry Gardiner

347326

	registered interest
	date	28/05/2015
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the UK's ability to meet the Aichi global biodiversity targets by 2020; what steps she is taking to ensure the UK meets those targets; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>Biodiversity is a devolved issue; actions to deliver biodiversity outcomes are set out in individual country strategies - the England Biodiversity Strategy <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69446/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf" target="_blank">Biodiversity 2020</a>, and Scottish Biodiversity Strategy <a href="http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/5538" target="_blank">http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/5538</a>. Wales’ biodiversity strategy, The Nature Recovery Plan for Wales, to be published by the end of this year, will set out the action to reverse the decline of biodiversity in Wales. The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy <a href="http://www.doeni.gov.uk/nibs_2002.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.doeni.gov.uk/nibs_2002.pdf</a> is under review and a new Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland will be published by the summer.</p><p /> <p>The UK submitted its 5<sup>th</sup> National report to the CBD in May 2014 and it is available on the CBD website at <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf</a>. Key actions taken by the UK include:</p><p /> <p>· Continued designation of protected areas, especially at sea, and the development of a UK Marine Strategy;</p><p /> <p>· Continued work to improve the management and condition of all designated sites, with 96% of SSSIs in England in favourable or recovering condition;</p><p /> <p>· Integrated, landscape-scale approaches to improving the natural environment, such as Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and river-basin management plans.</p><p /> <p>· Agri-environment programmes to support environmental improvements on farmed land, for example with 67,000ha being brought under management for creation of priority habitat in England since 2011, and the development of country policies and strategies for issues which impact on biodiversity such as such as forestry, water, invasive species, pollinators, and fisheries.</p><p /> <p>· Research to develop knowledge and evidence-based guidance, such as ecosystem assessment and payment for ecosystem services.</p><p /> <p>The most recent update on progress is presented in the UK Biodiversity Indicators, published in December 2014: <a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229</a>. The indicators show a mixed picture, with recent improvements in the area of land in agri-environment schemes, sustainable fisheries, air pollution, the extent of protected sites on land and at sea, the condition of areas/sites of special scientific interest, status of species of European importance and plant genetic resources.</p><p /> <p>However, pressures on biodiversity remain high and there is more to do, which will require the engagement of all sectors and civil society as a whole.</p><p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 04/06/2015 13:00:17 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

347339

	registered interest
	date	28/05/2015
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers have (a) obtained Fair to Nature accreditation and (b) are working towards Fair to Nature accreditation; if she will assess the effect of the scheme on UK biodiversity; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>Conservation Grade reports that approximately 86 farmers are currently accredited and approximately 20 are waiting to establish a commercial relationship. This information is not held by Defra.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fair to Nature is part of Conservation Grade, an independent, non-profit accreditation organisation that establishes commercial relationships between farmers and customers. Membership of Conservation Grade requires standards to be maintained for biodiversity benefits. Fair to Nature have undertaken their own trials demonstrating benefits for a range of biodiversity species, notably bumblebees, small mammals and farmland birds. Although independent, the scheme requirements are similar in scope to our supported agri-environment schemes, that have been shown to deliver outcomes for biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 04/06/2015 16:14:11 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1045942

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2019
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what date his Department plans to publish the UK's sixth national report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	211141
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s sixth national report will set out the UK’s progress towards the goals and targets set out in the global strategic plan for the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A draft report has been prepared and is in the final stages of internal review prior to submission and publication. We aim to submit to the CBD in the first quarter of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is committed to being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it and we are committed to leading action globally on halting the loss of biodiversity, including under the Convention on Biological Diversity.</p><p> </p><p>We have undertaken consultation and review by specialists in the Government, NGO and academic sector to ensure the report is based on best available evidence.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 211219 question first answered 28/01/2019 17:21:46 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

918429

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2018
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many full-time equivalent permanent staff of his Department are allocated to working on (a) preparations and (b) negotiations for the post-2020 framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	150617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2018 answer text <p>There are approximately three to four full time equivalent permanent Defra staff, plus employees of Defra delivery bodies, working on preparations for the post-2020 framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Of these approximately two full time equivalent permanent staff are involved in negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 14/06/2018 09:03:31 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

532463

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2016
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on biodiversity.
	tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
	tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
	uin	41671
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2016 answer text <p>Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, fisheries, animal health and welfare and our environment remain in place.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone. It is also vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive – it is the bedrock of the food and drink industry, Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.</p><p> </p><p>The priorities for negotiating our exit from the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 41668 41669 41670 41672 question first answered 06/07/2016 12:57:37 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan