Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Biodiversity Loss

Thursday 1 February 2024 · 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have created a framework through the Environment Act 2021 to reverse biodiversity loss by halting species decline by 2030.
  • Harrow council and the Hatch End Association are commended for their work on projects like an apple orchard that support suburban biodiversity.
  • The Government authorised the use of neonicotinoid pesticides for a fourth year, citing adherence to specific criteria outlined in the derogation details.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Environment
Context

The question pertains to the Government's efforts in reversing biodiversity loss. The MP highlights the importance of environmental conservation in his constituency.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help reverse biodiversity loss?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

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.

Answered
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Q2 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Environment
Context

The MP highlights a local project in Harrow aimed at supporting biodiversity.

Question

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?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

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.

Answered
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Q3 Samantha Dixon Lab Chester North and Neston
Environment
Context

Environmentalists were shocked by the Government's decision to authorise neonicotinoid pesticide use, conflicting with national and international obligations.

Question

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?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Explanation on how continued authorisation aligns with environmental obligations and mitigates biodiversity loss

How: Reading The Details Of The Derogation, Criterion

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