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 printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed attachment file name title question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

100078

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Floods: Somerset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of (1) the feasibility of constructing a permanent flood defence barrage to protect the village of Westonzoyland in the Somerset Levels, and (2) the likely effectiveness of temporary demountable flood defences in the coming winter.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL2284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>1. The Environment Agency is constructing a permanent scheme to replace temporary defences. Steps are being taken so that protection is maintained should there be an increased flood risk during construction.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2. Demountable defences were considered as an option. However, after consulting local residents the Environment Agency took the decision to construct a permanent solution.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 30/10/2014 14:33:05 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1002484

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Flood Control
	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 22 October (HL10505), who is responsible for the coordination of the various bodies listed as involved in the mitigation of flood risk; and how is the performance of that responsible body assessed.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL11325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (attached) sets out the different roles and responsibilities of public and private bodies in flood and coastal erosion risk management in England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra leads on the development of flood and coastal erosion risk management policy on behalf of the Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion, details of which can be found in the Strategy. It reports to the Minister annually about flood and coastal erosion risk management; the main reporting responsibilities are set out in Annex 2 of the Strategy. The latest report is attached.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.pdf title National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management 2 file name Managing flood and coastal erosion risk in England.pdf title Managing flood & coastal erosion risks in England question first answered 12/11/2018 14:54:08 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1002485

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Flood Control
	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 22 October (HL10504), whether they intend to establish an independent review of the effectiveness of (1) Coastal Protection Authorities, and (2) Shoreline Management Plans, in managing flood risk.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL11326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Coastal change, through erosion or flooding, has always been a risk for those living and working by the sea.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has strategic oversight of Shoreline Management Plans (20 in England), which are the responsibility of Coastal Protection Authorities. These plans set the direction and preferred management option over a 100 year timeframe and are under-pinned by evidence and a high level economic, social, and environmental assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next three years, we and the Environment Agency (EA) are working closely with the coastal authorities, including funding of £1 million, to refresh Shoreline Management Plans, to ensure that there is consistency and that they are using the best, most up to date evidence. This programme will ensure the Shoreline Management Plans and Coastal Protection Authorities remain effective in light of the most recent UK climate change predictions which will be published later this month.</p><p> </p><p>The EA are also funding a £23 million, five year programme of regional coastal monitoring by these groups, to support decision making.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/11/2018 17:48:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1036924

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2019
	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	Fish: Conservation
	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 contribution of the Common Fisheries Policy to the preservation of fish stocks in British waters.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL12566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy means that we will be an independent coastal State, able to manage and control who fishes in our waters. We will also have the opportunity to develop a more responsive and adaptive management regime with opportunities to create a more resilient, competitive, profitable fisheries sector, together with a clean, healthy and productive marine environment. The Commission’s most recent policy statement (June 2018) about the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy can be found at</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0452&amp;from=EN" target="_blank">https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0452&amp;from=EN</a></p><p> </p><p>and</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018SC0329&amp;from=EN" target="_blank">https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018SC0329&amp;from=EN</a></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/01/2019 12:06:24 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1036925

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2019
	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	Fish: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, which three species of fish caught for commercial purposes in British waters are in shortest supply.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL12567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2017 www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-sea-fisheries-annual-statistics-report-2017 - provides information on the UK fishing industry and about the exploitation of fish stocks.</p><p> </p><p>The three key commercially targeted sea fisheries species which would be considered to be in shortest supply determined by scientific advice are:</p><p> </p><p>- North Sea cod</p><p>- Mackerel in the North East Atlantic</p><p>- West Coast horse mackerel</p><p> </p><p>Some bycatch stocks of lower direct commercial importance which are taken in mixed fisheries, such as Celtic Sea cod and Irish Sea whiting, could also be considered as being in short supply.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/01/2019 16:57:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1086386

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2019
	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	Flood Control: Somerset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, since the floods on the Somerset Levels in 2014, what have been the most effective measures taken to reduce such risks; and what remains to be done in the future.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL14415
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>Since 2014 approximately £60 million has been invested in the Somerset Levels and Moors to reduce the impact of flooding. This includes National Government Flood Defence Grant in Aid, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Funding and precept raised by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Numerous capital schemes have been delivered to better protect communities in Somerset as part of the 25 year flood action plan.</p><p>Examples of measures taken include:</p><ul><li>Dredging over 8.75km of the Rivers Parrett and Tone in combination with infrastructure improvements at several sites to accommodate significant additional temporary pumps. These two measures better protect 130 of the 142 houses flooded in 2013/14.</li><li>Construction of a flood defence wall at Westonzoyland village and road raising at Aller village which better protect 15 houses.</li><li>An extensive programme of repairs at over 50 locations to river banks, spillways and pumping stations. This returns assets to their pre-2013/14 flood design condition.</li><li>Major improvements on the A372 to allow water under the road to reduce the likelihood of road flooding to a major route, and allow better evacuation of flood waters.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has also developed an operational plan of when and how it will bring in temporary pumps to a number of strategic locations during extreme events.</p><p> </p><p>Significant future works which are due to be delivered include:</p><ul><li>The construction of the Bridgwater tidal barrier which will better protect 12,000 homes.</li><li>Improvements/enhancement of the River Parrett flood relief channel. This will increase channel conveyance through the relief channel, taking more flood water away from the communities flooded in 2014.</li></ul><p>Maintenance dredging to maintain the conveyance and channel profile of the 8.75km dredged section of the Rivers Parrett and Tone.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 19/03/2019 12:25:23 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

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

1136765

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	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: Seasonal Workers
	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 assistance that seasonal farm workers from the Ukraine could provide in meeting the UK’s agricultural requirements; and what barriers, if any, there are to their entry.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL16915
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has introduced a new immigration pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020 enabling up to 2,500 non-European Economic Area migrant workers, including seasonal workers from Ukraine, to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible horticultural sector.</p><p> </p><p>This pilot will test the effectiveness of our immigration system at alleviating seasonal labour shortages during peak production periods, whilst reducing immigration to sustainable levels and continuing to welcome those who make an invaluable contribution.</p><p> </p><p>This pilot is not designed to meet the full labour needs of the horticultural sector. Rather we are seeking to evaluate the immigration pilot’s ability to assist in alleviating labour shortages during peak production periods.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Home Office will work closely to monitor the pilot, and review its performance against the stated objectives. This pilot will help inform our understanding of how such immigration routes perform in a modern global context, and support the design of our new immigration system laid out in the recent White Paper. Defra is working to improve the official evidence based on temporary worker supply and demand, through a new quarterly survey of growers, the results of which we will consider carefully. We are also working closely with industry to understand trends in labour demand and supply.</p><p> </p><p>Immigration issues are reserved and remain the policy responsibility of the Home Office. After we leave the EU, we must ensure that we have an immigration system that works in the best interest of the whole of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that there is a long term strategy for agricultural labour as part of the future immigration strategy. The Home Office has launched a 12-month engagement programme with sectors across the UK to enable businesses and other stakeholders to shape the development of the future skills based immigration system.</p><p> </p><p>As such, there are no plans to expand this pilot at this time. We wish to fully assess this pilot and the results will help to inform the design of the new immigration system from January 2021.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/07/2019 14:24:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1168606

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	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: Urban Areas
	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 benefit of trees in English cities; and what steps they intend to take to prevent any large-scale felling of such trees.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL64
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the value of urban trees in creating healthy communities and liveable places for people and wildlife. In our manifesto we pledged to plant more trees in towns and cities, and will expect all new streets to be lined with trees.</p><p> </p><p>The public care deeply about this issue, and the Environment Bill, which returns to Parliament in January, will include measures to increase the transparency of decisions over street trees. The proposed duty to consult will encourage authorities to consider concerns raised by the public, and have regard to these when making decisions – giving the public a say in the management of these important natural assets.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 07/01/2020 13:53:26 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1169298

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2020
	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: Somerset
	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 level of current tree cover in the South Somerset District.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL154
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>Through the National Forest Inventory (NFI), Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission, gathers data on woodland in England.</p><p> </p><p>The NFI shows that South Somerset District has approximately 6% woodland cover, which amounts to an area of 5,332 hectares.</p><p> </p><p>More details of the work carried out and information the NFI publishes can be found here: <a href="https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/about-the-nfi/" target="_blank">https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/about-the-nfi/</a></p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 20/01/2020 15:16:35 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten