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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

437019

	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 targets are in place to improve soil quality in UK agricultural land.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4485
	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 HL4484 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

437021

	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 how the effectiveness of UK soil protection policies, such as those contained in their cross compliance guidance, is evaluated, and what improvements have been seen as a result of such policies.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4487
	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 HL4484 HL4485 HL4486 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

437022

	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 options have been considered to produce a UK-wide map of soils, including the potential for the private sector to invest in such a scheme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL4488
	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 HL4484 HL4485 HL4486 HL4487 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