Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the efficacy of the grazing densities (Livestock Grazing Unit Per Hectare) on the enhancement of Moorland biodiversity was discussed with Natural England's expert Science Advisory Committees before publication.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The actions were developed in liaison with specialists from Arms Lengths Bodies (Natural England, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Historic England and the Rural Payments Agency) and were assured by Arm’s Lengths Bodies to ensure they are effective in contributing to environmental targets and offer value for money.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data analysis took place before Environmental Land Management scheme Low Grazing densities were published, to measure the difference or similarity in biodiversity enhancement achieved when an identical grazing density (grazing livestock unit per hectare) is applied to Moorland areas in different geographical and climatic regions of England.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environmental Land Management scheme actions were designed and appraised using a variety of qualitative and quantitative data. Geomorphology, climate and historic management practices all combine to make each moorland unique. The offer therefore includes a range of actions that can be selected based on the needs of each moorland. This includes an annual moorland assessment to assess the habitats on each moorland and their condition to inform the choice of grazing actions.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultation took place before setting the grazing densities (Livestock Grazing Unit Per Hectare) for all tiers of the Moorland Low Grazing Actions in Environmental Land Management schemes.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The actions were developed in consultation with stakeholder organisations from the agricultural and environmental sectors and through workshops with groups of farmers as well as with Arm’s Length Bodies (Natural England, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Historic England and the Rural Payments Agency).
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Fur (Import and Sale) Bill.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The report that they produce will support our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps.
In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor, published on 12 December 2023, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the design of the (a) Sustainable Farming Incentive and (b) Countryside Stewardship scheme will facilitate retention of the number of semi-wild hill ponies on Dartmoor.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Our new moorland offer includes actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive, available now, and new and amended actions to be included in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. We will confirm next steps in the rollout of Countryside Stewardship in due course.
Through the new offer, we provide payment for grazing with both cattle and ponies and both cattle and ponies are eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. We are thereby removing the competition between the two as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We have also made clear within the new offer that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, in recognition that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances.
We cannot, exclude either cattle or ponies from stocking density calculations. All livestock contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on moorland. On some moorland habitats (such as peatland), it is necessary to graze with low stocking densities to support habitat restoration and maintenance. If any livestock are excluded from the stocking density calculation, over grazing would result. This would prevent us achieving desired improvements in habitat condition.
The moorland offer will be subject to monitoring and evaluation. Any change in the pony population during this time will be investigated and further mitigations will be explored if necessary.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor, what his planned timescale is for (a) agreeing, (b) implementing and (c) completing a Molinia reduction strategy across the more; what level of Molinia reduction he plans to secure; and who the senior responsible officer for the Molinia reduction strategy will be.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We fully support the recommendations of the independent review, which includes the recommendation to tackle the over domination of Molinia in some places on Dartmoor. Defra is supporting the establishment of the Land Use Management Group (LUMG) in the coming weeks. The LUMG will oversee the broader plan for restoring Dartmoor’s SSSIs, including the management of Molinia to benefit biodiversity, carbon and farming interests. The reduction of Molinia will require a strategic approach across large areas of Dartmoor and it will take time.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to rule out any reductions in the minimum population of Dartmoor's iconic semi-wild Hill Ponies as part of future land management or environmental strategies for the Dartmoor area.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the new offer we will be providing payment for grazing with both cattle and ponies and making both cattle and ponies eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. We are thereby removing the competition between the two as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We have also made it clear within the new offer that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, in recognition that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances.
We cannot, exclude either cattle or ponies from stocking density calculations. All livestock contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on moorland. On some moorland habitats (such as peatland), it is necessary to graze with low stocking densities to support habitat restoration and maintenance. If any livestock are excluded from the stocking density calculation, then over grazing would result. This would prevent us achieving desired improvements in habitat condition.
The new moorland offer will be subject to monitoring and evaluation, particularly in the first year. Any change in the pony population during this time will be investigated and further mitigations will be explored if necessary.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the long-term conservation of Dartmoor's hill ponies.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra supports the long-term conservation of livestock and equines, including the Dartmoor Hill pony, by monitoring populations of pedigree livestock including native breeds which are published in an annual UK National Breed inventory and by protecting eligible native breeds at risk from culling during notifiable disease outbreaks.
Through the expanded offer for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024, keepers of Dartmoor Hill Ponies on Dartmoor can also claim payment for grazing under the native breeds at risk supplement and pony/cattle grazing supplement.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure regulators sponsored by his Department have sufficient resources for enforcement work.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department recognises the vital role that regulators play in the context of enforcement. The enforcement powers of bodies such as Ofwat and the Environment Agency are key to ensuring companies meet their obligations across the water and waste sectors in England and Wales. The Water (Special Measures) Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 4 September, will strengthen the power of the water industry regulators and expand the cost recovery powers available to the regulators, enabling them to recover their costs for enforcement action from water companies.
Officials work closely with Defra’s public bodies throughout each spending review period, to agree enforcement plans and the required resources.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the levels of pollution in the River Exe and (b) what the sources of this pollution are.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This government is committed to tackling pollution. The Water (Special Measures) Bill, announced during the King’s Speech, delivers on our manifesto commitment to put water companies under tough special measures and begin the work of cleaning up our waterways.
Water quality assessments are underpinned by Environment Agency monitoring programmes, focussing upon a broad range of biological, chemical and physico-chemical parameters. Monitoring and assessment are undertaken throughout the River Exe catchment, from the headwaters on Exmoor, to the bathing waters at Exmouth and Dawlish Warren. Water quality data is publicly available via Ecology and Fish Data Explorer and Open WIMS. These data are assessed against standards set under the Water Environment Regulations (WER) and Bathing Water Regulations, and are published on Catchment Data Explorer.
In the River Exe catchment, there are 27 waterbodies. Of these, 10 are at good ecological status (under WER), 16 at moderate status and one at poor status. This equates to 37% of waterbodies in the River Exe catchment achieving good or higher status, compared to 16% nationally. Bathing waters at Exmouth and Dawlish Warren received a classification of ‘Excellent’ in 2023.
I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament