Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the creation of a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to working with all Parties to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to continue to support the modernisation of the organisation and to ensure it remains the international body for the conservation and management of cetaceans.
At the 68th meeting of the IWC, the UK supported the proposal by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to create a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and encouraged all Contracting Governments to support its adoption. We were disappointed that the IWC did not reach agreement to take forward this proposal but will continue to push for the conservation of these unique creatures that play a vital role in our wider ecosystem.
Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating a universal declaration of ocean rights.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the overarching legal framework for the governance of the ocean. Numerous other agreements at a global and regional level add greater detail. These cover issues including shipping and safety, fishing, and environmental protection. The draft text of an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed at the UN in March. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60 per cent of the global ocean. It is unclear what added value a universal declaration of ocean rights would achieve.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence of her Department's Chief Veterinary Officer to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on avian influenza on 29 November 2022, HC 890, at Question 88, if she will make it her policy to increase funding to the Animal and Plant Health Agency to establish a system for testing wild birds for avian influenza and monitoring the spread of the virus.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra’s approach to avian influenza in wild birds continues to be led by international best practice and the latest evidence. We are doing all we can to tackle the impact of avian influenza in wild birds, with year-round surveillance, a new research consortium ‘FluMap’ – backed by £1.5m in research funding – to develop new strategies to tackle avian influenza outbreaks, and working closely and meeting regularly with conservation charities, including the WWT, National Trust and RSPB, to consider any further action we can take. We are working with Natural England as well as key external organisations to develop and implement appropriate actions to support the recovery of vulnerable bird populations in England.
Defra fund the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to undertake year-round surveillance of avian influenza in wild birds across Great Britain. To support government’s response to the outbreak and APHA’s surveillance programme, in December 2022 Defra launched a new online reporting system, this service is available together with the Defra helpline 24/7, making it simpler and quicker for the public to report dead wild birds.
Avian influenza is a Specified Animal Pathogen under The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008 (as amended) (SAPO) and is classified by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) in relation to the approved classification of biological agents and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH). As such diagnostic testing with potentially infectious material must be conducted in high containment. All diagnostic testing in relation to the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain including APHA’s surveillance in wild birds are therefore carried out at the avian influenza National Reference Laboratory (NRL) at the APHA Weybridge laboratory using United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) validated tests and in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards as set out for Avian Influenza in the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. Capacity at the NRL is adjusted in line with the demands of the outbreak.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to increase (a) laboratory and (b) research capacity for monitoring avian influenza in wild birds.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra’s approach to avian influenza in wild birds continues to be led by international best practice and the latest evidence. We are doing all we can to tackle the impact of avian influenza in wild birds, with year-round surveillance, a new research consortium ‘FluMap’ – backed by £1.5m in research funding – to develop new strategies to tackle avian influenza outbreaks, and working closely and meeting regularly with conservation charities, including the WWT, National Trust and RSPB, to consider any further action we can take. We are working with Natural England as well as key external organisations to develop and implement appropriate actions to support the recovery of vulnerable bird populations in England.
Defra fund the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to undertake year-round surveillance of avian influenza in wild birds across Great Britain. To support government’s response to the outbreak and APHA’s surveillance programme, in December 2022 Defra launched a new online reporting system, this service is available together with the Defra helpline 24/7, making it simpler and quicker for the public to report dead wild birds.
Avian influenza is a Specified Animal Pathogen under The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008 (as amended) (SAPO) and is classified by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) in relation to the approved classification of biological agents and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH). As such diagnostic testing with potentially infectious material must be conducted in high containment. All diagnostic testing in relation to the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain including APHA’s surveillance in wild birds are therefore carried out at the avian influenza National Reference Laboratory (NRL) at the APHA Weybridge laboratory using United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) validated tests and in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards as set out for Avian Influenza in the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. Capacity at the NRL is adjusted in line with the demands of the outbreak.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor and mitigate the risk of the H5N1 virus to wild and farmed birds as seabirds return to the UK's coastlines for nesting.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We recognise the significant threat posed by avian influenza to both kept and wild birds and share the concerns about the impact on wild bird breeding populations in the future, particularly seabirds that nest closely in large numbers.
For kept birds the enhanced biosecurity measures mandated by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in force across the UK remain vital to protecting flocks across the country. For wild birds Defra’s Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales supports the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain and provides guidance to conservation charities, ornithologists and land managers including local authorities, on how to prepare and respond to suspected and confirmed findings of avian influenza in wild birds.
Defra’s approach to tackling this year’s avian influenza outbreak continues to be led by international best practice and the latest evidence, which suggest that unlike in kept birds there are limited measures that can be taken to reduce transmission between wild birds and in seabird colonies in particular. However, we’re doing all we can to tackle the impact of avian influenza in wild birds, with year-round surveillance, a new research consortium – backed by £1.5m in research funding – to develop new strategies to tackle avian influenza outbreaks, and working closely and meeting regularly with conservation charities, including the WWT, National Trust and RSPB, to consider any further action we can take. We will work with Natural England as well as key external organisations to develop and implement appropriate actions to support the recovery of vulnerable bird populations in England.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled The GPA rated best UK public sector workplace experience, published by the Government Property Agency on 15 March 2023, which (a) Departments and (b) executive agencies have undertaken Leesman Office surveys since 1 January 2020 to assess the views of their staff concerning the main offices in which they work.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
GPA has launched 9 office based surveys with Leesman, starting in January 2021. The full list of departments, agencies and bodies as listed as such on the UK Government Departments, agencies and public bodies website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations) that have taken part in Leesman surveys through GPA can be found below:
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
Cabinet Office
Care Quality Commission
Companies House
Consumer Council For Water
Criminal Cases Review Commission
Crown Commercial Service
Crown Prosecution Service
Defence Equipment and Support
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Department for Education
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Department for International Trade
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Department for Work & Pensions
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Environment Agency
Government Internal Audit Agency
Government Legal Department
Government Property Agency
Health and Safety Executive
Health Education England
Health Research Authority
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
HM Treasury
Home Office
Homes England
Infrastructure and Projects Authority
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Legal Aid Agency
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Natural England
NHS
NHS England
Office for National Statistics
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted)
Office of Rail and Road
Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman
Regulator of Social Housing
Serious Fraud Office
Small Business Commissioner
Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA)
Trade Remedies Authority
UK Health Security Agency
Other organisations/groups:
Asylum Protection
Border Force
Government Art collection
HM Passport Office
Immigration Enforcement (IE)
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Pubs Code Adjudicator
Single Competent Authority (SCA)
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the High Seas Treaty will be ratified.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean. The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans that the UK will ratify the UN High Seas Treaty; and what steps he is taking to encourage global partners to do so.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans that the UK will ratify the UN High Seas Treaty; and what steps he is taking to encourage global partners to do so.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to support high seas marine protected areas in relevant regional fisheries management organisations..
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
The UK uses its engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other international forums to push for outcomes focused on managing fisheries sustainably, protecting marine ecosystems (including through Marine Protected Areas) and combatting illegal fishing.