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1648704

registered interest
date	28/06/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Zoonoses
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 finding of Min Cui, Bang Shen and others in their article ‘Animal diseases and human future’, published in Animal Diseases in April 2022, that 75 per cent of emerging human infectious diseases originate from animals.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL8865
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2023 answer text <p>UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is aware of the paper Animal diseases and human future by Min Cui, Bang Shen et al published in Animal Diseases, April 2022. The paper asserts that “approximately 60% of human infectious diseases are zoonotic, and 75% of emerging human infectious diseases originate from animals”. While there is not one internationally agreed figure for the percentages of diseases, emerging or established, that are zoonotic, these figures are broadly in line with that of global public health partners such as World Organisation for Animal Health.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 10/07/2023 14:28:26 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
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

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

1643195

registered interest
date	08/06/2023
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	Whales: Conservation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the creation of a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL8345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2023 answer text <p>The UK remains committed to working with all Parties to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to continue to support the modernisation of the organisation and to ensure it remains the international body for the conservation and management of cetaceans.</p><p> </p><p>At the 68<sup>th</sup> meeting of the IWC, the UK supported the proposal by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to create a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and encouraged all Contracting Governments to support its adoption. We were disappointed that the IWC did not reach agreement to take forward this proposal but will continue to push for the conservation of these unique creatures that play a vital role in our wider ecosystem.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/06/2023 11:17:36 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1687656

registered interest
date	05/02/2024
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	West Africa: Timber
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the amount of rosewood timber that is exported from West African countries such as Mali, The Gambia and Senegal; what steps they have taken to ban or control within UK markets the sale of products made from West African rosewood; and what steps they have taken to protect endangered wild species, including rosewood in West Africa.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2024 answer text <p>The UK is currently contributing funding towards a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) study on the conservation and trade in rosewood tree species but does yet not have an assessment of rosewood timber exports. We have robust mechanisms in place through the UK Timber Regulations (UKTR), which prohibit the placing of illegally harvested timber and timber products on the GB market and require operators - those first placing timber products on the market - to exercise due diligence. Those who trade in timber and timber products after they have been placed on the market are required to keep records of who they buy timber products from and any traders they sell them to. This enables timber and timber products to be traced.</p><p> </p><p>The primary objective of the UKTR is to tackle illegal logging and to create a demand for legally harvested timber. Implementing the Regulations enables the protection of forests around the world, supporting the Government’s ambition to lead the world in environmental protection, end extreme poverty, and be at the forefront of action against global climate change.</p><p> </p><p>The requirement to exercise due diligence under UKTR does not apply where a valid CITES permit accompanies the timber.</p><p> </p><p>Rosewood species (Dalbergia and Guibourtia spp.) are listed on the CITES Appendices and so most rosewood timber imports into the UK will need a valid permit. Permit applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the UK CITES Management Authority, which will only issue permits if it has been possible to determine that the specimens to be imported were legally acquired and sustainably harvested.</p><p> </p><p>The Government provides grants to a wide range of stakeholders to contribute to the protection of endangered wild species, including tackling illegal wildlife trade in West Africa, through the Biodiversity Challenge Funds. While these do not address rosewood in West Africa specifically, this has included empowering communities to protect their forests by the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia, and supporting Royal Botanic Gardens Kew to monitor and halt illegal timber trade through DNA barcoding in Gabon and Congo (Brazzaville).</p><p> </p><p>Further information on these examples and other projects supported by the Biodiversity Challenge Funds can be found at the websites of the Darwin Initiative and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/02/2024 11:51:40 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1670100

registered interest
date	14/11/2023
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: Standards
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to water quality, what assessment they have made of whether the replacements to the EU Water Framework Directive will result in the improved monitoring of water quality; whether they intend to create a UK specific Hazardous Watch List; and if so, whether this will consider antimicrobial resistance selection risk of chemicals in aquatic environments, as has been included in recent iterations of the EU Water Framework Directive’s Watch List.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) has introduced a new long-term ‘river surveillance network’ monitoring programme for rivers to give a national overview of the state of England’s rivers. It does not replace the Water Framework Directive compliant monitoring which will still continue.</p><p> </p><p>This network is a key part of the ‘Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment’ which will provide a statistically robust assessment of the health of the water environment.</p><p> </p><p>The formalisation of a UK-wide Watchlist would be a matter for the UK and Devolved Administrations. In England the EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System for new substances of concern and monitors changes to the EU’s Watch List. The EA also works closely with the devolved agencies to share information and approaches to monitoring programmes for emerging chemicals of concern in the water environment, including pharmaceuticals which might contribute to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).</p><p> </p><p>Further, the UK has set out a 20-year vision for containing and controlling AMR through a One-Health approach. A cross-departmental project called Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment (PATH-SAFE) was established in 2021 to understand how pathogens and AMR are spread in the environment and the agri-food system. This will inform future monitoring of the water environment and commitments within the UK National Action Plan on AMR.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/11/2023 15:55:51 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1629161

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
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 Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Water targets detailed evidence report, published on 6 May 2022, what progress they have made towards formally adopting the proposed nutrient pollution reduction targets.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL7963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2023 answer text <p>On 19<sup>th</sup> December the Government laid The Environmental Targets (Water) (England) Regulations 2022 Statutory instrument. This introduced legally-binding targets to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads from agriculture by 40% by 2038 against a 2018 baseline, and to reduce phosphorus loads from wastewater by 80% by 2038 against a 2020 baseline.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 25/05/2023 11:38:44 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1666436

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
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 Treatment: Drugs
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 value of retrofitting existing wastewater treatment infrastructure to sequester small molecule pharmaceutical pollution such as antibiotics; and what plans, if any, they have to do so.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL10710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 26/10/2023 11:09:30 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1658859

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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 Companies: Microplastics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with water companies to explore the management of microplastics in sewage sludge.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to safeguarding the natural environment from harms. We have been collaborating with water companies on the investigation of microplastics in wastewater treatment through the National Chemical Investigations Programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency have published their strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use. This strategy explores options for modernising and harmonising the regulatory framework with the aim of ensuring the management and use of sludge supports healthy and productive land and soil. The Government is currently examining the strategy’s impact on our environmental outcomes and water and farming industries.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:16:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1657661

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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 Abstraction
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to end the over-abstraction of water supplies by water companies; what deadlines have been set for the end of such over-abstraction; and what plans they have made to restore levels of over-abstracted reservoirs.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The Plan for Water sets out the actions we are taking to make abstraction sustainable. Since we published our abstraction plan (see attachment) in 2017, the Environment Agency has reduced damaging abstraction by returning 48 billion litres of water a year to the environment and removed the risk to the environment of the potential abstraction of 1.9 trillion litres of water.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are told by the Environment Agency about what abstractions are deemed unsustainable through the Water Industry Environment Programme (see attachment) and the statutory water resources management plans (see attachment) and take action to remove or reduce these abstractions. In some cases, removal or reduction of abstraction licences will reduce the security of water supply for people and businesses, so water companies will have to take appropriate steps to reduce demand or develop new supplies of water to ensure they can still provide water supplies.</p><p> </p><p>The deadlines water companies are given vary, as some may require investigations into the level of reductions required. The Plan for Water shows water companies have to take action to reduce a gap between how much water they could supply when compared to future demand. The gap is 4 billion litres of water per day, which includes reductions in abstractions to protect the environment and accounts for the impacts of climate change on water sources. Water companies have recently produced new water resources plans showing how they will address this gap and the Environment Agency has produced a summary of how water companies (see attachment) will increase supply and reduce demand over the next 25 years.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 12/09/2023 17:03:42 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name HL9750 Attachments 1-4.pdf title Water gov.uk attachments
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle