Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Biodiversity Loss

Thursday 28 October 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Environment Bill includes measures to protect and restore nature with substantial funding, aiming to halt species decline by 2030.
  • DEFRA is working on planning reforms that could improve environmental outcomes, including protections in urban and rural areas.
  • The Government is working to protect 30% of land and sea, gather data on blue carbon, and link flood resilience squads with restoration projects.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Climate Environment
Context

No specific event or incident is mentioned, but the question follows a broader concern about biodiversity loss.

Question

What steps he is taking to prevent further biodiversity loss. The Environment Bill aims to protect and restore nature with substantial funding and incentives. Internationally, efforts are made under COP26 for an ambitious global biodiversity framework.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

Our Environment Bill includes world-leading measures with substantial funding to protect nature, aiming to halt species decline by 2030. Internationally, we are leading in developing a new global biodiversity framework under COP26.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and commitments for preventing further biodiversity loss domestically were not detailed.

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Q2 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Climate Environment
Context

Today is a memorial for Peter Ainsworth, Claire's predecessor who was involved with environmental committees and agencies. The question relates to the possibility of designating 'wild belts' to protect biodiversity across Surrey.

Question

Will the Minister update on work conducted regarding the possibility of a new wild belt designation, which would protect biodiversity across the country? This is ahead of a virtual COP summit in Surrey tonight.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

DEFRA is working closely with other departments on planning reforms that could improve environmental outcomes, including protections in urban and rural areas. The Government will publish their response to the planning White Paper in due course.

Not addressed: The question about wild belt designation was not directly addressed; instead, a general update on planning reform was given.

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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Environment
Context

No specific event is mentioned, but the question highlights the potential role of marine environments in climate mitigation through rewilding and protecting blue carbon.

Question

What are the Government doing to scale up the rewilding of our seas for biodiversity and blue carbon at COP26? This issue could show global leadership by focusing on kelp beds, seagrass, salt marshes, and other marine environments rich in blue carbon.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

We are working on protecting 30% of land and sea, gathering more data on blue carbon, linking flood resilience squads with restoration projects. Much work is ongoing to contribute to environmental outcomes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific plans for scaling up rewilding of seas were not detailed; only general efforts towards protecting areas and collecting data were mentioned.

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