Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, they will publish a list of the statutory instruments that will be laid subsequent to the passing of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, in order to complete the transfer of EU law covering environmental issues; and which of those statutory instruments will be laid under (1) the negative procedure, and (2) the affirmative procedure.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is still making detailed assessment of what corrections will be required to make that law function appropriately on exit day. Our current assumption is that we will require 26 SIs to be laid in order to complete the transfer of EU law covering environmental issues, 12 of which will require the affirmative procedure.
We are currently not in a position to publish the list of these SIs as it is subject to change. In particular, the SIs rely on powers and procedures set out in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill which is still being considered by Parliament. There will, however, be consultation where appropriate on the detail of the proposed changes.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
Her Majesty's Government which EU-based environmental legislation and regulations will be transposed into UK law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, (1) without change, (2) with minor changes to enable operability, and (3) with substantial changes requiring secondary legislation to ensure operability.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill ensures, so far as possible, that the same rules and laws will apply on the day after exit as on the day before.
All Government Departments are currently reviewing the EU laws that apply in their policy areas and how our withdrawal from the EU will affect the operation of those laws.
Where laws need to be fixed, the Government will ensure this is done. There are decades of EU law to consider, and we must ensure our statute book works on exit and that we provide the maximum possible certainty for individuals and businesses as we leave the EU.
This Government is committed to be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than we inherited it. Leaving the EU means we now have a unique opportunity to design a set of policies to drive environmental improvement with a powerful and permanent impact, tailored to the needs of our country. This will make sure we can create a healthy environment and strong economy – and delivering on our commitment to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which parts of which primary and secondary legislation pertaining to the environment (1) they, (2) the Environment Agency, and (3) Natural England, judge to be unviable to transpose into UK and devolved law through the Great Repeal Bill; and when they will publish a list of that legislation.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is aware of the desire for certainty around what exiting the EU means for our environmental policy and legislative framework. That is why the Prime Minister announced last year our plans for a Great Repeal Bill that will convert current EU law into domestic UK law. Our intention is to ensure a smooth and orderly transition via the Great Repeal Bill.
All Government departments are currently reviewing the EU laws that apply in their policy areas and how our withdrawal from the EU will affect the operation of those laws. Defra has a significant challenge in handling the return of legislative competence from the EU. Over 1100 core pieces of directly applicable EU legislation and national implementing legislation have been identified as Defra-owned. There are some policy areas where this transition may present more challenges than in other areas, for example where functions are currently delivered by EU agencies, systems or resources. However, where laws need to be fixed, the Government will ensure this is done. There are decades of EU law to consider, and we must ensure our statute book works on exit and that we provide the maximum possible stability, without pre-judging future decisions Parliament may make.
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and ensure a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will convert existing European Union law into domestic law, wherever practical.
The Government will bring forward a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill in due course that provides more detail about our approach. We will ensure it is published in time to allow Parliament sufficient time to digest its contents in advance of introduction of the Great Repeal Bill in the next session.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure collaboration across all government departments regarding the implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of pests and diseases affecting trees and woodland.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Protecting our country from plant and tree pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and society and is one of Defra’s strategic priorities.
In 2013 the independent Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce assessed the threat to the health of our plants from pests and diseases and made eight recommendations to strengthen our approach, which were all accepted by Defra. The Plant Biosecurity Strategy sets out our plans to enhance existing risk-based activity and to develop new and innovative approaches such as the now publicly available plant health risk register.
As part of our risk-based approach, agreed management approaches for pests and diseases are periodically reviewed so that we can ensure our responses are appropriate and lessons are learned for the future.
Defra’s spend on plant health policies is now around £30 million per year, which includes policies to protect tree health.
Defra is the lead department for plant and tree health. We published the Tree Health Management Plan in April 2014, setting out priority areas for action and outlining how the Government is working with others to manage tree pests and diseases. We work with other Government departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders from across industry and non-government organisations to address different plant and tree health issues. This work includes a programme of training and awareness-raising about biosecurity risks for other Government Departments and stakeholders such as food retailers.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources are being allocated to prevent the spread of pests and diseases affecting the natural environment, including trees and woodland, and what assessment they have made of whether they are sufficient.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Protecting our country from plant and tree pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and society and is one of Defra’s strategic priorities.
In 2013 the independent Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce assessed the threat to the health of our plants from pests and diseases and made eight recommendations to strengthen our approach, which were all accepted by Defra. The Plant Biosecurity Strategy sets out our plans to enhance existing risk-based activity and to develop new and innovative approaches such as the now publicly available plant health risk register.
As part of our risk-based approach, agreed management approaches for pests and diseases are periodically reviewed so that we can ensure our responses are appropriate and lessons are learned for the future.
Defra’s spend on plant health policies is now around £30 million per year, which includes policies to protect tree health.
Defra is the lead department for plant and tree health. We published the Tree Health Management Plan in April 2014, setting out priority areas for action and outlining how the Government is working with others to manage tree pests and diseases. We work with other Government departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders from across industry and non-government organisations to address different plant and tree health issues. This work includes a programme of training and awareness-raising about biosecurity risks for other Government Departments and stakeholders such as food retailers.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide financial and other support for the management, protection, and expansion of the United Kingdom’s woodland resources.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Defra and the Forestry Commission continue to work with stakeholders to help landowners manage the impacts of pests and diseases at a local level and, if necessary, replace trees with the most appropriate alternative species. This Government has committed over £21.2 million to tree health research.
£31m per year of new Rural Development Programme funding will be spent on forestry, with £13m being spent on woodland management and £18m on new planting. By investing in woodlands, Countryside Stewardship will help us fulfil the Government’s manifesto commitment to plant another 11 million trees by supporting the creation of around 10,000 hectares of new woodland.
Asked by: Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to consult stakeholders on the further devolution of forestry, including the cross-border functions and shared services of the Forestry Commission.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK Government, after being approached by Scottish Ministers in June, have agreed that officials will work jointly to consider options for the transfer of Forestry Commissioners’ powers and duties, as they relate to Scotland, to Scottish Ministers.
No decisions have been taken yet and any legislative reforms will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.