Stephen Timms: ...and me, for their help in identifying how the Bill could be improved. We have enjoyed a smorgasbord of issues, such as white label cigarettes manufactured in eastern Europe; the removal of Japanese knotweed; the taxation of European backwoods, which cropped up on a number of occasions; the striking parallels evident to at least some members of the Committee between tax avoidance...
Angela Eagle: Welcome to the Chair, Mr. Hood. I note that the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham has fled at the thought of Japanese knotweed, probably to check that there is none in his garden. It is not a plant that one would want to find flourishing anywhere near anything that the members of this Committee value. Land remediation relief was introduced in 2001 to encourage owners and investors to...
Mark Hoban: ...made is to show that land has to be contaminated at the time that a major interest in the land is acquired for the expenditure to qualify for relief. If someone has a site that has been invaded by Japanese knotweed, what relief is available if they want to remove it from the land?
Baroness Sharples: asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they will take to eradicate the spread of Japanese knotweed.
Huw Irranca-Davies: The following figures cover the cost to the Environment Agency for channel maintenance, the treatment of Japanese knotweed, unplanned blockage removal and regular planned deployment of staff. £ 2003-04 16,300 2004-05 14,372 2005-06 14,972 2006-07 37,146 2007-08 47,492 2008-09 (to date) 40,000 The Environment Agency made a contribution of £25,000 to the London...
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 29 September (WA 428), whether they plan to add Japanese knotweed to those weeds covered by the Weeds Act 1959, in the light of developments in relation to its control.
John Scott: ...action. As Nanette Milne said, today's debate is a welcome first step in that direction. Not all non-native species are a threat to biodiversity, although well documented examples such as the Japanese knotweed, which the cabinet secretary and Elaine Murray referred to, the grey squirrel, which Jamie McGrigor mentioned, and the introduction of sparrows and starlings into north America, have...
Hilary Benn: DEFRA and Network Rail are members of the project board for research into potential agents for the natural control of Japanese knotweed, and both were represented at a meeting about a similar project for the control of Himalayan balsam. However, DEFRA has had no discussions with Network Rail specifically about controlling invasive non-native pests and plants or the five injurious weeds...
Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government: What statutory obligations apply to public authorities in respect of the control of noxious weeds, particularly ragwort, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.
Kenneth Gibson: ...Commission Scotland and the Scottish Executive. The previous Administration and the current Administration have addressed an important issue. The grey squirrel is not the only invasive species. Japanese knotweed, mink, and hedgehogs in the Western Isles are all invasive species, but of course humans are the most significant invasive species and our impact on the environment has been...
Peter Soulsby: I thank my hon. Friend for her reply. I raise the issue on behalf of the tens of thousands up and down the land who weekly do battle with invasive non-native species. In my case, it is the Japanese knotweed, which until three years ago I would not even have recognised, but which has been identified as the species crowding out the other plants and wildlife at the bottom of our chapel garden. I...
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the scientific research project into the biological control of Japanese knotweed, carried out in collaboration with Cornwall County Council, the Environment Agency and others and due to report by the end of 2007, has yet done so; and, if so, what consideration they are giving to its findings.
Ian McKee: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken under the Weeds Act 1959 or other legislation to control the spread of ragwort, Japanese knotweed and other injurious weeds.
Colin Burgon: ...of villagers appreciate and value what is in their midst. I should also mention the doughty workers of Barwick in Bloom, led by the ever-energetic John Tinker. They have helped to eradicate the Japanese knotweed that was in danger of obliterating part of the iron age ditch. I also congratulate them on their work on the Methodist chapel churchyard adjoining the site. It provided a useful...
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: When they expect to receive the results of the scientific research project into the biological control of Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica); and what procedures they intend to use to consider them.
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they propose to introduce stronger legal powers for use against landowners and occupiers who allow the uncontrolled spread of Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica) on their land.
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they propose to make TheKnotweed Code of Practice: Managing Japanese Knotweed on Development Sites mandatory, and to extend it to vacant and disused land that has planning permission or is zoned for development.
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be used to require the owner or occupier of land to secure the removal of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) from that land.
Dai Davies: ...been decontaminated in situ; where the contaminated soils unsuitable for in situ treatment have been removed to; what quantities of contaminated soils have been removed; and whether the removal of Japanese knotweed from the site has been completed.
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to define standards for eradication of Japanese knotweed; and if he will make a statement.