Peatland Restoration

Baroness Grender Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right to single out the importance of the broads and the wider lowland agricultural peatlands. They are responsible for 88% of all emissions from England’s peatlands. We are working with all our partner organisations, including the Broads Authority, to support the restoration of peatlands, be they lowland or upland. Over the next four years, for the lowlands, Defra will fund water infrastructure facilitation grants and wetter farming trials, which will enable farmers and land managers to make changes to their water management and undertake more sustainable actions on peat. We will continue to work with them to ensure that they get that balance right between their more high-profile activities, such as supporting tourism, and that essential activity on lowland peatlands.

[Baroness Grender (LD)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree with the widespread public concern that peat for horticulture continues to degrade our vital peatlands? Can he update the House on the Government’s response to the Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill tabled by my Liberal Democrat colleague Sarah Dyke MP? Can he explain the delay on this, given that it was in the Government’s manifesto and was already a broken promise by the Conservative Government?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right that this is a very important issue. I am sure that she has read in detail our environmental improvement plan that was published at the end of last year. This was set out as one of our key actions on peatland and peatland restoration. The Government are committed to protecting these nature-rich habitats, including peat bogs, and we plan to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat container products when parliamentary time allows. I am afraid that I am not going to predict what will be in any forthcoming King’s Speech, but this is a priority for this Government.