Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved governments about introducing legislation to enshrine a legal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There is no international consensus on the legal basis of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and no agreement on either the definition of the right or its scope. The UK supported United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/300 on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, accompanied by an explanation of vote which referred to this lack of consensus. This Government has no current plans to introduce legislation on the right but is monitoring discussions exploring a new instrument at the international level to enshrine the right, including at the Council of Europe. Officials have previously raised this with the Devolved Governments and will consult with them ahead of any formal international negotiations.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the devolved governments about missing the 1 July deadline to submit an action plan setting out their response to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee's recommendations.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to the effective implementation of all of its international obligations, including those under the Aarhus Convention. The UK continues to carefully consider decisions taken by the Parties to the Convention concerning the UK.
Defra works closely with the devolved governments on issues relating to the Aarhus Convention.
The UK is not required to provide a plan of action to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. As such, no deadline has been missed. We will continue to provide updates to the Committee on relevant developments. Updates from the UK are available on the UN website here.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to address the UK’s non-compliance with the Aarhus Convention.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to the effective implementation of all of its international obligations, including those under the Aarhus Convention. The UK continues to carefully consider decisions taken by the Parties to the Convention concerning the UK.
Defra works closely with the devolved governments on issues relating to the Aarhus Convention.
The UK is not required to provide a plan of action to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. As such, no deadline has been missed. We will continue to provide updates to the Committee on relevant developments. Updates from the UK are available on the UN website here.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in changing existing policies to deliver a complete ban on the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticides.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to preventing the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten vital pollinators.
This Government has already taken decisive action. In December 2024, Defra set out plans to change policies to prevent use of neonicotinoid pesticides (thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid) that threaten vital pollinators. In September 2025, the Health and Safety Executive published updated guidance for emergency authorisations of pesticides.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs met in March 2026; and, if so, when the communique will be published on the gov.uk website.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs did not meet in March 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the near elimination of biodegradable waste to landfill in England from 2028.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has gone further than previous targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste being sent to landfill. The introduction of measures such as landfill tax and mandatory food waste collections in the simpler recycling reforms will make significant progress in diverting further biodegradable waste from landfill. Following the publication of the summary of responses on our call for evidence in February 2025, we are considering next steps.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to launch a further consultation in respect of the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill in England from 2028.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has gone further than previous targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste being sent to landfill. The introduction of measures such as landfill tax and mandatory food waste collections in the simpler recycling reforms will make significant progress in diverting further biodegradable waste from landfill. Following the publication of the summary of responses on our call for evidence in February 2025, we are considering next steps.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take, if any, to introduce private finance to farming and nature recovery budgets.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra published the Land Use Framework in March this year. The Framework set out the steps Government will take to increase private demand for the environmental services that farmers and land managers provide and ensure that public payments can be combined with private payments as recommended by the Corry Review.
The Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme pilot phase will help Defra understand how much private finance projects are able to secure from private nature markets and what areas of projects that funding supports. Defra will apply that learning across LR and other schemes where appropriate.
Defra will publish the Farming Roadmap later this year. It will set out the role of private finance alongside public funding in supporting farms to profitably meet environmental outcomes and increase long term productivity.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the agreement noted in the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Communiqué, published on 5 February, to use a joined-up approach to take forward legislation to ban the use of peat in horticulture, whether that joint legislation would include Northern Ireland; and what plans they have to prioritise the introduction of legislation to end peat sales.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to protecting our nature-rich habitats, including peat bogs. As part of this, the Government has pledged to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat-containing products when Parliamentary time allows. This commitment is reflected in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
Peat protection policy in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. Defra Ministers have responded recently, agreeing to representations from Devolved Governments to work collaboratively and adopt a UK-wide approach.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the farming roadmap will support farmers to adapt to climate impacts whole maintaining resilient domestic food production.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is working with farmers, farming and environmental organisations to develop the Farming Roadmap, which will set the direction for farming in England to 2050. The Government’s aim is to maintain food production, meet our environmental outcomes, and deliver a thriving and profitable farming sector.
The Roadmap will set out how farming will need to evolve in response to changing markets, technologies, and environmental pressures, including how Government will support that transition. It will present an honest picture of the current realities in farming and outline how the sector can adapt and evolve to meet future needs.