Mark Hoban: ...attractive for them to regenerate areas. The Financial Secretary mentioned in his opening remarks the business premises renovation allowance—he also cited other measures, such as ones to tackle Japanese knotweed. It is interesting that the British Property Federation said that the allowance "will not, in our view be sufficient to redress this concern as it will only apply to specific...
Edward Balls: ...includes extending the scope of the existing 150 per cent. capital allowance to the clean-up of sites with long-term derelict property on them, as well as to those that have been invaded by Japanese knotweed—which I am sure at least some Members will recognise as a serious threat to many urban and rural locations. We intend also to increase the incentives for on-site remediation, thereby...
Clive Efford: This petition of residents living in Chelsworth drive and Tuam road in my constituency highlights the growing problem of Japanese knotweed. Responsibility for clearing an infestation where it appears is clearly set out in statute, but that is not the case when the land is bona vacantia. No one has a legal duty to deal with the problem, despite the threat to neighbouring properties, creating a...
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: How many cases there have been in each of the past five years of prosecutions relating to Japanese knotweed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991, or any other relevant legislation; and how many were successful.
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: How much it costs to eradicate a given area of Japanese knotweed; and what are the estimated annual costs of its eradication (a) to the construction industry; (b) to public authorities owning and maintaining the public realm; and (c) in total, in (i) the United Kingdom, and (ii) England.
Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will set up and provide funds for a national eradication programme of Japanese knotweed; and Whether they will take steps to control Japanese knotweed through the controlled introduction of natural predators.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the extent of colonisation of the trunk road network by Japanese knotweed and, if so, what the findings have been.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research into any potential damage to road surfaces resulting from the colonisation of adjacent verges by Japanese knotweed.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research into any potential restriction of visibility splays resulting from the colonisation of road verges by Japanese knotweed.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any instructions to road maintenance contractors to (a) survey the extent of and (b) take action to control Japanese knotweed on road verges and visibility splays.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of the control and eradication of Japanese knotweed and what action is being taken to implement this policy.
John Farquhar Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any directions to local authorities to (a) survey the extent of and (b) take action to control Japanese knotweed.
Barry Gardiner: ...lawfully released into the wild as part of a re-population or re-introduction programme (section 48); in relation to certain invasive non-native species such as the grey squirrel, ruddy duck or Japanese knotweed, selling any animal or plant, or eggs or seeds thereof (section 50); interfering with Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in various ways including interfering with the...
Madeleine Moon: ...are based on empirical evidence gleaned from monitoring and research, and, of course, the finances to do it all. The legacy of the Government should not be the national threat of the spread of Japanese knotweed or the 21,000 per cent. increase of the Blair's shoulder-knot moth as a result of the growth of suburban cypress trees. In the words of the RSPB, "We must stop the rot, protect the...
Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government: What has been the cost of chemical spraying against Japanese knotweed for the years 2000 to 2006.
Baroness Sharples: asked Her Majesty's Government: What new initiatives they have in mind to combat the spread of Japanese knotweed.
Baroness Byford: ...terminal, threat to our variety. That is to say nothing of the destruction they cause to riverbanks. We have for many years now faced the whole question of rhododendrons and, more recently, Japanese knotweed. As I am sure that noble Lords are aware, there are many further examples I could draw upon. The important factor in the context of this debate is that they usually start from small...
Lord Greaves: .... It might have lots of nasty plants growing on it, such as ragwort, dock and other injurious weeds of that nature. Indeed, it may be causing a problem in the locality because it is invested with Japanese knotweed or other such unpleasant aliens. What I propose in Amendment No. 61F is that where those conditions apply—where no dissolution is available—the local authority has the power...
Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to local authorities and other relevant bodies on dealing with Japanese knotweed.
Norman Baker: ...about its achievements so far. We want the Government to put into action what they believe, as we do—that non-native invasive species need to be dealt with. The matter is urgent. For example, Japanese knotweed is not only deeply invasive and spreading rapidly but, as the Minister knows, when it is flailed it spreads even more quickly. People do not know that and many highways authorities...