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1566181

registered interest
date	11/01/2023
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	Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to monitor concentrations of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals and personal care product residues in terms of driving the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in the environment, and (2) to fund more research into the risks they may pose to human health.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2023 answer text <p>(1) Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) have been working with the water industry to research the occurrence and transport of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics through wastewater treatment works as part of the industry-funded Chemical Investigations Programme. Investigations have been carried out at ten sites across the country to understand how the different treatment processes and the presence of chemicals including a range of pharmaceuticals affect the presence and prevalence of particular organisms and resistance genes. The results are due to be published by UK Water Industry Research in early 2023.</p><p>The EA has also been working with water companies on chemicals investigations which have included a range of pharmaceuticals and personal care products residues discharged from treated sewage effluent which might contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).</p><p>The EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) for chemicals of emerging concern to ensure consideration of the potential risks of emerging chemicals including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater and soils. The system allows the EA 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. The EA has included a number of pharmaceuticals and personal care products as part of PEWS including, for example, diclofenac, ibuprofen and Benzophenone-3 (UV filter). These three substances flagged as high risk in PEWS.</p><p>The EA also monitors for a wide range of pharmaceuticals and substances used in personal care products in the water environment using a semi-quantitative screening methodology. All the substances mentioned above are included on this screening.</p><p>(2) The UK AMR National Action Plan (NAP) (2019-24) commits to “support research to reduce evidence gaps and improve our understanding of hazards and risks from AMR in the environment”. The Government is not currently supporting research on the potential risks of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals and personal care product residues in terms of driving the evolution of AMR in the environment and the risks they may pose to human health, but is exploring options with funders on how best to undertake a One-Health approach to research into the drivers of AMR in the environment and environmental transmission risks to human health. This work will be built upon as an area of focus for research in the next five-year NAP (2024-29).</p><p>The Government is funding a wide array of research into AMR, including through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). As of September 2022, the NIHR was supporting 65 active research projects funded by NIHR programmes on AMR, with a combined value of approximately £97 million. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including risk factors for AMR.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 25/01/2023 12:03:40 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1566182

registered interest
date	11/01/2023
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	Sewage: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor, measure, or mitigate the impacts of microbial pollution as a result of sewage pollution, in respect of the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2023 answer text <p>The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency (EA) have been working with the water industry to research the occurrence and transport of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics through wastewater treatment works as part of the industry-funded Chemical Investigations Programme. Investigations have been carried out at 10 sites across the country to understand how the different treatment processes affect the presence and prevalence of particular organisms and resistance genes. The results are due to be published by UK Water Industry Research in early 2023. In addition, the EA has completed a study to look at the amounts of antifungal substances that remain in biosolids as one of the final products of these wastewater treatments. These results will also be published in early 2023. <br> <br>The EA has also been working with water companies on chemicals investigations which have included a range of pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines discharged from treated sewage effluent which might contribute to AMR. This work allows the EA to sift and 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. Many pharmaceuticals are included on this list. Monitoring also takes place for a wide range of pharmaceuticals within the water environment using a semi-quantitative screening methodology.</p><p>A cross-departmental project, Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment (PATH-SAFE), was established in 2021 to understand how pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are spread in the environment and the agri-food system. It brings together DEFRA, the EA, the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the UK Health Security Agency. PATH-SAFE contains a workstream focused on AMR prevalence in three river catchments to strengthen our understanding of AMR in the environment, including the relative importance of different sources and potential transmission routes; this includes wastewater and septic discharges as important likely sources. This work is due to complete in 2023. Two documents are attached which provide background (Antimicrobial resistance surveillance pilot site selection and database extension and Framework for understanding environmental antimicrobial resistance in England).</p><p>The actions being taken to reduce sewage pollution more generally will have a direct positive impact on the emergence and spread of resistant microbials. The Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction plan announced in August of this year sets strict new targets on water companies to reduce sewage discharges. In addition, we have increased monitoring and transparency of water companies by increasing the number of storm overflows monitored from 5% in 2016 to almost 90% now monitored, and we will reach 100% cover by end of 2023. This action has supported the regulators to launch the largest criminal and civil investigations into water company sewage discharges ever, at over 2200 treatment works, following new data coming to light as a result of increased monitoring. We are also bringing forward proposals to increase the maximum fine that water companies face for breaches of environmental laws.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Framework_for_understanding_environmental_antimicrobial_resistance_in_England_-_report.pdf title Framework - 2 file name Antimicrobial_resistance_surveillance_pilot_site_selection_and_database_extension_-_report.pdf title Report question first answered 25/01/2023 12:00:51 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1565299

registered interest
date	09/01/2023
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	Bread and Flour: Additives
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that the Retained EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill will not result in people in the UK being exposed to azodicarbonimide, potassium bromate, or any other flour bleaching agents or industrial bread additives banned across the EU.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2023 answer text <p>Through the Retained EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill, the Government is considering which retained European Union legislation should be repealed, reformed or preserved. The Government will continue to work with a range of organisations and stakeholders to ensure we maintain our world leading standards of food safety and quality.</p><p>Our national Bread and Flour Regulations 1998, which are not in scope of the Retained EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill, do not allow the use of flour bleaching agents in the preparation of any flour or bread.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 24/01/2023 14:58:29 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1563812

registered interest
date	21/12/2022
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	Environment Protection
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their commitment to the 30by30 target to protect at least 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030, what steps they will take to increase the proportion of protected (1) land in England from 3.22 per cent, and (2) waters in England from 8 per cent.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4476
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to protecting 30% of land and sea in the UK by 2030 (30by30). We consulted on our approach to 30by30 in the Nature Recovery Green Paper and will respond in due course.</p><p><br>The 30by30 target is a global target. Nearly 8.3% of the global ocean is now protected. Achieving a global 30by30 target will require an international effort, from all countries and sectors. The UK is leading the way. We have established a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 40% of English waters, and we are now focusing on making sure they are properly protected. Nearly 60% of our 178 English MPAs are already protected from damaging fishing activity, including byelaws last year in the first four offshore sites, which ban bottom towed gear over sensitive habitats. We are aiming to have all MPAs in English waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 19/01/2023 12:22:35 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1563751

registered interest
date	20/12/2022
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	Nappies
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on (1) a plan for the reduction of the use of single-use nappies, (2) a financial support scheme to assist parents with the initial costs of purchasing reusable nappies, and (3) the improvement of the labelling of single-use nappies.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/01/2023 answer text <p>While there are currently no plans to ban the sale of disposable nappies, we recognise the issues associated with absorbent hygiene products such as nappies. A number of local authorities already provide support towards upfront purchases of reusable nappies, and we have no plans to duplicate that work.</p><p> </p><p>Work on the environmental assessment of disposable and reusable nappies is nearly complete and peer review of the work is being finalised. No date has been set for publication, but we are working to get things finished as soon as possible. This work will help inform any future action by government and industry.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 04/01/2023 13:15:33 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1563752

registered interest
date	20/12/2022
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	Nappies: Waste Disposal
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist on 15 September 2021 (HL Deb, col 1495), when they expect to publish the independent environmental assessment of nappy use.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/01/2023 answer text <p>While there are currently no plans to ban the sale of disposable nappies, we recognise the issues associated with absorbent hygiene products such as nappies. A number of local authorities already provide support towards upfront purchases of reusable nappies, and we have no plans to duplicate that work.</p><p> </p><p>Work on the environmental assessment of disposable and reusable nappies is nearly complete and peer review of the work is being finalised. No date has been set for publication, but we are working to get things finished as soon as possible. This work will help inform any future action by government and industry.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 04/01/2023 13:15:56 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1562881

registered interest
date	19/12/2022
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	Soil
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 8 September 2021 (HL Deb col 867) in which he said that they "will publish a soil health action plan for England", when they will publish this plan.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/01/2023 answer text <p>The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), due to be published by 31 January 2023, will set out the government’s strategic direction for improving and protecting soil health so that it is valued and appropriately managed, balancing sustainable food production alongside increasing biodiversity and protecting our environment. We are currently planning to engage with stakeholders in the new year on next steps, once the EIP is published.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 04/01/2023 12:56:46 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

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