Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of the revenue raised by the five pence plastic bag levy has been allocated to good causes by each of the ten largest retailers since the introduction of the policy.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Since the introduction of the five pence plastic bag levy, our data indicates that the ten largest retailers in England have raised around £94.8 million in net proceeds and that approximately £74.4 million towards a variety of good causes covering the arts, education, environment, health, heritage and sports as well as local causes chosen by customers or staff.
The regulation does not specify to record where the proceeds of the charge are distributed. Retailers are, however, expected and have been encouraged by Ministers to donate the proceeds to good causes such as charities or community groups.
Defra publishes records supplied in accordance with the regulation by 31st July each reporting year on GOV. UK.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what cooperation programmes his Department has with the Government of Israel for research and trade in the agricultural sector and what assessment he has made of the potential for future collaboration in that sector after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
The UK, as part of the EU, is currently a member of around 40 EU trade agreements covering over 55 countries; one such country is Israel. After leaving the EU, the UK will be able to implement an independent trade policy. This would make it possible to revisit and improve existing agreements where appropriate.
Defra does not currently cooperate on agricultural research programmes with Israel bilaterally. We do cooperate with Israel through multilateral research programmes such as the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) and the STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health and we intend to continue to do so after we have left the EU.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with UK retailers on the sale of plants grown with neonicotinoid pesticides; and if he will issue guidance to retailers not to sell plants grown with those pesticides.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government remains of the view that decisions on the use of pesticides should be based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to pollinators should not be authorised.
Three neonicotinoids are currently subject to restrictions which normally prohibit their use on a number of crops. The UK has fully implemented these restrictions. We have also said that we support further restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides based on an assessment of the evidence, including that they may have an impact on soils.
Currently, ornamental plants can be treated with neonicotinoids if the plant is grown in a greenhouse, is treated after flowering, or doesn’t flower until the year after treatment.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the implementation of the full ban on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides announced on 9 November 2017.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government has stated that it supports further restrictions on neonicotinoids based on recent advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides
The European Commission has made a proposal which is under EU consideration. Any changes are likely to take effect in 2018 and to affect crops harvested from 2019.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has funded to investigate alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticides; and if he will provide a list of that research.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra does not fund research into the development of individual insecticides; this would fall to the agrochemical sector. A number of public bodies fund broader research into pest control chemicals, biological controls and cultural methods. This includes funding from Innovate UK through mechanisms including the Agri-Tech Catalyst, which helps develop innovative solutions to challenges in crop production. Any Defra research into alternatives to current chemical pesticides can be found at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the recognition of animals as sentient beings in EU law is not being transferred into UK law in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.
Answered by George Eustice
I refer the Hon gentleman to the response to PQ105469:
“The EU (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the existing body of direct EU animal welfare laws to become UK laws. Most of these EU laws relate to farmed animals and many were passed after Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) came into effect.
Article 13 of the TFEU created a qualified obligation on the EU and EU Member States “to have full regard to the welfare of animals [as they are sentient beings]” when formulating and implementing certain EU laws.
We are exploring how the ‘animal sentience’ principle of Article 13 can continue to be reflected in the UK when we leave the EU.”
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the reintroduction of beavers to the UK.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Under section 78 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, the Secretary of State has authorised Natural England to act on his behalf to determine applications for licences to release species, including the European beaver, subject to the controls in section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The Secretary of State may, as he sees fit, instruct Natural England in respect to the discharge of this function and he may also choose to make the final determination of a licence himself.
There is a Forestry Commission proposal to release beavers into a fenced enclosure in the Forest of Dean near Lydbrook. This project would require a conditional licence allowing release into a secure enclosure. An application for a licence would need to be submitted to Natural England to determine, and the evidence required would include whether there are appropriate measures in place to keep the beavers securely and to recapture any animals that should escape.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the proposal for the reintroduction of beavers to the Forest of Dean near Lydbrook; which Minister of his Department is responsible for making a decision on that project; when such a decision will be made; whether that project requires approval by the Forestry Commission; whether such approval has been given; and what precise scientific evidence his Department will use to reach a decision on that matter.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Under section 78 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, the Secretary of State has authorised Natural England to act on his behalf to determine applications for licences to release species, including the European beaver, subject to the controls in section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The Secretary of State may, as he sees fit, instruct Natural England in respect to the discharge of this function and he may also choose to make the final determination of a licence himself.
There is a Forestry Commission proposal to release beavers into a fenced enclosure in the Forest of Dean near Lydbrook. This project would require a conditional licence allowing release into a secure enclosure. An application for a licence would need to be submitted to Natural England to determine, and the evidence required would include whether there are appropriate measures in place to keep the beavers securely and to recapture any animals that should escape.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Minister of his Department is responsible for taking decisions to approve or reject specific proposals for projects to reintroduce beavers into the UK.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Under section 78 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, the Secretary of State has authorised Natural England to act on his behalf to determine applications for licences to release species, including the European beaver, subject to the controls in section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The Secretary of State may, as he sees fit, instruct Natural England in respect to the discharge of this function and he may also choose to make the final determination of a licence himself.
There is a Forestry Commission proposal to release beavers into a fenced enclosure in the Forest of Dean near Lydbrook. This project would require a conditional licence allowing release into a secure enclosure. An application for a licence would need to be submitted to Natural England to determine, and the evidence required would include whether there are appropriate measures in place to keep the beavers securely and to recapture any animals that should escape.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether EU Directive 2008/50/EC on Air Quality will be transposed into UK law.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) has already been transposed into UK law.