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1275977

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	Agriculture
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 report by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Farming for Change—Mapping a route to 2030, published on 7 January.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL12053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>Defra has not yet assessed the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission's report in detail. However, we will certainly digest it fully in due course and consider the impact on our work of its findings and recommendations.</p><p>Our future policy will help farmers continue to provide a supply of healthy, home-grown produce to high environmental and animal welfare standards. Furthermore, our plans for future farming must tackle climate change. This is one of the most urgent challenges facing the world. So, as we design our future agricultural policy, we can deliver the pace of change on land management for environmental benefits that the EU has never managed to achieve. Our farmers and land managers will play a crucial role in the national effort to reach Net Zero and our policies will help them do that.</p><p>Domestically, reaching our Net Zero target is one of this Government's top priorities. We know that reaching Net Zero will be a challenge, requiring action across the economy. This will mean changes to the way land is managed to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. We will support the sector to make these changes through the schemes set out in this plan. Simultaneously, we need to protect and increase our carbon stores, increasing afforestation and peat restoration rates across England, whilst supporting the adaptiveness and resilience of these ecosystems to risks which may arise under a changing climate. All three components of our new Environmental Land Management scheme will help deliver on this.</p><p>Our Environmental Land Management scheme is the cornerstone of our new agricultural policy. It is intended to provide a powerful vehicle for achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, while supporting our rural economy. Farmers and land managers will be paid to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.</p><p>The Government is committed to taking action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. Defra is looking at ways to reduce agricultural emissions controlled directly within the farm boundary, considering a broad range of measures including improvements in on-farm efficiency. Improvements in agricultural practice mean that since 1990 we are producing a kilo of pork with 37% less emissions. Efficiency gains in dairy farming mean that we are now producing 9% more milk than we were in 2000 with 23% fewer cows. The Government recognises the importance of reducing emissions further in these sectors.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 26/01/2021 15:28:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

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

1275989

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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to implement the recommendations of the report by Sir Charles Godfray A strategy for achieving Bovine Tuberculosis Free Status for England: 2018 Review, published on 13 November 2018.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL12065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>In March 2020, the Government published its response to Professor Sir Charles Godfray’s 2018 review of England’s bovine TB (bTB) eradication strategy. Sir Charles’ review set out a number of potential options for the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Government response sets out our top priorities for the next five years. The steps we have taken in 2020 to start to deliver this next phase of the strategy include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Accelerating our cattle vaccination work by appointing a Clinical Research Organisation to run cattle vaccination field trials. The aim of these trials is to support applications for UK marketing authorisations of the vaccine and a test to detect infected animals among vaccinated animals.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Evolving our badger control policy, including tendering for a farmer-delivered project in East Sussex to vaccinate badgers against TB, and publishing a map showing the estimated distribution of TB infection in badgers in England’s bTB Edge Area.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Improving our TB testing programme, through awarding £500,000 funding for innovative research to diagnose bTB more quickly, and starting to increase the default frequency of mandatory surveillance TB testing of cattle across England’s bTB High Risk Area from annual to every six-months, with some exceptions for lower risk herds.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Evolving and strengthening partnership working though recruiting for a new Bovine TB Partnership to replace the existing Bovine TB Eradication Advisory Group for England.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Work is ongoing and we plan to announce further steps in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2021 14:47:20 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1275991

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	Agriculture: Subsidies
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 farmers continue to receive financial support following the UK’s departure from the EU.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL12067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>In 2019, the Government made a manifesto commitment to maintain the current annual budget to farmers. This was honoured in the 2021/22 Spending Review.</p><p> </p><p>The commitment is being achieved through a combination of Exchequer funding and remaining EU funding. We have adopted a consistent approach across the UK, topping up EU receipts with Exchequer funding to the level of the manifesto commitment. This ensures that the manifesto commitment is met in each nation.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 26/01/2021 15:28:56 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1275473

registered interest
date	11/01/2021
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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the process of approving the use of neonicotinoid pesticides for sugar beet seed included assessments of the (1) general human health, (2) obesity, and (3) dietary, impacts of the crop on which they were proposed to be used; and, if so, what were the conclusions of these assessments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL11958
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The process for considering emergency authorisation for a pesticide is derived from the legislation. This process was followed for the application to use the neonicotinoid seed treatment Cruiser SB on sugar beet in 2021. This included an assessment of the risks to people and to the environment that may result from use of the product. This assessment, which considers risks to people from pesticide residues associated with eating treated crops, did not identify any concerns about risks to human health. The assessment did not extend to consideration of the impacts of the crop, for example on obesity.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2021 17:08:42 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1275474

registered interest
date	11/01/2021
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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
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 the decision to approve a neonicotinoid pesticide for use on sugar beet seed on (1) the population numbers and population health of bees and other pollinators, (2) soil health and loss, (3) other insects, (4) fish and other water-dwelling species, and (5) other species of animals.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL11959
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The process for considering emergency authorisation for a pesticide is derived from the legislation and includes consideration of potential risks to people and to the environment. This process was followed for application to use the neonicotinoid seed treatment Cruiser SB on sugar beet in 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The assessment of risks included consideration of risks to bees, other insects, soil organisms, fish, aquatic invertebrates, birds and mammals. Risks to bees were identified arising from soil residues taken up by flowering weeds or following crops. Mitigation measures were therefore built into the requirements of the emergency authorisation. These included a reduced application rate, effective control of weeds and minimum periods set between the planting of treated sugar beet and a subsequent flowering crop. For most crops this period was set at 22 months but a longer period of 32 months was chosen for oilseed rape as it is particularly attractive to bees</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2021 17:08:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1275488

registered interest
date	11/01/2021
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	Neonicotinoids
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further (1) to the objections of the Wildlife Trust, and (2) to the statements from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, about the reported harmful effects of the pesticide neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, what plans they have reverse their decision to allow the use of products containing that pesticide.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL11993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government continues to support the existing restrictions on neonicotinoids. The Government has always been clear that it can consider applications for emergency authorisations, as defined by the legislation. An emergency authorisation will only be granted where the relevant statutory requirements are met. These are that use of the pesticide is necessary because of a danger which cannot be contained by any other reasonable means, that use is limited and controlled and that there are special circumstances. If these requirements are met, the Government considers whether the benefits of use outweigh any risks to people or to the environment.</p><p>After careful consideration of all the issues, the Government has decided to grant an application for emergency authorisation to allow use of Cruiser SB (containing the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam) for the treatment of sugar beet seed in 2021. The authorisation has been issued for the 2021 sugar beet crop only. Use of Cruiser SB or a similar product in any subsequent years would require the submission of a further application. If any further applications are made in the future, they will be fully assessed against the regulatory framework for emergency authorisations.</p><p>Sugar beet is a non-flowering crop and the risks to bees from the sugar beet crop itself were assessed to be acceptable. Risks to bees were identified arising from soil residues taken up by flowering weeds or following crops. Mitigation measures were therefore built into the requirements of the emergency authorisation. These included a reduced application rate, effective control of weeds and minimum periods set between the planting of treated sugar beet and a subsequent flowering crop. For most crops this period was set at 22 months but a longer period of 32 months was chosen for oilseed rape as it is particularly attractive to bees.</p><p>Under EU legislation Member States may grant emergency authorisations in exceptional circumstances. The UK’s approach to the use of emergency authorisations has not changed as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU. Ten EU countries including Belgium, Denmark and Spain have granted emergency authorisations for neonicotinoid seed treatments since 2018.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2021 17:55:47 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1275009

registered interest
date	08/01/2021
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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Environmental Land Management Schemes are being established on an open data basis; and what plans they have to ensure that (1) data are available to inform local and national knowledge, and (2) rapid feedback loops are put in place so that best practice can be shared and incentivised, through such Schemes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL11914
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2021 answer text <p>The Environmental Land Management Scheme is being developed in partnership with farmers, other land managers and stakeholders from initial concept to full launch. We already have around 3000 farmers and other land managers involved in the Environmental Land Management Test and Trials and initial reports can be accessed on GOV.UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-management-tests-and-trials" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-management-tests-and-trials</a></p><p> </p><p>Ahead of full launch of the new Environmental Scheme in 2024 there will be a National Pilot, starting later this year, where the focus is on learning from farmers and other land managers as they apply different scheme components and begin to deliver outcomes. The focus will be on sharing their feedback with them and with scheme designers, building on the co-design work started through our Test and Trials and wider evidence reviews.</p><p> </p><p>We will use GOV.UK, open to all, to share comprehensive information about the purpose of the scheme and its components, how to apply and how best to deliver outcomes it pays for. There is already overview information published at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-environmental-land-management-scheme-an-overview" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-environmental-land-management-scheme-an-overview</a>, with more information following in the coming months. Using feedback from farmers, other land managers and their advisers the National Pilot will help us refine and improve the information on GOV.UK relating to the new Environmental Scheme.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/01/2021 14:42:23 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1275040

registered interest
date	08/01/2021
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	Horses: Exports
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, what progress has been made in agreeing a replacement of the Tripartite Agreement between the UK, France and Ireland to provide for the free movement of thoroughbred courses for racing and breeding purposes, underpinned by high standards of animal health.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL11945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2021 answer text <p>As a third country, Great Britain no longer has access to the Tripartite Agreement, however, Northern Ireland remains part of the Agreement under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is working closely with representatives of the equine industry to support the continued movement of all horses, including thoroughbreds, to and from the European Union. This has included clarifying the specific requirements of individual EU Border Control Posts to avoid unnecessary delays at the ports and ensuring the European Commission and EU Member States are fully aware of the detail of GB import arrangements.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/01/2021 14:42:55 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1273634

registered interest
date	05/01/2021
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	Plants: Imports
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 the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the conditions governing the importation of trees and shrubs, in particular those relating to disease control.
tabling member printed	Lord Framlingham
uin	HL11733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2021 answer text <p>The agreement has secured the UK’s full autonomy over our plant health regime. This means we can continue to take a risk based approach, in line with WTO-SPS Agreement principles, to setting our plant health import requirements but these can now be tailored to the specific biosecurity needs of GB.</p><p> </p><p>In practice this means that we can introduce stronger import controls than those set by the EU when this is justified by a pest risk assessment undertaken in-line with relevant international standards.</p><p> </p><p>The agreement also means we can now apply controls to imports from the EU, something which was generally not possible whilst the UK was an EU member state or during the transition period. This means there will now be stronger regulation of plants and plant products imported from EU member states. For example, our current import requirements (which are now stronger than the EU’s) for the pest canker stain of plane will now be applied to imports from the EU in addition to imports from non-EU third countries.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 19/01/2021 13:23:58 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	134 label Biography information for Lord Framlingham