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1718959

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) European counterparts, and (2) other international partners, about how provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora are being implemented.
tabling member printed	Baroness Quin
uin	HL4740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>Defra officials regularly discuss how the provisions of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are implemented with both European counterparts and other international partners. This includes at regular meetings of the CITES Standing Committee which was last held in November 2023.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 21/05/2024 13:56:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	518 label Biography information for Baroness Quin

1718588

registered interest
date	15/05/2024
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Ministerial Responsibility
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government which responsibilities have been taken over by the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland since the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 came into force on 12 April.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hoey
uin	HL4689
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>In line with the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 Statutory Guidance, the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has exercised direction and control over the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs only with respect to the limited areas set out in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/661e3374d4a839725cbd3d58/Windsor_Framework__Implementation__Regulations_2024_-_Statutory_Guidance.pdf" target="_blank">statutory guidance published on GOV.UK</a>. A copy of the guidance is attached to this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 23/05/2024 09:56:39 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name PQ HL4689 attachment (1).pdf title HL4689 attachment
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

1718616

registered interest
date	15/05/2024
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	Food Supply
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to strengthen the resilience of the UK's food supply chain, and (2) to enhance food security, in the face of external disruptions and challenges.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain and is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption.</p><p> </p><p>Our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. We produce 60% of all the food we need, and 73% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 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 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><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was produced in 2021 and the next will be published by December 2024. This report serves as an evidence base for policy work.</p><p> </p><p>Starting this year, the government is also strengthening our food security monitoring by introducing the annual Food Security Index in addition to the three-yearly UKFSR.</p><p> </p><p>Published to coincide with the second UK Farm to Fork Summit on 14 May 2024, the 2024 Food Security Index sets out how Government will track UK-wide food security on an annual basis, monitoring domestic food production, land use, input costs, and farmer productivity.</p><p> </p><p>The Index looks at shorter-term trends that change year on year, complementing the UKFSR’s comprehensive assessment and attention to longer-term trends. The 2024 Index shows that the UK farming sector is at its most productive since records began.</p><p> </p><p>A further package of measures to support farmers and grow the UK’s farming and food sector was announced by the government at the Farm to Fork Summit on 14th May 2024.</p><p> </p><p>This includes a <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fa-blueprint-to-grow-the-uk-fruit-and-vegetable-sector&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca6bcce62eca54b98c7e208dc75998dde%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638514549574220446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EPMGmy06utGwoW2ak97LftPPf0kq62W6%2FnmT7isxfXs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">new Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector</a> (see attached), setting out how industry and government can work together to increase domestic production and drive investment into this valuable sector. The plan involves ensuring the sector has access to affordable and sustainable energy and water, cutting planning red tape to make it easier and quicker to build glasshouses, and looking to double to £80 million the amount of funding given to horticulture businesses when compared to the EU legacy Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme which will be replaced from 2026 onwards.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 20/05/2024 14:32:21 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name HL4718 - A blueprint to grow the UK fruit and vegetable sector.pdf title blueprint - growing UK fruit and vegetable sector
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1718120

registered interest
date	14/05/2024
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	Biosecurity: Import Controls
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following recent press reports, whether the rate of biosecurity checks on goods arriving from the EU at some ports has in practice been "set to zero" to minimise disruption, despite businesses now being charged for all relevant consignments of goods imported into the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Randerson
uin	HL4632
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>No, the implementation is happening. The first milestone - health certificates - happened on 31 January 2024. Physical and documentary checks began on April 30th. Medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as check levels are scaled up in a sensible and controlled way.</p><p> </p><p>We have not simply copied the EU model but taken the extra time to bring in an effective and innovative system with much lower burdens on business and much less disruption to trade.</p><p> </p><p>Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.</p><p> </p><p>DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.</p><p> </p><p>This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 23/05/2024 09:52:50 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4230 label Biography information for Baroness Randerson

1717031

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
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	Offensive Weapons: rural areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that slingshots are being used to cause damage to vehicles and local wildlife in rural areas.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL4537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government has not made an assessment of reports that slingshots are being used to cause damage to vehicles and local wildlife in rural areas. We have been made aware by the National Wildlife Crime Unit of a perceived increase in the use of catapults against animals. The Government takes wildlife crime seriously and it is a matter of concern. Under provisions in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, there are a range of offences around deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife. We expect all crime to be reported to police and investigated appropriately.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 21/05/2024 13:39:21 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1717034

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
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	Water Companies: Debts
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Douglas-Miller on 26 April (HL3909), why the calculation of  Regulatory Capital Value is not accompanied by a calculation of regulatory equity.
tabling member printed	Lord Sikka
uin	HL4540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The value of regulatory equity is publicly accessible for each water company. Regulatory equity on the basis of a company's actual structure is Regulatory Capital Value less net debt.</p><p> </p><p>Notional regulatory equity is published annually for each company by Ofwat. Ofwat also presents company gearing levels against actual structures in its annual monitoring financial resilience report.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 21/05/2024 13:28:15 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4885 label Biography information for Lord Sikka

1717035

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
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	Water Companies and Sewage: Investment Income
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions OFWAT has blocked or reduced dividend payments by water and sewage companies.
tabling member printed	Lord Sikka
uin	HL4541
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is clear the overall performance of the water sector is unacceptable. That is why we have given Ofwat increased powers under the Environment Act to hold companies to account for poor performance and ensure dividends are linked to delivery for customers and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, under the “Cash Lock-Up&quot; licence condition, companies must not make a dividend payment where it would pose a risk to their financial resilience. We are confident Ofwat will not hesitate to act when a company has failed to meet these requirements.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 21/05/2024 11:19:01 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4885 label Biography information for Lord Sikka

1716661

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Coastal Erosion: Churches
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they have made available to protect churchyards from coastal erosion where (1) the church is of historical significance, or (2) family members of those recently buried in the churchyard reside in the local community.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Newcastle
uin	HL4472
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is investing £5.6 billion between 2021 and 2027 to better protect communities across England from flooding and coastal erosion. This investment includes a record £5.2 billion capital investment programme, as well as the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme (FCIP).</p><p> </p><p>Schemes are valued and prioritised using the Government’s Partnership Funding policy, with the amount of funding a scheme can attract dependent on the damages it will avoid and the benefits it will deliver. The impact on heritage assets and churchyards are included as part of this calculation.</p><p> </p><p>In areas where a heritage asset is assessed to be invaluable, only schemes protecting the asset can be shortlisted.</p><p> </p><p>The Third National Adaptation Programme details how Government and its agencies plan to protect cultural heritage from a changing climate, including implications for our coastal heritage due to flooding and coastal erosion.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on managing the impacts of coastal erosion on heritage features can be found on Historic England's website, alongside details of available grants for heritage.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL4421 question first answered 17/05/2024 13:25:36 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4996 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Newcastle

1716674

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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: Food Supply
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to a recent poll conducted by the National Farmers Union which showed that business confidence among farmers is at its lowest since 2010, what steps they are taking to support the agricultural sector to ensure food security.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>Food security is more important than ever – which is why we need to back British farmers to keep putting food on our tables while protecting the environment.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we are supporting farmers with £2.4 billion of annual spending. This includes an increase in payment rates, with the average value of a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement increasing by 10%. Around 50 new paid-for actions will also be added to the SFI and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes from summer 2024, giving farmers more choice with an offer for all farm types and locations.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, at the NFU Conference this February, the Prime Minister announced more funding for farmers. This included the doubling of the SFI Management Payment, which supports many farmers to participate in the SFI scheme, and the planned launch of the biggest ever package of grants this year to boost productivity and resilience. This grants package, which will total £427 million, includes funding for the Improving Farming Productivity scheme to invest in things like robotics and barn-top solar; funding for a new round of the Farming Equipment and Technology fund, worth £70m; and targeted schemes to support farmers in improving the viability of their businesses, delivering environmental outcomes and supporting sustainable food production.</p><p> </p><p>Our plan will mean farmers always come first – with fair prices for goods, less bureaucracy and more funding as we continue to protect our food security. On May 14, the Prime Minister hosted the second annual Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street, focused on how the Government will support domestic food production, boost innovation, support the sector to reach its economic potential and recruit the next generation of farming leaders. The Summit also saw publication of the first draft Food Security Index, setting out key data and trends to allow government and industry to monitor domestic food production, land use, input costs and farmer productivity on an annual basis.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 23/05/2024 09:55:54 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1716677

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Local Nature Recovery Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government which public body, or bodies, will be given the responsibility for the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies once they have been agreed.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL4488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>Local Natural Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) will identify and map the best locations to create, enhance and restore nature and provide wider environmental benefits across the whole country. The Government has committed to funding LNRS preparation and recognises the need for them to have weight and meaning across a range of government policies to support and incentivise their delivery.</p><p> </p><p>No one body can therefore be solely responsible for the delivery of LNRSs. Recovering nature will require public, private and voluntary sectors to work closely together to deliver the priorities identified in the strategies. All public bodies must have regard to LNRSs as part of their strengthened statutory <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complying-with-the-biodiversity-duty" target="_blank">duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity</a> (attached).</p><p> </p><p>The Government will publish guidance shortly on how planning authorities will have to have regard to and in time take account of LNRSs in their plans. LNRSs will help to target biodiversity net gain actions and as the strategies become available, the Government will continue to explore join-up between elements of Environmental Land Management schemes and LNRS, as committed to in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-transition-plan-2021-to-2024/agricultural-transition-plan-update-january-2024" target="_blank">January 2024 Agricultural Transition Plan</a> (attached).</p><p> </p><p>We are in discussions with LNRS responsible authorities about their role in helping to coordinate activities in their areas.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Complying with the biodiversity duty - GOV.UK - HL4488.pdf title Complying with the biodiversity duty 2 file name Agricultural Transition Plan update January 2024 - GOV.UK - HL4488.pdf title Agricultural Transition Plan update question first answered 20/05/2024 14:18:07 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson