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1639472

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Solar Events
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the reasonable worst case scenario for a solar flare; and what consideration they have given to (1) the Carrington Event of 1859, and (2) the coronal mass ejection of 12 March 2023.
tabling member printed	Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
uin	HL7991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2023 answer text <p>The National Security Risk Assessment includes the reasonable worst case scenario assessing the impacts of severe space weather phenomena, such as solar flares, on essential services. This was updated in 2022 and reflects the latest scientific and engineering knowledge, including appropriate historical data from the Carrington Event.</p><p>Met Office modelling suggests that the coronal mass ejection of 12 March 2023 erupted from the far-side of the Sun travelling away from the Earth, at a similar speed to the Carrington event of 1859.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/06/2023 16:44:12 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	56 label Biography information for Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom

1639473

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Agriculture: Land Use
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many acres of agricultural land which were previously being farmed were given over to solar farms in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, (3) 2020, (4) 2021, and (5) 2022.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
uin	HL7992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2023 answer text <p>Defra has previously published statistics for the amounts of land changing use during individual years from 2013 to 14 through to 2017 to 2018. The Department intends to provisionally publish similar figures for the three year period 2019 to 2022 using a revised methodology during June or July 2023, however, the figures are not detailed enough to provide the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has made an assessment of the UK’s food security as a whole. In the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021" target="_blank">UK Food Security Report</a> was published in December 2021. It considers the UK's food supply sources overall, noting that domestic production and diversity of supply are both important to our food security. In general, we produce 61% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 20 years.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to solar farms specifically, protecting our environment, backing British farmers and delivering long-term energy security with more renewables is at the heart of HM Government’s manifesto. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out clearly that local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, when making plans or taking decisions on new development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. Solar and farming can be complementary, supporting each other financially, environmentally and through shared use of land. We consider that meeting energy security and climate change goals is urgent and of critical importance to the country, and that these goals can be achieved together with maintaining food security for the UK. We encourage deployment of solar technology that delivers environmental benefits, with consideration for ongoing food production or environmental improvement.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL7993 question first answered 06/06/2023 15:23:29 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1639474

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Agriculture: Land Use
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 impact on UK food security of giving over farm land to solar farms.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
uin	HL7993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2023 answer text <p>Defra has previously published statistics for the amounts of land changing use during individual years from 2013 to 14 through to 2017 to 2018. The Department intends to provisionally publish similar figures for the three year period 2019 to 2022 using a revised methodology during June or July 2023, however, the figures are not detailed enough to provide the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has made an assessment of the UK’s food security as a whole. In the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021" target="_blank">UK Food Security Report</a> was published in December 2021. It considers the UK's food supply sources overall, noting that domestic production and diversity of supply are both important to our food security. In general, we produce 61% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 20 years.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to solar farms specifically, protecting our environment, backing British farmers and delivering long-term energy security with more renewables is at the heart of HM Government’s manifesto. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out clearly that local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, when making plans or taking decisions on new development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. Solar and farming can be complementary, supporting each other financially, environmentally and through shared use of land. We consider that meeting energy security and climate change goals is urgent and of critical importance to the country, and that these goals can be achieved together with maintaining food security for the UK. We encourage deployment of solar technology that delivers environmental benefits, with consideration for ongoing food production or environmental improvement.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL7992 question first answered 06/06/2023 15:23:29 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1639475

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Agriculture: Land Use
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many acres of agricultural land which were previously being farmed were set aside for rewilding in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, (3) 2020, (4) 2021, and (5) 2022.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
uin	HL7994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2023 answer text <p>The Government does not instruct farmers to ‘set aside’ land for rewilding. We are phasing out subsidies so that we can invest the money in policies that work for farm businesses, food production and the environment. We are co-designing our reforms with farmers and, as we said in the Agricultural Transition Plan, the intention of our environmental land management schemes is to be flexible and to provide more choice and control to farmers.</p><p> </p><p>The government is supporting a number of initiatives to create wilder landscapes across England, as part of a broader approach to nature recovery. However, rewilding is not appropriate in all situations, and we must balance priorities including food production.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/05/2023 15:09:01 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1639476

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Agriculture: Land Use
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 number of acres of Grade 4 agricultural land that could be used for planting trees; and what consideration they have given to providing incentives to owners to use such land for that purpose.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
uin	HL7995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2023 answer text <p>Forestry is a devolved matter and so unless otherwise stated this answer relates to England only. Our analysis has shown there are over three million hectares of low-risk land available for woodland creation. This analysis has identified areas of low sensitivity for woodland creation – areas which have few or no known constraints for new woodlands, excluding protected landscapes and priority habitats, amongst other sensitivities. This analysis includes grade 4 agricultural land but does not separate it from other sensitivities as woodland creation needs to be considered in its context. We are providing new and innovative incentives like the England Woodland Creation Offer to help land managers make woodlands part of their business where this is appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>Agriculture remains the largest land use in the UK, with an estimated 77% of the total area of the UK used for agricultural purposes, and therefore has substantial potential to contribute to the UK’s tree planting goals, by converting marginal or unproductive land into new woodland without taking good agricultural land out of use.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/05/2023 15:11:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1639477

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Agriculture: Land Use
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 potential for using Grade 5 agricultural land for carbon capture.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
uin	HL7996
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2023 answer text <p>Agriculture remains the largest land use in the UK, with an estimated 77% of the total area of the UK used for agricultural purposes, and therefore has substantial potential to contribute to the UK’s tree planting goals, by converting marginal or unproductive land into new woodland without taking good agricultural land out of use.</p><p>In the Government Food Strategy we committed to publish a Land Use Framework for England in 2023, which will help to inform how we manage trade-offs and tensions on the land. The Framework will support the delivery of resilient, multifunctional landscapes, which will be dependent on the local context and needs.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/05/2023 15:02:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1639478

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Raw Materials: Planning Permission
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the British Geological Survey, Potential for Critical Raw Material Prospectivity in the UK, published on 17 April, which identified potentially strategically important deposits throughout the UK; and what assessment they have made of the ability of local planning authorities to process related planning applications efficiently.
tabling member printed	Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
uin	HL7997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>'Potential for Critical Raw Material Prospectivity in the UK' was a study undertaken by the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, a programme sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by the British Geological Survey. This report delivers on the Critical Minerals Strategy's commitment to collate geoscientific data and identify target areas of potential for critical minerals within the UK. It is a preliminary assessment, and its findings do not mean that the prospective areas identified will necessarily be targeted for exploration and mining. The Government is working with the British Geological Survey to understand next steps.</p><p>The Government recognises that many local planning authorities are facing capacity and capability challenges. To make sure that local planning authorities are able to deliver an effective planning service and our proposed reforms we are developing a programme of support, working with partners across the planning sector. The capacity and capability programme will seek to provide the direct support that is needed now, deliver training opportunities for existing planners, and further develop the future pipeline into the profession. In addition, we recently consulted on proposals to increase planning fees by 35% for major applications and 25% for all other applications to increase resourcing and improve the performance of local planning authorities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 05/06/2023 10:50:15 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	4969 label Biography information for Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

1639479

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Property Development: Planning Permission
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time taken for planning decisions to be made for significant development projects.
tabling member printed	Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
uin	HL7998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The available information shows that, during the five quarters from 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2022, local planning authorities made 53 decisions on major public service infrastructure developments. Of these, 46 were decided on time: eight within ten weeks and 38 within the period agreed within a performance agreement.</p><p>Figures for the available quarters are available in the PS2 CSV open data file <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics#open-data-tables-and-supporting-documents" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook grouped question UIN HL7999 question first answered 05/06/2023 10:50:57 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook attachment 1 file name PS2_data_-_last_four_quarters_open_data_table.xlsx title Figures for available quarters
tabling member	4969 label Biography information for Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

1639480

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Property Development: Planning Permission
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time taken from referral to the beginning of a planning application for significant development projects.
tabling member printed	Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
uin	HL7999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The available information shows that, during the five quarters from 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2022, local planning authorities made 53 decisions on major public service infrastructure developments. Of these, 46 were decided on time: eight within ten weeks and 38 within the period agreed within a performance agreement.</p><p>Figures for the available quarters are available in the PS2 CSV open data file <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics#open-data-tables-and-supporting-documents" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook grouped question UIN HL7998 question first answered 05/06/2023 10:50:57 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook attachment 1 file name PS2_data_-_last_four_quarters_open_data_table.xlsx title Figures for available quarters
tabling member	4969 label Biography information for Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

1639482

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Health: Screening
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what was the uptake of the NHS Health Check in each of the past five years; and how often patients are being checked under that programme on average.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hodgson of Abinger
uin	HL8001
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The proportion of people taking up the offer of an NHS Health Check between April 2017 and March 2018 was 47.9%, April 2018 and March 2019 was 45.9%, April 2019 and March 2020 was 43.7%%, April 2020 and March 2021 was 39% and April 2021 to March 2022 was 40.5%.</p><p>Individuals aged between 40 to 74 are eligible for an NHS Health Check every five years however the Department does not collect data on individual patients. Patients' mobility is not monitored as part of the NHS Health Check.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL8004 question first answered 31/05/2023 11:43:40 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4301 label Biography information for Baroness Hodgson of Abinger