Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the issuance process for export health certificates to British companies exporting natural animal health products to Bahrain and the wider Middle East in establishing a level playing field with international competitors in the region.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK and Bahrain enjoy a strong trading relationship, including in agri-food goods. Import conditions vary on the specific goods – and this is for each country to determine, according to its own biosecurity considerations. The Government’s Export Support Service provides information to exporters, including documentation typically needed by the importing nation.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the life expectancy of the Thames Barrier; and whether there are any plans to alter the current pattern or frequency of use in order to manage its expected lifespan.
Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller
The Thames Barrier forms part of a complex system of assets along the Thames and its tributaries to manage the risk of flooding in London. The barrier is expected to provide the required standard of protection out to 2070 based on projected rates of sea levels rise and with significant investment to upgrade and improve the mechanical, electrical, forecasting and supporting systems.
The Thames Barrier needs to be maintained to ensure its operational reliability. Closing it too frequently could reduce its reliability, because it would make it difficult to maintain to the required standards, as well as negatively impacting on shipping. As such the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan sets out a strategy to manage the frequency of closures and its lifespan. This includes implementing measures to manage non-tidal flooding (i.e., flooding driven by high river flows coming down the Thames) in west London without relying on the Thames Barrier by 2035, as well as raising defences upstream of the barrier by 2050 to allow higher tides upriver, thereby reducing the number of times the barrier needs to close.
The Thames Estuary Plan takes an adaptation pathways approach, planning for a range of future climate scenarios with a light touch review every five years and a comprehensive review every 10 years. At present all end of century options for upgrading or replacing the Thames Barrier remain available, with a decision needed by 2040 so that an option can be in place by 2070.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have on which different species of fish inhabit the tidal reaches of the River Thames, particularly in the Richmond and Teddington sections.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for managing freshwater fisheries in England and carries out biannual fish surveys at eight locations on the tidal Thames, between Gravesend and Richmond.
From 2010-2022, the EA recorded 19 fish species at Richmond. These were: bleak; brown trout; bullhead; chub; common bream; common carp; dace; European eel; flounder; common goby; gudgeon; minnow; perch; roach; rudd; sand smelt; sea bass; smelt; and three-spined stickleback.
Teddington has not been surveyed recently but between 1989 and 1993 11 species were caught at Teddington. These were: bleak; common bream; common goby; dace; European eel; flounder; gudgeon; perch; roach; sea bass; and three-spined stickleback.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the annual budget of Natural England; and how many people it employs.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
In 2022/23, Natural England’s (NE) annual budget allocation was £190m (this increased to £226.9m by the end of the financial year). NE has received an increased allocation of £260m in 2023/24. NE staff in post as of September 2022 is 2,769 Full Time Equivalents (FTE), with a cap of 2,980 FTE for the next two financial years.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the likelihood that drought measures will need to be imposed in the Greater London area.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Water companies supplying the Greater London area have reported that, despite the dry spring, their storage levels are normal and there is a low risk that they will need to implement restrictions this summer due to water availability.
Further consecutive months of exceptionally dry weather (below 60% of long term average rainfall) could lead to a deterioration in reservoir storage and require further action, but at present the water resources situation in London is normal.
If there continues to be significantly less rainfall than average, there will be impacts on the environment and on water availability for agriculture. The Environment Agency is working with all sectors through the National Drought Group to ensure that collaborative action is taken to minimise the impacts of drought.
At present water companies across the country are reporting unprecedented high demands on water supplies and this is putting pressure on parts of their distribution networks. They are taking action to maintain supplies to customers.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of reservoir levels in the Thames Valley and the South East; and what is the likelihood of water restrictions later this year.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
All reservoir levels in the Thames Valley and the south east are currently normal or higher when compared to our analysis of their historic levels for the time of year.
Water companies in the south east have reported back that despite the sharp increase in demand due to the hot weather they have sufficient water resources in their reservoirs and ground water sources. There is enough water for companies to maintain supplies in the south east without customer restrictions this summer if water resources are managed properly.