Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Neonicotinoid Alternatives

Thursday 22 April 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government committed to reducing chemical pesticide use and protecting pollinators
  • Government analysing responses from consultation on national action plan for pesticide use
  • Government authorised neonicotinoid exemption for non-flowering crop in east England after consulting HSE, ECP, and DEFRA's chief scientific adviser

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Climate Environment
Context

The question stems from concerns about the impact of neonicotinoids on pollinator health and seeks government support for alternatives. Bath constituents have raised this issue in 157 letters since January.

Question

My constituents are concerned about the use of neonicotinoids which harm pollinators. Given that we face both a climate and nature emergency, I ask if the Government will commit to giving the Office for Environmental Protection powers and resources to hold public authorities accountable on environmental standards as promised post-Brexit.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The Government are committed to reducing chemical pesticide use, with protecting pollinators being a priority. The responses to our consultation on the national action plan support low toxicity methods and improved advice for users.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to giving the Office for Environmental Protection powers and resources

How: Under Review

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Brexit Environment
Context

The question arises from a climate and nature emergency context, focusing on the commitment to maintain pesticide restrictions after Brexit.

Question

Given the Government's pledge to keep pesticide restrictions in place after Brexit, will they commit to empowering the Office for Environmental Protection with authority over environmental standards?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The Government are committed to reducing chemical pesticide use, protecting pollinators being a priority. We are analysing responses from our consultation on the national action plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to empowering the Office for Environmental Protection with authority and resources

How: Under Review

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Q3 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The issue involves the exemption of neonicotinoids for non-flowering crops in the east of England, despite Health and Safety Executive recommendations against it.

Question

Given that the Secretary of State authorised a neonicotinoid exemption before colder weather reduced aphid risk, will the Minister explain why expert advice was overruled? Who pressured the Government to overrule this advice?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The specific exemption authorised was for a non-flowering crop in the east of England to protect against aphid predation. The decision took advice from HSE, ECP, DEFRA's chief scientific adviser, and implemented reduced application rates and restrictions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Why expert advice recommending refusal was overruled and who pressured for the exemption

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