Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) strengthen protections against light pollution and (b) increase the number of Dark Sky reserves.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government has put in place a range of measures to ensure that light pollution is effectively managed through controls in the planning system; the statutory nuisance regime, and when improvements are made to street lighting.
My department has worked with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Transport to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework policies include consideration of the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation, including where there may be impacts on wildlife and eco-systems.
Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan will also deliver benefits including promoting access to stargazing.
Across the UK's 15 National Parks there are a number of locations that have been awarded International Dark Sky Reserve or Dark Sky Discovery Site status. Defra has no formal role in the Dark Sky designation process as it is non-governmental and non-statutory. The Independent Review of Landscapes recommended, ‘A night under the stars in a national landscape for every child.’ The Government has welcomed the Review and will respond in due course. We are committed to increasing opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of spending meaningful time in our national landscapes in England.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to approve the Sussex Near Shore Trawling Byelaw proposal approved by the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority to restrict trawling close to the Sussex shore.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) Near Shore Trawling Byelaw has not yet come to Defra for consideration and therefore no decision has yet been taken as to whether to confirm the byelaw. It is currently going through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) quality assurance process in accordance with statutory best practice guidance on IFCA byelaws and we understand that the MMO reverted to Sussex IFCA with comments in June. Once the byelaw has been submitted by the MMO to the Secretary of State for a decision as to confirmation, Defra will review the full byelaw package, including the results of the byelaw consultation, in accordance with the statutory guidance.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the Horticultural Trades Association’s proposal for a grant aid scheme for ornamental growers to cover plants disposed of during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Covid-19 represents a significant challenge to daily life and every part of the economy, including the ornamental horticulture sector. The Government continues to work closely with representatives from the horticulture industry to understand the short-term and long-term impacts on the sector. We have recently received new data on the financial position of the sector following the reopening of garden centres on 13 May. Once we have reviewed that data we will respond to the Horticultural Trades Association’s proposal.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on designing a grant aid scheme for ornamental growers to cover losses from plants disposed of during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Covid-19 represents a significant challenge to daily life and every part of the economy, including the ornamental horticulture sector. The Government continues to work closely with representatives from the horticulture industry to understand the short-term and long-term impacts on the sector. We have recently received new data on the financial position of the sector following the reopening of garden centres on 13 May. Once we have reviewed that data we will respond to the Horticultural Trades Association’s proposal.