Asked by: Baroness Byford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many farmers are awaiting Countryside Stewardship payments from 2018.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Payments for 2018 Countryside Stewardship claims are underway and 20% of eligible agreement holders have received their advance payment. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is working towards paying 95% of 2018 advance payments by the end of March and will issue bridging payments, in early April, to eligible agreement holders who have not received a payment by the end of March. In addition the RPA is aiming to pay 95% of eligible final payments by the end of July 2019.
The RPA took on administration of Countryside Stewardship in October 2018 and is continuing to simplify the administration of the scheme as far as possible under the current EU system.
Asked by: Baroness Byford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many farmers are awaiting the final payment of their (1) Entry Level Stewardship, and (2) Higher Level Stewardship, for 2017; whether any bridging payments will be paid to such farmers; and if so when.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Over 98% of 2017 advance and over 80% of 2017 final payments have been issued to agreement holders. Recognising the importance of these payments, around £26 million was paid in bridging payments to just over 1,700 eligible agreement holders in September 2018. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is working to complete 95% of final payments by the end of July.
The RPA took on administration of Environmental Stewardship in October 2018 and is continuing to simplify the administration of the scheme as far as possible under the current EU system.
Asked by: Baroness Byford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether pulse fishing techniques are being used within the 6–12 mile zone of UK waters.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government recently announced that EU vessels will no longer be able to carry out electric pulse beam trawl fishing in UK waters after we leave the EU. At EU level, a recent provisional political agreement awaits adoption which will include a phase out period for pulse trawl, culminating in a ban from 1 July 2021.
The Dutch are considering the implications of the EU agreement for their fleet, but it is anticipated upon adoption and coming into force this will mean a drop from around 84 vessels they have authorised to use pulse methods, to an estimated 12 vessels operating with pulse during the phase out period, in line with the 5% of their beam trawl fleet that was originally agreed by Council. There are currently six UK authorisations in place, with three (two English and one Scottish) that actually use pulse fishing, and Defra is working with Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland to review these licenses with a view to withdrawal.
Meanwhile, under the current EU rules, there is a prohibition on beam trawling within the UK 12 mile zone for vessels with engine power of over 220kW, which includes relevant pulse-equipped beam trawl vessels. This applies to other EU Member State and UK beam trawl vessels in that gear category. In addition, under Common Fisheries Policy rules, the Netherlands, the primary exponent of pulse beam trawling, does not have access to use any beam trawl gear within our UK 6-12 mile zone. There are no reports of incursions within our 12 mile zone by Dutch pulse trawl vessels operating in the southern North Sea derogation area.
Asked by: Baroness Byford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include all sizes of plastic bottles in their proposed deposit return scheme.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government has confirmed that it will introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, subject to consultation, aimed at boosting recycling rates and reducing littering.
We are consulting on two options for a DRS relating to size of containers: an ‘all-in’ DRS which would include containers of any size, and an ‘on-the-go’ DRS that would include containers smaller than 750ml. The scope of a DRS, including the size of drinks containers included in such a scheme, will be dependent on the results of the consultation.