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1272450

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2020
	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	Public Footpaths: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the rate of (1) erosion, and (2) widening, of footpaths in upland, coastal and other popular areas due to any increased usage during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to provide extra funding to national parks and other relevant authorities for any resulting extra costs for the repair and maintenance of such footpaths.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL11589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/01/2021 answer text <p>The maintenance of public rights of way is a local issue and local authorities are required to keep a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) to plan improvements to the existing rights of way network in their area.</p><p>Local authorities receive most of their rights of way funding from central Government through the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) to deliver various duties, including ROWIPs. It is not ring-fenced, and we cannot say how much of the RSG authorities should spend on ROWIPs. It is up to local authorities to manage their own budgets and decide how much they should spend on their different duties and for local people to hold them to account.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/01/2021 12:59:21 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1202615

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2020
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what is their policy and detailed programme on badger culling and other means of controlling tuberculosis in badgers over the next five years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL5514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to the goal of achieving Officially Free bovine TB status for the whole of England by 2038.</p><p> </p><p>On 5 March 2020, the Government published its response to Professor Sir Charles Godfray's 2018 review of England's bovine TB eradication strategy, setting out the priorities for the next phase of the strategy around three key priorities.</p><p> </p><p>We will provide funding to accelerate the research and trial work necessary to authorise the BCG vaccine for use in cattle alongside a test that can differentiate between vaccinated cattle and those with the disease. Our aim is to have a deployable cattle vaccine within the next five years. Vaccination will never provide full protection but could significantly reduce the spread of the disease both between cattle and between cattle herds and wildlife. The UK can harness its world-leading science in developing solutions such as vaccination that would also be valuable to other countries.</p><p> </p><p>Secondly, we will also begin an exit strategy from intensive badger culling, while ensuring that wildlife control remains an option where the epidemiological evidence supports it (i.e. areas where badgers pose a significant source of TB infection). We intend to pilot government-funded badger vaccination in at least one area where the four-year cull cycle has concluded, with simultaneous surveillance of disease. We envisage that any remaining areas would join the current cull programme in the next few years and that the badger cull phase of the strategy would then wind down by the mid to late 2020s.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to support badger vaccination projects in areas where the prevalence of disease is low. We will also investigate the potential for projects where adjacent vaccination and culling could complement each other in controlling disease. Changes to our guidance to Natural England on licensing badger control will be subject to consultation.</p><p> </p><p>Thirdly, we will invest in the deployment of better, more frequent, and more diverse cattle testing, so that we are able to detect the presence of the disease earlier and remove it from cattle herds faster. The frequency of mandatory surveillance testing in two high risk area counties – Shropshire and Staffordshire – will increase from annual to six-monthly as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows. We expect this to be extended across the high risk area from 2021.</p><p> </p><p>There is no single answer to tackling the scourge of bovine TB but by deploying a range of policy interventions, we can turn the tide on this terrible disease and achieve our long-term objective of eradicating it by 2038.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2020 10:27:14 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1204227

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	Barbecues
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce measures to control the use of barbecues outside private property and, in particular, the use of mobile and disposable barbecues in open countryside and moorlands.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL5770
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Current byelaw legislation allows for local authorities to restrict and enforce the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. Defra is working with stakeholders to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about accessing the countryside safely. This includes an updated Countryside Code which advises not to have barbecues or fires. This guidance is available at the following links:</p><p> </p><p>Green space access: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely</a></p><p> </p><p>The Countryside Code: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code</a></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 30/06/2020 13:01:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1199287

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Dairy Farming: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide an economic assistance package for sheep and goat milk producers whose markets have been disrupted by COVID-19.
	tabling member printed	The Duke of Montrose
	uin	HL5047
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>We continue to monitor the impact of the coronavirus disruption on all sectors and dairy producers and are committed to providing support. Dairy producers are eligible for a range of support, including the Covid-19 Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans with a Government 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/06/2020 16:55:30 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1922 label Biography information for The Duke of Montrose

1272452

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2020
	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	Japanese Knotweed: Weed Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the eradication of Japanese Knotweed; and what programmes of action they are proposing for 2021.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL11591
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2021 answer text <p>Our research into an effective method of controlling Japanese knotweed (<em>Fallopia japonica</em>) continues. The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) has successfully collected better climatically matched populations of the psyllid, <em>Aphalara itadori,</em> from Japan, and is currently evaluating it as a biological control agent for Japanese knotweed in the UK.</p><p>In 2021 we will continue to work closely with the CABI on researching and developing biological control methods for this species. Until such a method is found, long term management, using physical and chemical methods, and good biosecurity, to prevent spread, will remain essential.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/01/2021 11:39:43 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1204226

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	Agriculture: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government which Environmental Land Management tests and trials have included access provisions or schemes.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL5769
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>To support the development of Environmental Land Management (ELM), the Government is undertaking a number of tests and trials, working with farmers and land managers to co-design the new schemes. These tests and trials will help us to assess how the scheme could work in a real life environment. Three of our tests and trials look at issues concerning access.</p><p><strong>1. The Trails Trust, <em>How to incentivise green infrastructure access and biodiversity creation</em></strong></p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>The Trails Trust will work with 50 farmers and land managers in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to explore the barriers and potential solutions to creating, upgrading and maintaining infrastructure networks. The test will look at the willingness of farmers and land managers to create, enhance and maintain access across different acreages and land uses. The test will also explore the valuation of incentives that landowners would require to implement access rights along specified routes. The test is due to conclude at the end of June 2021.</p><p><strong>2. Kent Downs AONB, <em>Enhancing access opportunities</em>, as part of the NAAONBs (National Association of AONBs) submission</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This proposal was submitted by the NAAONB on behalf of 12 individual AONBs, one of which included the Kent Downs AONB. The Kent Downs AONB’s test is working with two farmers/land manager groups to identify the barriers to access to landscapes and nature and co-develop a template of practical ways through which ELM can support better and more diverse access. Local trusted experts will work with farmers and land managers and their representative organisations to explore existing best practice; experts in access health and wellbeing will be involved to assess benefits and barriers. The test is due to complete by March 2021.</p><p><strong>3. South Downs National Park Authority, <em>South Downs and the Land App</em></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>South Downs National Park Authority is working with the Land App, a GIS mapping system developed for farmers, to collate maps and data about their holding in one user-friendly place. The proposal will work with farmers from the South Downs farm clusters and use the Land App and the data it holds to evaluate and plan the delivery of public goods at a landscape (cluster or part cluster) scale. This includes working with the Winchester Downs Cluster group who will focus on public access issues and opportunities. The test is due to complete by mid-July 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 30/06/2020 15:40:20 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1218584

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2020
	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	Northern Ireland Protocol: Customs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what progress has been made in the construction of the inspection facilities at the ports of (a) Warrenpoint, (b) Belfast, and (c) Larne, as part of the post-Brexit custom checks allied to the New Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and (2) who will pay for the (a) construction, and (b) operation of those facilities.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
	uin	HL6253
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>Applications were submitted to the European Commission at the end of June for sanitary and phytosanitary inspection facilities at the ports of Belfast, Warrenpoint, Larne and Foyle. These applications were submitted to ensure we meet our agreements under the Northern Ireland Protocol.</p><p> </p><p>DAERA and Defra will continue to work together to develop plans for the construction of these facilities. The facilities will be operated by DAERA in conjunction with local authorities, the Food Standards Agency and the port operators. The Government has agreed in principle to fund the construction costs for these facilities. This funding is limited to costs associated with reaching the required level of compliance to implement the UK’s obligations in relation to the Protocol.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/07/2020 11:38:19 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1275978

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Food: Imports
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) whether they plan to reduce the amount of food imported to the UK, (2) if so, what their target is for such a reduction, and (3) how they plan to achieve any such reduction.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL12054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Our food security depends on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports from stable sources. We produce 64% of our entire food supply need, and that increases to 77% for indigenous food that we can grow or rear here in the UK for all or part of the year. These figures have been steady over the past 20 years.</p><p> </p><p>UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements our excellent domestic production, and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK’s overall security of supply.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2021 17:07:18 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1184484

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2020
	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	Fisheries
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how Parliament will be informed of progress made in their negotiations with the EU on fishing rights.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL2501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p>On 20 December 2019 the Prime Minister, at the Second Reading of the Withdrawal Agreement Act, committed to keeping Parliament fully informed of the progress of negotiations.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 23/03/2020 17:28:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1242806

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2020
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Senior Civil Servants
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many BAME civil servants there are at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at (1) SCS1, (2) SCS2, (3) SCS3, and (4) SCS4, grade.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kramer
	uin	HL9141
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2020 answer text <p>I refer to the published diversity and inclusion data for the Civil Service: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-inclusion-dashboard/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-dashboard" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-inclusion-dashboard/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-dashboard</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Service is committed to diversity and inclusion and to reflecting the country that we serve, and is taking targeted action to tackle underrepresentation, especially in the Senior Civil Service (SCS). Our workforce data shows that the Civil Service as a whole is broadly representative of the UK’s working population, but there is more to be done to ensure that this diversity is reflected at all levels across departments and professions. Our diversity and inclusion dashboard provides details of the percentage of SCS from an ethnic minority background, but this data does not differentiate the SCS grades (SCS1,2,3,4). Defra is unable to provide the breakdown by SCS grades due to the risk of identifying individuals.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 27/10/2020 15:58:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name PQ HL9141 Diversity and Inclusion Data.pdf title PQ HL9141 Diversity and Inclusion Data
	tabling member	1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer