Bycatch Risk Prioritisation Framework
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(1 week, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
My understanding is that the framework will be ongoing: we get it set up, we get it working, we collect the data and we monitor. It will also inform further frameworks going forward.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
My Lords, I should perhaps declare an interest, as I took the then Fisheries Bill through your Lordships’ House. All that we have heard today very much chimes with what we heard when we had that consideration. I would like to ask the Minister what progress we are making on the redesign of nets, which was a subject we discussed because of the bycatch issue. There is also the imperative, with which I hope the Minser will agree, that we work with the fishing industry—alongside it—so that we make progress on maximum sustainable yields, which we all desire.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very important point. We have to work with the industry if we are going to resolve this, because we need a balance between sustainable fishing and supporting the industry, while ensuring that we do not have bycatch that causes huge problems to some of our most threatened marine species. He makes a good point regarding nets. I know there has been work done on what nets are made of, what they look like, the size of the holes and all sorts of things like that. That work is ongoing and I am happy to keep him up to date with it.
Natural England: Gamebird Release Licensing
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(1 week, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I can confirm that I have confidence in the chair of Natural England. My understanding is that he was appointed for a third term because there was a new Government and it was decided that continuity was important.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
My Lords, to play in what the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, said, I think that what has broken down is trust; that is, trust on the part of so many in the rural communities in relation to what has appeared to be imposed upon them. I encourage the Minister, with her rural credentials, to seek to rebuild this sense of working together rather than against communities. It is all very well saying that this is not happening; it is happening. That is the feeling of rural communities. I ask and, indeed, implore the Minister to ensure that Defra, in the work that it is doing, really drills down with some of these bodies that they are meant to be working for people, not against them.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I hope I can reassure the noble Lord that I always believe in working together and constructively. When I am involved in issues in Defra, that is an approach that I always encourage, because people get better understanding of what is important and what is needed if they work together. We have a new Secretary of State, as I am sure noble Lords are aware. She was a Minister in Defra before, which is helpful, and I shall make sure that she understands the concerns of this House.
Farming Practices: Sustainable Farming Incentive
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(2 weeks, 5 days ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
Our encouragement of all sorts of farms that did not already have grants and support demonstrates that we are keen to look at food production. We also have a farming innovation programme that supports agrotechnology for farmers, which can help with food production as well. The whole picture is about supporting food production, because, as we have said, we believe that food security is national security, and we take that very seriously.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
My Lords, I declare my farming interests. One should not be provoked by comments, but it is important that we feed the nation, and I am worried about this concern that, if you are a medium or large farmer, somehow you are the enemy. We need all farmers to ensure that we are well fed and have national security through that, as well as enhancing our environment. It is important that farmers have clarity and certainty; the Minister has touched on that, but farmers need far more of it.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
It is absolutely right that farmers need clarity and certainty, which is why we have brought in the 25-year farming road map. With regard to larger farmers, that is also why, from September, the SFI will be open to all farms. We are trying to encourage farms that had not previously taken part to come forward and be supported by the Government.
Clean Water Bill: Chalk Streams
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(2 weeks, 5 days ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
Very strict conditions have to be met before the Government are allowed to do that. However, we have said that we will keep all options on the table if it comes to that.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
In terms of our desire for clean water, can I ask that the Government work very closely with the champions of clean water—the fishing community, who are often the eyes and ears on early signs of pollution? It is important because, although we have the desire to do this, we need volunteers and others to ensure that this comes into effect. I very much hope that Defra and the noble Baroness will work extremely effectively with the fishing community.
Environment Act 2021 Targets
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
We will hear from the Cross Benches, then the Opposition Benches.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The noble Baroness is absolutely right. Unless you have accurate data, you do not know whether you have set the right targets. It is absolutely critical. One of the things that we are looking at in Defra, right across the board, is how to improve our datasets. In this particular area, it is critical. We know that if you target nature properly, it recovers very quickly, but we need to understand that better.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
Does the Minister agree that invasive non-native species have a very profound effect on not only the economy but our native ecosystem? Does she agree also that we should do more by way of research in dealing with this, and with the mobilisation of volunteers? I am thinking particularly of the efforts with, for example, Asian hornets, grey squirrels, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. There is so much we could do by mobilising so many people to help with this.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I could not agree more with the noble Lord; he has got it exactly right. I am very pleased that I am going to be supporting Invasive Species Week this week by going to Derwentwater, near where I live, to look at the work being done by the Rivers Trust on Himalayan balsam, for example. I am sure the noble Lord will also be pleased to know that I spent all last weekend, and the weekend before, Himalayan balsam bashing. We have a local group in our parish on Himalayan balsam bashing, which my husband runs. We also do a lot of work with the red squirrel group locally. It is something that I am absolutely passionate about.
Access to Nature Green Paper
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts(1 month, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The noble Baroness is absolutely right: one of the things that it is really important for us to do as a Government is get children out into nature. We know that, if you get out in nature at a young age, you are more likely to continue to do so during your life, and we know how good it is for people’s health. On children, I can reassure the noble Baroness that we have been working with the Department for Education on a number of measures where we can increase children’s connections with and understanding of nature. We are working to develop a national nature education park, for example, and looking at how we can embed it throughout the school life of children.
There are also other ways. I recently visited Low Gillerthwaite field centre, for example, to see its excellent work. It trains young people in nature conservation and brings children in to see nature. As we develop the Green Paper, which we are absolutely committed to, we are also working on myriad other ways in the meantime to ensure better access for all people, including children.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)
My Lords, I declare my farming interests as declared in the register. Farming for food production and the environment is eminently compatible, but does the Minister agree that with rights come responsibilities, and with the importance of adherence to the Countryside Code and a much greater awareness of it? We want to encourage so many people of all backgrounds and all regions to come and enjoy the glories of the countryside, but there must be responsibility with it. Also, I think that the countryside ticks better with pragmatism rather than ideology. We need to remember that we are relying on the farmland for food and to look after nature and there will be times when it is not advisable to have wider access, for the protection of not only food production but the thing we cherish, which is nature.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
I could not agree more with the noble Lord about responsibility. I live in Cumbria, as noble Lords know, where there is damage, litter, the leaving opening of gates and sheep worrying, because people sometimes do not understand when they go to the countryside how to be responsible. I am really keen that we increase access. I do not need increased access to nature, because I have plenty and I enjoy walking. Plenty of people do not. They are the people we want to get out into nature, because we know how good it is for them. At the same time, an education process about responsibility in the countryside is incredibly important.