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348278

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2015
	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	Wetlands
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many wetland sites there are in the UK; what area those sites cover; what statutory protections have applied to each such site in each year since 2005; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	1011
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2015 answer text <p>Defra has sent two representatives to the 12<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention in Uruguay.</p><p>The UK is a party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and has designated 172 Ramsar sites. This is more than any other Contracting Party and includes 24 sites in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. In Great Britain, Ramsar sites cover an area of almost 700,000 hectares. Detailed site information is available on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s website at: <a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=161" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=161</a>.</p><p>In Great Britain, Ramsar sites are not afforded statutory protection but as a matter of Government policy receive the same protection as European sites designated under the EU Wild Birds and Habitats Directives. For example, in England the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) states that listed or proposed Ramsar sites should be given the same protection as European sites. In regard to the broader protection of wetlands, this is mainly delivered through national implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives. Defra takes a strategic approach to ensure that the implementation of these Directives is complementary to deliver common objectives.</p><p>Information regarding Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 961 question first answered 09/06/2015 09:00:37 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

419966

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	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	Timber: Sustainable Development
	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 she will take steps to enable the establishment of a market in 100 per cent sustainable timber by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	11133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2015 answer text <p>Defra is committed to tackling the trade in illegal timber. We implement the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which makes it an offence to place illegally logged timber on the EU market for the first time, and the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which aims to combat illegal logging and improve the supply of legal timber to the EU. The EU FLEGT Regulation establishes Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between the EU and timber producing countries. Once VPAs have been agreed, timber producing countries will issue exports with a ‘FLEGT licence’ which verifies the timber’s legality.</p><p>The Government’s Timber Procurement Policy also requires Government Departments, Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies to procure timber and timber products that are both legal and sustainable.</p><p>Domestic forests provide about 20% of the UK’s timber needs. They are managed in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard, the reference standard for sustainable forest management in the UK. Moreover, about 85% of UK timber production is independently certified, providing additional assurances of sustainability. We are strongly supportive of initiatives such as Grown in Britain, which create new sustainably managed woodland to increase the supply of British timber destined for use by local people and businesses. Timber and wood products labelled with the Grown in Britain logo are from trees and forests assured as compliant with the UK Forestry Standard.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 16/10/2015 12:36:44 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

347326

	registered interest
	date	28/05/2015
	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	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 recent assessment she has made of the UK's ability to meet the Aichi global biodiversity targets by 2020; what steps she is taking to ensure the UK meets those targets; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>Biodiversity is a devolved issue; actions to deliver biodiversity outcomes are set out in individual country strategies - the England Biodiversity Strategy <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69446/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf" target="_blank">Biodiversity 2020</a>, and Scottish Biodiversity Strategy <a href="http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/5538" target="_blank">http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/5538</a>. Wales’ biodiversity strategy, The Nature Recovery Plan for Wales, to be published by the end of this year, will set out the action to reverse the decline of biodiversity in Wales. The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy <a href="http://www.doeni.gov.uk/nibs_2002.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.doeni.gov.uk/nibs_2002.pdf</a> is under review and a new Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland will be published by the summer.</p><p /> <p>The UK submitted its 5<sup>th</sup> National report to the CBD in May 2014 and it is available on the CBD website at <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf</a>. Key actions taken by the UK include:</p><p /> <p>· Continued designation of protected areas, especially at sea, and the development of a UK Marine Strategy;</p><p /> <p>· Continued work to improve the management and condition of all designated sites, with 96% of SSSIs in England in favourable or recovering condition;</p><p /> <p>· Integrated, landscape-scale approaches to improving the natural environment, such as Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and river-basin management plans.</p><p /> <p>· Agri-environment programmes to support environmental improvements on farmed land, for example with 67,000ha being brought under management for creation of priority habitat in England since 2011, and the development of country policies and strategies for issues which impact on biodiversity such as such as forestry, water, invasive species, pollinators, and fisheries.</p><p /> <p>· Research to develop knowledge and evidence-based guidance, such as ecosystem assessment and payment for ecosystem services.</p><p /> <p>The most recent update on progress is presented in the UK Biodiversity Indicators, published in December 2014: <a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229</a>. The indicators show a mixed picture, with recent improvements in the area of land in agri-environment schemes, sustainable fisheries, air pollution, the extent of protected sites on land and at sea, the condition of areas/sites of special scientific interest, status of species of European importance and plant genetic resources.</p><p /> <p>However, pressures on biodiversity remain high and there is more to do, which will require the engagement of all sectors and civil society as a whole.</p><p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 04/06/2015 13:00:17 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

347339

	registered interest
	date	28/05/2015
	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	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, how many farmers have (a) obtained Fair to Nature accreditation and (b) are working towards Fair to Nature accreditation; if she will assess the effect of the scheme on UK biodiversity; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>Conservation Grade reports that approximately 86 farmers are currently accredited and approximately 20 are waiting to establish a commercial relationship. This information is not held by Defra.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fair to Nature is part of Conservation Grade, an independent, non-profit accreditation organisation that establishes commercial relationships between farmers and customers. Membership of Conservation Grade requires standards to be maintained for biodiversity benefits. Fair to Nature have undertaken their own trials demonstrating benefits for a range of biodiversity species, notably bumblebees, small mammals and farmland birds. Although independent, the scheme requirements are similar in scope to our supported agri-environment schemes, that have been shown to deliver outcomes for biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 04/06/2015 16:14:11 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

347346

	registered interest
	date	28/05/2015
	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	Owls: Surveys
	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 she will repeat the national barn owl surveys of 1982-85, 1995-97 and 2000-09; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2015 answer text <p>The Barn Owl was surveyed as part of the British Trust for Ornithology 2007-11 Bird Atlas for Britain and Ireland and populations are also monitored annually by the BTO/Joint Nature Conservation Committee/Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Consequently Defra has no present plans to repeat these surveys.</p><p>Surveys suggest that the Barn Owl was declining during much of the twentieth century. However the 2007-11 Bird Atlas indicates a 67% increase in distribution since the last atlas for 1988-91. In addition the annual Breeding Bird Survey indicates that numbers increased by 277% in the UK between 1995 and 2012 and 273% for England. The increase is believed to result from the provision of nest boxes, mild winters and the sympathetic management of suitable feeding habitat through agri-environment schemes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 04/06/2015 12:40:20 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

533373

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2016
	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	Nature Conservation
	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 effect of the vote to leave the EU on her policy on the EU nature directives; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	42020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2016 answer text <p>Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, fisheries, food and drink, rural affairs and our environment remain in place.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.</p><p> </p><p>The priorities for negotiating our exit from the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 11/07/2016 16:13:57 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

348277

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2015
	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	Wetlands
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many representatives of her Department will attend the Ramsar Conference in Uruguay in June 2015; what steps she is taking to protect UK wetlands; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2015 answer text <p>Defra has sent two representatives to the 12<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention in Uruguay.</p><p>The UK is a party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and has designated 172 Ramsar sites. This is more than any other Contracting Party and includes 24 sites in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. In Great Britain, Ramsar sites cover an area of almost 700,000 hectares. Detailed site information is available on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s website at: <a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=161" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=161</a>.</p><p>In Great Britain, Ramsar sites are not afforded statutory protection but as a matter of Government policy receive the same protection as European sites designated under the EU Wild Birds and Habitats Directives. For example, in England the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) states that listed or proposed Ramsar sites should be given the same protection as European sites. In regard to the broader protection of wetlands, this is mainly delivered through national implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives. Defra takes a strategic approach to ensure that the implementation of these Directives is complementary to deliver common objectives.</p><p>Information regarding Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart grouped question UIN 1011 question first answered 09/06/2015 09:00:37 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon