Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Insect decline and UK food security

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Mar 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 20 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

Insect numbers are difficult to quantify however recent research suggests that in the UK flying insects have declined by 60% in the past 20 years. Insects provide pivotal roles for UK food security including pollination and pest or weed regulation. There are also concerns that pest species may be increasing with negative impacts on crop …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Second Report - Insect decline and UK food security	HC 326	7 Mar 2024	34	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items

16 Recommendation Second Report - Insect decline and UK f… Accepted in Part

Implement strategies to enhance inclusivity in citizen science projects for urban and disadvantaged groups.

Citizen science projects, especially those supported by public funding, should implement strategies to enhance inclusivity, ensuring the involvement of people from urban and disadvantaged backgrounds. This broader participation not only facilitates the collection of data from areas such as urban environments but also allows more people to experience the mental …

Government response. The government agrees on the importance of inclusivity and highlights existing employer-led initiatives and the Green Jobs Delivery Group. It also announced £2.5m in new funding to connect disadvantaged young people with nature and an ongoing £16m Access for All …

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

26 Recommendation Second Report - Insect decline and UK f… Accepted in Part

Invest in monitoring landscapes surrounding protected areas and include data in SSSI assessments.

The Government should invest in the monitoring of landscapes surrounding protected areas to collect evidence on how these areas impact the quality of protected sites. This data should be included in the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) condition assessments. Details of how to mitigate external influences on SSSI conditions …

Government response. The government states that SSSI condition assessments already capture offsite pressures and highlights interim targets for SSSIs by 2028. They are also developing new tools like Protected Site Strategies and Local Nature Recovery Strategies, which will address and mitigate external …

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions

Date	Witnesses
29 Nov 2023	Dr Rachel Irving · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, John Holmes · Natural England, Rebecca Pow · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs	View ↗
18 Oct 2023	Henry Edmunds · Cholderton Estate, Minette Batters · National Farmers Union (NFU), Professor Linda Field · Rothamsted Research, Professor Toby Bruce · Keele University, Vicki Hird · Sustain	View ↗
12 Jul 2023	Chris Packham CBE, Craig Bennett · Wildlife Trusts, Matt Shardlow · Buglife, Professor Alistair Griffiths · Royal Horticultural Society, Professor Lynn Dicks · University of Cambridge	View ↗
7 Jun 2023	Dr Claire Carvell · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Dr Erica McAlister · Natural History Museum, Dr James Bell · Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted Research, Professor Dave Goulson · University of Sussex, Professor Phil Stevenson · Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Professor Simon Potts · Centre for Agri-environmental Research, University of Reading, Professor William Kunin · University of Leeds	View ↗