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1547181

registered interest
date	30/11/2022
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	Wildlife: Crime
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Benyon on 23 November (HL3268), when they expect the relevant agencies to consider the recommendations of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on developing sentencing guidelines for wildlife crime.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>We welcome this report and the fact that it recognises the UK's global leadership in fighting wildlife and forestry crime. We invited the UN to undertake this analysis and we are proud to be the first G7 country to request this assessment.</p><p>We will carefully consider all the recommendations to help us build on the positive progress we have already made in tackling wildlife crime. This will include strategic engagement with our partners that have responsibilities where individual recommendations are concerned such as the devolved administrations, the Crown Prosecution Service, National Wildlife Crime Unit and the Sentencing Council (who has responsibility for developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use).</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 12/12/2022 17:38:50 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1545502

registered interest
date	24/11/2022
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	Compost: Plastics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Benyon on 23 November (HL3266), how they monitor whether collections of "compostable" plastics by local authorities, and commercial providers, are transferred to facilities that have adequate conditions to ensure their complete decomposition.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2023 answer text <p>The Government currently does not monitor this.</p><p>Biodegradable and compostable plastics are not included as a separate recyclable waste stream in the Environment Act 2021 and we do not propose to include these materials in any of the other recyclable waste streams.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 19/01/2023 12:04:58 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540880

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Compost
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make (1) regulatory, or (2) other, responses to findings in the Big Compost Study which concluded that 60 per cent of items sold as "home compostable" did not degrade in homes under real world conditions.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3266
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>HM Government has no immediate plans to regulate in this area but welcomes the findings from UCL’s study into the home composting of plastics and will use this to inform our evidence base.</p><p> </p><p>The study has shown that home composting is not a viable destination for managing plastic waste and this echoes HM Government’s existing position to prioritise the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastics before anything else.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2021 we published our response to the call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The Government response acknowledges that compostable plastics must be treated in industrial composting facilities to be broken down and, when processed incorrectly, can be a source of microplastics and contaminate recycling streams. Therefore, our focus will be on reducing unnecessary consumption and working towards a circular economy, not composting of plastics.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 23/11/2022 11:52:27 question first ministerially corrected 23/11/2022 15:04:17 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon previous answer version 36480 answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble answering member 4161
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540882

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Wildlife: Crime
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce (1) sentencing guidelines for (a) raptor persecution, and (b) other wildlife crimes, and (2) vicarious liability for landowners and tenants in England and Wales employing those convicted of such crimes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>HM Government takes wildlife crime seriously. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of wildlife crimes. Raptor persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife. Most wildlife crimes carry up to an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing those convicted of wildlife crimes, including raptor persecution, is a matter for judges; these decisions are rightly taken independently of HM Government. Within the maximum limits it is up to the court to decide the appropriate sentence, having considered the facts of the case.</p><p>However, HM Government does recognise that stakeholders are often disappointed with the sentences that are passed down for wildlife crimes. The UNODC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit Report, published in 2021, suggested that support should be given to the Sentencing Council for England and Wales in developing prescriptive sentencing guidelines, where appetite permits. As with all the recommendations of the report, it will be considered by the relevant agencies.</p><p>Defra does not currently have any plans to introduce vicarious liability in England. The introduction of new regulation, such as vicarious liability, requires evidence that it will be effective. In the context of wildlife crimes, vicarious liability was introduced into Scotland by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. HM Government is not aware of any compelling evidence that the introduction of the provisions in Scotland has had a significant deterrent effect on those who persecute birds of prey. We will continue to monitor the situation in Scotland to consider whether this, or a similar offence such as strict liability, is necessary and proportionate to assist in tackling wildlife crime in England.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 23/11/2022 12:14:52 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1537283

registered interest
date	31/10/2022
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	Grafton Equine and Pet Cremation: Badgers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Benyon on 13 October (HL2581), when the Animal and Plant Health Agency plans to conduct an inspection of Grafton Pet Cemetery and its handling of dead badgers; when the last such inspection was conducted; how regularly such inspections are conducted; and what length of notice is usually provided before each inspection.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2022 answer text <p>Grafton Pet Crematorium was last inspected in August 2022 with no issues found. The premises are on annual risk-based inspection regime so the next routine inspection will be due to take place in August 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The length of notice provided before an inspection varies and is determined on a case-by-case basis at the local level depending on staff and operator availability. APHA also has the provision, if required, to make unannounced visits.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 17/11/2022 10:57:04 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1537325

registered interest
date	31/10/2022
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	Lighting: Nuisance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact, particularly on insects, of home lighting systems, including the recent spread of solar powered gardening lighting systems that may operate automatically; and what consideration they have given to placing restrictions on such lighting, including where it may also prove a nuisance to neighbours.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3036
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2022 answer text <p>Defra has not made any assessment specifically on the environmental impact of home lighting or solar powered garden lighting systems. However, the department has published and contributed to national and global assessments of the impact of artificial light and other pressures on insects and wider biodiversity, and we are aware of further studies that have identified impacts of artificial light on the behaviour and physiology of some insect species.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work with partners including leading scientists to review the latest studies related to light pollution and ensure we continue to address key threats to biodiversity.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 17/11/2022 11:42:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1522038

registered interest
date	13/10/2022
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: Ciprofloxacin
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the environmental concentration data collected in England and Wales 2015–2018 (Hayes & Murray et al., 2022) which suggests that the antibiotic ciprofloxacin poses a significant antimicrobial selection risk, whether they have considered its exclusion from the Water Framework Directive’s Watch List and its place in the UK’s monitoring procedures.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2022 answer text <p>Ciprofloxacin has been continuously monitored on the Water Framework Directive Watch List for 4 years. Its removal is being considered as the Directive specifically states that no Watch List substances should be continuously monitored for more than 4 years.</p><p>Ciprofloxacin is currently routinely monitored in England. Ciprofloxacin has been nominated and will be reviewed under the Environment Agency's chemical prioritisation and early warning system. This system allows the Environment Agency to consider the potential risks of emerging chemicals, including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater, and soils. The system allows the Environment Agency to sift and to screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 27/10/2022 12:18:07 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1522041

registered interest
date	13/10/2022
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	Grafton Equine and Pet Cremation: Badgers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research undertaken by Keep the Ban regarding the handling of culled badgers at the Grafton Pet Crematorium; and what assessment they have made of the (1) human, and (2) animal, health risks as a consequence of the way handling was approached.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2022 answer text <p>Based only on the heavily edited short video clips obtained by trespassing at the Grafton Pet Crematorium premises, it is not possible for the Animal and Plant Health Agency to make a full and proper assessment of activities, or whether there were any breaches of regulations that protect human and animal health at premises which handle Animal By-Products. It will only be possible to make such assessments when Animal &amp; Plant Health Agency is able to conduct an inspection and consider all the evidence at the premises.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 27/10/2022 10:54:25 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1521530

registered interest
date	12/10/2022
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	Grouse Moors: Controlled Burning
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what measurements they plan to make of the air pollution and consequent health impacts of heather burning for grouse shooting on adjoining communities during the October 1 to April 15 season; and what steps they have taken to ensure that the law against burning on deep peat is complied with, including the compilation of maps to indicate areas that should not be burnt.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2512
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2022 answer text <p>Defra does not plan to assess the impacts of heather burning on air quality. Monitoring networks measure air quality across the country on an ongoing basis, and measurements are made available on our <a href="https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/forecasting/" target="_blank">UK-AIR website</a> (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/forecasting/). This service provides specific health advice based on the level of pollution.</p><p> </p><p>The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 and associated guidance sets out the very limited circumstances where burning of vegetation will be seen as a permissible activity, when conducted in the right place for the right reasons.</p><p> </p><p>An England Peat Map is being created which, when complete, will help managers understand the distribution of peat. The map will be available in 2024 and detail the extent, location and condition of peat in England, including peat depth. The map will be produced from a mix of existing peat data (including data shared by stakeholders), new field survey data, and through use of remote sensing and earth observation modelling techniques.</p><p> </p><p>Burning occurs at small scale and peat depth also varies at small scale. This makes it difficult to produce maps that are definitive and any maps available are best considered indicative. Land managers are therefore encouraged to test peat depth in locations where burning is proposed.</p><p> </p><p>If anyone believes an illegal burn has taken place they can report it directly to Natural England’s Enforcement Team, who check the locations against records of protected sites and environmental data and carry out investigatory site visits as required. Any unlicenced burning of vegetation on sites to which the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) 2021 applies, will be investigated.</p><p> </p><p>It would be inappropriate to comment in respect of current investigations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 27/10/2022 10:51:56 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1521532

registered interest
date	12/10/2022
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	Plastics: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce plastic pollution following the discovery of microplastics in human breast milk.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2514
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government is taking decisive action to reduce plastic pollution. We have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and brought in measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in October 2020. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97% with our five, now ten, pence charge.</p><p>As set out in the 2022-2023 UK REACH Work Programme available on GOV.UK, we are reviewing intentionally added microplastics and the risks they pose to human health and the environment. The results will help to inform the Government's approach to managing any risks whether through UK REACH or other routes.</p><p>The recent study that has found microplastic particles in breast milk indicates the potential for low human neonate exposure via breast milk (and the exposure of the mother). However, the small sample size in these studies mean that these results need to be taken as indicative and highlight the need for further research in this area.</p><p>In 2021, the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) published an overarching statement on potential risks from exposure to microplastics ( <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcot.food.gov.uk%2FM-statementsandpositionpapers%23microplastics&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMaria.Alemao%40defra.gov.uk%7Cb4b3da3967f744c61f2f08dab821640d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638024750789679907%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=n4OOhar%2FgGNLbQ6yHDNWdcqgBClUIcl8gXS668Vwx3o%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://cot.food.gov.uk/M-statementsandpositionpapers#microplastics(opens in a new tab)</a>). A copy is attached to this answer. The COT made a number of proposals for research priorities to aid risk assessment of microplastics, and concluded that &quot;based on the available data, it is not yet possible to perform a complete assessment for the potential risks from exposure to micro and nanoplastics via the oral and inhalation routes&quot;.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 08/11/2022 16:33:45 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name COT Microplastics Overarching Statement 2021_final_0.pdf title COT Microplastics Overarching Statement 2021
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle