Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPesticides (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020My Lords, I thank noble Lords who have contributed to this debate today. In order to prepare for the end of the transition period after leaving the EU, it is essential that we…03 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesThe noble Lord asks whether we will bring the target forward. The Environment Bill framework requires us to set targets by October 2022 for a minimum of 15 years, so a target set…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesI can give that assurance. Our planning reforms are intended to speed up decisions that can and should be sped up. We are determined to maintain and improve on the high standards…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesI certainly agree that the department, the Government and the Environment Agency should be using every tool at their disposal to ensure that the water companies behave responsibly…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesMy Lords, the Environment Bill requires us to set at least one target in each of the four priority areas, including biodiversity. We will bring these targets forward by 31 October…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesA number of pieces of work will help us to better understand the economics of biodiversity. One, as the noble Baroness knows, is the Dasgupta review, which we commissioned some…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesThe noble Lord makes an extremely good point. I am afraid I am not in a position to update him on the letter I provided most recently. However, I will take his message back to the…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesThe principal tool we will use in the coming years is the transfer from the common agricultural policy subsidy system to the environmental land management system. Whereas farmers…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesWhere water companies do not meet our expectations, we will toughen our regulation and push them to improve their performance. This will include the Environment Agency conducting…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesMany issues relating to biodiversity and nature are devolved. However, my department, Defra, is in routine negotiations and discussions with the DAs. In certain areas, we work…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTerrestrial and Freshwater Protected SitesOur nature strategy, which transcends the climate COP and has direct implications on the biodiversity COP being hosted in Kunming shortly before, is three things. The first is…02 Nov 2020HANSARDTimber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020I thank the noble Baroness for the question. Our ambition on this issue is no less than that of the European Union. We will clearly have to work together and fully intend to. This…27 Oct 2020HANSARDTimber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020I thank noble Lords who have contributed—or tried to contribute—to this debate today. The Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 make no…27 Oct 2020HANSARDTimber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020My Lords, this instrument amends the Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (EU Exit) Regulations 2018—SI 2018/1025—on the trade in timber and timber products, also known as the…27 Oct 2020HANSARDTimber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 5 October be approved.27 Oct 2020HANSARDBurning of Peat MoorlandsWe are currently engaging with stakeholders on the content of the England peat strategy and we expect it to be published later this year, but, as I said earlier, the Government…14 Oct 2020HANSARDBurning of Peat MoorlandsMy noble friend is right that there is much debate around the issue. That debate has prompted a great deal of research, particularly over the last decade. The Government have kept…14 Oct 2020HANSARDBurning of Peat MoorlandsIt is an extremely important point and an issue I have followed closely for some time. The noble Lord makes a compelling case. I shall take his remarks back to the department and…14 Oct 2020HANSARDBurning of Peat MoorlandsIt is extremely difficult to attach a particular flooding event to a particular cause, because there are so many causes, but the noble Lord is absolutely right that damage to the…14 Oct 2020HANSARDBurning of Peat MoorlandsThe science continues to evolve; it is not a matter of it being out of date. The Government are well aware of the wildfire risk presented by dry conditions on moorlands. Natural…14 Oct 2020