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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

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

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

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

1716685

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: Marine Environment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to integrate Local Nature Recovery Strategies with the marine environment beyond the low-water line so as to ensure an integrated approach to local nature recovery.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL4489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government has issued statutory guidance to the responsible authorities appointed to lead the preparation of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for their area. This guidance states that coastal responsible authorities should consider how to factor in neighbouring marine areas and plans in their strategies. Linking Local Nature Recovery Strategies and marine spatial planning would help to identify land management changes that could benefit the estuarine or marine zone. For example, by improving the quality of water leaving river systems or managing coastal erosion risks.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 20/05/2024 13:57:30 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1716686

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: Seaweed
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assess the impacts, whether positive or negative, on biodiversity and nature recovery of the establishment of seaweed farms in coastal waters.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL4490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2024 answer text <p>The Marine Management Organisation assesses all licence applications for seaweed farms in its jurisdiction, including their potential impacts on the environment and other sea uses, on a case-by-case basis. More generally, research commissioned as part of Defra’s £37m marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme includes considering the services provided by farmed and wild kelp and impacts on the environment and people.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/05/2024 13:54:32 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson

1716687

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 Areas: Planning Permission
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 frequency of use, and (2) effectiveness of, the Marine Management Organisation's ‘coastal concordat’ when planning decisions involve both local authorities and the Marine Management Organisation.
tabling member printed	Lord Teverson
uin	HL4491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>The Coastal Concordat sets out the key principles for coordinating the consenting process for coastal development in England. The Concordat approach offers benefits to applicants, signatories and regulators by reducing unnecessary regulatory duplication, streamlining assessments and increasing transparency and consistency of better explained and coordinated advice.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the MMO continue to encourage the adoption and use of the Coastal Concordat, including by local authorities who are not signatories. Defra periodically reviews and updates the list of local authorities who are signatories to the Concordat on Gov.UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 20/05/2024 13:55:48 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3789 label Biography information for Lord Teverson