Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the transport of live cattle overseas when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Once we leave the European Union, and in line with our manifesto commitment, we can take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter. We are currently considering options.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the implications for her policies on protecting endangered species in the UK are of the State of Nature 2016 report, published by the RSPB on 14 September 2016; and whether she is taking steps to protect such species.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government noted the State of Nature report and considered it a useful contribution to the evidence base for assessing species status. As well as indicating the need for ongoing action, the report highlights cases where our policies, often delivered in partnership with landowners, farmers and conservation groups, are benefitting species, for example by improving the quality of our rivers and streams or creating wildlife habitat on farmland through our agri-environment schemes.
Species protection is a key element of Biodiversity 2020, our biodiversity strategy for England. Actions we are taking include protection, improvement and creation of habitats, for example support for farmers under agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, where we are making progress in turning round the fortunes of birds such as the cirl bunting and stone curlew.
Natural England funds a targeted recovery programme for some of our most endangered species and is working with partners to increase the investment in species restoration.
We are committed to the goal of being the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than that in which we found it, building on our long history of wildlife and environmental protection.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress the UK is making towards Aichi 2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Progress towards achieving the Aichi biodiversity targets is set out in the UK’s 5th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity and in the 2015 report on the UK’s biodiversity indicators, published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The next report on the UK’s biodiversity indicators is scheduled to be published in July this year. The UK’s 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity is due to be published at the end of 2018. These reports will provide an updated assessment of the UK’s contribution towards the Aichi targets.
Biodiversity policy is a devolved responsibility in the UK. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have each developed or are developing their own biodiversity or environment strategies.
The UK is embedding Agenda 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals across Government work and will publish a report in due course setting out its approach.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
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 implications for her Department's policies of the EU REACH process identification of four synthetic chemicals, DEHIP, DIBP, DBP and BBP, as endocrine-disrupting chemicals for human health; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The European Commission has now recognised the four substances as endocrine-disrupting chemicals for human health. This scientific assessment was supported by the UK and is in line with our policy approach towards chemicals management.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the European Commission on the status of phthalates; and what steps her Department plans to take to recognise DEHP, DIBP, DBP and BBP phthalates as endocrine-disrupting chemicals for human health.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The European Commission has now recognised the four substances as endocrine-disrupting chemicals for human health. This scientific assessment was supported by the UK and is in line with our policy approach towards chemicals management.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what potential effect the UK leaving the EU will have on the UK's future participation in the International Whaling Commission.
Answered by George Eustice
The UK is committed to continuing to participate fully in the work of the International Whaling Commission following our exit from the EU. We will maximise the opportunities afforded us from exiting the EU while maintaining the close and important relationships we have with EU Member States party to the Convention. We will ensure that the UK remains a strong and influential voice and continues to be at the forefront of championing efforts to improve conservation and welfare outcomes for cetaceans globally.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the main outcomes and decisions from the 66th annual International Whaling Commission meeting; and whether the UK has successfully implemented the required actions from that meeting.
Answered by George Eustice
I have assessed the main outcomes and decisions of the 66th annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) and consider that the meeting was a success for the UK. We secured a number of important UK priorities and officials are now working hard in collaboration with other IWC Parties to ensure that the actions arising from the meeting are implemented during the intercessional period in a coordinated and effective way.Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
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 which exclusive and mixed international environmental agreements in which the EU currently participates the Government plans to seek to be party to or otherwise maintain the provisions of after the UK leaves the EU; and which of those agreements (a) the Government will have to renegotiate and (b) will remain in force as the UK is a signatory in its own right.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The UK is a Party to 35 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in its own right. These are mixed agreements and we are bound by the obligations they contain; this will not change on exit from the EU.
We are committed to continuing to play an active role internationally and will continue to be bound by the obligations under these MEAs after leaving the EU.