Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Latin America is an important partner for the UK's global ambitions, with many countries aligned with our values, and we maintain a strong diplomatic relationship with countries around the region. The latest list of Ministerial responsibilities was published in November 2021, and lists Wendy Morton MP as FCDO Parliamentary Undersecretary of State (Minister for Europe and the Americas)....
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: In the specific case, I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to PQ HL5950. Generally, the most common reasons why a permit for installations may not be authorised are operator competence (ability to operate a regulated facility and fulfil the obligations of an operator), the activity posing unacceptable risk to people and the environment, or that insufficient information is provided to...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Water companies are separate legal entities from their directors, as per company law, and it is companies which undertake most of the duties associated with treatment and discharge of sewage. However, directors of companies can be held liable for the offences committed by their companies in the event that consent, connivance or neglect on their part can be shown. The Government has made...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The recently published sixth national otter survey of Wales (2015-18) showed a decline in the percentage of survey sites which had evidence of otters for the first time since the surveys began in the late 1970s. In England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Mammal Society are collaborating on a new national otter survey of England which is due to start later this year. By the...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is committed to building long-term peace and stability in Mali and the wider region. Of the c.14,500 personnel that make up the UN Peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the UK deploys 300 troops. Separately, we also deploy four Chinook helicopters with around 100 troops providing logistical support to the French counter-terrorism operation, Barkhane. The Minister for Africa, Latin...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security and political situation in Burkina Faso. As the Minister for Africa set out in her statement on 25 January 2022, the UK condemns the coup d'etat by military forces in Burkina Faso, and calls for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all members of the civilian government who have been detained, including the President of...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: In Mali, the FCDO currently provides support through three programmes: one supporting justice and stability, one to build the resilience of vulnerable populations to shocks, particularly climate shocks, and one providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable, including to those affected by conflict. In addition HMG supports several stabilisation and conflict prevention projects in Mali...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: In our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, published in May 2021, we announced that we would look to restrict the use of glue traps as a means of pest control. Accordingly, we are supporting the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East’s Glue Traps (Offences) Private Members Bill, which proposes to ban the use of glue traps for catching rodents except in the most exceptional circumstances. This...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: This Government is committed to increasing our already high animal welfare standards. Our Action Plan for Animal Welfare lays out how we will ensure the welfare of all animals, whether that be farm, pet or wild animals is set at the highest standards, as well as encouraging similar standards abroad. The Government introduced the landmark Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill to Parliament on 8...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The commercial sale of cats as pets is regulated under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The 2018 Regulations set out clear requirements for those who breed and sell cats commercially, including their importation and distribution. For example, licencees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Where any animal is subject to inappropriate breeding practices, whether for commercial activity or not, their welfare may suffer. To combat this all animals are protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The 2006 Act requires those in charge of animals to protect them from harm and to ensure they have five key welfare needs provided for. Those in charge of animals who fail to protect them...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 anyone exhibiting wild animals (other than in a pet shop or a static circus) for seven or more days in a year requires a licence. Wild animals are defined in the Act as any animal not normally domesticated in Great Britain, and therefore covers any ‘exotic’ animal or any animal where one of the parents is not normally domesticated in Great Britain. Zoos...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Pet dogs, cats and ferrets are strictly defined within the pet travel legislation as Canis lupis familiaris (domestic dog), Felis silvestris catus (domestic cat) and Mustela putorius furo (ferret). Movements of these pet animals must be accompanied by documentation verifying identification, valid rabies vaccinations, a rabies blood test (if required) and, if relevant, treatment against the...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We consulted last year on how a deposit return scheme (DRS) might operate. The consultation set out information on a return to retailer model similar to those used successfully in other countries and we also asked for information on digital systems that could be used for a DRS. The technology for a digital DRS is not yet available at the scale required for full implementation but we are...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Defra recognises that there are instances where herring gull and lesser black-backed gull may cause public health and public safety issues, particularly in urban areas. It has been assessed that these species are not appropriate for control through General Licence, due to their red and amber conservation status. However, to address some of the public health and safety concerns in urban areas,...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security and political situation in Burkina Faso. As the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean set out in her statement on 25 January 2022, the UK condemns the coup d'etat by military forces in Burkina Faso, and calls for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all members of the civilian government who have been...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government monitors the conflict trajectory in Nigeria closely. We regularly engage with a wide range of actors, including the Nigerian Government and Non-Governmental Organisations, on developments. Conflict assessments also help us to understand the conflict picture. We have commissioned conflict assessments of North West and North Central Nigeria which will be published shortly. A...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Water companies are required to monitor their processes and emissions, and report these to the Environment Agency (EA). Water companies provide this information through annual data returns or upon request by the EA. The EA runs this through compliance checks to ensure water companies are meeting permit requirements. The Environment Act 2021 also places new monitoring duties directly on water...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how the Government will work with WRAP to address both supply chain and household food waste from farm to fork and included a commitment to consult on introducing mandatory reporting of food waste. The Government will publish its response to the National Food Strategy in due course.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We support Food Waste Action Week, and the year-round consumer campaigns delivered by WRAP to reduce and prevent food waste. These include Love Food Hate Waste which seeks to help citizens reduce their food waste and make the connection with climate change including using the banner Wasting food feeds climate change. The current campaigns do not differentiate between UK and global emissions...