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717811

registered interest
date	04/04/2017
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	Urban Areas: Pests
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last reviewed (1) the proliferation of pests in urban areas, and (2) the ability of local authorities to deal with those pests.
tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
uin	HL6620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2017 answer text <p>The proliferation of pests in urban areas has not been reviewed by central Government, however there is a range of legislation in place to support local authorities in controlling urban pests.</p><p>Pest control is the responsibility of the owner or occupier of the property where the problem occurs. Where this is the local authority, they have the same powers to control pests as any other owner or occupier.</p><p>There is a range of legislation in place to support local authorities in managing rodent infestation and statutory nuisances, such as litter and refuse, where these are attracting pests.</p><p>The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 obliges local authorities to ensure that their districts are kept, as far as is practicable, free of rats and mice.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 12/04/2017 13:11:16 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

715497

registered interest
date	30/03/2017
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	Agriculture: Apprentices
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 7 March (HL Deb, col 1246), whether the trebling of agricultural apprenticeships from 6,000 to 18,000 is a target for (1) the whole period to 2020, or (2) each year until and including 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
uin	HL6458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government’s commitment is to treble the number of apprenticeships in food, farming and agri-tech. This means increasing the number of annual starts to 18,000 by 2020. The number of starts in the most recent full year for which statistics are available (2015 -2016) was 7,160.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 12/04/2017 13:00:21 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

715498

registered interest
date	30/03/2017
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	Fly-tipping
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Earl of Courtown on 8 March (HL Deb, col 1357), whether, following a successful prosecution by the Environment Agency for fly-tipping, landowners will receive recompense for costs incurred in having rubbish removed.
tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
uin	HL6459
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2017 answer text <p>Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the ‘fly-tipping’), section 33B (2) of that Act provides that “loss or damage resulting from the offence” in section 130 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 specifically includes costs incurred or to be incurred by a relevant person in removing the waste deposited or disposed of in or on the land; taking other steps to eliminate or reduce the consequences of the deposit or disposal; or both.</p><p> </p><p>A “relevant person” is defined for these purposes in section 33B (3) as including the occupier of the land and the owner of the land.</p><p> </p><p>A court can order the person convicted of fly-tipping to pay compensation to the occupier or owner of the land in respect of costs incurred or to be incurred in removing the waste and/or associated clean-up costs. Whether a court would in any particular case make such an order will depend on the nature of the case, any other form of punishment to which the offender is to be sentenced, and the financial means of the offender to pay. Once a compensation order is made the courts have a role in enforcing that order to ensure that monies are paid. This is reflected in the sentencing guideline. The application of the guideline is a matter for the court to decide. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/04/2017 11:08:44 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

715499

registered interest
date	30/03/2017
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	Fly-tipping
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Earl of Courtown on 8 March (HL Deb, col 1357), whether they will give further consideration to providing compensation to landowners in relation to large-scale commercial dumping of waste on private land.
tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
uin	HL6460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government is not currently considering providing compensation to landowners in relation to large-scale commercial dumping of waste on private land.</p><p> </p><p>Fly-tipping is unacceptable whether it occurs on public or private land. However, fly-tipping on private land is a difficult issue. Local authorities are not under any legal obligation to clear fly-tipped waste from private property, so this responsibility falls to the landowner. Some authorities may offer a clearance service but they are likely to charge for this. If, following an investigation, a conviction is secured then the court can award compensation which covers the costs of clearance of waste to the landowner.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 06/04/2017 11:44:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

714925

registered interest
date	29/03/2017
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	Horses: Animal Welfare
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish the new Code of Practice for the keeping of equines.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL6413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2017 answer text <p>We are currently aiming to lay the updated statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Their Hybrids before Parliament before the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Equine Sector Council for their assistance and expertise in updating the code.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 03/04/2017 16:29:10 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

714297

registered interest
date	27/03/2017
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	Air Pollution: Urban Areas
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 accuracy of local air pollution forecasts in major cities; and what comparisons they make between these forecasts and those provided by other organisations.
tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Chesterton
uin	HL6318
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2017 answer text <p>Defra publishes the daily air pollution forecast provided by the Met Office on the UK Air website. A 2013 Defra-commissioned study made a comparison of the Met Office air quality forecasting model against three other models over a six month period. This found that the Met Office model generally performed best overall in both urban and rural areas.</p><p> </p><p>The Met Office has built a system for acquiring air quality observations from the Automatic Urban and Rural Network and comparing its air quality forecast against these observations, in order to evaluate and verify performance of the forecast system. In addition, a recent development of the system allows a comparison against the EU Copernicus forecasting system. This evaluation runs on a daily basis, to inform forecasters about current and recent forecast performance; and on a longer timescale, to identify areas requiring further research.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 03/04/2017 16:20:29 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2543 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton

707580

registered interest
date	02/03/2017
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	Forests
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to increase the area of publicly accessible woodland for local communities in the light of the Woodland Trust's 2015 report <i>Residential Developments and Trees</i> which found that access to the natural environment can have benefits to health and well-being.
tabling member printed	Lord Porter of Spalding
uin	HL5803
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2017 answer text <p>We recognise the benefits to health and well-being of people being able to access the natural environment and the role of publicly accessible woodland as part of that. In addition to maintaining the public forest estate, which is the largest open-access forest we have in this country, we are increasing the area of accessible woodland in a number of other ways.</p><p> </p><p>For example, as part of our commitment to plant 11 million trees during this Parliament, the Forestry Commission recently launched the Woodland Carbon Fund, to help create new woodlands. This provides increased incentives where permissive access is granted by the landowner for 30 years, as well as support for recreational infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working with stakeholders to assess the quantity and quality of the public rights of way network within and alongside woodland, which may lead to improved access; planting a million trees in and around schools; championing the Urban Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee’s ‘Vision for a Resilient Urban Forest’; and conducting research into the value and benefits of urban trees, like the iTree Eco UK project.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/03/2017 13:02:03 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4555 label Biography information for Lord Porter of Spalding

707581

registered interest
date	02/03/2017
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	Tree Planting
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve tree planting rates as part of their forthcoming 25 year plan for the environment, food and farming.
tabling member printed	Lord Porter of Spalding
uin	HL5804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2017 answer text <p>Our ambition is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, and we are committed to publishing a long-term plan that builds on our long history of wildlife and environmental protection, and sets out a new approach to managing the environment.</p><p> </p><p>We want everyone to have a say on building polices that enable our environment to thrive, which is why we are working closely with a range of environmental and conservation groups and businesses to develop initial proposals. We will shortly launch a public consultation on our ambition.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the wide range of benefits that trees can bring to our environment and we are keen to increase planting rates as we work towards our ambition. In the spring we are holding a number of forestry engagement events with stakeholders to discuss the 25 year environment plan and our manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees during this Parliament.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/03/2017 13:02:46 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4555 label Biography information for Lord Porter of Spalding

647971

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
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	Neonicotinoids
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to make representations to the EU to change existing rules prohibiting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides as a seed dressing.
tabling member printed	Lord Marlesford
uin	HL3667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2016 answer text <p>The Government remains of the view that decisions on the use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides should be based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to pollinators should not be authorised.</p><p> </p><p>The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is carrying out a review of the evidence on the effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators, including evidence that has emerged since the current restrictions were put in place. The Commission will then consider whether to propose changes to the existing restrictions. Government experts will participate in the EFSA review and our approach to the subsequent EU negotiations will be based on our view of the evidence.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/12/2016 12:24:19 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1854 label Biography information for Lord Marlesford

646558

registered interest
date	28/11/2016
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	Oilseed Rape: Neonicotinoids
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government why farmers have been permitted to apply neonicotinoid pesticides to oilseed rape as a spray but not as a seed dressing.
tabling member printed	Lord Marlesford
uin	HL3577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2016 answer text <p>There are five pesticide active substances that are classed as neonicotinoids. Three of these are subject to EU restrictions which mean that they may not be used on oilseed rape, irrespective of the method of application. The remaining two active substances (acetamiprid and thiacloprid) are not subject to these restrictions and so may be used on oilseed rape. There are UK products which contain these two active substances and are authorised for use on oilseed rape. All of these are formulated as sprays. There is no prohibition preventing acetamiprid and thiacloprid from being formulated as seed treatments for use on oilseed rape. No such products are currently authorised in the UK; if applications were to be received, they would be authorised if they met the normal requirements for safety to people and to the environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 12/12/2016 14:33:36 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1854 label Biography information for Lord Marlesford