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1491319
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-21more like thismore than 2022-07-21
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Food Supply more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made for the implications of his policy on food security of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report entitled Labour shortages in the food and farming sector, published 29 March 2022. more like this
tabling member constituency Portsmouth South more like this
tabling member printed
Stephen Morgan more like this
uin 42187 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-09-05more like thismore than 2022-09-05
answer text <p>Enabling an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain which invests in its people and the skills they need is a priority for this Government</p><p> </p><p>The Government thanks the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee for its report into labour shortages in the food and farming sector. We are aware that there are both short and long-term workforce challenges across the food and farming sector, particularly with respect to seasonal labour. It is with great concern that we have seen evidence of horticulture businesses reducing their plantings, ploughing in crops or considering offshoring production because of concerns over labour availability, all of which have food security implications.</p><p> </p><p>Defra continues to work closely with industry and other government departments to understand labour supply and demand and its implications, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the food and farming workforce. We extended the Seasonal Worker visa route until 2024 and expanded the number of visas available through this route to 40,000 (now including 2000 visas for poultry workers to meet pre-Christmas demand) as a result of the clear evidence of need this year. Last autumn we delivered emergency, temporary visa schemes for the poultry, pork, and HGV food transportation sectors in response to specific challenges, and introduced an accompanying package of non-immigration measures to alleviate pressures in the pig sector, including Private Storage Aid and Slaughter Incentive Payment Schemes.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the Government Food Strategy, the Government will soon be commissioning an independent review to tackle labour shortages in the food supply chain, covering automation, domestic labour and migration. The review will consider the challenges facing food and farming businesses to access the labour they require and will provide recommendations.</p>
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-09-05T13:24:13.3Zmore like thismore than 2022-09-05T13:24:13.3Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4653
label Biography information for Stephen Morgan more like this
1491394
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-21more like thismore than 2022-07-21
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Consultants more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if he will publish a breakdown of (a) the amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) the name of each consultancy contracted, (c) the specific matters on which they were consulted and (d) whether each contract was subject to usual Government procurement rules. more like this
tabling member constituency Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath more like this
tabling member printed
Neale Hanvey more like this
uin 42244 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-09-05more like thismore than 2022-09-05
answer text <p>The department’s spend on consultancy is published each year in the Annual Report and Accounts.</p><p> </p><p>2020-21</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021</a> (page 100)</p><p> </p><p>2019-20</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2019-to-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2019-to-2020</a> (page 87)</p><p> </p><p>2018-19</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019</a> (page 64)</p><p> </p><p>2017-18</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018</a> (page 51)</p><p> </p><p>2016-17</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017</a> (page 42)</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown of this expenditure could only be provided by incurring disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Details of all Government contracts awarded from 2016 above £10,000 and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fcontracts-finder&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cemmy.clarkson%40dhsc.gov.uk%7C332dd3e59a5f4b1b1e5308da6b104a3e%7C61278c3091a84c318c1fef4de8973a1c%7C1%7C0%7C637940014946084226%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EHT%2Bj9EH86g04c73Xn7YYL0Qyi3Lc4Dm8J%2F8B8YuCNE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Contracts Finder</a>. Each award notice provides information on the name of the supplier, value of the contract, its purpose and information on the type of awarding procedure used. Government departments, their individual agencies and Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) are required to publish all spend against individual suppliers above £25,000 on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</p><p> </p><p>All Government departments and their individual ALBs and agencies are required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in awarding contracts.</p>
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-09-05T13:03:44.86Zmore like thismore than 2022-09-05T13:03:44.86Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4782
label Biography information for Neale Hanvey more like this
1491450
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-21more like thismore than 2022-07-21
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Agency Workers more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on (a) agency workers and (b) agency retainer fees in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022. more like this
tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
uin 41938 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-09-05more like thismore than 2022-09-05
answer text <p>(a) agency workers</p><p>Agency workers (more commonly referred to as “contingent labour” or “temporary workers”) are subject to a Cabinet Office controls framework to ensure robust governance of spending in this area.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contingent-labour-spend-control" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contingent-labour-spend-control</a></p><p> </p><p>Commentary on contingent labour usage, if applicable, is available in departmental annual reports.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-reports-and-accounts-for-central-government-departments" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-reports-and-accounts-for-central-government-departments</a></p><p> </p><p>The Crown Commercial Service provides two frameworks specifically for the supply of Contingent Labour which are used by central government departments. These are:</p><p> </p><p>RM3749 - Public Sector Resourcing.</p><p><a href="https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/rm3749" target="_blank">https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/rm3749</a></p><p> </p><p>This provides a managed service for departmental use including low supplier margins, regular pay rate benchmarking, comprehensive tracking and reporting of contingent labour assignments, full timesheeting and approvals technology and onboarding, contracting and payroll services.</p><p> </p><p>RM6160 - Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff</p><p><a href="https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6160" target="_blank">https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6160</a></p><p> </p><p>This provides access to a range of generalist, specialist and niche contingent labour agencies offering a wide range of suppliers, maximum margins, free transfer to permanent after 12 weeks and onboarding, contracting and payroll services.</p><p> </p><p>Use of these frameworks provides robust governance, visibility, value for money and flexibility in meeting departmental contingent labour needs.</p><p> </p><p>(b) agency retainer fees</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have interpreted agency retainer fees as the fees charged at the commencement of the provision of a search recruitment service. This is only applicable when recruiting for a permanent or fixed term post.</p><p> </p><p>Agency retainer fees are not applicable to the contingent labour market.</p><p> </p><p>There is no recorded expenditure on agency retainer fees.</p>
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-09-05T14:49:50.77Zmore like thismore than 2022-09-05T14:49:50.77Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
410
label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
1490996
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-20more like thismore than 2022-07-20
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Food Supply more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of trends in the level of food insecurity as a result of rising food prices on households in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England. more like this
tabling member constituency Coventry North East more like this
tabling member printed
Colleen Fletcher more like this
uin 40797 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-09-05more like thismore than 2022-09-05
answer text <p>We are working hard to support everyone facing cost of living concerns. We continue to monitor food prices using the ONS inflation figures. Recent pressures have been sustained and we have seen food price inflation rise to 12.7% in July, up from 9.8% in June. Defra analysis, based on ONS data, shows that every one percentage point increase in food price inflation increases the average annual food bill of UK households by £34.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is taking action to maintain an efficient food supply chain by mitigating against any potential burdens or friction which could otherwise drive up consumer food prices. For example, we have introduced labelling flexibility to reduce additional cost burdens resulting from the availability of sunflower oil. Defra is also holding regular discussions with industry to explore ways in which they can support low-income households by ensuring affordable food remains available, for example by maintaining value ranges, price matching, price freezing measures and the use of loyalty card offers.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes. We recently announced a new £15 billion support package to help families with the cost of living, bringing the total support for households this year to £37 billion. This includes an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of household essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England this will take the form of an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m, running from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula. Details of allocations to Upper Tier and Unitary Councils can be found at: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1072446%2Fhousehold-support-fund-grant-determination.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C9fe4598b05aa4eae5ada08da8c26d647%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637976395678378553%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=abpi%2FPVNqwlTOVj496tbCT%2FxsYB036U346gbIjd1h4I%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Household Support Fund Grant Determination 2022 No 31/3096 (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-09-05T12:59:47.707Zmore like thismore than 2022-09-05T12:59:47.707Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4378
label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher more like this
1491022
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-20more like thismore than 2022-07-20
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Agriculture: Red Diesel more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2022 to Question 35899 on Fuels: Prices, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in the price of red diesel on (a) farming and (b) other agricultural businesses; and if he will make a statement. more like this
tabling member constituency Hemel Hempstead more like this
tabling member printed
Sir Mike Penning more like this
uin 40750 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-09-05more like thismore than 2022-09-05
answer text <p>Defra engages extensively with the farming sector and other agricultural businesses and continues to do so through various forums including the Agri-Supply Coalition and the Arable Chain Advisory Group. Through these forums, we closely monitor live issues, including the increase in the price of red diesel, and their impact on farming and other agricultural businesses. Defra also works closely with other Government departments, particularly HM Treasury, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport, to relay the information gathered from industry.</p><p>In the Spring Statement 2022 and in response to fuel prices reaching record levels, the Government announced a temporary 12-month cut to the full rate of duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre and an equivalent percentage cut on the rates for rebated fuels. This is a significant tax cut that will deliver considerable savings to consumers and businesses over the next year, including those that use diesel, and is the first time in over a decade that the main rates of petrol and diesel have been cut.</p>
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-09-05T13:17:50.17Zmore like thismore than 2022-09-05T13:17:50.17Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
1528
label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning more like this
1490707
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-19more like thismore than 2022-07-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Fishing Catches: White Fish more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to ICES Advice 2022 on UK cod stocks, if he will establish catch limits for cod at sustainable levels. more like this
tabling member constituency Waveney more like this
tabling member printed
Peter Aldous more like this
uin 39831 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-08-01more like thismore than 2022-08-01
answer text <p>The UK advocates an approach towards setting total allowable catches (TACs) for cod stocks and other species that is founded on the best available scientific advice, which seeks to maintain or rebuild sustainable fish stocks and fisheries in the long term. For many whitefish stocks, such as cod, a further key consideration when setting the TAC is their interaction with other stocks caught in the same mixed fishery.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-08-01T09:59:07.053Zmore like thismore than 2022-08-01T09:59:07.053Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4069
label Biography information for Peter Aldous more like this
1490708
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-19more like thismore than 2022-07-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Fisheries: Nature Conservation more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of his policies on the protection of deep sea species from overexploitation. more like this
tabling member constituency Waveney more like this
tabling member printed
Peter Aldous more like this
uin 39832 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-08-01more like thismore than 2022-08-01
answer text <p>Each year, the UK publishes the sustainability outcomes of the annual fisheries negotiations. This sets out the number of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) that have been set in line with the International Council for the Exploration Sea (ICES) advice. The UK is committed to promoting the sustainability for all fisheries stocks including deep sea species.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-08-01T09:48:31.477Zmore like thismore than 2022-08-01T09:48:31.477Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4069
label Biography information for Peter Aldous more like this
1490710
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-19more like thismore than 2022-07-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Saltwater Fish: Conservation more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in light of its assessment as critically endangered by the IUCN, if the Government will work towards a zero Total Allowable Catch for roundnose grenadier (a) in UK-EU negotiations and (b) at the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. more like this
tabling member constituency Waveney more like this
tabling member printed
Peter Aldous more like this
uin 39833 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-08-01more like thismore than 2022-08-01
answer text <p>The UK relies on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) when negotiating sustainable total allowable catches for fish stocks, including for roundnose grenadier. We are committed to restoring stocks to healthy states including taking a precautionary approach where necessary. To reflect this, the UK unilaterally applies a bycatch provision and does not actively target this stock. The UK will continue to make use of the best available science in developing our approach for deep sea stocks in both the UK and EU consultations, and our representations at the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-08-01T09:42:30.113Zmore like thismore than 2022-08-01T09:42:30.113Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4069
label Biography information for Peter Aldous more like this
1490711
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-19more like thismore than 2022-07-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Saltwater Fish: Conservation more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in light of recent scientific advice published by ICES, whether the Government will (a) support a position of zero catch of blackspot seabream, (b) introduce additional unilateral measures for their conservation in UK waters and (c) introduce closures to protect spawning sites. more like this
tabling member constituency Waveney more like this
tabling member printed
Peter Aldous more like this
uin 39834 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-08-01more like thismore than 2022-08-01
answer text <p>Blackspot seabream (western red seabream) is recognised as seriously depleted by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The recent catch advice issued by ICES, for zero catches of blackspot seabream, will form a central part of the UK position for this stock for the forthcoming consultations. This approach is consistent with the UK’s commitments to make the best use of scientific advice for the management of fishing activities. Blackspot seabream is a shared stock with the EU. The UK and EU are developing improved management measures to support its long-term recovery through the Specialised Committee on Fisheries.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-08-01T09:38:29.287Zmore like thismore than 2022-08-01T09:38:29.287Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4069
label Biography information for Peter Aldous more like this
1490712
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-19more like thismore than 2022-07-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Fish: Conservation more like this
house id 1 remove filter
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which species the UK considers to be forage fish; and whether the Government will adopt a more precautionary approach to the management of the species based on their wider ecological importance. more like this
tabling member constituency Waveney more like this
tabling member printed
Peter Aldous more like this
uin 39835 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-08-01more like thismore than 2022-08-01
answer text <p>Forage fish are important to the ecosystem as they provide food for predator fish and sea birds. We are reviewing our policy on forage fish that are caught for industrial purposes. In the context of the Northeast Atlantic, there are specific fleet segments that specialise in this type of fishing, and their effort within UK waters is targeted on particular species, principally sandeel and Norway pout.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury remove filter
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-08-01T09:35:12.473Zmore like thismore than 2022-08-01T09:35:12.473Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4069
label Biography information for Peter Aldous more like this