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1136765

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
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: Seasonal Workers
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 assistance that seasonal farm workers from the Ukraine could provide in meeting the UK’s agricultural requirements; and what barriers, if any, there are to their entry.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL16915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has introduced a new immigration pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020 enabling up to 2,500 non-European Economic Area migrant workers, including seasonal workers from Ukraine, to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible horticultural sector.</p><p> </p><p>This pilot will test the effectiveness of our immigration system at alleviating seasonal labour shortages during peak production periods, whilst reducing immigration to sustainable levels and continuing to welcome those who make an invaluable contribution.</p><p> </p><p>This pilot is not designed to meet the full labour needs of the horticultural sector. Rather we are seeking to evaluate the immigration pilot’s ability to assist in alleviating labour shortages during peak production periods.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Home Office will work closely to monitor the pilot, and review its performance against the stated objectives. This pilot will help inform our understanding of how such immigration routes perform in a modern global context, and support the design of our new immigration system laid out in the recent White Paper. Defra is working to improve the official evidence based on temporary worker supply and demand, through a new quarterly survey of growers, the results of which we will consider carefully. We are also working closely with industry to understand trends in labour demand and supply.</p><p> </p><p>Immigration issues are reserved and remain the policy responsibility of the Home Office. After we leave the EU, we must ensure that we have an immigration system that works in the best interest of the whole of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that there is a long term strategy for agricultural labour as part of the future immigration strategy. The Home Office has launched a 12-month engagement programme with sectors across the UK to enable businesses and other stakeholders to shape the development of the future skills based immigration system.</p><p> </p><p>As such, there are no plans to expand this pilot at this time. We wish to fully assess this pilot and the results will help to inform the design of the new immigration system from January 2021.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/07/2019 14:24:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1130849

registered interest
date	10/06/2019
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	Trees: Diseases
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 threats from disease to hornbeam trees (Carpinus betulus) in England and Wales.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL16216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>Details of pest and disease threats to hornbeam (<em>Carpinus betulus</em>), along with other plant and tree species, are included on the UK plant health risk register, which can be accessed here: <a href="https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/" target="_blank">https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/</a>. Of the 1,040 entries on the risk register, ten of these have hornbeam specifically listed as a major host species, although hornbeam may be a minor host in relation to certain other pests and diseases listed (e.g. those which are polyphagous in nature on broadleaved trees). The risk register includes information about current mitigations in place and priorities for future actions.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/06/2019 11:55:15 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1086386

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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, since the floods on the Somerset Levels in 2014, what have been the most effective measures taken to reduce such risks; and what remains to be done in the future.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL14415
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>Since 2014 approximately £60 million has been invested in the Somerset Levels and Moors to reduce the impact of flooding. This includes National Government Flood Defence Grant in Aid, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Funding and precept raised by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Numerous capital schemes have been delivered to better protect communities in Somerset as part of the 25 year flood action plan.</p><p>Examples of measures taken include:</p><ul><li>Dredging over 8.75km of the Rivers Parrett and Tone in combination with infrastructure improvements at several sites to accommodate significant additional temporary pumps. These two measures better protect 130 of the 142 houses flooded in 2013/14.</li><li>Construction of a flood defence wall at Westonzoyland village and road raising at Aller village which better protect 15 houses.</li><li>An extensive programme of repairs at over 50 locations to river banks, spillways and pumping stations. This returns assets to their pre-2013/14 flood design condition.</li><li>Major improvements on the A372 to allow water under the road to reduce the likelihood of road flooding to a major route, and allow better evacuation of flood waters.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has also developed an operational plan of when and how it will bring in temporary pumps to a number of strategic locations during extreme events.</p><p> </p><p>Significant future works which are due to be delivered include:</p><ul><li>The construction of the Bridgwater tidal barrier which will better protect 12,000 homes.</li><li>Improvements/enhancement of the River Parrett flood relief channel. This will increase channel conveyance through the relief channel, taking more flood water away from the communities flooded in 2014.</li></ul><p>Maintenance dredging to maintain the conveyance and channel profile of the 8.75km dredged section of the Rivers Parrett and Tone.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 19/03/2019 12:25:23 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1036924

registered interest
date	07/01/2019
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	Fish: 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 contribution of the Common Fisheries Policy to the preservation of fish stocks in British waters.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL12566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy means that we will be an independent coastal State, able to manage and control who fishes in our waters. We will also have the opportunity to develop a more responsive and adaptive management regime with opportunities to create a more resilient, competitive, profitable fisheries sector, together with a clean, healthy and productive marine environment. The Commission’s most recent policy statement (June 2018) about the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy can be found at</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0452&amp;from=EN" target="_blank">https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0452&amp;from=EN</a></p><p> </p><p>and</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018SC0329&amp;from=EN" target="_blank">https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018SC0329&amp;from=EN</a></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/01/2019 12:06:24 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1036925

registered interest
date	07/01/2019
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	Fish: Conservation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, which three species of fish caught for commercial purposes in British waters are in shortest supply.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL12567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2017 www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-sea-fisheries-annual-statistics-report-2017 - provides information on the UK fishing industry and about the exploitation of fish stocks.</p><p> </p><p>The three key commercially targeted sea fisheries species which would be considered to be in shortest supply determined by scientific advice are:</p><p> </p><p>- North Sea cod</p><p>- Mackerel in the North East Atlantic</p><p>- West Coast horse mackerel</p><p> </p><p>Some bycatch stocks of lower direct commercial importance which are taken in mixed fisheries, such as Celtic Sea cod and Irish Sea whiting, could also be considered as being in short supply.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/01/2019 16:57:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1002484

registered interest
date	06/11/2018
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 22 October (HL10505), who is responsible for the coordination of the various bodies listed as involved in the mitigation of flood risk; and how is the performance of that responsible body assessed.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL11325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (attached) sets out the different roles and responsibilities of public and private bodies in flood and coastal erosion risk management in England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra leads on the development of flood and coastal erosion risk management policy on behalf of the Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion, details of which can be found in the Strategy. It reports to the Minister annually about flood and coastal erosion risk management; the main reporting responsibilities are set out in Annex 2 of the Strategy. The latest report is attached.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.pdf title National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management 2 file name Managing flood and coastal erosion risk in England.pdf title Managing flood & coastal erosion risks in England question first answered 12/11/2018 14:54:08 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1002485

registered interest
date	06/11/2018
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 22 October (HL10504), whether they intend to establish an independent review of the effectiveness of (1) Coastal Protection Authorities, and (2) Shoreline Management Plans, in managing flood risk.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL11326
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Coastal change, through erosion or flooding, has always been a risk for those living and working by the sea.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has strategic oversight of Shoreline Management Plans (20 in England), which are the responsibility of Coastal Protection Authorities. These plans set the direction and preferred management option over a 100 year timeframe and are under-pinned by evidence and a high level economic, social, and environmental assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next three years, we and the Environment Agency (EA) are working closely with the coastal authorities, including funding of £1 million, to refresh Shoreline Management Plans, to ensure that there is consistency and that they are using the best, most up to date evidence. This programme will ensure the Shoreline Management Plans and Coastal Protection Authorities remain effective in light of the most recent UK climate change predictions which will be published later this month.</p><p> </p><p>The EA are also funding a £23 million, five year programme of regional coastal monitoring by these groups, to support decision making.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/11/2018 17:48:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

998923

registered interest
date	31/10/2018
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	Trees: Disease Control
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 need to increase resilience against threats of disease to ash and oak trees in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall; and what plans they have to provide such resilience.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL11172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2018 answer text <p>Defra is committed to protecting our trees from pests and diseases and building the resilience of our trees, woods and forests. In May we published a new Tree Health Resilience Strategy. The strategy sets out a joint action plan for how government and others can work together to address threats to tree health, including threats to ash and oak nationally.</p><p> </p><p>One example of joint action is Action Oak, a hugely important partnership of charities, landowners and government, proactively working together to protect and conserve our oak trees for future generations.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 06/11/2018 17:32:09 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

984294

registered interest
date	09/10/2018
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: South West
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the resilience to flooding in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall; and whether this has improved since 2014.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL10502
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2018 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>Across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, the Environment Agency and partners have successfully delivered over 80 schemes to provide better protection from river and coastal flooding to 6,300 properties since 1 April 2015. The full programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes, including schemes completed in the south west region, can be found here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/programme-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/programme-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-schemes</a>,</p><p> </p><p>The flood risk management schemes in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall include a range of measures, such as property level protection, dredging, building and improving flood walls and embankments, and asset improvements and reinstatements.</p><p> </p><p>The government does not individually assess each council’s flooding plan.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/10/2018 10:46:34 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

984296

registered interest
date	09/10/2018
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: South West
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall since 2012.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL10504
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2018 answer text <p>Coastal erosion is a natural process that always has and will shape our coastline.</p><p> </p><p>In England, District Councils (known as Coastal Protection Authorities) lead on the management of coastal erosion risk in their areas. Since 1996, coastal protection authorities have collaborated locally with a range of other interested parties to develop Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) for their coastlines. These high level plans set out a top level policy framework to manage the risk of coastal change, covering three time periods of 20, 50 and 100 years, and recommend approaches to manage the local coastline. The Environment Agency (EA) has strategic oversight for the production and quality of SMPs, and over the next three years it will be funding a refresh of the plans by coastal authorities.</p><p> </p><p>In England, between 2015 and 2021, the Government plans to invest £885 million in projects to manage coastal erosion and better protect communities against flooding from the sea.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/10/2018 10:47:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten