To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the spread of emerald ash borer across Europe; and what steps she plans to take to prevent its spread into the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the spread of emerald ash borer across Europe; and what steps she plans to take to prevent its spread into the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce a minimum tree canopy cover target of 30 per cent for new developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce a minimum tree canopy cover target of 30 per cent for new developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of traditional cider orchards which no longer operate in England in the last ten years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of traditional cider orchards which no longer operate in England in the last ten years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the relationship between minimum juice content requirements and the economic viability of UK a) cider apple and b) perry pear orchards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the relationship between minimum juice content requirements and the economic viability of UK a) cider apple and b) perry pear orchards.

An outline of powers and responsibilities when dealing with unsightly or derelict housing in England.

An outline of powers and responsibilities when dealing with unsightly or derelict housing in England.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which children living in poverty have unequal access to trees and green spaces compared to other children and of the implications for their health and well being; and what steps they are taking to address any...

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which children living in poverty have unequal access to trees and green spaces compared to other children and of the implications for their health and well being; and what steps they are taking to address any...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2026 to question 121208 on A14: Trees, what steps National Highways is taking to ensure the survival of replanted saplings on the A14 during heatwave temperatures and drought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2026 to question 121208 on A14: Trees, what steps National Highways is taking to ensure the survival of replanted saplings on the A14 during heatwave temperatures and drought.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether access to trees and green spaces varies between communities with different levels of socioeconomic deprivation; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such variation.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether access to trees and green spaces varies between communities with different levels of socioeconomic deprivation; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such variation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the merits of introducing a law to compel property owners to have adequate insurance for damage caused by their trees, especially in the context of more frequent storms and extreme weather related to climate change.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the merits of introducing a law to compel property owners to have adequate insurance for damage caused by their trees, especially in the context of more frequent storms and extreme weather related to climate change.

How might effective governance of solar radiation modification research be established, as interest grows in outdoor research experiments?

How might effective governance of solar radiation modification research be established, as interest grows in outdoor research experiments?

We are going through another heatwave, but we know that well tree-lined streets can reduce temperatures by 5°C to 8°C. The data shows that we are significantly behind Europe, with 18% coverage compared with 30%, and that, where there is coverage, it is mainly in more affluent areas rather than poorer, more deprived areas. I ask the Minister to look at a national strategy, working with the relevant environmental bodies and local councils, to ramp up and increase proofing our streets against extreme heat.

We are going through another heatwave, but we know that well tree-lined streets can reduce temperatures by 5°C to 8°C. The data shows that we are significantly behind Europe, with 18% coverage compared with 30%, and that, where there is coverage, it is mainly in more affluent areas rather than poorer, more deprived areas. I ask the Minister to look at a national strategy, working with the relevant environmental bodies and local councils, to ramp up and increase proofing our streets against extreme heat.

My hon. Friend is right about our tree cover, which is why I am delighted to tell him that tree planting is at its highest rate for 20 years. As we endure our second heatwave this summer, we know that we need to do more. That is why we are doubling the funding for tree planting through our trees outside woodland fund, which is £2.5 million this year, up from £1 million last year.

My hon. Friend is right about our tree cover, which is why I am delighted to tell him that tree planting is at its highest rate for 20 years. As we endure our second heatwave this summer, we know that we need to do more. That is why we are doubling the funding for tree planting through our trees outside woodland fund, which is £2.5 million this year, up from £1 million last year.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of legal protections for ancient trees; and whether further measures, including stronger penalties, are needed to prevent their unlawful destruction.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of legal protections for ancient trees; and whether further measures, including stronger penalties, are needed to prevent their unlawful destruction.

My Lords, felling trees without a licence where one is required carries unlimited fines and a potential prison sentence, and those protections are underpinned by a robust enforcement regime. In addition, ancient and veteran trees benefit from the highest levels of protection within the planning system. Any loss or deterioration should be refused unless there are wholly exceptional reasons. We recognise the importance of this issue and are reviewing these protections to ensure that they remain effective.

My Lords, felling trees without a licence where one is required carries unlimited fines and a potential prison sentence, and those protections are underpinned by a robust enforcement regime. In addition, ancient and veteran trees benefit from the highest levels of protection within the planning system. Any loss or deterioration should be refused unless there are wholly exceptional reasons. We recognise the importance of this issue and are reviewing these protections to ensure that they remain effective.

I thank the Minister but, under the Forestry Act 1967, the destruction of the Whitewebbs oak in Enfield—still alive at the time—required an application to the Forestry Commission for a felling licence, which was never sought. The commission concluded that no felling licence was required due to legitimate exemptions, meaning that no criminal offence had occurred. But a BBC freedom of information request revealed that the assessment made by the commission’s investigator recommended that no such exemption could legitimately be applied in this case. My understanding is that the Forestry Commission ignored this, simply because the outdated legislation gives it no teeth to adequately protect ancient trees. Will the Government amend the Forestry Act 1967 to explicitly define a higher evidence bar for exempting any ancient tree-felling from licence?

I thank the Minister but, under the Forestry Act 1967, the destruction of the Whitewebbs oak in Enfield—still alive at the time—required an application to the Forestry Commission for a felling licence, which was never sought. The commission concluded that no felling licence was required due to legitimate exemptions, meaning that no criminal offence had occurred. But a BBC freedom of information request revealed that the assessment made by the commission’s investigator recommended that no such exemption could legitimately be applied in this case. My understanding is that the Forestry Commission ignored this, simply because the outdated legislation gives it no teeth to adequately protect ancient trees. Will the Government amend the Forestry Act 1967 to explicitly define a higher evidence bar for exempting any ancient tree-felling from licence?

I recognise the situation that the noble Baroness describes, and the Government recognise that we need to look at whether there is more we can do to protect trees. Defra has funded a report, led by the Tree Council and Forest Research, to provide a range of recommendations for improving the protection and stewardship of important trees. We are currently looking at those recommendations, but we will also set out actions to support and protect important trees in the new tree action plan, which we are looking to publish before the end of the year. We are absolutely cognisant of the reasons why more needs to be done.

I recognise the situation that the noble Baroness describes, and the Government recognise that we need to look at whether there is more we can do to protect trees. Defra has funded a report, led by the Tree Council and Forest Research, to provide a range of recommendations for improving the protection and stewardship of important trees. We are currently looking at those recommendations, but we will also set out actions to support and protect important trees in the new tree action plan, which we are looking to publish before the end of the year. We are absolutely cognisant of the reasons why more needs to be done.

Is the Minister aware of any rules that control the felling of trees in conservation areas? There seems to be a spate of councils cutting down trees that are much loved by the local community in conservation areas of towns and villages. Is this something she could look at?

Is the Minister aware of any rules that control the felling of trees in conservation areas? There seems to be a spate of councils cutting down trees that are much loved by the local community in conservation areas of towns and villages. Is this something she could look at?

I am very happy to look at it. Usually, the local authority will give an order for a tree to be cut down if there is a reason to be concerned about safety. I have an interest in this, as we have just had an order from our local council regarding several ash trees on our land overlooking the road. I am happy to look into it, but usually there is a safety aspect to those orders.

I am very happy to look at it. Usually, the local authority will give an order for a tree to be cut down if there is a reason to be concerned about safety. I have an interest in this, as we have just had an order from our local council regarding several ash trees on our land overlooking the road. I am happy to look into it, but usually there is a safety aspect to those orders.

My Lords, the report out today from the Woodland Trust makes the interesting point that there is a 15-degree reduction when standing under a tree, compared with standing out in the open air or on the pavement, and 11 million people live in the equivalent of tree deserts. I know that the Government have a good tree-planting programme. Can the Minister update the House on how that programme is going, and on how quickly enough trees will be planted to make a material difference to lives in, for instance, the heat tomorrow?

My Lords, the report out today from the Woodland Trust makes the interesting point that there is a 15-degree reduction when standing under a tree, compared with standing out in the open air or on the pavement, and 11 million people live in the equivalent of tree deserts. I know that the Government have a good tree-planting programme. Can the Minister update the House on how that programme is going, and on how quickly enough trees will be planted to make a material difference to lives in, for instance, the heat tomorrow?

The noble Baroness is right that the shade provided by trees is important, not just for human health but for animal health, for livestock and so on. As I mentioned in my Answer to the noble Baroness’s Question, we are looking at the tree action plan, which we will publish by the end of the year, and I will ensure that the concerns around climate change and increasing temperatures are looked at as part of that.

The noble Baroness is right that the shade provided by trees is important, not just for human health but for animal health, for livestock and so on. As I mentioned in my Answer to the noble Baroness’s Question, we are looking at the tree action plan, which we will publish by the end of the year, and I will ensure that the concerns around climate change and increasing temperatures are looked at as part of that.