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732093

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many Marine Conservation Areas there are in UK waters; and whether they have a target for the number of those areas.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2017 answer text <p>There are a total of 297 Marine Protected Areas in UK waters. This includes 87 Marine Conservation Zones (Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas in Scotland) and 210 Marine Protected Areas set up under the Birds and Habitats Directives.</p><p>We aim to consult on the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones in English waters in Spring 2018, with designations in Spring 2019. There is no target number of sites. The objective is to complete our contribution to the international ecologically-coherent network of Marine Protected Areas in the North East Atlantic by including a representative range of the species and habitats in our seas.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 06/07/2017 13:35:56 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1204198

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	Birds: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of penalties in deterring the trapping, poisoning or shooting of protected species of birds in England and Wales.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL5797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has not carried out an assessment of the deterrent effect of penalties for wildlife crime. Measuring the effectiveness of deterrence is extremely challenging, as potential offenders do not often admit to being deterred from committing a crime.</p><p> </p><p>Nevertheless, the Government takes wildlife crime seriously. Those who commit offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and other legislation that protects our wildlife face significant penalties including up to six months in prison and/or unlimited fines.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 30/06/2020 13:01:32 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1175280

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2020
	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	Lighting: Pollution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the annual 2.2 per cent growth of global light pollution, according to the journal Environmental Evidence, on the (1) environment, and (2) health, of the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL758
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the annual growth of global light pollution on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has published or contributed to a range of assessments of the impact of artificial light on insects and wider biodiversity, as well as global and national assessments of the drivers of biodiversity loss more generally.</p><p> </p><p>Following publication of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution’s report, ‘Artificial light in the environment’ in 2009, Defra has supported assessments of impacts of artificial light on insects and on other organisms such as bats. These are published on our science website. Defra has also funded or co-funded national and international assessments of drivers of change on insects and wider biodiversity such as the global IPBES Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production, which notes that effects of light on nocturnal insects may be growing and identifies the need for further study.</p><p> </p><p>There have been a number of externally funded studies which have highlighted potential impacts of artificial light pollution on insects, which Defra keeps under review, for example, with our academic partners on the National Pollinator Strategy for England.</p><p> </p><p>Public Health England carried out a study in 2016 for the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and the Society of Light and Lighting, which included an assessment of light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights on health. The study concluded that some LED streetlight luminaires emitted more blue light than was necessary, but that there was no evidence of direct adverse health effects on people.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 06/02/2020 14:51:40 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

732094

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security afforded to Marine Conservation Areas; and how many prosecutions have been brought against unlawful incursions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2017 answer text <p>All protected sites are protected from the point of designation through the planning and licensing process. The condition of all marine protected sites is monitored and when harmful activities are identified new measures are developed to manage them.</p><p>Between 2011 and 2016 the Inshore Fishery and Coastal Authorities made 166 successful prosecutions for infractions of byelaws in the 0-6nm region. 994 verbal warnings, 515 written warnings and 110 fixed penalties were issued in the same period. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) considers there is good compliance within the current MMO byelaw areas (6-12nm).</p><p>The security of marine protected sites is supported by periodic patrolling from Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels and the monitoring of Vessel Monitoring System data. There have been records of incursions from vessels and MMO has followed these up, but no cases have resulted in prosecution.</p><p>For protected sites in the 12-200nm zone the Government is currently in negotiations with Other Member States to introduce management measures through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which will be enforced by MMO. Taking back control of our waters and gaining a fairer share of quotas when we leave the EU are key priorities for the UK. We are currently analysing all fisheries legislation including CFP to determine what changes we might need to introduce.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/07/2017 16:14:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

732092

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish a long-term plan for the countryside in England and Wales; and if so, by what date.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it. We are preparing a 25 year environment plan that will set out how we will fulfil our ambition for the environment. Timings will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We will bring sustainable growth to the rural economy and boost our rural areas, so that people who live in the countryside have the same opportunities as those who live in our towns and cities.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/07/2017 16:00:11 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

753334

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 5 July (HL145), when they began preparations for their 25 year environment plan; and why they cannot now set out timings for its delivery.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL1022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2017 answer text <p>The Secretary of State announced on 21 July he has written to the Natural Capital Committee to seek advice, which it has agreed to provide in September, laying the ground for subsequent publication of the Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The letter is available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631124/ncc-michael-gove-dieter-helm-letter-170714.pdf</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 01/08/2017 12:32:43 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

753335

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 5 July (HL147), how many incursions by vessels they have recorded; and what nationalities are represented.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL1023
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2017 answer text <p>Within the Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) current by-law areas there have been 6 incursions which have resulted in further investigation. The vessel nationalities were English and French.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 28/07/2017 11:18:21 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1235847

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	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	Flood Control: Somerset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money they have allocated for flood defences and further related mitigation measures in the Somerset Levels in the current financial year; and what current schemes are underway to mitigate flooding in the area.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL8291
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>This current financial year, £4.7 million of capital flood defence capital grant in aid (FDGiA) has been allocated for flood defences and further related mitigation measures on the Somerset Levels and Moors. This funding is being used to progress schemes such as the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier and Dunball sluice refurbishment, as well as works to flood defence reservoirs and pumping station improvements.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, a further £0.5 million of capital funding has been allocated for the recondition of existing flood defence assets.</p><p> </p><p>£3.5 million of revenue FDGiA has been allocated for maintenance and operation of flood defence assets. This is supplemented by £0.5 million of Internal Drainage Board precept.</p><p> </p><p>On behalf of the Somerset Rivers Authority, the Environment Agency and the Somerset Consortium of Internal Drainage Boards are also delivering £4 million of capital works to increase channel conveyance on the River Sowy and King Sedgemoor Drain, and to dredge a further section of the River Parrett.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/10/2020 11:13:18 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1355612

	registered interest
	date	14/09/2021
	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	Nature Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define the term “re-wilding” when used in environmental policy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL2715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>The concept of ‘rewilding’ is a relatively new and evolving concept and as such, it is currently defined and approached in different ways. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is developing a conceptual and methodological framework for rewilding with the goal of restoring functional native ecosystems, which - where possible - are self-sustaining. We will continue to develop our definition and approach to rewilding working with the IUCN and other expert stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 28/09/2021 16:04:47 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1340332

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2021
	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	Insects: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made as to whether the rate of loss of flying insects due to artificial light at night is increasing or decreasing.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL1437
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2021 answer text <p>In 2019 Defra published an evidence review of the status and risks to UK pollinating insects, developed with leading academics supporting our National Pollinator Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>This review did not identify artificial light as a driver of insect trends. However, we are aware of recent scientific studies that have identified impacts of artificial light on the behaviour and physiology of some insect species. Generally, these studies highlight the need for further research to understand the significance of these impacts.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has published or contributed to a range of assessments of the impact of artificial light on insects and wider biodiversity, as well as global and national assessments of the drivers of biodiversity loss more generally, and will continue to work with our academic partners so that emerging evidence is kept under review.</p><p> </p><p>We have measures in place to mitigate the impacts of artificial light, through the planning system, the statutory nuisance regime, and where possible with improvements to street lighting.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, we are investing in pollinator monitoring to better understand populations trends and continue to take the right action to support recovery.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 09/07/2021 12:57:35 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten