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1713859

registered interest
date	25/04/2024
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	Plastics: Treaties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is participating in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa that began on 23 April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	23677
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department participated in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa. Officials from Defra attended the fourth session of negotiations to develop a global plastics pollution treaty, and I attended the high-level segment hosted by Canada ahead of the start of formal negotiations. The UK’s negotiating mandate covers the relevant policy from across Government departments and we continue to strongly support the active and meaningful participation of stakeholders, including UK businesses, at all stages of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process. As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK remains committed to securing an ambitious treaty by the end of 2024 that includes measures to address plastic pollution across the full lifecycle of plastic. We continue to work closely with other member states and stakeholders at, and beyond, the fourth session of the INC to advance negotiations and pave the way for a historic agreement.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/04/2024 16:03:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1713178

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Forests: Conservation
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 steps his Department is taking to bring the majority of Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites into restoration by 2030.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	23179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The Keepers of Time policy, updated in 2021, sets out our principles and objectives to protect and improve ancient and native woodland and trees for future generations. Restoring ancient woodlands that are ecologically degraded is a high priority for the Government. This includes restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites by gradually transforming stands from non-native planted species to native species.</p><p> </p><p>We provide support and incentives through Countryside Stewardship and the HS2 Woodland Fund to restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS). We are currently considering how best to support and incentivise PAWS restoration in future environmental land management schemes while making sure they continue to provide owners with income. We support Forestry England to manage ancient woodland sites across the nation’s forests to improve their ecological value and ultimately restore all plantations on ancient woodland sites to resilient native woodland.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/04/2024 12:43:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1713179

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Forests: Non-native Species
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 hectares of plantations on ancient woodland sites have had licences granted for clearfell and replanting with non-native trees in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	23180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission is the regulator for the legal felling of trees in England under the provisions in the Forestry Act. Most felling licences issued require felled trees or areas of woodland to be replaced by replanting or allowed to regenerate. The exception to this is a thinning licence, where sufficient woodland cover is retained so as not to require restocking.</p><p> </p><p>When considering a felling licence application the Forestry Commission will judge the proposals against the UK Forestry Standard, the government’s approach to sustainable forestry. This is available on GOV.UK at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard</a>. This standard encompasses the impacts on biodiversity and recognises the importance of priority habitats and species. This is why a felling licence also includes advice and guidance on additional issues a landowner needs to take into account.</p><p> </p><p>The restocking conditions in a felling licence are put in place to help meet the aims of the management of the site through good silvicultural practice. While the Forestry Commission does advise on a suitable species mix there are no provisions in the Forestry Act to mandate the source of trees and whether they are native or non-native.</p><p> </p><p>The guide to Managing England’s woodlands in a climate emergency, advises to manage ancient woodlands in a manner which conserves important biodiversity and heritage features. Greater diversification of species and origin of stands is advised, with a focus on southerly provenances of native species. Due to the unknown nature of acceleration of climate change, management intervention may need to be more frequent in order to preserve these rare habitats effectively. This is available on GOV.UK at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-englands-woodlands-in-a-climate-emergency" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-englands-woodlands-in-a-climate-emergency</a>.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/04/2024 12:41:23 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1713197

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Tree Planting: North of England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will work with metro mayors on delivering the White Rose forest objectives.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	23247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire, working in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities to increase woodland across the region and improve our natural environment. To deliver the objectives of our Community Forests and Woodland Creation Partnerships Defra works with a wide range of stakeholders in local government, the NGO sector and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/05/2024 15:26:46 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702523

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Darwin Plus: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2024 to Question 21017 on Darwin Plus, if he will provide a breakdown of Darwin Plus fund projects funded since 2019.
tabling member constituency	Suffolk Coastal
tabling member printed	Dr Thérèse Coffey
uin	22727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Pursuant to the Answer of 18 April to Question 21017, a summary of Darwin Plus projects funded since 2019, broken down by Territory, can be found below. These figures include the latest awards from Rounds 12 of Darwin Plus Main and Fellowships, Round 1 of Darwin Plus Strategic, and Round 3 of Darwin Plus Local.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Overseas Territory</p></td><td><p>Grant Funding from 2019 - 2024</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Anguilla</p></td><td><p>£4,818,639.72</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bermuda</p></td><td><p>£961,876.60</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Antarctic Territory</p></td><td><p>£1,368,375.75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Indian Ocean Territory</p></td><td><p>£1,695,969.14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Virgin Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,652,346.29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cayman Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,152,086.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Falkland Islands</p></td><td><p>£3,789,195.36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gibraltar</p></td><td><p>£319,343.10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Montserrat</p></td><td><p>£2,842,585.69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pitcairn, Henderson, Oeno and Ducie Islands</p></td><td><p>£423,105.00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha</p></td><td><p>£6,486,241.84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands</p></td><td><p>£5,278,964.75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia</p></td><td><p>£1,883,252.50</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Turks and Caicos Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,120,137.14</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/04/2024 11:30:49 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey

1702295

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
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: Solar Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce a national monitoring system to track agricultural land being developed for ground mounted solar.
tabling member constituency	Rutland and Melton
tabling member printed	Alicia Kearns
uin	22659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister said at PMQs last week, we must protect our nation’s food security and therefore our most valuable agricultural land.</p><p> </p><p>As per planning policy, local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, when making plans or taking decisions on new development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. Planning Practice Guidance also sets out a preference for the use of lower quality agricultural land.</p><p> </p><p>I agree that monitoring of the impacts of solar on agricultural land is important and am in discussions with my counterparts in DLUHC and DESNZ.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/05/2024 15:46:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4805 label Biography information for Alicia Kearns

1701722

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
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	Swifts: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the conservation status of the swift.
tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
tabling member printed	George Eustice
uin	22288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK swift population is estimated at 59,000 pairs (2016) Swift population trends are monitored annually by the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which recorded a decline of 62% between 1995 and 2021, and of 40% between 2011 and 2021. Due to the declines recorded by BBS, swifts were added to the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK in 2021 and are considered ‘Endangered’ at GB level.</p><p>Natural England is currently undertaking a review of the conservation interventions needed to support the recovery of over 100 of our most threatened bird species, including the swift.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/04/2024 14:54:10 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1701723

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
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	Horticulture: Peat
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 10078 on Horticulture: Peat, what (a) legal and (b) other advice he has received on the suitability of powers provided by section 53 and schedule 7 of the Environment Act 2021 in providing an appropriate legislative vehicle for restricting the sale of horticultural peat.
tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
tabling member printed	George Eustice
uin	22289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the reply previously given on 2 February 2024, PQ 10078.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/04/2024 13:37:15 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1701948

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
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	Wildlife: Conservation
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 hectares of new wildlife habitats have been (a) created and (b) restored since 31 January 2023.
tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
tabling member printed	Kim Leadbeater
uin	22439
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>We do not currently have an estimate for habitat created and restored in 2023, the first year of the target.</p><p> </p><p>Data on habitat created and restored is not usually available by year end. We expect there to be a two-year lag before having a 'complete' count due to the time taken for data to be reported and the quality assurance process.</p><p> </p><p>In April, we published information about actions that will count toward our statutory habitat target, the list of wildlife rich habitats, and definitions of restoration and creation (available <a href="https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6427187599900672" target="_blank">here</a>).</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working with Natural England to set up a formal reporting system for monitoring progress towards our statutory habitat target.</p><p> </p><p>While we establish this formal reporting system, we are looking at whether we can collect a subset of data from Defra Group delivery mechanisms for ad hoc interim reporting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/04/2024 15:31:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4923 label Biography information for Kim Leadbeater

1701952

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
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	Recreation Spaces and Water
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 and what proportion of the population have access to (a) green space and (b) water within 15 minutes walk from home.
tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
tabling member printed	Kim Leadbeater
uin	22443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The data we currently use on the number and proportion of people with access to greenspace is taken from Natural England’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework analysis. Natural England’s G3 Indicator report shows that as of October 2021, the proportions of the total population in England living within Accessible Greenspace Standards ‘criteria’ (straight line distances from the boundary of the greenspaces) are:</p><p> </p><p>• 1 in 3 people live within 200 metres of a doorstep greenspace of at least 0.5 hectares</p><p>• 1 in 4 people live within 300 metres of a local natural greenspace of at least 2 hectares</p><p>• 1 in 2 people live within 1 km of a neighbourhood natural greenspace of at least 10 hectares.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working to establish a robust baseline of walkability to green and blue space, including working with NE and with the Rivers Trust to create data on blue space access points. In August we will publish an official statistic in development on walkability within England to the nearest green space. This will use network analysis to calculate travel time/distance rather than straight-line distances, and enhanced use of data on the rights-of-way network. For full details see <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fannouncements%2Faccess-to-green-space-in-england&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C93a1eb1daf5340966ca808dc5fb38bf9%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638490471947068177%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=bjtw1okd95IMoeOUg1YpNBZeCsiQGP1qPbNwrBJ60E8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/access-to-green-space-in-england</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/04/2024 14:26:21 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4923 label Biography information for Kim Leadbeater