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1242230

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	Pheasants
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number of pheasants in the UK, and (2) their impact on other wildlife.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL9020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>The number of pheasants and their impact are being considered as part of a review by Defra that was initiated in response to a Judicial Review. The findings of the review will be published in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 26/10/2020 17:00:51 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

1242254

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	Beavers: South West
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the reintroduction of beavers into the South West of England in order to encourage the use of natural solutions to improve flood management.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL9077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out this Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of native species where the benefits for the environment, people and the economy are clear.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the range of benefits that beavers may provide with regard to flood management, biodiversity, water quality and resilience to climate change. On the 8<sup>th</sup> of August the Government announced that beavers on the River Otter, the only licensed wild population, would be allowed to remain there permanently and will be allowed to continue to expand their range naturally.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We plan to hold a public consultation early next year on our national approach for beaver reintroduction, and our strategy for the management of the potential negative impacts of this native species in the wild. <em> </em>Natural England, with support from EA, are continuing work to help inform the Government’s national approach to the management and release of beaver in England and have been engaging with key stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL9078 HL9079 question first answered 26/10/2020 16:56:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1242280

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	Countryside
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Prime Minister on 6 October where he referenced the “new wild belts” that will “mark the landscape” by 2030, (1) how much of the area of (a) England, (b) Scotland, and (c) Wales they expect that the wild belts will cover; (2) what processes will be used to create them; (3) to what extent will they be in (a) urban areas, and (b) rural areas; and (4) what designations will the wild belts be allocated.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL9032
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister recently set out his vision for a greener and transformed Britain, with millions of trees, wilder landscapes for people to enjoy and a commitment to protect 30% of land for biodiversity by 2030. We want to strengthen our existing network of protected areas and explore ways of driving up the biodiversity value of these areas.</p><p> </p><p>Implementation of domestic biodiversity is a devolved matter in the UK. In England the Government is introducing a range of new incentives to restore ecosystems and create wilder landscapes including the Nature for Climate Fund, Nature Recovery Fund and the recently launched Green Recovery Challenge Fund.</p><p> </p><p>Our Environment Bill will introduce Local Nature Recovery Strategies, which will provide a spatial planning tool for nature, allowing local government and communities to identify priorities and opportunities for nature recovery across our protected areas, green belts and wider farming landscape. Local authorities and public bodies more generally will be required to have regard to Local Nature Recovery Strategies.</p><p> </p><p>The term ‘wild belt’ has been used to refer generally to wilder areas around towns and cities but adopted most recently in campaigns by the Wildlife Trusts to set a new designation within a reformed planning system.</p><p> </p><p>Just as we want to see more and better access to nature around our towns and cities, the role of planning in further protecting any areas that are being restored should be considered alongside our ambitious planning reforms. The public consultation for the <em>Planning for the Future</em> white paper is due to close on 29 October. The Government will be carefully analysing all responses before publishing our response.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 26/10/2020 16:51:55 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1242303

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	Beavers: South West
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will fund the reintroduction of beavers into appropriate catchment areas of the South West of England in order (1) to improve local flood resilience, and (2) to promote biodiversity.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL9078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out this Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of native species where the benefits for the environment, people and the economy are clear.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the range of benefits that beavers may provide with regard to flood management, biodiversity, water quality and resilience to climate change. On the 8<sup>th</sup> of August the Government announced that beavers on the River Otter, the only licensed wild population, would be allowed to remain there permanently and will be allowed to continue to expand their range naturally.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We plan to hold a public consultation early next year on our national approach for beaver reintroduction, and our strategy for the management of the potential negative impacts of this native species in the wild. <em> </em>Natural England, with support from EA, are continuing work to help inform the Government’s national approach to the management and release of beaver in England and have been engaging with key stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL9077 HL9079 question first answered 26/10/2020 16:56:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1242304

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	Beavers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will classify the Eurasian beaver as a native species that can breed and live freely in Great Britain; and if so, (1) when, and (2) under what circumstances, they will do so.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL9079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out this Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of native species where the benefits for the environment, people and the economy are clear.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the range of benefits that beavers may provide with regard to flood management, biodiversity, water quality and resilience to climate change. On the 8<sup>th</sup> of August the Government announced that beavers on the River Otter, the only licensed wild population, would be allowed to remain there permanently and will be allowed to continue to expand their range naturally.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We plan to hold a public consultation early next year on our national approach for beaver reintroduction, and our strategy for the management of the potential negative impacts of this native species in the wild. <em> </em>Natural England, with support from EA, are continuing work to help inform the Government’s national approach to the management and release of beaver in England and have been engaging with key stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL9077 HL9078 question first answered 26/10/2020 16:56:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1242366

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the illegal dumping of waste.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	102197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>The illegal dumping of waste, including fly-tipping, is an unacceptable blight on local communities and the environment. The government is committed to cracking down on the waste and carelessness that destroys our natural environment and kills marine life. We are also committed to increasing the penalties for fly-tipping.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last five years we have strengthened and expanded the powers available to tackle the illegal dumping of waste. Local authorities have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £400 to those caught fly-tipping or to householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. Vehicles of those suspected of committing a waste crime, including illegal dumping, can be searched and seized.</p><p> </p><p>Those accused of illegal dumping can be prosecuted and, on conviction, can face a fine, up to 12 months imprisonment, or both in a Magistrates Court; or a fine, up to 5 years imprisonment, or both, in a Crown Court. Local authorities carried out a total of 2,397 prosecutions for fly-tipping offences in England in 2018/19, an increase of 7% on 2017/18. The value of total fines increased by 29% to £1,090,000 compared to 2017/18.</p><p> </p><p>We have invested £60 million in the Environment Agency’s waste crime enforcement work since 2014. This year’s Budget committed the government to investing £7.2 million in the development of electronic waste tracking, as well as £0.5 million in 2020/21 to support innovative approaches to tackling fly-tipping.</p><p> </p><p>In the Resources and Waste Strategy we committed to reforming the regulation of waste carriers, tightening up the regulation of the waste exemptions regime and improving intelligence sharing and joint working between enforcement agencies. The Joint Unit for Waste Crime, led by the Environment Agency and including the National Crime Agency, HMRC, the Police and others, was established earlier this year and has already had a number of operational successes.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Bill includes a number of measures to help tackle waste crime. It will enable Government to mandate the use of electronic waste tracking; simplify the process for enforcement authorities to enter premises under a warrant; introduce a new power to search for and seize evidence of waste crime; and reduce the cost and bureaucracy when the police seize vehicles involved in waste crime on behalf of the Environment Agency.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/10/2020 16:50:18 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1242033

registered interest
date	09/10/2020
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	Landfill
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 information his Department holds on the number of dilute and disperse landfill sites that were in use for waste disposal before the 1980s in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	101265
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Dilute and disperse landfill sites were used up to the 1990s before containment engineering was introduced.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency’s (EA) historic landfill dataset is a map and dataset of landfill sites from the 1900s onwards. It uses data collected from local authorities, the former Department of the Environment and the British Geological Society.</p><p> </p><p>Using this dataset, in England and Wales, up to 31 Dec 1979, the total number of landfills recorded is 13,510.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, up to 1990, a search of the database identifies just over 15,000 landfill sites in England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of the records vary as they are based on information provided to the EA at the time.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/10/2020 15:39:44 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1242037

registered interest
date	09/10/2020
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: Sugar
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 hold discussions with Public Health England on the voluntary target of a 20 per cent reduction in the sugar content of foods on sale to the public.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	101249
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>Public Health England (PHE) oversees the voluntary sugar reduction programme on behalf of the Government, as set out in all parts of the childhood obesity plan. PHE is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Government department responsible for nutrition policy and the Government’s obesity strategy.</p><p> </p><p>PHE published the third progress report for the sugar reduction programme on 7 October 2020. This showed a 3.0% reduction in overall average sugar per 100g for retailers and manufacturer branded food products. Larger reductions were seen in some categories, but increased sales of higher sugar categories reduced the impact of these reductions. The eating out of home sector saw hardly any change in average sugar levels. The 2021 progress report will provide a fourth assessment towards the 20% reduction ambition.</p><p> </p><p>DHSC will hold discussions with PHE on the sugar reduction programme and the voluntary ambition. Defra will work with other Government departments and agencies including PHE to respond to recommendations in Part Two of the forthcoming National Food Strategy relating to healthy eating.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 14/10/2020 14:41:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1242080

registered interest
date	09/10/2020
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	Fisheries
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 he is taking to regulate which vessels can fish in UK waters after the transition period.
tabling member constituency	Arundel and South Downs
tabling member printed	Andrew Griffith
uin	101329
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>At the end of the transition period, the UK will become an independent coastal state under international law. We will automatically take back control of our waters, and others’ right to fish in them. Access by non-UK vessels to fish in UK waters will be a matter for negotiation. Any foreign vessels we agree may fish in UK waters will be required to have a licence issued by the UK’s Single Issuing Authority. They will also be obliged to abide by the same rules as UK vessels when fishing in our waters, including those on sustainability.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 19/10/2020 15:40:34 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith

1242084

registered interest
date	09/10/2020
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	National Parks: Pollution Control
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 discussions he has had with National Park Authorities on strengthening protections against light pollution.
tabling member constituency	Arundel and South Downs
tabling member printed	Andrew Griffith
uin	101332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government is engaging with National Park Authorities on a range of matters including the delivery of the 25-year Environment Plan and the Landscapes Review recommendations. There have been no recent discussions with National Park Authorities on the specific issue of strengthening protections against light pollution.</p><p> </p><p>The government has put in place a range of measures to ensure that light pollution is effectively managed through controls in the planning system; the statutory nuisance regime, and when improvements are made to street lighting.</p><p> </p><p>My department has worked with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Transport to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework policies include consideration of the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation, including where there may be impacts on wildlife and eco-systems.</p><p> </p><p>We strongly welcome the designation of the South Downs National Park as an International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only 16 in the world. As a result of this designation the South Downs National Park Local Plan, adopted on 2 July 2019, has incorporated local policies to protect dark skies. We welcome the adoption of local policies for dark sky protection and understand their extension to other National Parks is under consideration.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/10/2020 15:43:21 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith