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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to conclude a UK–EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement that includes provisions for the movement of zoo animals, and what recent discussions they have had with zoos and aquariums on the inclusion of conservation transfers in such an agreement.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone, aimed at reducing trade barriers and facilitating the safe and efficient movement of trade and facilitating the safe and efficient movement of terrestrial and aquatic zoo animals. Our aim is to start talks straight away and we want to remove barriers as soon as possible.

Ministers have actively engaged with the zoo and wildlife sector through multiple visits and discussions to understand its challenges and opportunities. This dialogue will continue as we work together to support the zoo and wildlife sector.

Found: Lord Banner recommended that the court introduce target timescales for the determination of permission

Found: Lord Banner recommended that the Court introduce target timescales for the determination of permission

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the UK from the Aarhus Convention to enable damages to be sought from people who bring frivolous judicial reviews relating to road infrastructure projects.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government remains committed to protecting access to justice in environmental cases, while supporting the timely delivery of infrastructure projects under the Government’s Growth Mission.

The issue of cost caps relating to Judicial Review in the planning context was considered by Lord Banner in his independent review published in October 2024. He did not recommend any change to the default cost caps in Aarhus cases. Judges already have the power to vary costs caps upwards or downwards according to the particular circumstances in a case. The MoJ published a call for evidence on Lord Banner’s recommendations on 28 October 2024, alongside the publication of his report by MHCLG. The call for evidence closed on 30 December.

Some of Lord Banner’s recommendations have been taken into the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and will tighten the judicial review process to cut delays for major infrastructure projects and look to strike the right balance between improving efficiency and ensuring access to justice. The change will only allow one attempt at legal challenge, instead of three, for meritless claims and two for other claims. These changes will prevent meritless claims from holding up projects by exhausting the appeals process and will ensure legitimate legal challenges are heard promptly.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has considered raising the Aarhus Convention cost limits on judicial reviews of development and infrastructure.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government remains committed to protecting access to justice in environmental cases, while supporting the timely delivery of infrastructure projects under the Government’s Growth Mission. The issue of cost caps relating to Judicial Review in the planning context was considered by Lord Banner in his independent review published in October 2024. He did not recommend any change to the default cost caps in Aarhus cases. Judges already have the power to vary costs caps upwards or downwards according to the particular circumstances in a case.

In addition, between September and December 2024, the Government ran a Call for Evidence on access to justice in relation to the Aarhus Convention. This Call for Evidence considers the recommendations of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) regarding whether changes are required to the Environmental Costs Protection Regime (ECPR).

The Government intends to publish a response to the Call for Evidence in the coming months.

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: This led the previous Government to commission Lord Banner KC in February 2024 to carry out an independent

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: LORD BANNER BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND 502F_ After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— “Duty

Found: IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE [Supplementary to the Second Marshalled List] After Clause 62 LORD BANNER

Found: Review into Legal Challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects undertaken by Lord Banner

Found: LORD BANNER LORD MURRAY OF BLIDWORTH 68_ After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— “Supreme

Found: As noted in the report by Lord Banner, it is not necessary to maintain three permission attempts to