Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will conduct a review into the issuing of licences for the importation of hunting trophies.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government takes the conservation of species seriously.
The import of hunting trophies from endangered species into the UK is already subject to strict controls. A permit will only be issued if no detrimental impact on the survival of endangered species is demonstrated and the item has been obtained from a legal and sustainable hunting operation. This means imports of certain species from certain countries are currently prohibited because they are considered to be unsustainable.
We are looking carefully at this issue and have previously commissioned research by Professor McDonald. We plan to hold a roundtable discussion with organisations from all sides of the debate in order to gain a better understanding of the issues as well as consider any further scientific advice.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to suspend the importation of trophies from ivory-bearing animals such as the hippopotamus until the conclusion of the consultation on adding other species to the Ivory Act 2018.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government takes the conservation of species seriously.
The import of hunting trophies from endangered species into the UK is already subject to strict controls. A permit will only be issued if no detrimental impact on the survival of endangered species is demonstrated and the item has been obtained from a legal and sustainable hunting operation. This means imports of certain species from certain countries are currently prohibited because they are considered to be unsustainable.
We are looking carefully at this issue and have previously commissioned research by Professor McDonald. We plan to hold a roundtable discussion with organisations from all sides of the debate in order to gain a better understanding of the issues as well as consider any further scientific advice.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to increase the proportion of sites of specific scientific interest monitored every six years.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Since 2013 Natural England has adopted a risk based approach to the frequency of monitoring sites, which varies according to a range of factors such as risk to the site and the stability of its ecology.
Natural England continues to support and encourage its partners and major owners of sites of specific scientific interest (SSSI) in the work they do on SSSI monitoring. Natural England is also developing its approach to the monitoring of SSSIs, including use of new technologies such as remote sensing and greater partnership involvement. This work will form part of Natural England’s continued risk based approach to decide how frequently a site should be monitored and is intended to improve efficiency of SSSI monitoring.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether research has been undertaken by the Government to examine the effect on air quality of roadworks; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government has not conducted research specifically on the impact of roadworks on air quality. However, we recognise that while they are being carried out, roadworks can lead to congestion, which impacts on air quality as well as on people’s journeys. There are also emissions from the machinery used to carry out roadworks.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether local authorities are required to consider the potential implications for air quality when making decisions on (a) permanent and (b) temporary transport schemes.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Local authorities have a critical role in achieving improvements in air quality. Under the Local Air Quality Management system, local authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their areas. They consider sources of pollution, including from transport . They designate Air Quality Management Areas and put in place Air Quality Action Plans to address air pollution issues where national air quality objectives are not being met.