Japanese Knotweed Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Elis-Thomas
Main Page: Lord Elis-Thomas (Non-affiliated - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Elis-Thomas's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(10 years, 1 month ago)
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Lord Elis-Thomas (PC)
My Lords, the Minister will be well aware that invasive species of this kind are no respecters of boundaries, whether political or otherwise. Can he therefore assure the House that the UK Government will take a positive attitude towards the oncoming European Union regulations in these matters, which are being discussed in the European Union even at this moment?
Lord De Mauley
Yes, my Lords. Indeed, the regulation has now been approved by COREPER and the European Parliament’s environment committee. It has also now cleared the scrutiny committees of both the House of Commons and your Lordships’ House. I understand that the regulation will now be presented to the European Parliament’s plenary session on 16 April. If approved there, the regulation will be presented to the next suitable Council meeting and should then come into force on 1 January next year.