Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the current subsidy arrangement with Drax includes support for burning old growth forest wood in its power station.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sustainability criteria require biomass to be legally harvested, and comply with any applicable legislation in the countries of origin to protect primary forest and old growth areas. Old growth sources are not excluded as some jurisdictions permit harvesting for valid reasons, such as fire prevention or disease control.
We have not seen evidence that the bioenergy industry drives harvesting decisions as it accepts low-value residues which would otherwise become waste.
Nevertheless, we have introduced an explicit exclusion for primary material harvested in old-growth areas in the new contract to eliminate this risk.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether wood pellets sourced from old growth forests in Canada have been burned in the Drax Power Station in 2024 and 2025.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have not seen evidence that material sourced from old growth forests in Canada has been used for UK power generation and Drax has a policy of not sourcing directly from protected Old Growth Management Areas or Old Growth Deferral Areas in British Columbia.
Nevertheless, we have introduced an explicit exclusion for material harvested in old-growth areas in the new contract to eliminate this risk. Any breaches would result in significant financial penalties and could lead to termination of the contract. This will be enforced by enhanced assurance and audit arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (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 highly pathogen avian influenza risk that released gamebirds pose to (1) wild birds outside of special protection areas, (2) poultry, (3) mammal livestock, and (4) wild mammals, in England.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra, in conjunction with Welsh Government and Scottish Government, commissioned a risk assessment from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), to further understand the impact game bird releases have on transmission of avian influenza in wild birds, and between wild birds and kept birds in periods of higher than usual levels of avian influenza. This risk assessment is published on gov.uk as part of the ‘Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring’ collection.
Furthermore, a risk assessment of the likely transmission of Avian Influenza from Livestock to Humans was undertaken by Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group, and concluded that the probability of infection in the UK population is considered very low.
This assessment has informed disease controls. During outbreaks, there are controls on the release of game birds in areas of known high risk. The release of game birds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are game bird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone, including mandatory housing measures, is in force.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on (1) compensation, (2) disinfection of premises, and (3) other costs, associated with avian flu outbreaks at (a) poultry, and (b) game, farms in the 2024–25 season.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Please see costs for the Avian Flu outbreaks in the 2024–25 season (1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025).
Outbreak Year 2024 - 25
| England | Scotland | Wales | Total |
Compensation | £19,368,932.22 | £290,770.66 | £262,798.64 | £19,922,501.52 |
Poultry Culling | £4,468,075 | £88,230 | £156,584 | £4,712,889 |
Transport & Disposal | £1,185,486 | £17,330 | £20,744 | £1,223,560 |
Valuation | £18,480 | £50 | £2,793 | £21,323 |
Carcase Pick-up | £1,486,783 | £24,120 | £0 | £1,510,903 |
Plant & Equipment Hire | £1,220,000 |
|
| £1,220,000 |
APHA Additional Staffing Costs | £1,535,702 |
|
| £1,535,702 |
Total | £29,160,312 | £129,730 | £180,121 | £30,146,879 |
Note:
I. The costs to His Majesty's Government are for England total, as Devolved Governments recharged costs.
II. The figures do not include:
o the split between poultry and game because data is not disaggregated by these categories
o the split between disinfection and other costs because data is not disaggregated by these categories
III. It is possible that some of these costs will change as there may be late submissions of invoices and some data are subject to review and audit.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce requirements for gamebird shoots in areas in England outside of European sites (1) to have a vet inspect reared gamebirds for signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) before release, (2) to report mortality or suspicion of HPAI in released gamebirds, and (3) to remove dead released gamebirds.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) currently in force throughout the whole of England was updated to include additional biosecurity measures for game bird operations on 26 August 2025. These measures reflect the specific disease risks associated with the game bird and shooting sector during the gamebird release season and are intended to protect both wild and captive bird populations.
Within the AIPZ, birds must not be put in a release pen if they show signs of avian influenza. Game birds kept in release pens must be checked daily and any birds showing clinical signs suggestive of avian influenza must receive immediate and appropriate attention, including discussing the clinical signs with a veterinary surgeon. Any suspicion of avian influenza must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency immediately. Keepers must also conduct a daily search of the area within and up to a 50-metre radius surrounding the release pen(s) and feeding and watering stations, for carcases of dead game birds and/or dead wild birds. These should be reported to Defra using the online reporting service for dead wild birds. If carcases are not required for avian influenza surveillance, the carcases must be appropriately disposed of (see attached).
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of gamebird releases on Lyme disease risk.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Direct impacts of gamebird releases on Lyme disease risk are difficult to quantify due to the complex transmission cycle that occurs between Borrelia and a wide range of British wildlife. The lack of clarity on where humans are exposed to infected ticks, as well as levels of engagement in protective behaviours that reduce disease risk further complicates matters.
A recent study by the University of Exeter and the UK Health Security Agency in southwest England compared woodlands with and without pheasant release and provided evidence that woodlands with pheasants have a higher percentage of ticks infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. The study, however, did not link this directly with human case data and thus cannot be used to infer Lyme disease risk.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they assessed the risk of infected game meat from highly pathogenic avian influenza in released pheasants entering (1) the human food chain, and (2) pet or zoo meat supplies; and what controls are in place to prevent that entry.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are several statutory measures which minimise the risk of game birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) entering the food and feed chains.
The release of game birds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are game bird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ), including mandatory housing measures, is in force. Additional biosecurity measures for game bird operations mandated by the AIPZs are currently in force across England and Wales.
For farmed game, assimilated Regulation 2019/627 does not permit animals showing symptoms of disease to enter the food chain, and they are actively prevented from entering the slaughterhouse by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
For wild game, assimilated Regulation 853/2004 requires a trained hunter/person to identify signs that may indicate that the meat presents a health risk. If abnormal behaviour is observed before killing or there are abnormal findings during examination, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the FSA must be notified and the bird(s) will be removed from the food and feed chain if the findings are consistent with HPAI.
Under assimilated Regulation 1069/2009, carcases of wild animals, including game animals, when suspected of being infected with diseases communicable to humans or animals, including HPAI, are classed as a Category 1, or high risk, animal by-product and cannot be used for pet food.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce legislation to ban the use of horticultural peat for amateur gardeners.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers are committed to protecting our nature-rich habitats, including peat bogs and are looking at next steps for measures to end the use of peat in horticulture.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of peat harvested to supply amateur gardeners in (1) 2022–23, and (2) 2023–24.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Sales figures for peat are collated by calendar year. Retail sales of peat for 2022 were 470,691 cubic metres, and for 2023 were 388, 969 cubic metres.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue their funding for all local, main and strategic Darwin Plus projects.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Government recognises the strong support from the Overseas Territories for the continuation of Darwin Plus.
We will shortly be finalising our plans to fund successful 2025/26 project proposals. For projects extending beyond that, we will update applicants following the completion of the multiyear spending review and internal business planning and publish this on the Darwin Plus website.