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1110684

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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	Water: Pollution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have conducted into the pollution of watercourses by antibiotics for both humans and livestock in the last five years; and what were the findings of any such research.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL15148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) monitors several antibiotics in watercourses as part of a surveillance network of substances on an EU Watch List. This dataset as a whole is collated across Europe to assess the level of exposure and prioritise substances for future inclusion under the Water Framework Directive. If selected, Europe wide environmental quality standards will be developed and implemented through this process.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has over the last five years continued working with the water industry via United Kingdom Water Industry Research to understand better and quantify levels of antibiotics in pre- and post-treatment effluents from sewage treatment works. This will continue in the next phase of work due to start in 2020.</p><p><br> Together these have demonstrated that:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Antibiotics are present in effluents and watercourses and will need to be assessed against any future environmental quality standards.</li><li>Wastewater treatment processes in common usage remove a relatively small proportion of the antibiotics studied (compared to other substances in effluents) before release into the environment.</li></ul><p> </p><p>A study report, reference number 18/EQ/01/13, is available from United Kingdom Water Industry Research <a href="https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports" target="_blank">https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/04/2019 12:45:35 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1110685

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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	Water: Pollution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have conducted into the pollution of watercourses by hormones contained in human waste.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL15149
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) has worked over the last five years with the water industry via United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) to understand better and quantify levels of hormones in pre- and post-treatment effluents containing human waste from wastewater treatment works. This will continue in the next phase of work due to start in 2020.</p><p> </p><p>A study report, reference number 18/EQ/01/13, is available from UKWIR <a href="https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports" target="_blank">https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports</a></p><p><br> The EA also monitors hormones in watercourses as part of a surveillance network of substances on an EU Watch List.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/04/2019 12:50:08 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1110686

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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	Water: Pollution
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of evidence that demonstrates the adverse effects on aquatic wildlife of hormones that have entered watercourses from treated sewage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL15150
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) has previously carried out an extensive research programme into the feminising effects of hormones in treated sewage on wild roach populations (<em>Rutilus rutilus</em>) (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-identification-of-oestrogenic-effects-in-wild-fish).%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-identification-of-oestrogenic-effects-in-wild-fish). </a></p><p> </p><p>In the autumn of 2019 the EA will be publishing the results of research undertaken recently to investigate the current levels of feminisation in similar fish populations, as a comparison to the previous study.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/04/2019 12:49:38 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1176995

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to prevent harm to birds and other wildlife from drones.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the intentional or reckless disturbance of any wild bird included in Schedule 1 while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young; or the dependent young of such a bird. The Act also prohibits the intentional or reckless disturbance of any animal included on Schedule 5 while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection. In both instances this would include disturbance by drones.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 03/02/2020 16:32:33 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

479292

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2016
	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	Tree Planting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether planting more trees in England is one of their policies and what assessment they have made of whether planting more trees constitutes a public benefit.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL7067
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to planting 11 million trees during this Parliament, primarily through the Rural Development Programme’s Countryside Stewardship scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2012 the Independent Panel on Forestry reported to the Government that England’s woods and forests provide significant public benefits, including through improving water quality and biodiversity as well as access and recreation.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognised these benefits in its Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement of January of 2013 which included the response to the Independent Panel Report.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 31/03/2016 15:02:02 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1694709

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2024
	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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government with regard to the ban on the use of neonicotinoids, what is their rationale for allowing a derogation in 2024 year for sugar beet growers; and for how many years an emergency authorisation can be in place.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL3120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>A statement of reasons for the emergency authorisation of Cruiser SB in 2024 <del class="ministerial">is </del> <ins class="ministerial">can be found</ins> attached to this answer.</p><p>An emergency authorisation cannot run from year to year. This authorisation is for the 2024 sugar beet crop only and is valid for 120 days. Use of Cruiser SB or a similar product in any subsequent years would require the submission of a further application. Any future applications would be carefully assessed against the regulatory framework for emergency authorisations.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 21/03/2024 17:37:37 question first ministerially corrected 21/03/2024 17:43:03 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name HL3120 attachment.pdf title List of Reasons previous answer version 25323 answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1694710

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2024
	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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Statement of reasons for the decision on the application for emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB on sugar beet crops in 2024, updated on 18 January, what steps they are taking to ensure that sugar beet growers are able to comply with the conditions of emergency use, in particular that (1) "Only a specific list of crops, none of which flower before harvest, are permitted to be planted in the same field as treated sugar beet within 32 months", and (2) "no further use of thiamethoxam seed treatments on the same field within 46 months"; and what assessment they have made of likely compliance from sugar beet growers given restrictions on land supply and restrictions on reuse of a field for sugar beet cultivation that may take place before 46 months has passed since the last same usage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL3121
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>All pesticide use in the UK is regulated through HSE’s overarching programme of enforcement and compliance. This includes extensive monitoring and intelligence-led enforcement activities to ensure that the supply and use of pesticides complies with legal requirements.</p><p> </p><p>All UK sugar beet is grown under commercial contracting arrangements. Growers are used to meeting a range of requirements and are supported throughout the season by weekly monitoring and advice provided by the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). This provides a robust control mechanism for stewardship.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the stewardship programme, all growers are fully advised of the requirements for use of seeds treated with Cruiser SB. The restrictions on the planting of succeeding crops are designed to limit levels of neonicotinoids in the environment and to be capable of incorporation into typical arable crop rotation patterns.</p><p> </p><p>Farmers can decide whether or not they wish to grow sugar beet in a given year and, if so, whether they wish to use Cruiser SB. The restrictions on succeeding crops will be a factor in that decision; those farmers that opt to grow sugar beet with Cruiser SB will have considered how to accommodate the restrictions within their crop rotation plans.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 21/03/2024 17:35:27 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

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