Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the close season for woodcock.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The woodcock has been on the red list of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK since 2015 due to a breeding range decline which is most likely to include disturbance and habitat loss because of land drainage and changes in woodland management.
The woodcock will benefit from a number of woodland grant schemes funded by both the Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Nature for Climate Fund, some of which specifically target management for declining woodland birds. These grants include the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds which aim to restore vulnerable woodland habitats, improve biodiversity and conserve threatened species, and the England Woodland Creation Offer, which provides an additional nature recovery contribution for woodlands which restore nature and species.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use Official Development Assistance funds to support countries to deliver an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK has committed to spend at least £3bn of International Climate Finance between 2021/22 and 2025/26 on development solutions that protect and restore nature. As set out in the Government’s recently published International Development Strategy, the UK is also taking steps to ensure UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) overall becomes ‘nature positive’, aligning with the international goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, and the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, once agreed.
Defra is implementing a range of ODA funded programmes, including some ICF funded activities, to support developing countries to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. These include: the £100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, supporting improved management of six highly biodiverse landscapes worldwide; an expanded Darwin Initiative (£93.75m) funding conservation projects and building capacity in developing countries; work to tackle the Illegal Wildlife Trade which is a key driver of biodiversity loss (£30m); the UK’s Blue Planet Fund (£500m), supporting developing countries to protect and sustainably manage marine ecosystems; and a new Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (up to £40m) to deliver R&D on policy solutions for climate challenges through action on biodiversity. In addition, we are scoping potential further work to support developing countries in meeting the draft Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30x30 target to protect and restore critical ecosystems.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to support the international implementation of the Global Ocean Alliance 30by30 initiative.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Since 2019, the UK has been leading the Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) of countries championing ambitious ocean action under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the ‘30by30’ target to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. The ocean has historically been underrepresented in the CBD, and the GOA plays an important role in raising the profile of ocean and marine issues.
In addition to leading the GOA, the UK also serves as Co-Chair of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature & People, alongside Costa Rica and France. The HAC champions 30by30 for both the land and the ocean. Between these two UK-led alliances, nearly 120 countries support 30by30 for the ocean, and over 100 countries support 30by30 for both the land and the ocean.
As we approach the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the CBD in December 2022, the UK will continue its proactive leadership role in both the GOA and HAC, working with Costa Rica, France, and members of both ambition groups, to call for the 30by30 target to be enshrined within the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
The UK is committed to securing an ambitious outcome at COP15, including ambitious outcomes for the ocean, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally by 2030. It is also crucial that we continue working after COP15 to support the global implementation of the GBF, including the 30by30 target.
We are therefore delighted that the UK, Costa Rica, and France published a joint communique during the Stockholm+50 conference in June 2022, outlining plans for the HAC for Nature and People to evolve into a new phase to support the implementation of the 30by30 target following COP15, and we welcome the opportunity this provides for further collaboration with the GOA both ahead of and post-COP15.
In addition, the UK continues to provide support for marine protection internationally, including through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund. The Blue Planet Fund, financed from the UK overseas aid budget, will support developing countries to protect and sustainably manage their marine resources and address human-generated threats across four key themes: biodiversity, climate change, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Environment Agency was reportedly asked not to enforce the Farming Rules for Water for a number of years after they were first introduced.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
When introduced in 2018, these regulations placed new obligations on many farmers in order to minimise the risk of pollution. Meeting these obligations can require farmers to adapt and change their businesses which can be a significant undertaking. Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) agreed that during the first year of the regulations being in force, it would be appropriate to maximise staff time spent helping businesses adapt to the new requirements to drive up compliance.
The EA takes a proactive advice-led approach to enforcement. Officers work with farmers to bring them into compliance before following up with more formal enforcement action if that advice is not acted on. The EA has found that most farmers are taking the opportunity to benefit from this advice and do not require formal enforcement action to achieve the environmental outcomes required. For example, the River Axe Regulatory Project, which aims to drive change on dairy farms has resulted in an estimated £6-8 million investment in farm infrastructure improvements and an enhancement of 30km of watercourses that discharge to the local Special Area of Conservation.
From April 2021 to date, the EA has issued 3869 environmental improvement actions to farmers to bring them into compliance with regulations. 1297 of these actions have been completed and it will continue to follow up the others to conclusion. Some actions, such as building farm infrastructure, can take time to complete due to planning considerations and availability of contractors. The EA will prosecute or apply civil sanctions if it is in the public interest to do so, but aims to work collaboratively with farmers to drive up compliance in the first instance. Defra has made additional funding available to the EA from 2021-2022 to recruit 50 additional inspection officers, significantly increasing their capacity to conduct inspections and work with farmers to meet their obligations.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Environment Agency has yet to issue a fine or prosecution under the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, despite reports of 391 breaches of the Regulations in the last financial year.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
When introduced in 2018, these regulations placed new obligations on many farmers in order to minimise the risk of pollution. Meeting these obligations can require farmers to adapt and change their businesses which can be a significant undertaking. Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) agreed that during the first year of the regulations being in force, it would be appropriate to maximise staff time spent helping businesses adapt to the new requirements to drive up compliance.
The EA takes a proactive advice-led approach to enforcement. Officers work with farmers to bring them into compliance before following up with more formal enforcement action if that advice is not acted on. The EA has found that most farmers are taking the opportunity to benefit from this advice and do not require formal enforcement action to achieve the environmental outcomes required. For example, the River Axe Regulatory Project, which aims to drive change on dairy farms has resulted in an estimated £6-8 million investment in farm infrastructure improvements and an enhancement of 30km of watercourses that discharge to the local Special Area of Conservation.
From April 2021 to date, the EA has issued 3869 environmental improvement actions to farmers to bring them into compliance with regulations. 1297 of these actions have been completed and it will continue to follow up the others to conclusion. Some actions, such as building farm infrastructure, can take time to complete due to planning considerations and availability of contractors. The EA will prosecute or apply civil sanctions if it is in the public interest to do so, but aims to work collaboratively with farmers to drive up compliance in the first instance. Defra has made additional funding available to the EA from 2021-2022 to recruit 50 additional inspection officers, significantly increasing their capacity to conduct inspections and work with farmers to meet their obligations.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the Caribbean about stony coral tissue loss disease.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government has been working closely with our Overseas Territories (OTs) in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic in response to stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD).
In 2020/2021, HMG’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded a Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group with the Caribbean OTs. This group actively welcomes input from OT government representatives, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders involved in coral conservation and SCTLD treatment. This group has met at least once a month since December 2020 to discuss all aspects of SCTLD, including treatment and management options. Its funding has been secured through to March 2024.
As part of the Disaster Resilience in the UK OTs and the Coral Reef Action Plans projects funded by CSSF, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) are assessing the impact of coral loss and degradation on climate resilience, biodiversity and the economy. The reports, which will include the refined model outputs, risk maps and economic valuation report, will be available in the coming months.
Beyond the Caribbean, the Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group includes Bermuda in all activities due to its proximity to the Caribbean region. Links have also been made to UK OTs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans through other UK agencies to ensure that access to the Working Group’s resources and training materials will allow for prevention and early detection of the disease should it spread to these regions.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (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 possible spread of stony coral tissue loss disease to areas beyond the Caribbean.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government has been working closely with our Overseas Territories (OTs) in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic in response to stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD).
In 2020/2021, HMG’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded a Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group with the Caribbean OTs. This group actively welcomes input from OT government representatives, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders involved in coral conservation and SCTLD treatment. This group has met at least once a month since December 2020 to discuss all aspects of SCTLD, including treatment and management options. Its funding has been secured through to March 2024.
As part of the Disaster Resilience in the UK OTs and the Coral Reef Action Plans projects funded by CSSF, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) are assessing the impact of coral loss and degradation on climate resilience, biodiversity and the economy. The reports, which will include the refined model outputs, risk maps and economic valuation report, will be available in the coming months.
Beyond the Caribbean, the Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group includes Bermuda in all activities due to its proximity to the Caribbean region. Links have also been made to UK OTs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans through other UK agencies to ensure that access to the Working Group’s resources and training materials will allow for prevention and early detection of the disease should it spread to these regions.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (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 stony coral tissue loss disease on the (1) economy, (2) biodiversity, and (3) climate resilience, of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government has been working closely with our Overseas Territories (OTs) in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic in response to stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD).
In 2020/2021, HMG’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded a Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group with the Caribbean OTs. This group actively welcomes input from OT government representatives, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders involved in coral conservation and SCTLD treatment. This group has met at least once a month since December 2020 to discuss all aspects of SCTLD, including treatment and management options. Its funding has been secured through to March 2024.
As part of the Disaster Resilience in the UK OTs and the Coral Reef Action Plans projects funded by CSSF, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) are assessing the impact of coral loss and degradation on climate resilience, biodiversity and the economy. The reports, which will include the refined model outputs, risk maps and economic valuation report, will be available in the coming months.
Beyond the Caribbean, the Collaborative Coral Reef Working Group includes Bermuda in all activities due to its proximity to the Caribbean region. Links have also been made to UK OTs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans through other UK agencies to ensure that access to the Working Group’s resources and training materials will allow for prevention and early detection of the disease should it spread to these regions.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the biodiversity of the UK’s Overseas Territories at the forthcoming Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15); and what expectations they have for the contribution that the UK’s Overseas Territories will make in respect of achieving the UK’s overall biodiversity targets.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is seeking an ambitious outcome for nature at COP15. We will be supporting a set of goals and targets to halt and reverse the loss of global biodiversity by 2030. The UK Overseas Territories (OTs) are biodiversity hotspots containing 94% of the UK’s endemic species. The Government recognises the need to continue to support the UK Overseas Territories in protecting their unique environments. Since 2012, Darwin Plus, Defra’s flagship Overseas Territory environmental grants fund, has awarded over £32 million to over 162 projects in the OTs, helping the OTs and the UK to meet international obligations and deliver the UK 25 Year Environment Plan.
The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the Government’s ambition in protecting biodiversity in the UKOTs. As a result, the Government is taking action to recover threatened, iconic or economically important species of animals, plants and fungi, and where possible to prevent human-induced extinction or loss of known threatened species in the OTs.
Furthermore, supported by the UK Government, OTs have put in place a Blue Belt of marine protection and sustainable management over more than 4 million square kilometres, with more OTs set to join the Programme. This means that the UK has made a significant contribution to protecting 30% of the world’s oceans and their biodiversity.
The Goal and targets agreed at COP15 will be global. All Parties will be expected to contribute according to national circumstances, but the UK will demonstrate global leadership in taking steps to deliver them. Actions taken domestically, and in the OTs, will all have a role to play.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to launch their consultation on the welfare of game birds.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The expectation is that we will be calling for evidence later this year on gamebird welfare, including the use of cages in the sector. The intention is to then seek the views of the independent, expert Animal Welfare Committee on where improvements might be made.