Lord Benyon: The Government published its Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) (see attached) in July 2023. This marked a step-change in the Government’s approach to climate adaptation, putting in place an ambitious programme of decisive action for the next 5 years to address each of the 61 climate risks and opportunities in its Third Climate Change Risk Assessment. NAP3 builds on our work...
Lord Benyon: We are disappointed that the Hunting Trophies Bill failed to progress in the House of Lords in the previous session, in spite of overwhelming support from MPs for our proposals. We are committed to delivering on our manifesto pledge to ban the import of hunting trophies and will continue to explore ways to bring this forward.
Lord Benyon: All cetaceans are fully protected in UK waters under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations. In the UK, it is an offence to deliberately disturb, harm, capture or kill wild cetaceans. We are not aware of any cetaceans being caught illegally in UK waters in 2022. The UK introduced new rules in 2021 making it mandatory under fishing vessel licence conditions for fishers to...
Lord Benyon: We do not anticipate making raw footage available to the public. How remote electronic monitoring (REM) data would be reviewed would depend on the data objectives for that fishery. We consulted on the data objectives in our recent consultation on REM in English waters. We are considering responses to this consultation and will publish a response in due course.
Lord Benyon: Our recent consultation on remote electronic monitoring (REM) in English waters proposed a phased approach to the expansion of REM. This would begin with volunteers in priority fisheries and then become mandatory for all vessels in those fisheries. In this consultation we also sought views on the timeline and other implementation issues. We are considering consultation responses and will...
Lord Benyon: Our current expectation is that we will have sufficient volunteers to expand the use of remote electronic monitoring (REM) in 2024. In our recent consultation on REM in English waters, we proposed the establishment of steering groups. Among other things, these would enable us to develop our approach with stakeholders across relevant fisheries. This could include looking at alternatives if...
Lord Benyon: The Government recognises that the UK’s environmental (or ornamental) horticulture sector plays a crucial role as part of the ‘green economy’ and is aware that the priorities of the sector align with many of the environmental goals in the Environmental Improvement Plan. Ornamental horticulture is in scope of the majority of competitions in the Farming Innovation Programme. Under this...
Lord Benyon: During 4 and 5 November, the effects of Storm Ciarán caused Thames Water’s Shalford Water Treatment Works in Guildford to shut down. Approximately 20,000 properties in Guildford had their water supply disrupted. Most properties were back on supply on 8 November and mains water supply has now been restored to all impacted properties. Defra officials were in close contact with Thames Water...
Lord Benyon: The Government is committed to supporting farmers and other land managers to access revenue streams for ecosystem services, including carbon, from their land. As set out in the Nature Markets Framework, published in March this year, it is currently possible to ‘stack’ credits for different ecosystem services from the same land, in limited circumstances. Defra is funding research to enable...
Lord Benyon: Defra has not made an assessment of the Preferred Fiber and Materials Report by The Textiles Exchange. One of Defra’s delivery partners, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), manages Textiles 2030, which commits signatories, who represent 62% of the fashion industry, to meet ambitious targets to reduce water and carbon consumption. WRAP has also done research on sustainable clothing...
Lord Benyon: Defra recently consulted on the proposed Common User Charge to recover operating costs at Government-run Border Control Posts. We expect to publish a summary of the responses and an update on the Common User Charge proposal over the coming months.
Lord Benyon: Farmers in Northern Ireland can import cattle embryos from United States and Canada. These imports must meet the conditions set out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), including the requirement for an appropriate veterinary certificate. Further information is available on the DAERA website.
Lord Benyon: Compensation, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981, is paid for healthy birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes. No compensation is available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is also not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat that needs to be disposed of to prevent...
Lord Benyon: In the Net Zero Growth Plan (published 30 March 2023) and the Environmental Improvement Plan (published 31 January 2023) the Government has set out how its environment land management schemes will contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions and delivering against the ambitious environmental goals. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery...
Lord Benyon: In the Environmental Improvement Plan (published 31 January 2023) and the Net Zero Growth Plan (published 30 March 2023) the Government has set out how its environment land management schemes will contribute to environmental targets and reducing carbon emissions. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery are key interventions through which the...
Lord Benyon: There are around 238,000 assets registered by the Environment Agency that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England, including 76,000 assets owned and maintained directly by the Environment Agency, plus approximately 162,000 assets owned by other parties including Risk Management Authorities and Private owners. Of these, 64,000 are classified by the Environment Agency as high...
Lord Benyon: The Environment Agency works closely with other Risk Management Authorities such as local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards to manage flood risk. The Environment Agency maintains over 7,300km of embankments. In the last two years about 25% of the resource allocation from Flood Defence Grant in Aid was spent on maintaining our embankments. The Environment Agency has been inspecting...
Lord Benyon: The UK Government is working closely with EU member states and the European Commission to ensure that there is sufficient certifier capacity for implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). Our evidence suggests that member states will be ready with the necessary certifier capacity in place. We remain in contact with the European Commission to discuss and review the...
Lord Benyon: It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal, and this includes through the misuse of fireworks. Users of fireworks need to use them responsibly and be aware of animals close by, and those found guilty of causing animals unnecessary suffering can face up to five years’ imprisonment. We have no current plans to commission any studies on the...
Lord Benyon: It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
