Japanese Knotweed

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Baroness Sharples

Monday 7th November 2016 Lords Chamber

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

My Lords, we continue to explore bio-control options through the controlled release of the psyllid insect Aphalara itadori. Releases have been carried out at 18 sites this year using improved methods to increase the chances of establishment. Local action groups, some established with Defra support, continue to reduce or eradicate Japanese knotweed in several places in England. Community protection notices are starting to be used by local authorities to address the nuisance this plant causes.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is he aware that I first asked this Question nearly 30 years ago? There has not been a great deal of progress. Is he aware of the man who killed his wife and committed suicide as he could not sell his property because of knotweed? Also, many people cannot get mortgages on their houses because of knotweed.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, first, I acknowledge my noble friend’s tenacity in seeking to deal with this brute of a plant. On mortgages, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors published an information paper only last year that aims to help valuers and mortgage lenders better understand the implications of this plant for residential properties. We anticipate that this will lead to a more pragmatic approach between all parties in dealing with it. On what my noble friend said about the tragedy, this invasive species of plant is of great concern and we need to deal with it where we can.

Litter

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Baroness Sharples

Wednesday 6th July 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I entirely agree that, in urban and rural areas, fly-tipping is an enormous disgrace. The Government wish to crack down on offenders by working with the Sentencing Council to ensure that sentences act as a real deterrent to offending. We will soon consult on fines for littering, which was a part of the Government’s election manifesto.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Can my noble friend tell us what effect the 5p charge on plastic bags has had?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, it has involved a very significant reduction in the use of those bags, which are one of the biggest scourges of litter in our country.

Japanese Knotweed

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Baroness Sharples

Tuesday 10th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in preventing the spread of Japanese knotweed.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)]

My Lords, the work of local action groups, many established with Defra’s support, has reduced or eradicated Japanese knotweed in several places across England. Community protection notices, available since last year, enable local authorities to require landowners to deal with any nuisance caused by the plant. We continue to explore biocontrol options through the controlled release of a psyllid insect and expect to receive further reports of its progress in December.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that I first asked this Question 26 years ago? We are certainly showing progress and I am most grateful to him for his reply.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, my noble friend has certainly been tenacious and persistent in dealing with a real thug of a plant. We have had this plant since 1825, when, with good will, it arrived at horticultural gardens; 20 years later it arrived at Kew and was sent up to Edinburgh. I am afraid that we have the consequences of not understanding, as we do now with hindsight, that we should never have allowed this plant to come to these islands.

Eurostar: Passengers with Pets

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Baroness Sharples

Tuesday 30th June 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Eurostar about allowing passengers to travel with pets.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)]

My Lords, Defra has not had any recent discussions with Eurostar on this issue. Government does not impose any obligation on transport companies to carry pet animals; it is a commercial decision on the part of those companies as to whether they offer this service to their customers. Eurostar does offer carriage to recognised assistance dogs, and works closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to make sure that all the relevant import requirements are met.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

My Lords, passports for pets has been 100% successful, has it not? I was involved in that from the beginning, with my noble friend Lord Soulsby. Why, oh why, will Eurostar not take pets? You can take your dog on the sleeper to Scotland, and all the ferries take dogs, so why not the Eurostar?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, as I say, this is a matter on which commercial companies make their own decisions. I looked at Eurostar’s website, and it is conscious of and concerned about safety in particular, although it is very keen to help with assistance dogs. I acknowledge the part my noble friend played in passports for pets. We now have an EU pet travel scheme, which last year carried over 170,000 dogs, cats and ferrets.