Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have undertaken or commissioned into the decline of stocks of wild salmon and sea trout, and the polluting effects of farmed salmon.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Freshwater fisheries and aquaculture policy is devolved in the UK. In England, Defra has funded numerous projects on factors that could contribute to the decline in stocks of wild salmon and sea trout. These can be found on the Defra research database at http://randd.defra.gov.uk/. We have not commissioned any research on the potential environmental impacts of salmon farming in recent years.
The devolved administrations also have active research programmes on migratory fish and these can be found at:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/Freshwater/Research
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/Freshwater/Research/Aqint
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government about the effect of Brexit on Scottish fisheries.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is working closely with the Devolved Administrations to deliver a future fishing policy that works for the whole of the UK and reflects the different needs and circumstances of fisheries in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
There has been extensive, positive and productive discussions at Ministerial and official level between Defra and the DAs, including the Scottish Government. The Secretary of State meets regularly with his Ministerial counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh Governments and senior officials from Northern Ireland. Officials have also established joint Defra-DA working groups to strengthen collaborative working and preparedness as we consider the implications of exiting the EU on UK fisheries.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government about the findings of a report by Scotland's Rural College on the effect of Brexit on sheep farming in Scotland.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Ministers and Defra officials meet regularly with the Scottish Government, along with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss a range of issues connected with the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. In connection with this, HM Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis and examining all areas of the UK economy, seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders. The report from Scotland’s Rural College “Assessing the impacts of alternative post-Brexit trade and agricultural support policy scenarios on Scottish farming systems” makes a contribution to that process.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussion they have had with the Scottish Government about the proposed release of lynx animals in Kielder Forest which straddles the border between England and Scotland.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Natural England has set up a regulators’ group involving officials from the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, Defra, the Forestry Commission and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The group has met and discussed the application and will continue to liaise regularly.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
Her Majesty's Government why additional EU funding for farmers granted to the UK in 2014 was distributed across the UK, given that that funding arose because of low area payments in Scotland.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Following agreement of the European Council on the EU Budget for 2014 to 2020, the Government decided in 2013 to maintain the historic split of the UK’s CAP direct payments budget between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. This decision followed consultation with key stakeholders in each part of the UK and each of the devolved administrations.
The decision recognised that not all parts of the UK had yet completed the transition to area based payments, making comparisons difficult. Scotland received less funding per hectare than other parts of the UK because of its mountainous, and therefore less productive, areas. Scotland has, on average, larger farms than the rest of the UK meaning Scottish farmers received higher than average payments.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Scottish Fisheries Minister, Richard Lochhead MSP, was invited to attend the European Council on Fishing on 10 November; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Scottish Government ministers, as well as those of the other Devolved Administrations, are regularly part of the UK delegation to meetings of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. They work closely with Defra ministers to agree shared UK positions and UK ministerial statements.
Mr Lochhead attended the Council meeting on 10 November as part of the UK delegation. He also attended the Secretary of State’s introductory meeting with new Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella.