Asked by: Albert Owen (Labour - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a 25-year plan to restore biodiversity in the UK that includes (a) the biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories and (b) an impact assessment on the effect of UK production and consumption on biodiversity in other countries.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Government is developing a 25 year environment plan for England, which will include biodiversity. Biodiversity policy is a devolved matter but we will continue to talk to the devolved administrations throughout the development of the plan, including through the Four Countries Biodiversity Group.
UK Overseas Territory (OT) Governments are constitutionally responsible for the protection and conservation of their natural environments. The Government cherishes the environmental assets of the OTs and we work with the Territory Governments to provide the support needed to ensure these are maintained. The 2012 White Paper on the UK’s OTs “Security, Success and Sustainability” and the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy are key tools in achieving this. The Government hopes to provide its next report on its activity to support this strategy in the autumn.
We have studied the evidence about displacement of environmental impacts associated with a global economy and this will be considered as part of our work to develop the 25 year environment plan. The Government already works to reduce the effect of UK production and consumption on the environment, for example through specific policies which promote the sustainable production and trade of palm oil, timber and woodfuel, thereby reducing the impact of their production on biodiversity in other countries.
Asked by: Albert Owen (Labour - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) publish a 25-year plan to restore biodiversity in the UK and (b) consult with devolved Parliamentary bodies and agencies on that plan.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Government is developing a 25 year environment plan for England, which will include biodiversity. Biodiversity policy is a devolved matter but we will continue to talk to the devolved administrations throughout the development of the plan, including through the Four Countries Biodiversity Group.
UK Overseas Territory (OT) Governments are constitutionally responsible for the protection and conservation of their natural environments. The Government cherishes the environmental assets of the OTs and we work with the Territory Governments to provide the support needed to ensure these are maintained. The 2012 White Paper on the UK’s OTs “Security, Success and Sustainability” and the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy are key tools in achieving this. The Government hopes to provide its next report on its activity to support this strategy in the autumn.
We have studied the evidence about displacement of environmental impacts associated with a global economy and this will be considered as part of our work to develop the 25 year environment plan. The Government already works to reduce the effect of UK production and consumption on the environment, for example through specific policies which promote the sustainable production and trade of palm oil, timber and woodfuel, thereby reducing the impact of their production on biodiversity in other countries.
Asked by: Albert Owen (Labour - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) publish separate 25-year plans to restore biodiversity and to grow more, buy more and sell more British food and (b) take steps to ensure that each such plan will contribute to the other's objectives.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We are putting in place an ambitious 25-year plan to promote and grow our world-leading food and farming industry, encouraging enterprise and boosting productivity right across the food chain.
In addition, Defra is currently investing £4.2 million over three years in the Sustainable Intensification research Platform (SIP). This is designed to investigate integrated approaches for farmers to produce more food whilst simultaneously protecting and enhancing biodiversity, and the natural environment in general. The SIP will also develop tools to enable decision-makers to balance our need to produce more British food with the need to protect our natural resources.
The Government is currently developing the framework that will guide the development of a 25-year environment plan for England, which will include biodiversity. Biodiversity policy is a devolved issue, but we will maintain a constructive dialogue with the Devolved Administrations throughout the development of the plan, through the Four Countries Biodiversity Group.
The Government will, of course, ensure that these two long-term approaches complement each other.
Asked by: Albert Owen (Labour - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which poor broadband access prevents farmers to accessing online CAP applications.
Answered by George Eustice
The rollout of superfast broadband is a key priority. The £778m Superfast Broadband Programme will provide 95% of UK premises with access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017.
The RPA online system had been designed to operate on older dial-up internet connection speeds. In addition, many farmers in rural areas have affordable access to satellite broadband connection and the RPA had mobile satellite units to assist those in very hard to reach areas. In 2015, farmers were given the option of paper-based application.