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1719262

registered interest
date	20/05/2024
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	Biodiversity
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 publish the (a) members, (b) terms of reference, (c) agendas and (d) summaries of meetings of his Department's Biodiversity Expert Committee.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	27007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The Biodiversity Expert Committee is a subgroup of Defra’s Science Advisory Council; and members, terms of reference and meeting notes will be published on their website in due course. Upcoming agendas are not published as they can be reactive.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/05/2024 14:23:25 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1700745

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in reforming incentives, including subsidies for ecologically harmful activities, as required under Target 18 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL3785
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>In May 2024, the UK plans to publish its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which will set out national targets and policies for implementing targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework, including Target 18. This will include a target to identify any incentives and subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity. The UK already has a positive story to tell on reforming incentives through our work to deliver the Agricultural Transition. Our Environmental Land Management schemes will incentivise farmers to improve biodiversity, soil health and air and water quality, reduce agricultural emissions, restore peatland, and establish and restore woodlands and forests.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 19/04/2024 13:39:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1694224

registered interest
date	06/03/2024
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	Biodiversity
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 plans to take to help tackle biodiversity decline.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	17340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to turning the tide on nature’s decline. That is why, in England, we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity. We have legislated to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and to reverse species decline by 2042; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats.</p><p> </p><p>These targets, alongside other targets, on water and air quality for example, will drive action to create and restore habitats, reduce pressures on nature, and recover species. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64a6d9c1c531eb000c64fffa/environmental-improvement-plan-2023.pdf" target="_blank">Environmental Improvement Plan</a> (EIP23) published 31 January 2023. Here we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature.</p><p> </p><p>We have introduced significant new funding for nature - for woodland and peatland restoration, for green recovery and for landscape scale nature recovery - and we are developing new land management schemes that reward environmental benefits. In the update to our Agricultural Transition Plan, published in January this year, we announced premium payments for actions that will achieve greater environmental benefits, supporting habitats and species.</p><p> </p><p>In November we announced the 34 projects selected for the £25 million second round of our Landscape Recovery scheme. These projects will collectively restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland, create over 7,000 hectares of new woodland and benefit more than 160 protected sites (SSSIs).</p><p> </p><p>In June last year we also launched a £25 million Species Survival Fund to provide early progress towards our species abundance targets and support the recovery of declining species. The fund will support projects focussed on the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats, including on protected sites. Successful applications to the fund will be announced this month.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 09/04/2024 13:01:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1681338

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
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	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expedite the delivery of the apex goal set out in the Executive Summary of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 to halt the decline in biodiversity and achieve 'thriving plants and wildlife'.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL1460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>We are committed to meeting our ambitious target to halt and then reverse species decline and are accelerating action towards delivery.</p><p> </p><p>In June last year we launched a multi-million-pound Species Survival Fund to provide early progress towards our species abundance targets and support the recovery of declining species. The fund will support projects focussed on the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats, including on protected sites.</p><p> </p><p>Through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme, launched April 2023, we have also provided £14.5M of funding for 63 projects delivered in partnership with 74 different organisations to take action to halt and reverse the decline of 150 rare species, including the critically endangered European eel and the Greater Mouse-eared bat.</p><p> </p><p>In November we announced the 34 projects selected for the £25 million second round of our Landscape Recovery scheme. These projects will collectively restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland, sustainably manage more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, including some temperate rainforest, create over 7,000 hectares of new woodland and benefit more than 160 protected sites (SSSIs). This builds on the success of the first 22 Landscape Recovery projects which are already underway, aiming to restore more than 600 km of rivers and targeting the conservation of more than 260 flagship species. This is alongside increased incentives, announced in January, for farmers to deliver environmental outcomes which will support habitats and species through our Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes.</p><p> </p><p>We are also rolling out Nature Recovery Projects across the country to create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife and improve public access to nature. In July 2023 we launched a further six projects covering over 176,000 ha of land across England. These projects build on the G7 legacy project in Cornwall launched in 2021 and the five other nature recovery projects launched in 2022 which together span around 120,200 hectares.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/01/2024 13:25:55 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1655795

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
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 her Department's timeline is for laying the Statutory Instrument to commence the implementation of biodiversity net gain under Part 6 of the Environment Act 2021 in relation to both the main and small sites metric.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	195613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance, and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium, and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section 2.2.2</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 195614 195615 195616 195617 question first answered 06/09/2023 16:46:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1655796

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Statutory Instrument to commence the implementation of biodiversity net gain under Part 6 of the Environment Act 2021 will confirm the implementation dates for the (a) main and (b) small sites metric.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	195614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance, and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium, and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section 2.2.2</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 195613 195615 195616 195617 question first answered 06/09/2023 16:46:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1655797

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
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 assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's decision to delay the implementation of biodiversity net gain on small sites until April 2024 on (a) the amount of habitat created in that period, (b) the amount of habitat destroyed in that period, (c) the UK’s ability to meet its commitments under the G7 2030 Nature Compact and (d) small developers.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	195615
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance, and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium, and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section 2.2.2</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 195613 195614 195616 195617 question first answered 06/09/2023 16:46:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1655798

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
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 plans her Department has to implement the biodiversity net gain on small sites after April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	195616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance, and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium, and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section 2.2.2</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 195613 195614 195615 195617 question first answered 06/09/2023 16:46:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1655799

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential benefits of digital tools in helping small and medium-sized developers to comply with biodiversity net gain on small sites.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	195617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance, and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium, and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section 2.2.2</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 195613 195614 195615 195616 question first answered 06/09/2023 16:46:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1656954

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Biodiversity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the International Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Evidence FY19-21 Grant.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	196613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>This grant contributed towards the Gough Island Restoration Programme that aimed to eradicate mice and save critically endangered seabirds from extinction. Unfortunately, mice have since been found present on the island despite efforts to eradicate the species. Although the eradication attempt was not successful, in the short-term the programme did lead to significantly higher levels of seabird breeding success: the Critically Endangered MacGillivray’s Prions had a breeding success of 82% in 2021/22 and 62.9% in 2022/23 compared to an average of 6% from 2014-2020.</p><p> </p><p>An independent review commissioned in October 2022 by the RSPB, as project leads, has concluded that multiple factors led to the continuing survival of mice on Gough Island. Factors included competition from invertebrates for bait, and the hypothesis that some mice are now accustomed to a more protein rich diet and thus did not eat sufficient bait. The review process is ongoing.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 11/09/2023 14:20:51 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight