Biodiversity Loss 2024-02-01

2024-02-01

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
David Simmonds Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Context
The question pertains to the Government's efforts in reversing biodiversity loss. The MP highlights the importance of environmental conservation in his constituency.
What steps his Department is taking to help reverse biodiversity loss?
This Government have created a whole framework for restoring nature through our legally binding Environment Act 2021 targets, which include our world-leading commitment to halt the decline of species by 2030. We are accelerating action towards that through our environmental improvement plan. It is a shame I was not asked about this by the shadow Minister, but we have restored an area of wildlife habitats the size of Dorset, we have a network of marine protected areas, 5 million trees were planted last year, we have 55-plus landscape projects.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Direct Answer
David Simmonds Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Context
The MP highlights a local project in Harrow aimed at supporting biodiversity.
Does my hon. Friend agree that the new Riverside park delivered by Harrow council in partnership with the Hatch End Association is a good example of projects that support biodiversity in our suburbs?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his local area. He is absolutely right; we are working with a range of local partners and people to put nature at the heart of what we do. I cannot commend Harrow council and the Hatch End Association enough for their work—they are putting in an apple orchard, wetlands and wildflower meadows, which are a superb addition to his already beautiful constituency.
Assessment & feedback
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Q3 Partial Answer
Samantha Dixon Lab
Chester North and Neston
Context
Environmentalists were shocked by the Government's decision to authorise neonicotinoid pesticide use, conflicting with national and international obligations.
Environmentalists such as those at Chester zoo were shocked to see that the Government have ignored the advice of their own experts and authorised the use of neonicotinoid pesticides for the fourth year in a row. Will the Minister tell me how that is line with our national and international obligations to reduce the overall risk from pesticides, and how it reduces our biodiversity loss?
The hon. Lady will know from reading the details of the derogation that those pesticides will be used only if they hit the criterion; in many cases, they never do.
Assessment & feedback
Explanation on how continued authorisation aligns with environmental obligations and mitigates biodiversity loss
Reading The Details Of The Derogation Criterion
Response accuracy