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1036894

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	Hen Harriers: Conservation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to counter the unlawful killing of hen harriers.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL12536
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government is very concerned about hen harrier populations, which is why we took the lead on the Hen Harrier Action Plan. This sets out what will be done to increase hen harrier populations in England and includes measures to stop illegal persecution. A copy of the plan is available on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with strong penalties for committing offences against birds of prey and other wildlife. The Government takes wildlife crime very seriously and has identified raptor persecution as a national wildlife crime priority, focusing on hen harrier, golden eagle, goshawk, peregrine, red kite and white tailed eagle.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/01/2019 12:42:13 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

1036895

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	Hares: Conservation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban the shooting of hares in the breeding season.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL12537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the written response I gave to question HL12295 on 28 December 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Please find the response below:</p><p> </p><p>Wildlife conservation is a devolved matter so this answer is for England only.</p><p> </p><p>The population of brown hares in England is believed to be stable. The majority of hare shooting occurs in regions where brown hares are locally abundant and leads to no long-term impact on hare populations. There is no evidence to suggest that a closed season would significantly benefit the conservation status of brown hares.</p><p> </p><p>An industry-led initiative resulted in the publication of a code of practice to protect hares in England. This provides for a voluntary close season covering the main breeding season, while allowing farmers to protect their crops from serious damage by hares.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/01/2019 12:40:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

943357

registered interest
date	17/07/2018
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	Marine Protected Areas
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 9 July (HL8894), what assessment they have made of the information published by the Lundy Management Forum and the Community of Arran Seabed Trust in respect of Lamlash Bay, and the Atlas of Marine Protection in respect of Flamborough Head that indicate that the total area of all no take zones in UK waters is approximately 2.7 square miles.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL9576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2018 answer text <p>Defra has made no assessment of the information referred to.</p><p> </p><p>Once a Marine Protected Area is designated, matters relating to fisheries management become the remit of either local Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) or the Marine Management Organisation. In the case of Flamborough Head, Northern Eastern IFCA is the responsible authority.</p><p> </p><p>MPAs are a devolved responsibility and so matters relating to Lamlash Bay fall under the remit of the Scottish Government.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation on the Third Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones closed on 20 July. As part of this consultation, we asked for views on whether we should establish Highly Protected Marine Areas in the future. These are areas where most or all human activities would not be permitted.<br></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 27/07/2018 13:30:41 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

930894

registered interest
date	25/06/2018
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	Marine Protected Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total area of UK waters classified as no take zones.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL8894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2018 answer text <p>There are three no take zones in UK waters; Lundy, Lamlash Bay and Flamborough Head, however we do not hold data on their total area.</p><p> </p><p>Our Marine Protected Area network currently includes 299 sites covering a total area of 80,742 square miles. Sustainable marine industries are allowed to operate in these sites, but only if they do not damage the protected features.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on 41 new Marine Conservation Zones. As part of this consultation we are also seeking views on whether in future we should establish Highly Protected Marine Areas - these are areas where most or all human activities would not be permitted, and could include no take zones.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 09/07/2018 11:21:51 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

823989

registered interest
date	16/01/2018
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	Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to respond to the global scientific information contained in the television programme Blue Planet II by initiating immediate and effective global action to safeguard the wildlife and habitats of the world's oceans.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL4737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2018 answer text <p>Our 25 Year Environment Plan, launched last week, demonstrates our continued commitment to protect the oceans to ensure the UK continues to be a global leader in protecting seas, oceans and marine life through a variety of measures. We now have nearly 300 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in UK waters and by 2020 we will deliver a network of MPAs that will cover 25% of the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone. We are also on track to protect 4 million square kilometres of ocean across the UK’s Overseas Territories by 2020.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Later this year we will have completed a major assessment of how far our seas have moved towards good environmental status since 2012, and intend to consult on the findings later in the year. The UK has also been working with the 15 Contracting Parties of the OSPAR Convention to produce a major assessment of the status of the North East Atlantic Ocean, the results of which were published last year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also leading the way in tackling the plastic waste devastating our marine environment – our 5p plastic bag charge has taken nine billion bags out of circulation and we have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on harmful microbeads. We are also investigating whether we should introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and other single use drinks containers, and will shortly launch a call for evidence seeking views on how the tax system or charges could reduce the amount of single use waste. In addition, we have asked one of our specialist committees to review evidence on the use of microplastics in a range of products, and their chances of reaching the seas – and we are commissioning further research to better understand their impact on the marine environment.</p><p> </p><p>The UK will be playing an active role in securing a new international agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 25/01/2018 17:41:58 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

795200

registered interest
date	27/11/2017
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	Hunting
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the activities of (1) those taking part in organised hunts, and (2) those opposed to such hunting, remain within the law.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL3602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2017 answer text <p>The Hunting Act 2004 bans all hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions set out in Schedule 1 to the Act.</p><p> </p><p>The enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004 is an operational matter for the police. The police have issued guidance to forces dealing with hunting issues in the ‘Hunting Act 2004 Investigators Manual’. Enforcement of the legislation will follow this guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone who believes an offence is taking place or has taken place during a hunt, whether it lies with the hunters or protestors, should report the matter to the police.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 08/12/2017 12:50:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

773533

registered interest
date	19/10/2017
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: Greater London
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to change the regulatory regime governing London's water infrastructure.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL2248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2017 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to change the regulatory regime governing London's water infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>In September, the Government laid in Parliament a strategic policy statement (SPS) to Ofwat. This set out clear priorities for Ofwat to secure the water industry’s resilience to drought, flooding and other risks and to protect customers who may struggle to afford their charges or are vulnerable in other ways. The SPS makes clear that we expect Ofwat to challenge companies to improve planning and investment in services to meet the needs of current and future customers.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/11/2017 13:27:59 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

749873

registered interest
date	10/07/2017
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	Israel: Palestinians
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to legislate to prohibit farmers from placing (1) bulls, and (2) cows with calves, in fields traversed by a public footpath.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL593
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2017 answer text <p>Section 59 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 bans bulls of seven recognised dairy breeds (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) that are over the age of ten months, in all circumstances, from being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way.</p><p>Bulls of all other breeds (again over the age of ten months) are also banned from fields crossed by public rights of way unless accompanied by cows or heifers. There are no specific prohibitions on the keeping of cattle other than bulls aged over ten months.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/07/2017 10:45:30 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

470610

registered interest
date	14/03/2016
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	Flour: Additives
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider exempting traditional windmills producing high-quality artisan flours from any obligations to introduce additives.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL6957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2016 answer text <p>In the UK iron, niacin and thiamin are added back by law to all UK milled flour (except wholemeal) to restore nutrients lost in milling. Flour milled in the UK is also fortified with calcium to reduce the risk of calcium deficiency, a condition associated with poor bone health and osteoporosis. The Government is currently considering requests to exempt certain minor flour uses from these mandatory fortification requirements. This exercise could be extended to consider exempting traditional stoneground mills producing low volumes of flour should a case be made.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 23/03/2016 13:59:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

65937

registered interest
date	07/07/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that consumers receive the broadband speeds for which they pay.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL864
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>Ofcom, the independent national regulatory authority for communications has agreed a voluntary industry code of practice on broadband speeds. It was introduced in 2008 and subsequently updated in 2010, and requires internet service providers to provide consumers with information on the maximum speed they can achieve, including an estimated speed range, to help ensure that consumers choose the package that is the most appropriate for them in light of their individual circumstances and needs. All the largest internet service providers representing 98% of the broadband consumer market are signed up to the Code and have agreed to abide by its principles and spirit. Headline broadband speeds advertised are unlikely to be achievable all the time. There are a variety of reasons for broadband speed variations, not all of which are within the broadband service provider�s control. The important thing is that consumers receive accurate information on broadband speeds at the point of sale to allow them to make informed purchasing decisions, and ensure that there is not a mismatch between the speeds they expect to receive and what they actually get.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has undertaken successive mystery shopping exercises to check compliance with the Code. Results have shown that the level of compliance has continued to improve. The latest results published in May 2013 found that overall 96% of mystery shopping callers were provided with a speed estimate (93% in 2011/12). There was also an improvement overall in the provision of speeds information provided to mystery shoppers via the web. All signatories to the Code, with the exception of two small providers, offered a speed checker which provide estimated access line speeds. The percentage of assessments where any speed estimate was given via the website rose from 87% in 2011/12 to 92% in 2013.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom is currently discussing with industry and consumer groups, its proposals to revise the Code to reflect significant changes in the broadband market since the Code�s introduction, with the increased take up of superfast packages. The proposals include improving the information on speeds for consumers buying superfast packages to equal that received by consumers buying current generation services.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/07/2014 13:25:11 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt