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To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the provisions of the Deregulation Bill, rights of way officers have a duty to persuade objectors to a footpath deregulation order agreed by a county council to correct an error in the definitive footpath map in order to prevent an appeal to the...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the provisions of the Deregulation Bill, rights of way officers have a duty to persuade objectors to a footpath deregulation order agreed by a county council to correct an error in the definitive footpath map in order to prevent an appeal to the...
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Thames Tideway Tunnel project provides value for money, in the light of the National Audit Office’s Report "The choice of finance for capital investment" published on 18 March.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Thames Tideway Tunnel project provides value for money, in the light of the National Audit Office’s Report "The choice of finance for capital investment" published on 18 March.
The NAO report considered the difference between publicly-funded investment and public-private partnerships, such as PFI. It describes the Government’s decision-making processes and summarises recent developments. The report does not draw conclusions about the Government’s record.
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a private sector project of a scale and complexity unique to the UK water industry. The Government issued the Strategic Case for the Tunnel (“Creating a River Thames Fit for our Future”) in November 2011, and the need for a tunnel was confirmed by Parliament in March 2012 when the Waste Water National Policy Statement was approved. The Government confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement on 5 June 2014 (Official Report, column 11WS) that it would, subject to State Aid clearance, offer a contingent financial support package to the winner of the procurement for an Infrastructure Provider to finance and deliver the Thames Tideway Tunnel currently being undertaken by Thames Water. The Government continues to judge that the project will be value for money for taxpayers and customers who will be directly funding the Tunnel, and that an Infrastructure Provider procured by Thames Water is the preferred route for delivering the project.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of sanctions on the United Kingdom dairy industry in terms of the loss of exports and their value to the United Kingdom industry.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of sanctions on the United Kingdom dairy industry in terms of the loss of exports and their value to the United Kingdom industry.
Based on past export performance, the sanctions imposed by Russia on the United Kingdom affected an estimated 0.2 per cent of the UK’s total food, feed and drink exports which include £5.8 million worth of exports from our domestic cheese industry.
However, globally, our dairy exports are at record levels, topping £1.4 billion last year, a 51 per cent increase since 2009.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what published research is available on the efficacy of the addition of bittering agents to antifreeze to deter cats from ingesting antifreeze.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what published research is available on the efficacy of the addition of bittering agents to antifreeze to deter cats from ingesting antifreeze.
Whilst the Government is aware of US research that has been undertaken in this area, we are not in a position to say how robust it was and therefore whether the findings are relevant.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the benefits of microchipping cats as a safe and permanent method of identification.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the benefits of microchipping cats as a safe and permanent method of identification.
The Government recommends identifying cats with a microchip and keeping the relevant records up to date. To do so will increase the chances of re-uniting a displaced cat with its owner and it receiving any necessary veterinary treatment, if it is injured. The statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats, made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, contains advice about identifying cats, including by use of a microchip.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help reduce the breeding of cats for sale in order to tackle the increasing numbers of unwanted cats and kittens.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help reduce the breeding of cats for sale in order to tackle the increasing numbers of unwanted cats and kittens.
I consider that educating owners and prospective owners about responsible ownership is key to reducing the number of unwanted pets. The Government has worked with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG - a collection of animal welfare veterinary and animal keeping interests) who have been lobbying operators of internet sites to adopt minimum standards for the advertising of pet animals. Last year, Defra endorsed PAAG’s set of minimum standards, which many internet advertising sites have agreed to adhere to. PAAG have been monitoring internet adverts and this has resulted in the removal of over 130,000 irresponsible adverts (some of which are adverts for cats). The Government welcomes the opportunity to work alongside interested parties to improve owners understanding of keeping pet animals.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 9 December 2013 (WA 80), whether Italy and Greece remain non-compliant with the European Union's 2012 conventional hen cage ban; what the result was of the referral of those countries to the European Court of...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 9 December 2013 (WA 80), whether Italy and Greece remain non-compliant with the European Union's 2012 conventional hen cage ban; what the result was of the referral of those countries to the European Court of...
No further information has been provided by the Commission in terms of progress towards compliance in these two Member States. As a first step in the infraction process, both Italy and Greece were taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to comply with the cage ban. The Court found Italy (in May 14) and Greece (in September 14) guilty and ordered them to pay court costs. If Italy and Greece do not provide evidence of full compliance after a ‘reasonable time’ (determined on a case by case basis), the Commission can take them both back to the ECJ where penalties could be imposed.
The Commission does not disclose detailed information relating to on-going infringement cases.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will advise the Lake District National Park Authority not to accept any offer to purchase Stickle Tarn until such time as South Lakeland District Council has processed and determined the application to place the tarn site on the List of Community Assets.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will advise the Lake District National Park Authority not to accept any offer to purchase Stickle Tarn until such time as South Lakeland District Council has processed and determined the application to place the tarn site on the List of Community Assets.
I understand that, following the formal tender process, the Authority did not find a bidder for Stickle Tarn who fully met its requirements or fully addressed the concerns expressed by the local community and various interested parties. It remains committed to exploring alternative responsible ownership for Stickle Tarn and will work with the community and interested groups in the coming weeks.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of land in the Lake District National Park is in the ownership of (1) the National Trust, (2) the Lake District National Park Authority, and (3) private owners.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of land in the Lake District National Park is in the ownership of (1) the National Trust, (2) the Lake District National Park Authority, and (3) private owners.
We do not hold this information. However, the following indicative figures have been provided by the Lake District National Park Authority from its 2008 Landscape Character Assessment:
1) National Trust own approximately 25 per cent of the total land area of the Lake District National Park.
2) The Lake District National Park Authority own approximately 3.8 per cent of the total land area.
3) Approximately 66 per cent of the total land area is in private ownership.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 3 March (HL5173), whether the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the National Trails will be directly represented on the proposed Working Party rather than rely on representation by Nature England.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 3 March (HL5173), whether the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the National Trails will be directly represented on the proposed Working Party rather than rely on representation by Nature England.
The composition of the motor vehicle stakeholder working group is yet to be decided, but before deciding on its composition we will, as a first step, invite interested organisations to put forward their suggestions for suitable members.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice or guidance they have provided to Basildon Borough Council regarding action steps to mitigate the loss of invertebrate biodiversity of the Dry Street Pastures Local Wildlife Site (Ba24), Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and currently subject to outline...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice or guidance they have provided to Basildon Borough Council regarding action steps to mitigate the loss of invertebrate biodiversity of the Dry Street Pastures Local Wildlife Site (Ba24), Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and currently subject to outline...
Natural England has advised Basildon Borough Council throughout the planning process for the proposed development at the Nethermayne site. Its advice has focused on statutory interests such as the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest and protected species. Natural England has referred the council to other ecological consultees, including the Essex Wildlife Trust, Essex Field Club, and Basildon Natural History Society for advice on non-statutory nature conservation matters, including invertebrates.
Natural England provided limited advice on invertebrates as part of its response to the developers’ Outline Biodiversity Strategy. Natural England suggested greater tailoring could be made to address the impacts on specific invertebrates found at the development site and that updated surveys should be used to guide the design of the off-site compensatory grassland to benefit invertebrate species.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to provide updated advice on the use of snares in order to reduce the incidence of indiscriminate trapping of cats and other animals.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to provide updated advice on the use of snares in order to reduce the incidence of indiscriminate trapping of cats and other animals.
Ministers are considering options for improving guidance on snares. A date for publication is yet to be decided.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the Forestry Commission’s stake in Forest Holidays and to ensure that in the event of a sale by the majority shareholder they would not lose all management control of any future development.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the Forestry Commission’s stake in Forest Holidays and to ensure that in the event of a sale by the majority shareholder they would not lose all management control of any future development.
My Lords, the control the Forestry Commission has over developments by Forest Holidays is exercised through the arrangements in the legal framework agreement between Forest Holidays and the Forestry Commission, rather than through its shareholding in the business. Any change in ownership would not change the level of control exercised under the framework agreement and as landlord.
My Lords, the control the Forestry Commission has over developments by Forest Holidays is exercised through the arrangements in the legal framework agreement between Forest Holidays and the Forestry Commission, rather than through its shareholding in the business. Any change in ownership would not change the level of control exercised under the framework agreement and as landlord.
My Lords, the control the Forestry Commission has over developments by Forest Holidays is exercised through the arrangements in the legal framework agreement between Forest Holidays and the Forestry Commission, rather than through its shareholding in the business. Any change in ownership would not change the level of control exercised under the framework agreement and as landlord.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the Forestry Commission’s stake in Forest Holidays and to ensure that in the event of a sale by the majority shareholder they would not lose all management control of any future development.
My Lords, the Forestry Commission has to approve of any new sites for this activity, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, which is a reasonably common requirement. In practice, Forest Holidays is unlikely to be able to progress a site if it
does not have the full support of the Forestry Commission. Forest Holidays also has its own site selection criteria, which exclude any site where there are significant environmental constraints.
I spoke to the chairman of the Forestry Commission today, and he confirmed that only a limited number of sites are available within the public forest estate.
My Lords, the Forestry Commission has to approve of any new sites for this activity, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, which is a reasonably common requirement. In practice, Forest Holidays is unlikely to be able to progress a site if it
does not have the full support of the Forestry Commission. Forest Holidays also has its own site selection criteria, which exclude any site where there are significant environmental constraints.
I spoke to the chairman of the Forestry Commission today, and he confirmed that only a limited number of sites are available within the public forest estate.
My Lords, concern about the future of our public forest estate continues, and the Answer of the Minister does nothing to assuage the fears that there are at the moment or the anxiety over the nature of the relationship between the Forestry Commission and Forest Holidays. What is the process for approving new and existing sites? Further to that, why does there not appear to have been any competitive tender process when Forest Holidays was restructured through a joint venture in 2012?
I can confirm most of what the noble Lord said. The terms under which the current joint venture operates are very much the same as for the original joint venture. If the controlling interest is sold, the Forestry Commission may be required to sell its interest in the company by the buyer, including the Forestry Commission’s stake in the business. The sale would not change the controls set out in the framework agreement and the site leases.
I can confirm most of what the noble Lord said. The terms under which the current joint venture operates are very much the same as for the original joint venture. If the controlling interest is sold, the Forestry Commission may be required to sell its interest in the company by the buyer, including the Forestry Commission’s stake in the business. The sale would not change the controls set out in the framework agreement and the site leases.
I declare an interest as the chair of the Forestry Commission from 2001 to 2009. As the House may know, there have been two joint ventures with the Forestry Commission and Forest Holidays, one on my watch in 2006 and a later one in 2012. Will the Minister confirm that, on the first occasion, it followed full parliamentary procedure, had the approval of the Treasury and went out to full competitive tendering?
As regards the second venture, will the Minister assure the House that if the private sector investor decided to sell its share, the Forestry Commission would not be forced to sell the commensurate share at the same time?
My Lords, although that is slightly wide of the Question, I think I can none the less confirm what the noble Lord says.
My Lords, although that is slightly wide of the Question, I think I can none the less confirm what the noble Lord says.
My Lords, I declare my entry in the register of interests. Public access and amenity are obviously most important, but they are not the only consideration. When it comes to marketing, will the Government ensure that the Forestry Commission does not intentionally undercut private owners and producers?
My Lords, as I said, I discussed this matter this morning with the chairman of the Forestry Commission. As he said, the reality is that
only a limited number of sites are available within the public forest estate, principally because much of the land is either ancient woodland or SSSI or protected in some other way.
My Lords, as I said, I discussed this matter this morning with the chairman of the Forestry Commission. As he said, the reality is that
only a limited number of sites are available within the public forest estate, principally because much of the land is either ancient woodland or SSSI or protected in some other way.
My Lords, when this Question was first put down, I had no idea what Forest Holidays was, but I have been looking into it, and the more I do so, the murkier the whole business seems. It appears that, since the framework agreement in 2012 and the new joint venture companies having been set up, pieces of the forestry estate have effectively been handed to venture capitalists to pursue log cabin developments. The questions that need to be asked are: first, are the public getting value for money for that through the forestry commissioners? There are arguments that they are not. Secondly, is it true that the forestry commissioners are not exercising their powers effectively over such developments? Thirdly, how far will this go? Is it the intention that Forest Holidays will expand substantially, using cheap Forestry Commission land and taking over some of the national forestry estate for its purposes?
My Lords, that is an interesting question. It is important that we retain visibility of the trees as well as the forest. Primary responsibility for management of feral boar lies with local communities and individual landowners. This means that local land managers are free to control wild boar as they see fit, as long as that control is carried in a humane and legal manner.
My Lords, that is an interesting question. It is important that we retain visibility of the trees as well as the forest. Primary responsibility for management of feral boar lies with local communities and individual landowners. This means that local land managers are free to control wild boar as they see fit, as long as that control is carried in a humane and legal manner.
My Lords, what can be done about the wild boar in the Forest of Dean eating lambs? Might this not be dangerous to people on holiday?
We have not given particular consideration to that, although the House will be aware of the background and the report of the Independent Panel on Forestry. It is important that we continue to increase the amount of woodland cover generally in the country. That is under way, principally funded through the rural development programme.
We have not given particular consideration to that, although the House will be aware of the background and the report of the Independent Panel on Forestry. It is important that we continue to increase the amount of woodland cover generally in the country. That is under way, principally funded through the rural development programme.
My Lords, the Forestry Commission in England is to be congratulated on the significant rise in the number of people visiting our public forest estates, not least as it is against the background of a recent report which suggests that the number of people visiting rural areas has slightly declined. It shows the huge value that our population puts on both the social and economic benefits of the forest, as well as on the environmental benefits because of carbon capture. Have Her Majesty’s Government made any assessment of the possibility of increasing the total amount of public forest estate to enhance those benefits even further?