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1506513

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food Banks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that foodbanks have access to sufficient food to meet demand.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	51785
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>While foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations and the Government does not have any role in their operation, we are in regular contact with major foodbank networks to better understand their needs and asks of Government.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes. In addition to the energy support announced by the Government this month, we have committed £37 billion to tackle the increased cost of living this year. This includes: cutting the Universal Credit taper and increasing work allowances giving 1.7 million families an extra £1,000 a year (on average); raising the National Insurance threshold resulting in a saving of over £330 a year for a typical employee; and £1.5 billion to help households with the cost of essentials, including food.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 15:38:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1506579

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Marine Protected Areas: Fisheries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning all types of destructive fishing from Marine Protected Areas.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	51856
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2022 answer text <p>Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a devolved competency and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Marine Management Organisation and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities assess on a site-by-site basis which fishing activities could prevent MPAs from achieving their conservation objectives. Byelaws are developed using an evidence-led process to determine what management is required to protect sites and to not unduly restrict legitimate fishing activity.</p><p> </p><p>98 MPAs in English inshore waters already have byelaws in place to protect sensitive features from damaging fishing activities and the first four offshore byelaws have now been established. A Call for Evidence on byelaws in 13 more MPAs has recently closed. We aim to have protection in place for all our offshore MPAs by 2024.</p><p> </p><p>In July, we also launched a consultation on five candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters. With the highest level of protection in England’s seas to enable the ecosystem to fully recover, many activities including commercial and recreational fishing would be prohibited. HPMAs would complement the existing MPA network. Any HPMAs Government decides to designate following the consultation would be designated by July 2023.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/09/2022 13:39:53 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1506580

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Fisheries: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to amend fishing licenses in 2023 to reference destructive fishing.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	51857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2022 answer text <p>Marine conservation is a devolved competence and the following information on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Fisheries Act 2020 requires that all vessels fishing commercially in UK waters must have a licence to do so. All licences have a set of conditions which specify the area in which fishing is authorised, the time period permitted for fishing, the quantities and description of which species may be caught and the permitted fishing method. These conditions are subject to periodic review and are based on scientific evidence.</p><p> </p><p>98 MPAs in English inshore waters already have byelaws in place to protect sensitive features from damaging fishing activities and the first four offshore byelaws have now been established. The Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and Marine Management Organisation continue to assess and implement measures to manage damaging fishing within MPAs. We are aiming to have all MPAs in English waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 51844 52063 question first answered 23/09/2022 13:46:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1506581

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Nature Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of supporting the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature and the G7 2030 Nature Compact; and what steps he is taking to prevent degradation of nature.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	51858
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>The degradation of nature is a global problem that needs a global solution. Government recognises the merits of supporting international actions, alongside taking steps domestically to assess and address this crucial issue.</p><p>The UK was pivotal in driving the Leader's Pledge for Nature in 2020 and remains fully committed to working towards global implementation of the important commitments contained in the Pledge. This week the UK contributed to a highly impactful Leader's Pledge for Nature event (co-hosted with the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Ocean Alliance) in the margins of the UN General Assembly where countries came forward with ambitious commitments to finance biodiversity and move to nature positive economies.</p><p>The UK led the drafting and agreement of the G7 2030 Nature Compact by Leaders during our G7 Presidency in 2021, and we are committed to the full implementation of all the commitments contained within it by 2030, including the headline target to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.</p><p>Domestically, Government is committed to addressing the biggest environmental priorities of our age, including restoring and enhancing nature.</p><p>We have set out clear goals for habitats and species in England in our 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP). The 25YEP marked a step change in ambition for wildlife and the wider natural environment and we are already taking action to fulfil this ambition. We are maintaining and extending key protections; introducing new legislation and new funding streams; we are supporting partnerships and we are working across Government to secure broad action.</p><p>Our world-leading Environment Act 2021 puts environmental ambition and accountability at the very heart of government, by establishing a comprehensive legal framework for environmental improvement. The act includes a range of specific measures and actions to directly tackle biodiversity loss and sets a new and ambitious domestic framework for environmental governance now we have left the European Union.</p><p>Notably, the Act requires a new, legally binding target to be set to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. This is in addition to setting at least one long-term legally binding target for biodiversity alongside targets on water, air quality and waste reduction.</p><p>We will set out all of our long-term targets, and our approach to meeting them, in our revised Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023. This plan will mean that progress can be monitored, and Government will be held accountable for actions to recover nature.</p><p>The Environment Act also introduces measures that will strengthen our action for nature and lay the foundation for the Nature Recovery Network, a network of places that are richer in wildlife, more resilient to climate change and provide wider environmental benefits including carbon capture and recreation. Biodiversity Net Gain, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work together to drive action towards our targets for nature recovery, alongside wider action and investment to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive, while conservation covenants will help secure habitat for the long term.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 27/09/2022 17:06:38 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1506595

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: Labelling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including information on water and energy usage expended in the production of food products as part of food labelling those products.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	51797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>Across current voluntary industry schemes a wide range of metrics on environmental information are used. The Government Food Strategy announced the Food Data Transparency Programme (FDTP) to address this.</p><p>The FDTP will develop consistent and defined metrics to objectively measure the health, environmental sustainability and animal welfare impacts of food, by providing access to rich, standardised, high-quality data so that the Government can track progress towards our shared health and environmental goals in order to make effective policy.</p><p>We will work with stakeholders to create a common framework of metrics which the food and drink industry must follow when making voluntary information to consumers regarding their foods emission and sustainability claims.</p><p>This mandatory methodology will be for participating companies to consistently follow, providing a common standard where eco-information is voluntarily used should they choose to include such information on their products.</p><p>No decisions have yet been made on the metrics to include in the guidance. We will work with stakeholders through the FDTP to agree the inclusion of suitable metrics.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 15:40:05 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1506646

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Legislation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2022 to Question 4537 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Legislation, for what reasons 62 post-implementation reviews are currently outstanding; and what steps he is taking to undertake those reviews.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	51590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The number of Defra's outstanding post-implementation reviews (PIRs) is acknowledged. Similarly to many other departments, a number of reviews are outstanding owing to the essential reprioritisation of resources to manage the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union and the Government response to the Coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>Processes have been strengthened to ensure that a higher proportion of PIRs are completed on time. The department is developing plans to complete them as soon as possible.</p><p>Currently there are 57 overdue PIRs at Defra. Since January this year, 30 new Action Plans have been put in place to complete overdue reviews. The remaining 27 are being coordinated and planned.</p><p>The Permanent Secretary has committed to updating the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee with more detail about the steps being taken to progress PIRs at the end of the year.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 15:37:11 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1506656

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Foie Gras: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, if it remains his policy to build a clear evidence base to inform decisions on banning the import or sale of foie gras.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	52072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2022 answer text <p>The Action Plan for Animal Welfare noted that HM Government has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese which have been force fed raises serious welfare concerns and that the production of foie gras by force feeding is already illegal in the UK. The Action Plan also noted that now that the UK has left the EU, we are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform decisions on banning the import or sale of foie gras and other products derived from low-welfare systems.</p><p> </p><p>HM Government is currently continuing to build this evidence base. No specific deadline has been set for this exercise, and further evidence that people may wish to share with HM Government would be gratefully received.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Scott Mann grouped question UIN 51974 51987 question first answered 30/09/2022 13:09:03 answering member 4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1506676

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent outbreaks of avian flu.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	51936
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2022 answer text <p>We advise all bird keepers that high standards of biosecurity should be maintained as good practice for the health and welfare of their birds, and that they must remain vigilant and report immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) any suspicion of avian influenza in their birds.</p><p> </p><p>Good biosecurity is an essential defence against diseases such as avian influenza and is key to limiting the spread of avian influenza in an outbreak. In light of evidence of escalating findings of avian influenza in wild birds and cases in poultry and other captive birds, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was declared on 31<sup>st</sup> August 2022 in Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly and part of Somerset and remains in force until further notice. In this area it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers (whether they had pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) to follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease. Definitive requirements are set out in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101441/Regional_AIPZ_Declaration_31_August_2022_Cornwall__Devon__Somerset.pdf" target="_blank">regional AIPZ Declaration</a>, and biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklist have been published by Defra to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity, including compliance with the mandatory AIPZ measures which, together with further updates on the latest avian influenza situation, can be found via <a href="https://gov.uk/bird-flu" target="_blank">GOV.UK/Bird-flu</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The need for a national AIPZ or further regional AIPZs with or without mandatory housing measures will be kept under regular review as part of HM Government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza. Any decisions on when to reintroduce a national or further regional AIPZs will be based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#risklevel" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific, ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>When avian influenza is confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, swift and humane culling of birds on infected premises coupled with good biosecurity is used to prevent the amplification of avian influenza and subsequent environmental contamination and to reduce the risk of disease spread from infected premises. In addition, disease control zones are put in place surrounding the infected premises. Within these zones the movement of birds and things associated with their keeping, e.g. poultry litter, are restricted to prevent the spread of disease. Disease control zones are only lifted when all disease control activities and surveillance within the zones are successfully completed.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, alongside HM Government’s continued investment in the National Reference Laboratory and APHA’s Weybridge site, earlier this year we launched an eight-strong consortium that received £1.5 million in funding to develop new strategies to tackle avian influenza outbreaks. This research will help build our understanding in a number of key areas, including why the current virus strains have formed larger and longer outbreaks and understanding transmission and infection in different bird populations.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Scott Mann question first answered 03/10/2022 10:55:45 answering member 4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1506677

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to develop an urgent response plan to respond to outbreaks of avian influenza.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	51937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2022 answer text <p>Effective animal disease control is one of Defra’s key priorities. Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a> supported by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mitigation-strategy-for-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-in-england-and-wales" target="_blank">Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales</a> and in line with the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contingency-plan-for-exotic-notifiable-diseases-of-animals-in-england" target="_blank">Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England</a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/great-britain-and-northern-ireland-contingency-plan-for-exotic-notifiable-diseases-of-animals" target="_blank">UK contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals</a>. Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), while protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak. Current policy reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Scott Mann question first answered 30/09/2022 13:07:04 answering member 4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1506678

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Birds: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of seabird conservation in preventing outbreaks of avian influenza in UK seabird populations.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	51938
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2022 answer text <p>The United Kingdom’s seabirds are an important part of our natural heritage, and we continue to support actions to address the range of threats they are facing. We recognise the significant threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the United Kingdom’s seabird populations and the role conservation can play in increasing the resilience of seabird populations in the face of avian influenza outbreaks.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has commissioned Natural England to assess the vulnerability of seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing and to propose actions to address them. We will work closely with stakeholders to understand the best way to implement and prioritise these actions in early 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is working with Joint Nature Conservation Committee to establish an Advisory Group to advise, recommend actions and develop guidance on minimising the impact of HPAI on wild bird populations in England and Wales and recovering populations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Scott Mann question first answered 30/09/2022 13:14:06 answering member 4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury