1st Report - Invasive species
- HC No.
- HC 88
- Published
- 25 Oct 2019
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 13 May 2020. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Invasive Species inquiry
Closed
Opened 3 Apr 2019
Closed 3 Apr 2019
Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Environmental Audit Committee launches an inquiry on the impacts of invasive species and their management. Non-native species are those living outside their natural range which have arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. Of these, invasive species are those that negatively affect native biodiversity, ecosystem services and public health, through predation, competition or by transmitting disease. Invasive species are known to cost Great Britain at least £1.8 billion per year, mainly affecting the farming and horticultural sectors but also transport, construction, recreation, aquaculture and utilities.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 3 April 2019.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - Invasive species on 25 October 2019.
The government's response
Published 13 May 2020.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's recommendations and responds on each, agreeing on public awareness, volunteers and Local Action Groups, while giving reasons for not adopting some proposals and tying funding questions to future spending reviews.
- On ballast water, the government says UK accession was scheduled for 2020 to allow time for amendments to the Convention to be accepted, and it "expects the UK to accede to the Convention in the summer".
- On pathway action plans, Defra "is expecting to complete all of the PAPs by the end of 2022", rather than the end of 2020 the Committee recommended.
- On a dedicated INNS inspectorate, the government is "examining the case for a separate inspectorate" and will assess costs, benefits and practicalities, including whether existing inspectorates might carry out the functions.
- On funding for awareness, rapid response and Local Action Groups, the government agrees more resource is needed, but says this "will be considered" in departmental business planning and future spending reviews, including Spending Review 2020.
Reports
- 1st Report - Invasive species25 October 2019
Evidence
- 4 oral evidence sessionsLatest 9 July 2019
Recent activity
- First Special Report - Invasive species: Government response to the Committee’s First report of Session 201913 May 2020, Report published
- 1st Report - Invasive species25 October 2019, Report published
- Oral evidence session9 July 2019, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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