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1487685

registered interest
date	08/07/2022
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	Flood Control: Housing and Roads
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis, if any, of storm water from (1) the roofs of houses, and (2) highways, they have undertaken to establish whether such water can be discharged safely into (a) water courses, and (b) the sea.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1604
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2022 answer text <p>In July 2021, the Environment Agency (EA) produced <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment/the-state-of-the-environment-the-urban-environment" target="_blank">The State of the Environment: The Urban Environment report</a> (www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment/the-state-of-the-environment-the-urban-environment), which includes an overview of the impact of urban and highways surface water run-off in England. Run off from roofs and roads has historically been considered suitable for discharge to watercourses with the overriding driver being efficient drainage to maintain highway safety, but increasingly the impact of this run-off is being better understood, particularly in inland watercourses. There is little risk to the sea because of ample dilution.</p><p> </p><p>National Highways continue to work with the EA to better understand pollutants in road runoff and effective treatment strategies. There is ongoing work to better understand the contribution from the Strategic Road Network (SRN) to micro plastic pollution and to build on earlier research to investigate the presence of other contaminates of potential concern not previously monitored.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 26/07/2022 14:55:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1487686

registered interest
date	08/07/2022
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	Flood Control: Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they (1) are taking, and (2) plan to take, to encourage households to (a) store, and (b) provide soakaways for, rainwater; and what assessment they have made of incentivising the adoption of such practices through reductions in (i) council tax, or (ii) water and drainage fixed rates.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2022 answer text <p>We support the use of blue green infrastructure, such as sustainable drainage systems and grey water recycling to manage surface water, across existing and new communities. We have placed a greater emphasis on this in our 25 Year Environment Plan, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy Statement and updated planning policy.</p><p>We are currently reviewing the implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). This schedule introduces standards for new sustainable drainage systems and makes connection to public sewers conditional on approval of the drainage system before any construction work can commence. National standards will set out a hierarchy of destinations for surface water runoff to ensure the most effective drainage system is delivered that will help alleviate pressures on the sewer network, as well as reducing flood risk, harvesting rainwater and improving water quality, amenity and biodiversity.</p><p>As set out in our <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fquestions-statements.parliament.uk%2Fwritten-statements%2Fdetail%2F2021-07-01%2Fhcws140&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C543aa2e2f0b24357ee0408da6bbcaa2b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637940755293978692%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hHQN1aYIxbNiaB4jbEqslW22eMpli3A6AGo0KiQsaqM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Written Ministerial Statement on Water Demand in July 2021</a>, we are developing a roadmap towards greater water efficiency in new housing developments and retrofits. This includes the exploration of revised building regulations and how the development of new technologies can contribute to meeting these standards. We will ensure that the underlying legislation can, where appropriate, accommodate any potential future expansion of rainwater harvesting, water re-use and storage options.</p><p>Households who can show that their premises are not connected to the public sewer for surface water drainage are already entitled to a bill discount via a surface water drainage rebate from their water company.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 22/07/2022 13:25:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1452382

registered interest
date	17/03/2022
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 Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking towards securing a UNEA resolution for a treaty on plastic pollution; what timetable they are working to; and how they will monitor the effectiveness of any such treaty.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL7068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2022 answer text <p>The UK is proud to have supported the proposal by Rwanda and Peru that led to the ambitious resolution on ending plastic pollution agreed at the continuation of the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022.</p><p>As laid out in the adopted resolution, a series of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings will be held to negotiate the content of the treaty. The first meeting is due to take place in the second half of 2022 with the aim of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024.</p><p> </p><p>An Open-Ended Working Group meeting is scheduled for the first half of 2022, where the INC’s programme of work will be discussed.</p><p> </p><p>The introduction of any monitoring mechanisms, including on monitoring the effectiveness of the treaty, will be negotiated by the INC.</p><p> </p><p>At UNEA 5, the UK announced it had joined the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution as a founding member to drive a comprehensive and effective new treaty.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 31/03/2022 12:42:12 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1366290

registered interest
date	04/11/2021
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	Plastics: Seas and Oceans
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to remove masses of plastic from the oceans.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL3729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2021 answer text <p>Plastic pollution in the ocean is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today, with estimates suggesting that around 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, a figure that is predicted to increase three-fold between 2016 and 2040. This is why there is an immediate need to better manage plastic waste and prevent plastic pollution from entering ocean in the first place.</p><p> </p><p>Domestically, the UK supports the Fishing for Litter scheme, a voluntary, unpaid litter bycatch removal scheme by commercial fishermen, run by Komunernes International Miljøorganisation (KIMO), which provides fishing boats with bags to dispose of marine-sourced litter collected during normal fishing operations and the development of similar local schemes. In 2019, we changed marine licensing measures to make it easier for divers to recover marine litter, including abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. We also support and endorse national clean up campaigns such as the Great British Beach Clean, and the UK Government funds the Marine Conservation Society to record litter from sections of our coasts which helps us monitor the levels and trends of plastic pollution across several years. This data is used in combination with other monitoring data to inform our decisions about how to tackle marine litter.</p><p>Additionally, our 25 Year Environment Plan establishes our target of reducing all forms of marine plastic pollution where possible, and our Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how we will achieve this, including through consulting on measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for fishing gear by 2022 to ensure that fishing gear that is no longer fit for purpose is disposed of correctly and is prevented from polluting the ocean.</p><p> </p><p>Internationally, the UK has supported the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) since 2018. GPAP brings together world leaders, decision-makers and industry to take collaborative action on tackling plastic pollution in developing countries. The UK are active members of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI): a pioneering alliance of the fishing industry, private companies, NGOs and Governments working to solve the global problem of ghost fishing gear. The UK also launched the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance in 2018, along with our co-chair Vanuatu, to reduce marine plastic pollution. Since its launch, 34 Commonwealth member states have united to take action on tackling plastic pollution.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the UK has co-sponsored a resolution to start negotiations for a new internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution at the United Nations Environment Assembly. A new international instrument would build upon the important work we are doing to tackle marine litter both domestically and internationally and support our commitments to reduce additional plastic pollution in the ocean to zero.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 18/11/2021 14:28:49 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1358961

registered interest
date	13/10/2021
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	Palm Oil: Production
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 12 October (HL2433), how they assess the impact on global climate of converting existing (1) high forest, or (2) rain forest, to palm oil plantations, in particular if this is done over large acreages; and, in any such assessments, whether they have found a significant impact on biodiversity.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL3060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2021 answer text <p>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate and Land Use (2019) reports that agriculture, forestry and other land use accounted for 23% of total net emissions of greenhouse gases from 2007-16 caused by human activity, with deforestation alone accounting for half of this. This provides the best available estimate of the impact on greenhouse gas emissions from converting existing forests.</p><p>The UK does not directly assess the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of converting forest to palm oil plantations, though several of our programmes aim to minimise their impact. This includes the Partnerships for Forests programme.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 28/10/2021 11:31:18 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1358894

registered interest
date	12/10/2021
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	Waste Disposal
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) prosecutions, and (2) convictions, have been obtained in each of the last five years for discharging (a) general garbage, (b) plastic materials, and (c) fishing nets, into natural waters in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL3016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. In December 2018, we published the Resources and Waste Strategy, which sets out how we want to achieve this and move towards a circular economy while stamping out waste crime. We also committed in the Strategy to consult on measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility for fishing gear.</p><p>The number of prosecutions and convictions on discharging (a) general garbage, (b) plastic materials, and (c) fishing nets, into natural waters in England are not centrally held in the court proceedings database as these specific offences are not separately defined in legislation. Identifying prosecutions and convictions for such actions would require a manual search of court records, which would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 it is an offence to litter or to knowingly cause or permit the unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste.</p><p>Published figures for prosecutions and convictions for these offences are available in the Home Office code principal offence tool at <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987731/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2020.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987731/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2020.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>It is important to note that these numbers include all prosecutions and convictions that fall within each offence category, beyond those specifically requested and beyond just natural waterways.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also publishes annual statistics for fly-tipping, which include enforcement actions. These are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a></p><p> </p><p>Under the Merchant Shipping Regulations on the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (2020), the discharge of all garbage into the sea is prohibited with very limited exceptions. In all cases the discharge of plastic is prohibited. These regulations bring the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (MARPOL Annex V) into UK law. No data has yet been collected for these regulations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 26/10/2021 14:50:21 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1354409

registered interest
date	09/09/2021
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	Insects: Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of amendment 53 to the Environment Bill at report stage in the House of Lords regarding the diversity of insect life and pollination.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2021 answer text <p>Decisions on pesticide authorisation are based on expert assessment by the Health and Safety Executive. The independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides advises on novel scientific issues. Current legislation already requires that active substances and pesticide products have “no unacceptable effects on the environment … having particular regard to its impact on non-target species”, which can include impacts on bees and other pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The scientific risk assessment relies on detailed data requirements and processes, carried across from EU law at the end of the transition period. The Government will ensure that these are updated to keep in step with developments in scientific understanding. Risk assessments made for active substances are already subject to public consultation. These assessments establish the key risks posed by pesticide substances in representative conditions of use.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting pollinators is a priority. The National Pollinator Strategy, developed and updated alongside many partners following thorough scientific review, identifies pressures on pollinators on which we are acting, including potential harm from pesticide use, habitat loss and fragmentation, and invasive species.</p><p> </p><p>We continue making decisions on pesticides use based on scientific risk assessments, while aiming to achieve high levels of protection for people, wildlife, and the environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL2540 question first answered 27/09/2021 13:19:17 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1354104

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
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: Pollinators
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of House of Lords report stage amendment 53 to the Environment Bill, which would insert a clause on the protection of pollinators from pesticides.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2021 answer text <p>Decisions on pesticide authorisation are based on expert assessment by the Health and Safety Executive. The independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides advises on novel scientific issues. Current legislation already requires that active substances and pesticide products have “no unacceptable effects on the environment … having particular regard to its impact on non-target species”, which can include impacts on bees and other pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The scientific risk assessment relies on detailed data requirements and processes, carried across from EU law at the end of the transition period. The Government will ensure that these are updated to keep in step with developments in scientific understanding. Risk assessments made for active substances are already subject to public consultation. These assessments establish the key risks posed by pesticide substances in representative conditions of use.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting pollinators is a priority. The National Pollinator Strategy, developed and updated alongside many partners following thorough scientific review, identifies pressures on pollinators on which we are acting, including potential harm from pesticide use, habitat loss and fragmentation, and invasive species.</p><p> </p><p>We continue making decisions on pesticides use based on scientific risk assessments, while aiming to achieve high levels of protection for people, wildlife, and the environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL2577 question first answered 27/09/2021 13:19:17 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1353162

registered interest
date	06/09/2021
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	Palm Oil: Production
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their analysis of the impact of palm-oil production on (1) indigenous small farmers, (2) global climate, (3) food manufacturing, and (4) consumer diets and health.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2021 answer text <p>To inform our policies on palm oil, the Government draws on the analysis of experts and NGOs, as well as working with the UK roundtable on sustainable palm oil, and the work of certification schemes like Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. In addition, we utilise government programming like Partnerships for Forests and the independent Global Resource Initiative to help inform policies on palm oil and on supply chains more widely.</p><p> </p><p>This analysis has indicated that palm oil can be associated with negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation, land conversion and associated climate impacts. However, it also shows that oil palm is a very efficient crop, producing more oil per hectare than other vegetable oil crops. Substitution with other oils (e.g. soybean, rapeseed, sunflower), which typically require significantly more land to produce, may lead to greater deforestation as more land is converted to agricultural use. More than 3 million smallholder farmers make a living from palm oil, providing 40% of total production, and palm oil is important for food security in many countries</p><p> </p><p>Certifiably sustainable palm oil increases traceability and transparency through the supply chain, supporting manufacturers and retail to make more informed decisions about their sourcing, and allowing them to source from producers with a lower environmental footprint. The UK’s Partnership for Forests programme includes support to develop new standards for the sustainable production of palm oil, and support to test new ways of growing oil palm that brings greater benefits to local communities and protects forests.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, palm oil is an important part of food production globally. We want the entire supply chain to help to deliver healthier food and encourage healthy eating. To that end, our Food Strategy White Paper will build on existing policy work such as that developed under the Agriculture Act, and the obesity strategy, to help ensure our food system delivers healthy and affordable food for all people and is built upon a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 12/10/2021 10:48:54 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1343457

registered interest
date	05/07/2021
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	Forests and Peatlands: Conservation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all (1) removal of forest and woodland cover, and (2) peat extraction, is balanced by new or replacement planting.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1697
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2021 answer text <p>The recently published England Trees Action Plan and England Peat Action Plan set out our ambitions to massively increase woodland creation, peatland restoration, and their protection and management in support of Net Zero commitments and nature recovery. This is being kickstarted using the £640m Nature for Climate Fund.</p><p>The Government has a general policy against permanent loss of woodland and tree cover, and the management and felling of trees is managed through the felling licence regime. We have developed the National Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards to help local authorities, developers and communities improve greening provisions in their areas.</p><p>The Government open habitat policy helps balancing conversion of woodland to open habitat and protection of existing woodland, to generate landscapes that provide benefits for people and wildlife for the 21st century.</p><p>There are an estimated 24 extraction licences currently in operation in England and each extraction permission already contains a condition requiring the restoration of the site at the conclusion of the permission to ensure a return over time to as near a natural state as possible. We have taken action to tackle domestic extraction of peat which includes the National Planning Policy Framework, first published in 2012. This ends the granting of licences for peat extraction on new sites or extensions to existing sites and peat extraction in England will therefore end when those remaining licenses expire. Peatland restoration has already begun on some sites.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 19/07/2021 16:37:40 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton