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1581674

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2023
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the report by the Animal and Plant Health Agency Year End Descriptive Epidemiology Report: Bovine TV in the Edge Area of England 2021, County: Hampshire, published on 7 October 2022 and updated on 28 November 2022, and (2) the implications for their policy on the timing of the badger cull in Hampshire; and what steps they will take to end the badger cull in that county as a result of the findings in that report that "badgers only accounted for 11 per cent of weighted risk pathways".
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL5215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to achieving official freedom from Bovine TB for England by 2038 and intensive badger culling in areas where badgers are an important factor in spreading disease to cattle has been an important part of this. The badger cull has led to a significant reduction of bTB in cattle herds, with research showing a 66% and 37% reduction of new herd breakdowns in the first two cull areas.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has published analysis by APHA on where in Edge Area counties, such as Hampshire, there is considered to be a local reservoir of infection. This analysis includes data from previous badger found dead surveys alongside information on cattle breakdowns and other sources: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fbovine-tb-local-reservoirs-of-mycobacterium-bovis-infection-in-the-edge-area-of-england&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ccomms.tb%40defra.gov.uk%7C270830e615d64e21be7308dae4d0abce%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638073882129977928%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=7YKqgsurqcB4bkEnLrl85PsK8BcYWd2IxEx%2BjG%2FwPK8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Bovine TB: local reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis infection in the Edge Area of England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Badger culls are licensed by the licensing authority Natural England (NE) who take local reservoirs into account. NE licensed the final intensive cull areas last year, and Government is gradually building government-supported badger vaccination and surveillance. Badger culling would remain an option where epidemiological assessment indicates that it is needed.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/02/2023 16:02:01 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name tb-local-reservoirs-mycobacterium-bovis-edge-area.pdf title Bovine TB: local reservoirs...
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1341515

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2021
	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	Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Somerset
	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 reasons for the environmental condition of the Sites of Scientific Interest within the Somerset Levels and Moors being downgraded.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL1486
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2021 answer text <p>As the Government’s conservation advisory body, condition assessments of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are carried out by Natural England. Natural England’s assessment of the Somerset Levels and Moors SSSIs is based on the latest available evidence including monitoring and modelling work carried out by Wessex Water and agreed with the Environment Agency.</p><p> </p><p>A full assessment of Natural England’s evaluation has been set out in their SSSI condition change briefing note. This was published in May 2021 and is attached here.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 12/07/2021 16:27:30 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park attachment 1 file name sssi-condition-briefing-note-24-may-2021.pdf title SSSi condition briefing
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1583105

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2023
	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 His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the (1) loss annually since 2010, and (2) expected loss by 2030, of (a) woodland, and (b) ancient woodland.
	tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
	uin	HL5305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The loss of woodland is published in Government statistics. These cover the period 2012-2020 and are available in Table 5 of <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091565/Forestry-Commission-Key-Performance-Indicators-Report-2021-22-.pdf" target="_blank">Components of the net change in woodland area in England, 2012-13 to 2019-20 (Experimental Statistics).</a></p><p>The Government is committed to protecting ancient woodlands. In 2016, the National Forest Inventory report “<a href="https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2022/02/preliminary_estimatesofthechangesincanopycoverinbritishwoodlandsbetween2006and2015.pdf" target="_blank">Preliminary estimates of the changes in canopy cover between 2006 and 2015</a>” found that overall, in England the level of permanent ancient woodland loss to other land uses was 57 hectares or 0.02%<strong> </strong>between 2006-2015<strong>. PDFs are attached.</strong></p><p>The England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) published on 18 May 2021, sets out the Government’s future vision for England’s treescape. The Plan committed to updating the ancient woodland inventory to cover the whole of England. This project is now underway and includes mapping smaller ancient woodland sites of 0.25 hectares.</p><p>In 2018, the protection of ancient woodlands, ancient trees and veteran trees was strengthened through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), recognising them as irreplaceable habitats. The NPPF also outlines that any development resulting in the loss or deterioration of such irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and only if a suitable compensation strategy exists. In 2021, the Government committed to reviewing the NPPF with respect to ancient woodlands, consulting on strengthening the wording in the NPPF and introducing a new duty on planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities before granting permission for development affecting ancient woodlands.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Forestry-Commission-Key-Performance-Indicators-Report-2021-22-.pdf title Forestry Commission Key Performance Indicator 2 file name preliminary_estimatesofthechangesincanopycoverinbritishwoodlandsbetween2006and2015.pdf title Preliminary Estimates question first answered 07/02/2023 17:21:32 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1601213

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2023
	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	Swine Flu: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
	uin	HL6109
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2023 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control considers the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice and is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy-2015" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>, supported by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mitigation-strategy-for-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-in-england-and-wales" target="_blank">Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales</a>. Current policy reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. In summary swift and humane culling of poultry and other captive birds on infected premises, coupled with rigorous biosecurity, are used to prevent the amplification of avian influenza and minimise the risk of disease spread from infected premises</p><p><br> In addition, to help stop the spread of avian influenza, Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZs) are in force across the UK. Mandatory housing measures are also in force as an additional requirement of the AIPZs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For areas where an AIPZ is in force it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) to follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease, including where mandatory housing measures are a requirement of an AIPZ in force, to keep their birds housed. The enhanced AIPZ biosecurity measures, mandatory housing measures, in addition to a prohibition on poultry gatherings, have been vital in preventing spread and protecting flocks across the country from avian influenza.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name mitigation-strategy-avian-influenza-wild-birds-england-wales.pdf title Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza 2 file name avian-disease-control-strategy.pdf title Avian Disease Control Strategy question first answered 13/03/2023 11:38:46 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1649522

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2023
	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	Rivers: Fish
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the plans by the Environment Agency to oxygenate England's rivers in the event of a heatwave, what other action they intend to take to protect river fish in England; and in particular, what action they plan to take to improve the resilience of rivers in England in the face of climate change and to address poor water quality, pollution, over abstractions and low flows, which the Angling Trust say are also responsible for the rise in ‘fish kill’ incidents.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL8999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2023 answer text <p>The third National Adaptation Programme, due to be published later this year, will set out the government's approach to addressing the 61 risks and opportunities identified in the third Climate Change Risk Assessment. This includes risks to freshwater habitats and species, like river fishes, from changing climatic conditions and extreme events. It will include actions to support the resilience of our freshwater, such as those we have committed to in the Government’s Plan for Water, Environmental Improvement Plan and River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs).</p><p> </p><p>The actions in the Plan for Water are directed towards addressing poor water quality, pollution, over abstractions and low flows and will provide a basis for planning our longer- term response to mitigate climate impacts. The River Basin Management Plans, produced by the Environment Agency, and supporting catchment plans aim to mitigate climate change impacts by restoring the integrity and resilience of natural systems. As well as action on water quality, pollution and low flow, they include actions such as restoring habitats, improving river connectivity by removing barriers to fish migration and the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.woodlandtrust.org.uk%2Fpublications%2F2016%2F02%2Fkeeping-rivers-cool%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Ce490e7b0956f41d4eae708db81ff392b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638246705388868524%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=wfIaUfgBietkG9ehb64YibQQGVnVprK1vxLocXNQQkg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Keeping Rivers Cool</a> project (copy attached), to reduce fishes’ exposure to increasing temperatures.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 12/07/2023 15:13:35 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name keeping-rivers-cool.pdf title Keeping Rivers Cool Guidance Manual
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1465627

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2022
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a new Food Strategy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2022 answer text <p>We published the Government food strategy on Monday 13 June, setting out a plan to transform our food system to ensure it is fit for the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Government food strategy is available here: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fgovernment-food-strategy&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C05f0953d1ed644abdfdb08da4dddb938%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637907911948696473%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=0H7YjytMPRLmB6JoYoWUwwtZoeR5TnFoZWvxhjU0yhw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Government food strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> and is also attached to this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 20/06/2022 11:48:34 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name government-food-strategy.pdf title Government food strategy
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1355590

	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	Fishing Gear: Waste
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of discarded fishing gear from foreign fishing fleets around the UK coastline.
	tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Belmont
	uin	HL2692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK is committed to protecting the marine environment. However, due to the transboundary nature of marine litter from discarded fishing gear and the challenges around identifying the provenance of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear, we have not made an estimate of the amount of discarded fishing gear from foreign fishing fleets around the UK coastline.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Merchant Shipping Regulations on the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (2020), the discharge of all garbage into the sea is prohibited with very limited exceptions. In all cases the discharge of plastic is prohibited. These regulations bring the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (MARPOL Annex V) into UK law.</p><p> </p><p>The Regulations require fishing vessels to record the discharge or loss of fishing gear in the Garbage Record Book or ship’s logbook and to report the accidental loss or discharge of fishing gear which poses a significant threat to the marine environment or navigation. Under the Merchant Shipping Regulations it is an offence to fail to report the discharge of fishing gear which poses a significant threat to the marine environment or navigation to (a) the ship’s flag State and (b) any coastal state who has jurisdiction over the waters where the loss or discharge occurs.</p><p> </p><p>The UK collects data on the quantity and type of marine litter in our waters including on seafloor litter, floating litter and beach litter, following methodologies agreed through the OSPAR Convention’s monitoring and assessment programmes. Data is available through the Marine Online Assessment Tool: <a href="https://moat.cefas.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://moat.cefas.co.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Recognising the scale, urgency and transboundary nature of the global action needed to tackle marine plastic litter and microplastics, the UK this year has driven the G7 to commit to step up international action to tackle ghost gear, including an agreement to support organisations such as the Global Ghost Gear Initiative and agreement to carefully consider the recommendations of the UK commissioned OECD report ‘Towards G7 Action to Combat Ghost Fishing gear’. The communique and OECD Ghost Gear report can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/g7-climate-and-environment-ministers-meeting-may-2021-communique" target="_blank">G7 Climate and Environment Ministers' meeting, May 2021: communiqué - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 28/09/2021 16:03:11 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park attachment 1 file name g7-climate-environment-communique.pdf title G7 Climate and Environment Ministers' meeting
	tabling member	3801 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont

1472293

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	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	Peatlands: Conservation
	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 impact of peatland loss; and what steps they are taking in response.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
	uin	HL1142
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>England’s peatlands are our largest terrestrial carbon store. They provide a home for rare wildlife, regulate our water supply and provide a record of the past. However, only 13% of our peatlands are in a near-natural state at present.</p><p> </p><p>In May 2021, we published the England Peat Action Plan, which sets out the steps we are taking in response to peat loss: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-peat-action-plan" target="_blank">England Peat Action Plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. A copy is attached to this answer.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this, we are funding a research and development project that will map the extent and condition of England’s peatlands in detail. Final outputs of the England Peat Map will be made available in 2024.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/07/2022 15:50:33 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park attachment 1 file name england-peat-action-plan.pdf title England Peat Action Plan
	tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

1685187

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2024
	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	Dogs: Litter
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy on dog fouling; and whether they provide guidance to local councils on the penalties for dog fouling.
	tabling member printed	Lord Campbell-Savours
	uin	HL1917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2024 answer text <p>It is unacceptable for people not to clean up after their dogs and we are giving local councils the tools they need to tackle this anti-social behaviour.</p><p> </p><p>Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) allow councils to require dog owners to pick up their dog’s faeces. Those who breach the terms of a PSPO may be prosecuted, which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000 on conviction. Alternatively, the council can issue a fixed penalty notice. As part of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, we will be increasing the upper limit on these fixed penalty notices to £500, up from the current maximum of £100.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has published <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-irresponsible-dog-ownership-practitioners-manual" target="_blank">practitioners' guidance on dealing with irresponsible dog ownership</a>, which covers the use of PSPOs. Copies of this manual and its annexes are attached to this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name dog-ownership-practitioners-manual-201411.pdf title Dog ownership practitioner's manual 2 file name dog-ownership-practitioners-manual-annexes-a-d.pdf title Dog ownership practitioner's manual annexes A-D question first answered 31/01/2024 15:21:25 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	499 label Biography information for Lord Campbell-Savours

1469977

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2022
	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	Avian Influenza: Shetland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the effects of bird flu in Shetland.
	tabling member printed	Lord Goodlad
	uin	HL876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>Disease control is a devolved matter, and it is for the devolved administrations to assess their disease risks and respond accordingly. However, each of the administrations seeks consistent and coordinated response to disease control across Great Britain (GB) where possible. Avian influenza control measures for the three GB administrations are set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy." target="_blank">GB notifiable avian disease control strategy</a> (copy also attached to this answer).</p><p> </p><p>As part of the coordinated GB response to avian influenza, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#wild-birds-in-the-uk" target="_blank">avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds</a> submitted via public reports and warden patrols on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird. Through this surveillance, wild birds including Eider ducks, great black-backed gulls, gannets and Arctic terns have been found positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on Shetland. The Scottish Government is working closely with APHA, NatureScot and other non-governmental organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology to monitor and respond to the effect of avian influenza on wild birds on Shetland and other areas of Scotland.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 27/06/2022 13:52:15 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name avian-disease-control-strategy1.pdf title Avian Disease Control Strategy
	tabling member	670 label Biography information for Lord Goodlad