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1275876

registered interest
date	12/01/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the process for taking the decision to approve an emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid thiamethoxam for the treatment of sugar beet seed in 2021 complies with the Aarhus Convention requirements to (a) make environmental information available to the public in a way that is transparent and accessible and (b) inform the public early in the decision making process and provide for their adequate participation in the decision making process; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	136485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>The decision followed the normal process for emergency authorisations, as provided for in Regulation (EC) 1107/2009. The regulation provides a comprehensive framework for the assessment of applications for emergency authorisation, including mechanisms for the assessment of risks to human or animal health, or the environment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/01/2021 14:56:48 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1275878

registered interest
date	12/01/2021
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	Pesticides: Reviews
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 steps he is taking to enable the independent review of emergency authorisations of pesticide use following the conclusion of the transition period.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	136486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>All applications for emergency authorisation follow the same process within the legal framework. Each application for emergency authorisation is assessed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with independent scientific advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP). Pesticides regulation is devolved and so each of the four UK administrations may take a decision on applications for emergency authorisation within their territory or may leave the decision with HSE. There are no plans to alter these arrangements following the end of the transition period.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 20/01/2021 12:38:52 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1272180

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
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	Fishing Vessels: Marine Protected Areas
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 he will make it his policy to (a) attach conditions limiting vessel size on fishing vessel licenses to 100m in length in the UK’s Marine Protected Areas and (b) publish a timeline for implementing those conditions.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	131223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>As an independent Coastal State, we can now review which vessels, including supertrawlers, can access and fish our waters. The new licensing framework within the Fisheries Act allows us to apply conditions to the activities of all fishing vessels in our waters - regardless of their nationality – and will need to abide by UK rules around sustainability and access to our ‘Blue Belt’ of protected waters.</p><p> </p><p>The activity of ‘supertrawlers’ is managed in the same way as all fishing vessels. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) closely monitors vessels, including large trawlers, when fishing in English waters. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are set up to protect specific seabed habitats and species. Supertrawlers are pelagic trawlers whose nets do not touch the seabed, so generally don’t cause damage to seabed features. MPAs, being protection of specific locations, usually aren’t a suitable conservation mechanism for the highly mobile fish which supertrawlers are catching. Measures that will work to protect those fish need to apply across their full range, such as quotas.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 11/01/2021 17:37:43 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1270918

registered interest
date	14/12/2020
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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
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 he has made of the potential environmental effect of Cruiser SB neonicotinoid dressed seed on sugar beet in the UK in spring 2021; what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) bees, (b) birds and mammals and (c) aquatic organisms of that neonicotinoid; and whether he asked for the advice of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides on the use of that neonicotinoid.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	128922
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2020 answer text <p>Article 53 of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 allows countries, under certain circumstances, to consider authorising the use of a plant protection product for a period not exceeding 120 days, for a limited and controlled use where such a measure is necessary because of a danger which cannot be contained by any other means.</p><p> </p><p>An application has recently been made under this legislation for an emergency authorisation for Cruiser SB as a seed treatment for use on sugar beet. As is normal for emergency authorisation applications, a full assessment, including an assessment of environmental risks, has been carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and advice has been sought from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. A decision will be taken by Ministers shortly.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 22/12/2020 17:16:06 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1270923

registered interest
date	14/12/2020
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	Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids
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 discussions his Department has had with the National Farmers Union on the use of Cruiser SB neonicotinoid dressed seed on sugar beet in the UK in spring 2021.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	128923
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2020 answer text <p>Defra meets regularly with the National Farmers Union, as we do with other major stakeholders. These meetings cover topics of current interest including, on occasion, issues faced by sugar beet growers. This is separate from the documented regulatory process of assessment and decision-making, led by the Health and Safety Executive, for the application for an emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 22/12/2020 17:21:14 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1271034

registered interest
date	14/12/2020
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	Safari Club International: Animal Products
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has received information on the decision by Facebook and Twitter to ban social media platforms financed by Safari Club International on the grounds that they were seeking to influence the outcome of his Department’s consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies; whether he plans to take steps to ensure that that consultation process has not been compromised; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	128924
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2020 answer text <p>My department is aware of the action taken by some social media platforms relating to the spread of misinformation in respect to trophy hunting. Trophy hunting is a topic that provokes strong views, reflected by the fact we received a large number of responses from members of the public and stakeholders. Our consultation and call for evidence process is robust and Defra follows best practice guidelines. We have considered all views expressed and evidence submitted in response to the consultation and call for evidence and we have no reason to suspect the process has been compromised. We will respond to the consultation and outline the next steps as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 22/12/2020 17:05:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1259648

registered interest
date	09/12/2020
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	Tree Planting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 enable the Forestry Commission to reverse a decision on a tree planting project (a) that has been made incorrectly and (b) where previously withheld evidence has come to light; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	127516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2020 answer text <p>The Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 do not provide for Opinions or Assessments made by the Forestry Commissioners to be amended or repealed.</p><p> </p><p>A proposer’s application for a relevant forestry project to the Forestry Commissioners for their Opinion, or the proposer’s Notification of the project, once assessed, may result in a decision that consent under the regulations is not required. This decision is based on evaluating all the evidence available at the time.</p><p> </p><p>Where an assessment of a relevant forestry project results in a decision that consent under the regulations is required the applicant must provide an Environmental Statement before the project is determined.</p><p> </p><p>An applicant for consent may appeal the decision where consent has been refused or additional conditions have been imposed. Anyone aggrieved by the granting of consent can make an application to the High Court to have the consent quashed in specific circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>To help ensure that all relevant evidence is available when decisions are made on tree planting projects, the Forestry Commission has recently published a new Priority Habitat Identification Booklet, which makes clear the onus on developers of woodland creation proposals to identify priority habitats, is training staff on this, and is appointing three new ecologists who will help to ensure that biodiversity interests are identified. Natural England is also working with the Botanical Society of the British Isles and the Woodland Trust on a method which uses more up-to-date and comprehensive plant data to identify high-quality habitats to inform woodland planning decisions.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/12/2020 15:28:15 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1259425

registered interest
date	08/12/2020
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	Tree Planting: Environment Protection
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 role (a) his Department (b) the Forestry Commission (c) Natural England (d) any other relevant bodies play in ensuring (a) deep peat and (b) other valuable wildlife habitats are not damaged by tree planting.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	126815
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission is the lead department for the approval of woodland creation projects. It assesses forestry projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment Forestry Regulations to determine if they require consent under these regulations. Forestry Commission’s approval of forestry schemes is underpinned by the UK Forestry Standard. This states that there will be no new afforestation on peat that is deeper than 50cm and that the minimum amount of soil disturbance should be made during cultivation and site preparation for tree planting, particularly on organic rich soils. There is also a presumption against woodland creation on priority non-woodland habitat because of the value of those non-woodland habitats in their own right.</p><p> </p><p>Woodland creation schemes above a certain threshold assessed by the Forestry Commission also require applicants to gather evidence as part of scheme development from relevant environmental bodies, such as Natural England and Wildlife Trusts. These organisations can consider proposals against their own knowledge and data sets. As the statutory nature conservation adviser, Natural England provides expert ecological advice to Forestry Commission on the likely significance of impacts associated with woodland creation affecting Protected Sites and on priority habitats and species, including those dependent on peatlands. The Forestry Commission also places all woodland creation schemes on their ‘Public Register’ which offers interested parties an opportunity to identify special features such as important habitats that may not have been identified at any previous point in the approval process.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/12/2020 15:28:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1259426

registered interest
date	08/12/2020
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	Forests: Environment Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons Natural England has the power under the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations to require a site to be restored if environmental damage has been caused by agricultural expansion but the Forestry Commission does not have that power if environmental damage is caused by forestry expansion.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	126816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission does have powers under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Forestry Regulations to require site restoration in cases where activities that required consent have been undertaken without the required consent.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/12/2020 15:25:07 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1259427

registered interest
date	08/12/2020
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	Forestry Commission: Geographical Information Systems
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 he will make an assessment of the adequacy of Forestry Commission’s Forester GIS online mapping system to identify areas of non-designated but high wildlife, habitat or environmental value when assessing applications for tree planting.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	126817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission (FC) is working with Natural England to ensure that those proposing forestry projects such as woodland creation do have access to the appropriate environmental data to help inform their proposals. The FC’s online map browser and Land Information Search (LIS) focusses on data more relevant to forestry activity, whereas the Defra Multi Agency Geographic Information [for the] Countryside (MAGIC) is a more general rural environment Geographic Information System portal. The FC’s map browser and LIS is currently being reviewed to ensure that it is able to access as many of the relevant publicly available datasets as possible, particularly those related to soils, valuable habitats and important wildlife populations.</p><p> </p><p>The FC is also working with other bodies across Defra to provide new data on issues that regularly affect forestry projects and woodland activity, such as on water catchments.</p><p> </p><p>Geographical Information datasets can only ever be indicative. There is no substitute for field visits and assessments of extant biodiversity interests by qualified ecologists. To that end, the FC has published a new priority habitat identification booklet and is appointing additional ecologists.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England are currently working with key data holders, including the Botanical Society of the British Isles, on methods to ensure important natural habitats are better identified and protected. They are also working with the FC to ensure all future woodland creation applications are subject to the necessary scrutiny.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/12/2020 15:32:34 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas