Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to contain the spread of the Asian hornet to the UK.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) in response to the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on honey bees and pollinators. The Contingency Plan details what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur and 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 Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of Asian hornets on (1) honey production in the UK, and (2) the decline in pollinators.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is estimated that less than 20% of the honey sold in the UK is produced domestically. To date contingency action has been taken against incursions of Asian hornet into the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. From detailed analysis of all the Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 there is no evidence to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. Therefore, the impact on UK honey production is thought to be minimal.
Nevertheless, we recognise that if Asian hornet were to become established in the UK, it is likely that there would be significant impacts on honey bees and wild pollinators. This is why we continue to take contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet.
Pollinators are a priority for this government, and we are taking action alongside many partners to implement the National Pollinator Strategy’s provisions. The National Pollinator Strategy Action Plan was published in May 2022 and sets out more specifically how we will continue to act to fulfil the vision, aims and objectives of the Strategy over the period 2021-2024, including in relation to tackling the threats from non-native invasive species like the Asian hornet.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 7 July 2020 (HL Deb, col 1070), how the new Environmental Land Management schemes will deliver improvements in public access to water bodies and waterways.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Public access is of high importance when considering how people can enjoy treasured landscapes and water bodies.
The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Benyon on 27 May (HL Deb, col 1097), when they will publish details of how new Environmental Land Management schemes will deliver the "very clear access commitment, backed by funding".
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Public access is of high importance when considering how people can enjoy treasured landscapes and water bodies.
The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 21 June 2021 (HL Deb, col 116), what progress they have made in identifying how they will objectively measure their performance in improving access to nature.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As set out in the response given by My Rt Hon Friend, Lord Goldsmith, the Government recognises the current evidence demonstrating the benefits of engaging with nature for people’s physical and mental health and the benefits a long-term target would have.
However, further evidence is needed to support the establishment of any such target. Initial scoping work has already been undertaken on possible metrics, but further development is needed. This work is ongoing.
Natural England’s England-wide map of green infrastructure will be launched in December as part of the emerging National Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards. This includes mapping of accessible natural greenspace which will help identify priorities for creation and enhancement, including to address inequalities in access to greenspace.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, what progress has been made in agreeing a replacement of the Tripartite Agreement between the UK, France and Ireland to provide for the free movement of thoroughbred courses for racing and breeding purposes, underpinned by high standards of animal health.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
As a third country, Great Britain no longer has access to the Tripartite Agreement, however, Northern Ireland remains part of the Agreement under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is working closely with representatives of the equine industry to support the continued movement of all horses, including thoroughbreds, to and from the European Union. This has included clarifying the specific requirements of individual EU Border Control Posts to avoid unnecessary delays at the ports and ensuring the European Commission and EU Member States are fully aware of the detail of GB import arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have completed negotiations on the continuation of the Tripartite Agreement to permit the free movement of racehorses between Ireland, the United Kingdom and France following the end of the transition period for the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The European Commission has made clear that, as a third country, Great Britain will no longer have access to the Tripartite Agreement from 1 January 2021. Northern Ireland will remain part of it under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is therefore continuing to work closely with industry to facilitate the continued movement of equines following the Transition Period, recognising the value of the equine sector to the entire UK economy.?This will include allowing horses from the European Union that pose a low disease risk, including from France and Ireland, to continue to enter Great Britain with only necessary animal health controls.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of changes to the requirements for labelling (1) wine, (2) sparkling wine, and (3) spirits, imported into the UK that will come into force at the end of the transition period.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
No specific assessment for wine or spirit labelling has been undertaken. However, Parliament has already passed the EU Withdrawal Act. Consistent with the Act, the changes that the secondary legislation stemming from it will make to labelling rules are necessary to correct deficiencies in retained EU law, including in relation to the information provided to consumers about the products they buy.
Currently, EU wine imported into the UK needs to show the bottler or, in the case of sparkling wine, the name of the producer or vendor. From 1 January 2021 (subject to any period that is allowed for adoption of the new requirements), wine imported into Great Britain will in addition need to show the importer or, in the case of bulk shipments, the bottler.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements for bottles of wine detailing UK (1) bottlers, (2) vendors, (3) producers, or (4) import addresses, on EU wine products destined for the UK will apply after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
No specific assessment for wine or spirit labelling has been undertaken. However, Parliament has already passed the EU Withdrawal Act. Consistent with the Act, the changes that the secondary legislation stemming from it will make to labelling rules are necessary to correct deficiencies in retained EU law, including in relation to the information provided to consumers about the products they buy.
Currently, EU wine imported into the UK needs to show the bottler or, in the case of sparkling wine, the name of the producer or vendor. From 1 January 2021 (subject to any period that is allowed for adoption of the new requirements), wine imported into Great Britain will in addition need to show the importer or, in the case of bulk shipments, the bottler.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to accept EU organic certification on imported wines after the end of the transition period; and what assessment they have made of whether such acceptance is likely to be reciprocated by the EU.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is negotiating an equivalence arrangement with the EU as part of the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. In addition, the six UK organic control bodies have applied to the Commission for recognition as equivalent. We are confident that through one of these routes we will be able to export organic food, drinks, feed and ingredients to the EU.