Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the danger of Asian hornets becoming established in England; and what steps they are taking, if any, in response.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2011, the GB Non-Native Invasive Species Team conducted a pest risk assessment (copy attached) to assess the dangers of Asian hornets establishing in the UK, following the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on pollinators. The risk of the pest entering the UK and establishing was assessed as very likely and it was suggested that the impacts on honey bees and wild pollinators could be significant.
Following this assessment Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) which outlines what actions will be taken when incursions occur. This Plan has been regularly updated with the most recent version published in January 2023.
We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. Contingency action is delivered on the ground by the National Bee Unit (NBU) – part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. As of 6th September 2023, the NBU have located 37 Asian hornet nests which have been destroyed.
Genetic analyses of hornet and nest samples are done to determine relatedness and assess whether Asian hornets are established in England. Evidence from previous years suggested that all 13 Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 were separate incursions and there is nothing to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. We have not seen any evidence which demonstrates that Asian hornets discovered in England this year were produced by queens that overwintered. More detailed analysis will be done over winter to assess this.
Raising awareness is a key aspect of the response. We ask anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian hornet to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of coastal erosion; and what steps they are taking in response.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The National Coastal Erosion Risk Map, available at data.gov.uk, provides a consistent assessment of coastal erosion risk around England. Between 2021 and 2027, we have doubled our overall investment in flooding and coastal erosion to £5.2 billion. This will ensure a further 336,000 properties are better protected from flooding and coastal erosion.
In addition, £200 million is being invested in the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. This is already helping 25 local areas over six years to take forward wider innovative actions that improve their resilience to flooding and coastal erosion. As part of this £200 million, Ministers have allocated £36 million over six years, to develop a 'Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme' to trial opportunities, in a small number of coastal areas at significant risk of coastal erosion, to transition and adapt to a changing climate.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of peatland loss; and what steps they are taking in response.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
England’s peatlands are our largest terrestrial carbon store. They provide a home for rare wildlife, regulate our water supply and provide a record of the past. However, only 13% of our peatlands are in a near-natural state at present.
In May 2021, we published the England Peat Action Plan, which sets out the steps we are taking in response to peat loss: England Peat Action Plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). A copy is attached to this answer.
As part of this, we are funding a research and development project that will map the extent and condition of England’s peatlands in detail. Final outputs of the England Peat Map will be made available in 2024.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to ban the (1) import, and (2) sale, of fur.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government made a commitment to explore potential action in relation to animal fur, as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. We have since conducted a Call for Evidence on the fur sector along with other forms of engagement with interested parties.
We are continuing to build our evidence base on the fur sector and speak to a range of interested parties, to make sure we fully understand the issues at hand before taking any decisions regarding fur.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat of bird flu in the UK to (1) poultry health, and (2) egg production.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza with (as of 23 March 2022) 106 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 confirmed in poultry and other captive birds (86 cases in England, 5 in Wales, 9 in Scotland, 6 in Northern Ireland).
In Great Britain, the risk level of HPAI H5 in wild birds remains assessed as very high, owing to continued high numbers of HPAI H5 detections in wild birds, across various species. The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 is assessed as medium (with low uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied but high where biosecurity is suboptimal. This assessment takes into consideration the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) including housing measures which is currently in force across the UK. In Northern Ireland, the risk of HPAI incursion to domestic poultry is assessed as low if effective biosecurity is in place, increasing to moderate if the biosecurity measures are considered inadequate.
The Food Standards Agency has said that, on the basis of the current scientific evidence, AI poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
Following the introduction of mandatory housing measures on 29 November 2021, there is a 16 week ‘grace period’ during which eggs from birds which were intended to be free-range may be marketed as free-range even though they are housed. This expired at 00:01 on 21 March 2022 and means that in most cases, the eggs from birds temporarily housed for their welfare should be marketed and sold as ‘barn eggs’.
While the mandatory housing measure remain in force, changes to egg stamping, labelling and point of sales information are required to reflect this change in status. These measures will ensure consumers are able to make an informed choice. We are very mindful of the need to maintain consumer confidence in the free-range brand long term. The AIPZ requirements, including housing measures, will remain in force until further notice. However, the measure will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza. Any decisions on when to lift or amend the AIPZs will be based on risk assessments containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of threats to the otter population in the UK; and what steps, if any, they are proposing to address any such threats.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The recently published sixth national otter survey of Wales (2015-18) showed a decline in the percentage of survey sites which had evidence of otters for the first time since the surveys began in the late 1970s. In England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Mammal Society are collaborating on a new national otter survey of England which is due to start later this year. By the end of next year we hope to have sufficient data to understand whether the England population has continued to recover and what threats, if any, may hinder recovery locally or nationally.
Under the Environment Act, this government has set a world leading target to halt the decline in species by 2030, and will also be setting targets to restore water quality. We expect actions to deliver these targets to support the continued recovery of native species like the otter.
My department will publish a Green Paper early this year which will look at how the regulatory framework can help drive the delivery of our 2030 target and reverse declines of species.
We are creating a Nature Recovery Network which will be a bigger, better quality and increasingly connected network of places that are richer in wildlife, support the recovery of species, and are more resilient to climate change and other pressures. At the core of the Network will be our existing best areas for nature, including protected sites and National Nature Reserves. As committed to in the 25 Year Environment Plan, we will also create or restore 500,000 hectares of additional wildlife-rich habitat beyond these existing areas. These actions will also help recover species like the otter.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make glue traps illegal based on the danger that these present to animals, including pets.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
In our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, published in May 2021, we announced that we would look to restrict the use of glue traps as a means of pest control. Accordingly, we are supporting the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East’s Glue Traps (Offences) Private Members Bill, which proposes to ban the use of glue traps for catching rodents except in the most exceptional circumstances. This will also address the danger that these traps pose to other animals.
The Bill has successfully passed through the House of Commons and was introduced to the House of Lords on 7 February 2022. Baroness Fookes is sponsoring this Bill and we will work closely with her as the Bill progresses in the coming months.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - 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 that the use of all pesticides in the UK is not detrimental to bees.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Decisions on whether to authorise the use of individual pesticides always take account of environmental risks, including the potential for harm to bees.
In 2021, the Government consulted on the draft National Action Plan for the sustainable use of pesticides which sets out the ambition to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment. The draft NAP aims to increase uptake of Integrated Pest Management and sustainable crop protection. Integrated Pest Management emphasises crop health with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms, therefore playing a critical role in supporting and enhancing biodiversity, whilst improving soil heath and water quality. The final NAP is due to be published in spring 2022.
We have funded research into the exposure of honeybees to pesticides, both over time and at national scale, through chemical analysis of pesticide residues found in honey samples. Using genetic techniques, such as DNA metabarcoding, this research can assess the plants foraged by exposed bees and highlight common pesticide exposure routes for this key pollinator species. We expect the results of this work to be published in the coming months.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times raw sewage has been discharged into rivers in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
Working with water companies, the Environment Agency has concluded a programme to install Event Duration Monitors (EDM) on the vast majority of storm overflows, just over 80% of overflows in England, by the end of 2020. These monitors provide a robust and consistent way of monitoring how often and for how long storm overflows are used and underpin the Environment Agency's planning, compliance and enforcement work. By the end of 2023, the remaining number will be monitored to provide a complete picture of permitted storm overflows in England.
The EDM data is not yet available for 2021 but the 2020 data is published on gov.uk and can be found by following this link: Defra Data Services Platform.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce agricultural methane emissions.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has a strong record on reducing emissions from methane, one of the main greenhouses gases warming our planet, with around 60% of methane emissions cut across the waste, energy and agricultural sectors compared with 1990 levels. Moreover, as announced at COP26, the UK is proud to be one of the first signatories of the The Global Methane Pledge, a commitment to take voluntary actions to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, against 2020 levels.
The Government’s recently published Net Zero Strategy sets out our plans to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions, including a range of policies and actions further to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including methane) from agriculture.
For example, ruminant livestock are the leading cause of agriculture methane emissions, but feed additives with methane inhibiting properties have the potential to reduce emissions, especially from housed cattle. Whilst this is an emerging technology, the Government is actively investigating the promising role these products may have in delivering emissions savings in the medium term.
An application for a promising feed additive is currently being processed by both the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. The application has been formally validated and will now be subject to a robust risk assessment as part of the regulated products process.
More broadly the Government will support the agricultural sector to decarbonise through the schemes set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan, which aims to support farmers to adopt low greenhouse gas emission farming practices and increase the carbon stored on their farms, helping to improve business productivity and profitability gains.