Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the reintroduction of beavers into the South West of England in order to encourage the use of natural solutions to improve flood management.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out this Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of native species where the benefits for the environment, people and the economy are clear.
We recognise the range of benefits that beavers may provide with regard to flood management, biodiversity, water quality and resilience to climate change. On the 8th of August the Government announced that beavers on the River Otter, the only licensed wild population, would be allowed to remain there permanently and will be allowed to continue to expand their range naturally.
We plan to hold a public consultation early next year on our national approach for beaver reintroduction, and our strategy for the management of the potential negative impacts of this native species in the wild. Natural England, with support from EA, are continuing work to help inform the Government’s national approach to the management and release of beaver in England and have been engaging with key stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that Tier 2 and Tier 3 Environmental Land Management Schemes are complementary to, and coordinated with, Nature Recovery Networks at a local and regional level.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government is committed to establishing a Nature Recovery Network across the whole of England. This will restore habitat, creating an expanded and increasingly connected network of places that are richer in wildlife, more resilient to climate change, and which provides wider environmental benefits.
In the Environment Bill, we are legislating for Local Nature Recovery Strategies to provide the spatial mapping required to direct investment and action locally to help restore and create habitat and establish the Nature Recovery Network.
It is the Government’s intention to make the nature measures promoted by the new Environmental Land Management Scheme consistent with Local Nature Recovery Strategies. We are working closely with stakeholders to explore how best to do this.
We are exploring how the scheme could support the Nature Recovery Network through tests and trials. Five of the Tests and Trials are examining the Nature Recovery Network, including how a landscape scale plan could support the delivery of major habitat restoration.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - 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 Denmark and Greenland about a fisheries agreement with Greenland; and whether they intend to conclude any such agreement.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK Government engages regularly with the Greenlandic authorities across a variety of policy areas. Although Greenland remains a constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland enjoys full autonomy in respect of its fisheries, so the UK is able to discuss fisheries matters directly with the Greenlandic Government.
Defra fisheries officials have met with their Greenlandic counterparts this year. Discussions have centred on the UK's application for membership of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), fishery issues within the North-East Atlantic, as well as long-term bilateral arrangements. The UK's relationship with Greenland is likely to evolve further and in a positive direction as the UK goes forward as a fully independent coastal State.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 27 February (HL1809), when they estimate their assessments of costs, benefits and practicalities and whether to extend the scope of existing inspectorates to carry out invasive non-native species functions will be completed.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
This work is now underway. I anticipate that the majority of assessment and consideration of the findings will be completed this year.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a dedicated inspectorate for invasive non-native species; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is carefully considering the case for an invasive non-native species (INNS) inspectorate and the functions that it might carry out.
The Government will look to determine if a separate inspectorate is required based on an assessment of costs, benefits and practicalities. The Government will also assess whether existing inspectorates might be extended in scope to carry out INNS related functions.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish action plans for those pathways identified as priorities in their Comprehensive analysis of pathways of unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species, published in May 2019.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The development of Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) requires detailed consideration, involving extensive engagement with stakeholders to understand the pathways, to identify the key risks and to understand how they can best be mitigated.
To date the Government has completed one PAP on zoos and aquaria and a further two will be completed later this year covering recreational boating, which is relevant to hull fouling, and angling, which is relevant to stowaways on fishing equipment. Work is beginning imminently on two other PAPs, for horticultural escapes and contaminants of horticultural plants, and Defra is expecting to complete all the PAPs by the end of 2022.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the funding they provide for tackling invasive non-native species.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Decisions on public funding for the environment will be taken as part of the next multi-year Spending Review when priorities can be looked at strategically across Government.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce mandatory targets for the phasing out of the use of peat for compost and horticulture; and whether any such targets will be earlier than the current voluntary targets.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.
The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.
We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress towards their voluntary targets for the phasing out of the use of peat from compost and horticulture for (1) 2020, and (2) 2030.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.
The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.
We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce regular reporting on the proportion of peat being sold in compost and used as a growing medium in horticulture.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are working with the industry to put in place a replacement for our previous monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016.
The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling.
We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. We have been discussing how we should judge what constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. These discussions are ongoing.