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Written Question
Aarhus Convention
Thursday 25th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they now plan to ratify the Aarhus Convention.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The UK ratified the Aarhus Convention in 2005 and we remain a party in our own right. Our exit from the EU does not change our commitment to respect, protect and fulfil the obligations contained in this important international agreement.

Written Question
Animals: Tagging
Thursday 5th May 2016

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, where a dog or horse is being micro-chipped and its owner is of no fixed abode, such as in the case of Gypsies and Travellers, whether they have considered allowing a mobile phone number or address of a friend or relation of the owner to be recorded rather than the owner’s address.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Owners of horses and dogs without a fixed address should provide the address of a family member or close friend with whom they keep in contact. Defra have worked with the veterinary representative organisations on their guidance for vets on microchipping of dogs.

Written Question
Animals: Tagging
Thursday 5th May 2016

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to issue guidance to vets on how to proceed with the micro-chipping of dogs or horses when the owner is of no fixed abode, such as in the case of Gypsies and Travellers.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Owners of horses and dogs without a fixed address should provide the address of a family member or close friend with whom they keep in contact. Defra have worked with the veterinary representative organisations on their guidance for vets on microchipping of dogs.

Written Question
Control of Horses Act 2015
Thursday 5th May 2016

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what happens to horses seized under the Control of Horses Act 2015.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Under the Control of Horse Act 2015, if a horse that has been detained for a minimum 96 hours has not been claimed by the owner it may be sold, rehomed with charities or, where other options are not available, euthanised.

Written Question
Air Pollution
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which authorities are responsible for the monitoring of urban air.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

In England, overall responsibility for monitoring ambient air quality lies with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In addition the Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring emissions from large and complex industrial processes in England. This function is undertaken by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in Scotland, Natural Resources Wales in Wales and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland. Under the Local Air Quality Management System, local authorities are responsible for reviewing and assessing ambient air quality.

Written Question
Air Pollution: EU Law
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which European Union directives apply to urban air pollution; and how each is enacted in United Kingdom law.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

There are two main pieces of European legislation applicable to urban air pollution:

  • The Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe Directive 2008 (“the Directive”) applies to urban air pollution. It has been transposed in England by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively, the Directive has been transposed by the Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010, the Air Quality Standards (Wales) Regulations 2010 and the Air Pollution and the Air Quality Standards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. The regulations reflect the legally binding limits set by the Directive for concentrations in outdoor air of major air pollutants that impact public health such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The Directive requires the undertaking of air quality assessments and the reporting of findings to the European Commission annually. The UK has statutory monitoring networks in place to meet the requirements of the Directive, with air quality modelling used to supplement the monitored data.
  • The National Emission Ceilings Directive (2001/81/EC) (NECD) sets limits on total annual emissions of key air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia) to help reduce transboundary air pollution. The NECD is transposed into UK law by the National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2002.

There is also further legislation aimed at delivering specific reductions in emissions from certain areas of the economy, which for competitive or single market reasons has been set at European level. This includes:

  • The Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU)
  • The Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels Directive (1993/32/EC)
  • Petrol Vapour Recovery Directive (94/63/EC)
  • The Quality of Petrol and Diesel Fuels Directive (98/70/EC)

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