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1715704

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
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	Import Controls: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what instructions, if any, they have issued to (1) environmental health officers, and (2) other relevant officers, as to the future charging for port inspections on goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (a) in general, and (b) when the goods fail the inspection.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hoey
uin	HL4332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2024 answer text <p>On 31 January 2024, the Government published the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper. It set out proposals for a new UK internal market system, ensuring a permanent, smooth flow of goods within the UK’s internal market.</p><p> </p><p>Under this new system, there will be no checks on goods moving within the UK internal market system. Checks will only be conducted as part of a risk or intelligence-led approach to tackle issues like criminality, abuse of the system, smuggling and disease risks.</p><p> </p><p>Following the agreement of the Windsor Framework, the Border Target Operating Model sets out new arrangements for Irish goods and non-qualifying goods moving directly from the island of Ireland to GB from 31 January 2024. Physical checks on goods arriving at West Coast ports will not begin before Spring 2025.</p><p> </p><p>We will begin phasing in checks and controls for non-qualifying goods moving from the island of Ireland, while ensuring that Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods continue to have unfettered access to the GB market, whether those goods are moving directly from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or moving to Great Britain from Northern Ireland via Ireland.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 15/05/2024 10:55:36 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

1715734

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
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	Veterinary Medicine: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had, or intend to have, discussions with the EU regarding the implementation of a post-Brexit agreement on the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4366
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to securing a long-term sustainable solution ahead of December 2025 that will properly support the flow of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland from Great Britain on an enduring basis. We are determined to safeguard the supply of veterinary medicines, and we will pursue technical discussions with the EU to find a solution that removes barriers to supply; in return we are willing to provide assurances and safeguards to the EU. The Veterinary Medicines Working Group, including experts, industry representatives and elected representatives, will report back to Government on steps needed to secure supplies for the long term.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 13/05/2024 11:25:58 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1715737

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
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	Animal Welfare
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they will specify the relevant activities which will be proscribed under legislation to enable compliance with, and enforcement of, the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
tabling member printed	Lord Trees
uin	HL4369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2024 answer text <p>The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.</p><p> </p><p>Future decisions on which specific animal activities will fall in scope of the advertising ban will be evidence-based and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. Sufficient, compelling evidence will be required to demonstrate why any specific advertising ban is needed.</p><p> </p><p>This Government continues to make animal welfare a priority and we are currently exploring a number of options to ensure progress as soon as is practicable<em>.</em></p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 10/05/2024 10:05:07 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4260 label Biography information for Lord Trees

1715409

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what record they have of the annual financial cost of the badger culls in England over the past five years, and when a written value for money analysis of that cost was last undertaken.
tabling member printed	Lord Banner
uin	HL4262
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2024 answer text <p>The cost of undertaking badger culling is paid for by industry. The Government pays for the licensing operation and monitoring, as well as the cost of policing culls.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the Government badger control costs for 2022 and previous years is available at GOV.UK. The Government badger control costs for 2023 will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent value for money analysis of the badger control policy was published on 28 October 2022. This can be found attached to this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 10/05/2024 12:55:23 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name Badger control policy value for money analysis 2022.pdf title Badger control VFM analysis 2022
tabling member	5014 label Biography information for Lord Banner

1715438

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
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	Deep Sea Mining: Environment Protection
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish any reports from their newly launched environmental science network focusing on deep-sea mining, DSM Environmental Network.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL4299
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2024 answer text <p>On 19 February, we opened the new UK Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) Environmental Science Network to applications. The aims of the network are to recognise and promote the extensive and world-renowned UK expertise in environmental and natural science related to DSM. The Network will not be responsible for developing policy or providing advice or recommendations to the Government or Ministers. Rather, it will help fill the current evidence gaps on the environmental impact of DSM, coordinate research effectively and strategically, make sure UK research is included in the global environmental evidence base for DSM, and encourage conversations between the Government and the scientific community to raise awareness and coordination between DSM science and policy environmental issues.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 10/05/2024 12:54:50 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1715061

registered interest
date	30/04/2024
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	Agriculture: Plastics
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 use of oxo-degradable film, which breaks down into microplastics in the soil, in farming, given that the EU only permits biodegradable film, which breaks down into carbon dioxide and water.
tabling member printed	Lord Shipley
uin	HL4242
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>Healthy soil underpins a range of ecosystem services including food production, biodiversity, carbon storage and flood risk mitigation. Addressing contaminants in soil, including microplastic pollution, is vital for protecting and improving soil health. We are working to build an understanding of the impact of microplastics to soil and to develop mitigation capabilities.</p><p> </p><p>The plastic problem is one of management not eradication, to reduce, reuse, and recycle the material we have and not let it escape into, and damage, our environment. We have focused our efforts in tackling the most commonly used and littered plastic items, but we are aware of concerns with the use of agri-plastics too, particularly with single-use types such as mulch films.</p><p> </p><p>We are concerned about the potential for oxo-degradable plastic to release microplastics. In 2021, we published our response to a call for evidence which also covered oxo-degradable plastics. Most respondents objected to their use and supported introducing a ban. A review by the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC) showed there is no environmental benefit to oxo-degradable plastic, and they are likely to be harmful when released into the environment. This year, Defra has commissioned a second HSAC review and are minded to introduce a ban on this material pending evidence from the review.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government continues to take a cautious approach to biodegradable plastics. The UK standard for biodegradable plastics (EN13432) allows for contaminants in the final output: “no more than 10% contaminants to pass through a 2mm sieve”. This means that microplastics less than 2mm could be produced by a biodegradable plastic mulch film that meets the standard and be spread to land. Additionally, while we are not aware of any biodegradable plastic that can reach levels of 100% biodegradation, evidence used to inform the European Union’s legislation around biodegradable plastics in agricultural applications may not apply to the UK. The UK has differing conditions, such as temperatures and humidity levels, which affect biodegradability.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to review the evidence around both types of plastic to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary and harmful single-use plastics.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 20/05/2024 13:54:20 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4176 label Biography information for Lord Shipley

1715068

registered interest
date	30/04/2024
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	Food: Prices
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken a risk assessment of the impact of import controls on food prices; and whether they are taking any steps to mitigate any inflationary pressures on consumers.
tabling member printed	Viscount Waverley
uin	HL4252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>We have introduced controls which are more proportionate to risk, with low-risk animal products not requiring certification or checks at the border by default. This approach will apply to all our trading partners, meaning a direct removal of burdens for certain Rest of World importers.</p><p> </p><p>Compared with the import model that was originally scheduled to have been introduced in July 2022, we believe that this new model will reduce costs to businesses by around £500 million per annum by reducing the complexity and volume of paperwork associated with importing.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) has been undertaken through a peer-reviewed econometric model.</p><p> </p><p>For consumers, the implementation of the BTOM should have minimal impact on food price inflation. Initial analysis has indicated that the policies introduced under the BTOM would lead to an approximate increase in consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2 percentage points over a three-year period.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 20/05/2024 15:18:41 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1744 label Biography information for Viscount Waverley

1715070

registered interest
date	30/04/2024
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	Food Supply
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 and address any disruptions in the flow of essential food and agricultural products resulting from the introduction of import controls, particularly in the event of unforeseen logistical challenges.
tabling member printed	Viscount Waverley
uin	HL4254
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>We have introduced controls which are more proportionate to risk and worked with port and airport operators, traders, Port Health Authorities (PHAs) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to make sure we have the right infrastructure, systems and resources in place.</p><p> </p><p>This has culminated in recent months with an extensive period of operational testing. Collaborating with several ports, PHAs, APHA and traders, we have used these tests to ensure that stakeholders are prepared for the new controls.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is confident that existing and new Border Control Posts infrastructure will have sufficient capacity and capability to handle the volume of expected checks outlined in the Border Target Operating Model, with robust, dynamic and effective operational measures ready to call upon if needed.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 20/05/2024 15:12:41 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1744 label Biography information for Viscount Waverley

1714622

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Darwin Plus: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to continue financing Darwin Plus at £10 million per year after the current commitment ends in 2025.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL4173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2024 answer text <p>Running since 2012, the Darwin Plus programme has invested over £55 million in more than 320 projects across the UK Overseas Territories. The UK Government has recently expanded the Darwin Plus programme to better meet the needs of the UK Overseas Territories. In 2023, Darwin Plus introduced a new local scheme aimed at building capacity, and a new strategic scheme for fostering great innovation, ambition and collaboration in and between territories, both of which are now funding live projects.</p><p> </p><p>Post March 2025, Darwin Plus funding will be subject to outcomes of the next Spending Review.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 08/05/2024 13:47:09 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1714675

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Non-native Species
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are monitoring the spread of non-native flatworms in the UK, particularly the New Zealand flatworm; what assessment they have made of any recent increases in the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK; and what steps they are taking (1) to combat the spread of non-native flatworms, and (2) to advise the public.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL4160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>No recent assessment has been made of the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK. While some data on New Zealand flatworms (<em>Arthurdendyus triangulates</em>) is collected this is not sufficiently systematic to support a full assessment.</p><p> </p><p>We encourage the public to submit sightings with photographs to iRecord (which can be found at irecord.org.uk) such that the species can be accurately identified. The record is then uploaded to the biological records centre and will improve our understanding of the distribution of the species.</p><p> </p><p>We have developed a <a href="https://www.nonnativespecies.org/biosecurity/pathway-action-plans/horticulture-pap-for-great-britain/" target="_blank">Horticulture Pathway Action Plan</a> (PAP) (copy attached) which aims to prevent and manage the risk posed by species such as the New Zealand flatworm using measures such as raising public awareness, minimizing the contamination of goods, commodities, vehicles and equipment by invasive non-native species, and ensuring appropriate border checks. An action within this document specific to flatworms is to establish a task-and-finish group to review existing guidance and develop new guidance on flatworms. We are due to consult on the PAPs later this year, and following the conclusion of that exercise, the actions such as this one in the PAPs will commence.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Invasive Species Week is coming up and will take place from the 20th to 26th May 2024. This is an annual week of awareness raising and events to help prevent the spread, and reduce the harmful impacts, of invasive non-native plants and animals.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 02/05/2024 13:33:21 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name HL4160 attachment.pdf title Horticulture Pathway Action Plan
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian