Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

437017

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2015
	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	Soil
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they currently monitor soil quality in the UK, including soil organic matter content, soil loss and the extent and severity of soil compaction; and if so, what data are available.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2015 answer text <p>The 2007 Countryside Survey measured changes in soil organic matter content of soils in Great Britain. It also measured bulk density and a number of other physical and chemical characteristics of soil. A new baseline survey for soil carbon was carried out in 2009 as part of the EU Land Cover and Land Use Statistics (LUCAS) exercise. The 2015 LUCAS soil samples are currently being analysed.</p><p>Defra does not routinely monitor national rates of soil loss (erosion), but we are funding research to pilot a national soil erosion monitoring framework for monitoring soil erosion in England and Wales.</p><p>Defra also funded a survey of soil compaction levels in grasslands in England and Wales in 2011.</p><p>No formal assessment has been made of the sufficiency of the baseline data from which to measure changes in soil quality.</p><p>The Government recognises that soil is essential for underpinning a range of benefits, including food production, but also biodiversity, carbon storage and flood protection.</p><p>While the future direction of soils policy will be considered as part of the development of the 25 year plans for Food and Farming, and Environment, government is already taking action to improve soil quality.</p><p>This includes new rules underpinning cross compliance which anyone claiming Common Agricultural Policy payments must comply with. The rules require a minimum level of soil cover, prevention of erosion and measures to protect the organic matter levels of soil. The new rules take an outcome based approach, instead of the previous paper-based system, thereby focussing on environmental improvements while reducing burdens for farmers. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the new rules.</p><p>No single body or institution has responsibility for measuring and analysing soils in the UK. Soil testing is carried out by a mix of commercial laboratories and Public Analyst labs. Typically laboratories are accredited and adhere to British Standards on testing procedures. However, there are no regulations governing soil testing procedures themselves.</p><p>There are existing soil maps for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which use different soil classifications. There are currently no plans to produce a new UK soil map, and we have not explored options for private sector investment.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL4484 HL4485 HL4486 HL4487 HL4488 question first answered 22/12/2015 11:32:53 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

437018

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2015
	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	Soil
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether there are sufficient data to create an accurate baseline of soil quality in the UK from which to measure improvement or degradation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4484
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2015 answer text <p>The 2007 Countryside Survey measured changes in soil organic matter content of soils in Great Britain. It also measured bulk density and a number of other physical and chemical characteristics of soil. A new baseline survey for soil carbon was carried out in 2009 as part of the EU Land Cover and Land Use Statistics (LUCAS) exercise. The 2015 LUCAS soil samples are currently being analysed.</p><p>Defra does not routinely monitor national rates of soil loss (erosion), but we are funding research to pilot a national soil erosion monitoring framework for monitoring soil erosion in England and Wales.</p><p>Defra also funded a survey of soil compaction levels in grasslands in England and Wales in 2011.</p><p>No formal assessment has been made of the sufficiency of the baseline data from which to measure changes in soil quality.</p><p>The Government recognises that soil is essential for underpinning a range of benefits, including food production, but also biodiversity, carbon storage and flood protection.</p><p>While the future direction of soils policy will be considered as part of the development of the 25 year plans for Food and Farming, and Environment, government is already taking action to improve soil quality.</p><p>This includes new rules underpinning cross compliance which anyone claiming Common Agricultural Policy payments must comply with. The rules require a minimum level of soil cover, prevention of erosion and measures to protect the organic matter levels of soil. The new rules take an outcome based approach, instead of the previous paper-based system, thereby focussing on environmental improvements while reducing burdens for farmers. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the new rules.</p><p>No single body or institution has responsibility for measuring and analysing soils in the UK. Soil testing is carried out by a mix of commercial laboratories and Public Analyst labs. Typically laboratories are accredited and adhere to British Standards on testing procedures. However, there are no regulations governing soil testing procedures themselves.</p><p>There are existing soil maps for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which use different soil classifications. There are currently no plans to produce a new UK soil map, and we have not explored options for private sector investment.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL4483 HL4485 HL4486 HL4487 HL4488 question first answered 22/12/2015 11:32:53 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

422833

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Prostitution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits they found resulted from the national Ugly Mugs Scheme piloted by the Home Office; whether it was assessed as good value for money; and if so, what was the result.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL2880
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2015 answer text <p>The National Ugly Mugs Scheme is a mechanism for reporting crimes committed against people involved in prostitution. The Home Office provided £108,000 for the pilot scheme that ran from April 2012 to March 2013, coordinated by the UK Network of Sex Worker Projects. The evaluation of the pilot is available on its website.</p><p>The previous Government supported the pilot as part of its drive to end violence against women and girls. This Government is pleased that the evaluation of the scheme shows that it was successful in increasing access to justice and protection for those involved in prostitution. Police forces have been encouraged to contribute financially to the scheme, given its crime prevention focus and its role in encouraging reporting and contributing to intelligence. That is a decision for individual forces, and the Home Office does not collect information regarding which forces have contributed.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2881 question first answered 02/11/2015 17:17:37 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

422834

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Prostitution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government which police forces contributed to the national Ugly Mugs Scheme during 2014–15.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL2881
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2015 answer text <p>The National Ugly Mugs Scheme is a mechanism for reporting crimes committed against people involved in prostitution. The Home Office provided £108,000 for the pilot scheme that ran from April 2012 to March 2013, coordinated by the UK Network of Sex Worker Projects. The evaluation of the pilot is available on its website.</p><p>The previous Government supported the pilot as part of its drive to end violence against women and girls. This Government is pleased that the evaluation of the scheme shows that it was successful in increasing access to justice and protection for those involved in prostitution. Police forces have been encouraged to contribute financially to the scheme, given its crime prevention focus and its role in encouraging reporting and contributing to intelligence. That is a decision for individual forces, and the Home Office does not collect information regarding which forces have contributed.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2880 question first answered 02/11/2015 17:17:37 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

436572

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Pregnancy: Nutrition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further steps they plan to take to improve the diet of pregnant women and new mothers.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4406
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2015 answer text <p>Parents receive health and lifestyle advice, including advice on diet, weight control and physical activity, from their health visitor as part of the Healthy Child Programme.</p><br /><p>For parents, the Government provides online advice on maternal nutrition via the NHS Choices website and the Start4Life website.</p><br /><p>The Your Pregnancy and Baby guide on NHS Choices includes information about a healthy diet in pregnancy. Start4Life produce a range of information booklets with advice for parents, including Healthy Habits for Baby and You which provides information and advice on eating healthily and exercise in pregnancy.</p><p>The Government’s statutory Healthy Start scheme aims to provide a nutritional safety net to the most nutritionally vulnerable pregnant women, new mothers and children under four years old in low income families. The scheme provides vouchers for basic healthy foods (milk, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables) and infant formula milk. This encourages healthy eating the scheme covers approximately half a million pregnant women, new mothers, and children under four years old in low income families throughout the United Kingdom.</p><br /><p>We currently have no plans to extend the current dietary advice given to pregnant women and new mothers.</p> answering member printed Lord Prior of Brampton question first answered 21/12/2015 12:20:31 answering member 127 label Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

436573

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Pregnancy: Nutrition
	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 implications of a poor maternal diet in pregnancy for the life chances of babies, in the light of research conducted in the last decade.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2015 answer text <p>The most recent assessment of the influence of poor maternal diet on later health consequences, including the risk of chronic disease in adulthood, was carried out for government by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in 2011.</p><p>Taking into account the international evidence base and the findings from the United Kingdom National Diet and Nutrition Surveys showing that women of childbearing age are not meeting dietary recommendations, SACN concluded that there is cause for concern. It advised that improving the nutritional status of women of childbearing age, infants and young children, has the potential to improve the health of future generations.</p><p>Current dietary advice to women of reproductive age, those planning a pregnancy and those who are pregnant, is promoted via the NHS Choices website as well as the government’s social marketing campaigns, such as Start4Life.</p> answering member printed Lord Prior of Brampton question first answered 21/12/2015 17:00:08 answering member 127 label Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

93744

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2014
	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	Plants: EU Action
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what input they have had into the redrafting of the proposed European Union Plant Reproductive Material legislation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL2168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK was influential in the drafting of the Greek Presidency’s ‘state of play’ report, presented at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers meeting on 16/17 June, which was intended to guide the Commission when revising its proposals.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 27/10/2014 15:12:43 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

93745

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2014
	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	Plants: EU Action
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the current wording of the European Union Plant Reproductive Material legislation will enable them to protect home gardeners and allotment holders as well as United Kingdom seed producers' interests and the United Kingdom's diverse seed heritage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL2169
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government did not think that the European Commission’s original proposals made appropriate provisions to protect the interests of UK gardeners, allotment holders and seed producers, and negotiated accordingly in the Council Working Party. However, these proposals have since been rejected by the European Parliament and we await a Commission redraft.</p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 27/10/2014 15:14:01 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

63809

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	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	Pesticides
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of recent analysis from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Taskforce on Systemic Pesticides, which concluded that neonicotinoids and fipronil pose serious risks to a wide range of pollinating insects and other wildlife, they support the restoration of use of these products when the EU moratorium expires.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL593
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The analysis has not yet been published in full, but a preliminary assessment by the Health and Safety Executive's Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the information which is available did not identify any new factors concerning the potential effects of those substances. The European Commission is expected to commence a review in 2015 of the current European Union restrictions on three neonicotinoid active substances and fipronil. We will determine our position in light of the relevant scientific information which is available at that time.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 08/07/2014 14:51:18 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

168507

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Outdoor Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ofsted inspection framework contains explicit references to learning outside the classroom.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL3537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>This is a matter for Ofsted and I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to you with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 15/12/2014 17:32:17 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer