Elephant Poaching

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Wednesday 4th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I think that I have already mentioned the commitment of my colleague, Mr Richard Benyon, and the high priority that this is being given. As noble Lords will know, the border agency is responsible for seizing these products and identifying them, and it operates, of course, on intelligence, which is most important. In many ways ivory has presented the least numerical challenge compared with many others in the CITES area. However, I agree that it is by demonstrating our own vigour that we present a confident position to our colleagues.

[Baroness Sharples]

Can my noble friend say whether the ivory is poached for so-called medicinal purposes?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

It is believed that some is for medicinal purposes, but the majority is for ornamentation.

Japanese Knotweed

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Wednesday 28th March 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in eliminating Japanese knotweed from the United Kingdom.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Taylor of Holbeach)]

My Lords, we are working towards sustainable natural control of Japanese knotweed. The controlled release of the highly specialist psyllid, Aphalara itadori, is progressing well and we are nearly two years into the release phase. If successful, the psyllid should restrict the growth of Japanese knotweed, slow its capacity to spread as vigorously and enhance the effectiveness of other management effort. I regret to say that it will not eradicate this invasive plant altogether.

[Baroness Sharples]

My Lords, perhaps in my perseverance in asking this Question over 25 years, we are actually getting somewhere. The psyllid is quite a success but are there other ways of ridding ourselves of this extremely invasive and destructive weed?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I would like to thank my noble friend for her persistence, which I think rivals the Japanese knotweed in its vigour and eradicability. Research is going on into a leaf spot fungus, which also has the capacity specifically—this is the key to biological control—to attack Japanese knotweed. Defra and the devolved Administrations are also supporting catchment scale control work on Japanese knotweed in several areas across the country.