Ancient Trees: Protections

Debate between Lord Kamall and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Thursday 24th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Defra has just been mapping trees in this country, so that we have a better understanding of how many trees we have, where they are and what types of trees they are, so we are doing quite a lot of work to understand what trees we have. Also, as I am sure the noble Baroness and other noble Lords are aware, when applying for what was BPS and is now ELMS, the mapping of particularly important large trees on farmland is currently carried out. When we look at the Tree Council report, we need to consider how we can use that information to make sure that the most important trees are protected and that landowners are encouraged to do so.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, I hope the noble Baroness takes this question in the spirit in which it is intended. Given that the tree has now been felled, what is the point of a tree preservation order on the stump? Is it to act as a disincentive to future fellings or to send a strong signal to make more people aware that they should be more careful when felling older trees?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

That is a really good question. I do not know the reason why the council has put a TPO on it, but common sense suggests that the tree may not actually be dead. You could say that it has been extremely heavily pollarded, as opposed to chopped down at the base, as was the case with the Sycamore Gap tree. On that basis, it could potentially sprout again. It will not exactly recover quickly to its former glory, but that is potentially the reason that the TPO has been put on it.

Water Bills

Debate between Lord Kamall and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Thursday 9th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

This takes me right back to the Water (Special Measures) Bill, where this was discussed in some depth. The simple answer to my noble friend is that this is something that the water commission, which is making good progress under Sir Jon Cunliffe, will look at and will be central to the outcome for the future of the water industry, because there is great dissatisfaction with the way in which the water regulator has managed things in the past. Certainly, that is something that will be central to the water commission’s investigations.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, one way of possibly reducing water bills is through the installation of domestic water harvesting systems. I know they are not feasible for all consumers, but what is the Government’s view on encouraging and perhaps assisting more people and possibly SMEs to install domestic water harvesting systems in order to reduce their water bills? It is also better for the environment.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I think one thing water companies could be better at is providing advice to consumers about how to cut their water usage. We are not particularly good at that in this country; other countries are much better at it, and I think it is something that we need to encourage water companies to do.

Waste: Incineration

Debate between Lord Kamall and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Tuesday 22nd October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

That is a very good point: we talk about recycling a lot but we do not talk enough about reuse. That has to be a critical part of reducing the amount of waste that we have as a country. This is very much part of the discussions with local authorities, because they have a key role to play in this. Also, encouraging people on behaviour change is difficult and the Government definitely have a role to play in that.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, considering that we are being nerdy, I wonder whether the Minister can share with the House the technologies that are being looked at to clean up the emissions from waste incineration plants.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Unfortunately, I am not nerdy, so I am unable to answer the noble Lord’s question, but I am sure that we can get back to him in writing.