We are calling for all governments in the United Kingdom to ban pesticide use in urban spaces.
According to the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pesticides and wider environmental policy is devolved to each administration. This means that different decisions can be taken in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and different policies can be followed in each country. However, in line with the Chemicals and Pesticides Provisional Common Framework (Defra 2022), the Governments of the four nations seek consistency of decision-making where this is desirable.
When it comes to legislation on the topic of urban pesticides, the UK Government could legislate for the whole of Great Britain, but it would need formal agreement from the Scottish and Welsh Governments on whether they would want the law to apply in their countries. The Scottish and Welsh Governments could, in theory, legislate separately for pesticides in their individual countries (though this would be a step away from all other pesticides legislation that applies to Great Britain).
Our main campaign focus is therefore the UK Government in Westminster, but we are also going to continue to campaign for the devolved nations to take action on urban pesticides.