Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether either the proposed (1) Nature for Climate Fund or (2) Blue Planet Fund will be open to UK Overseas Territories.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government is committed to supporting the unique biodiversity of the Overseas Territories, which contain over 90% of the UK family’s total endemic species.
A summary of responses to 2019’s call for evidence on safeguarding the environment in the British Overseas Territories will be published shortly. This will be used to inform decisions on future public funding and support, which to date has supported important conservation work in marine, terrestrial and freshwater environments in the Territories. In addition, last year the UK announced an extension to the Blue Belt Programme (BBP) until 2021, with a further £7 million to provide ongoing support for protection of the diverse marine ecosystems present around the Overseas Territories.
The ocean supports the livelihoods of one in every ten people, including some of the poorest and most vulnerable worldwide. Recognising the link between ocean health and its effect on the development prospects of the most disadvantaged communities, this Government will establish a £500 million Blue Planet Fund (BPF).
Financed from the Official Development Assistance Budget, the BPF will help ODA-eligible countries. The fund seeks to protect their marine resources from key human-generated stressors including plastic pollution, overfishing and habitat loss. This new financing will build on the success of the BBP, embracing the wider ocean’s role in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
The scope of the Nature for Climate Fund is under development, but as set out in our manifesto, the Fund will help to drive a step change in tree planting, peatland restoration and nature recovery in England.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trees they estimate were planted in each of the last six quarters for which figures are available in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland; whether this is in line with their commitment to plant 11 million trees in this Parliament; and if not, what steps they will take to meet that target.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
The Government remains committed to planting 11 million trees in this Parliament, 2017 to 2022. Woodland creation is a key activity of our 25 Year Environment Plan.
The Forestry Commission routinely publish statistics on planting rates as part of their Corporate Performance Indicators.
The published figures which report on new planting of woodland in England supported by the Countryside Stewardship, part of the Rural Development programme for England, are based on the area of grant claims approved for payment and are reproduced in the table below:
Period (Quarter) | Woodland Area (hectares) | Tree Numbers |
Jan - Mar 2019 | 69 | 113,000 |
Oct – Dec 2018 | 227 | 366,000 |
July - Sept 2018 | 477 | 748,000 |
April – June 2018 | 245 | 380,000 |
Jan – March 2018 | 99 | 159,000 |
Oct – Dec 2017 | 105 | 181,000 |
Government’s support for this woodland creation has predominantly been from the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further Government support has been through the Environment Agency and National Forest Company.
In the Autumn Budget the Government announced an additional £60 million for tree planting initiatives, comprising £10 million to fund urban tree planting and £50 million for a Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme. This will add to other new planting in the pipeline, supported by the High Speed 2 Woodland Fund, the Woodland Carbon Fund and Government’s kick start investment in the Northern Forest.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an environmental impact assessment of the current dredging of the channel at the Port of Ramsgate; if so, whether, and when, the Environment Agency evaluated and accepted that impact assessment; and when approval was given for the dredging to begin.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Environment Agency was consulted by the Marine Management Organisation on the application from Ramsgate Royal Harbour for the current dredging project at the Port of Ramsgate, on the 10 December 2015.
The application included an environmental impact assessment and the Environment Agency submitted comments on the 22 December 2015.
The Environment Agency accepted the proposal with the condition that material deposited within European Union bathing waters is only deposited outside the European Union bathing season.
The dredging activity does not put at risk the Water Framework Directive, therefore there is not a significant risk to the environment.
Permission was given for the activity by the Marine Management Organisation on the 29 March 2016.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, they will publish a list of the statutory instruments that will be laid subsequent to the passing of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, in order to complete the transfer of EU law covering environmental issues; and which of those statutory instruments will be laid under (1) the negative procedure, and (2) the affirmative procedure.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is still making detailed assessment of what corrections will be required to make that law function appropriately on exit day. Our current assumption is that we will require 26 SIs to be laid in order to complete the transfer of EU law covering environmental issues, 12 of which will require the affirmative procedure.
We are currently not in a position to publish the list of these SIs as it is subject to change. In particular, the SIs rely on powers and procedures set out in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill which is still being considered by Parliament. There will, however, be consultation where appropriate on the detail of the proposed changes.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
Her Majesty's Government which EU-based environmental legislation and regulations will be transposed into UK law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, (1) without change, (2) with minor changes to enable operability, and (3) with substantial changes requiring secondary legislation to ensure operability.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill ensures, so far as possible, that the same rules and laws will apply on the day after exit as on the day before.
All Government Departments are currently reviewing the EU laws that apply in their policy areas and how our withdrawal from the EU will affect the operation of those laws.
Where laws need to be fixed, the Government will ensure this is done. There are decades of EU law to consider, and we must ensure our statute book works on exit and that we provide the maximum possible certainty for individuals and businesses as we leave the EU.
This Government is committed to be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than we inherited it. Leaving the EU means we now have a unique opportunity to design a set of policies to drive environmental improvement with a powerful and permanent impact, tailored to the needs of our country. This will make sure we can create a healthy environment and strong economy – and delivering on our commitment to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which parts of which primary and secondary legislation pertaining to the environment (1) they, (2) the Environment Agency, and (3) Natural England, judge to be unviable to transpose into UK and devolved law through the Great Repeal Bill; and when they will publish a list of that legislation.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is aware of the desire for certainty around what exiting the EU means for our environmental policy and legislative framework. That is why the Prime Minister announced last year our plans for a Great Repeal Bill that will convert current EU law into domestic UK law. Our intention is to ensure a smooth and orderly transition via the Great Repeal Bill.
All Government departments are currently reviewing the EU laws that apply in their policy areas and how our withdrawal from the EU will affect the operation of those laws. Defra has a significant challenge in handling the return of legislative competence from the EU. Over 1100 core pieces of directly applicable EU legislation and national implementing legislation have been identified as Defra-owned. There are some policy areas where this transition may present more challenges than in other areas, for example where functions are currently delivered by EU agencies, systems or resources. However, where laws need to be fixed, the Government will ensure this is done. There are decades of EU law to consider, and we must ensure our statute book works on exit and that we provide the maximum possible stability, without pre-judging future decisions Parliament may make.
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and ensure a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will convert existing European Union law into domestic law, wherever practical.
The Government will bring forward a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill in due course that provides more detail about our approach. We will ensure it is published in time to allow Parliament sufficient time to digest its contents in advance of introduction of the Great Repeal Bill in the next session.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure collaboration across all government departments regarding the implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of pests and diseases affecting trees and woodland.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Protecting our country from plant and tree pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and society and is one of Defra’s strategic priorities.
In 2013 the independent Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce assessed the threat to the health of our plants from pests and diseases and made eight recommendations to strengthen our approach, which were all accepted by Defra. The Plant Biosecurity Strategy sets out our plans to enhance existing risk-based activity and to develop new and innovative approaches such as the now publicly available plant health risk register.
As part of our risk-based approach, agreed management approaches for pests and diseases are periodically reviewed so that we can ensure our responses are appropriate and lessons are learned for the future.
Defra’s spend on plant health policies is now around £30 million per year, which includes policies to protect tree health.
Defra is the lead department for plant and tree health. We published the Tree Health Management Plan in April 2014, setting out priority areas for action and outlining how the Government is working with others to manage tree pests and diseases. We work with other Government departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders from across industry and non-government organisations to address different plant and tree health issues. This work includes a programme of training and awareness-raising about biosecurity risks for other Government Departments and stakeholders such as food retailers.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources are being allocated to prevent the spread of pests and diseases affecting the natural environment, including trees and woodland, and what assessment they have made of whether they are sufficient.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Protecting our country from plant and tree pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and society and is one of Defra’s strategic priorities.
In 2013 the independent Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce assessed the threat to the health of our plants from pests and diseases and made eight recommendations to strengthen our approach, which were all accepted by Defra. The Plant Biosecurity Strategy sets out our plans to enhance existing risk-based activity and to develop new and innovative approaches such as the now publicly available plant health risk register.
As part of our risk-based approach, agreed management approaches for pests and diseases are periodically reviewed so that we can ensure our responses are appropriate and lessons are learned for the future.
Defra’s spend on plant health policies is now around £30 million per year, which includes policies to protect tree health.
Defra is the lead department for plant and tree health. We published the Tree Health Management Plan in April 2014, setting out priority areas for action and outlining how the Government is working with others to manage tree pests and diseases. We work with other Government departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders from across industry and non-government organisations to address different plant and tree health issues. This work includes a programme of training and awareness-raising about biosecurity risks for other Government Departments and stakeholders such as food retailers.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide financial and other support for the management, protection, and expansion of the United Kingdom’s woodland resources.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Defra and the Forestry Commission continue to work with stakeholders to help landowners manage the impacts of pests and diseases at a local level and, if necessary, replace trees with the most appropriate alternative species. This Government has committed over £21.2 million to tree health research.
£31m per year of new Rural Development Programme funding will be spent on forestry, with £13m being spent on woodland management and £18m on new planting. By investing in woodlands, Countryside Stewardship will help us fulfil the Government’s manifesto commitment to plant another 11 million trees by supporting the creation of around 10,000 hectares of new woodland.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to consult stakeholders on the further devolution of forestry, including the cross-border functions and shared services of the Forestry Commission.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK Government, after being approached by Scottish Ministers in June, have agreed that officials will work jointly to consider options for the transfer of Forestry Commissioners’ powers and duties, as they relate to Scotland, to Scottish Ministers.
No decisions have been taken yet and any legislative reforms will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.