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1540732

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
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 she will outline the (a) purpose and (b) aims of Environmental Land Management Schemes.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	82218
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>We need and are introducing policies that work for farm businesses, food production and the environment. As part of this, the environmental land management schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices, improving animal health and welfare, reducing carbon emissions, creating and preserving habitat, and making landscape-scale environmental changes. This is an important step towards achieving our 25 Year Environment Plan ambitions and our carbon net zero goals.</p><p> </p><p>We are designing the schemes to be accessible and supportive with fair compensation. We are also improving the way we set and control the rules around farming and the countryside – making it fair, proportionate and effective. We aim to take a more collaborative, less bureaucratic approach in developing this policy and the schemes' administration.</p><p>We set out the purpose and aims of the environmental land management schemes in January 2022 at this site: Environmental land management schemes: outcomes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-management-schemes-outcomes/environmental-land-management-schemes-outcomes).</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2022 18:04:55 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1540764

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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 it his policy to adjust commercial fishing licences for 2023 to stop industrial fishing in Marine Protected Areas, in the context of declines in fish populations.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	82459
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2022 answer text <p>Management measures in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are introduced on a site-by-site basis to ensure that measures can be tailored to meet the conservation objectives of each site and without unnecessarily restricting fishing activity. We are aiming to have all English MPAs protected from damaging fishing activity by the end of 2024, and have recently consulted on candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas. As set out in the Fisheries Act 2020, FMPs will also be important tools to deliver sustainable and well managed fisheries around the UK, that meet our national and international commitments.</p><p>HM Government is reviewing its policy on industrial fishing, and we will continue to engage with stakeholders about our future approach over the next few months, particularly towards industrial fishing of sandeel and Norway pout within our waters. The UK advocates an approach towards setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) which is founded on the best available scientific advice and that will maintain or rebuild sustainable fish stocks and fisheries.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 15/11/2022 12:38:55 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1540095

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
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: Sustainable Development
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 she is taking to help the British fishing industry operate sustainably.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	80590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2022 answer text <p>HM Government is committed to sustainable fishing and the principle of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and our Fisheries White Paper.</p><p> </p><p>The draft Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) included a list of proposed Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) around the UK with a timetable for their publication. FMPs will be evidence-based action plans developed with fishermen and stakeholders to deliver sustainable fisheries for current and future generations.</p><p> </p><p>The £100 million UK Seafood Fund (UKSF) is being used to reform and modernise infrastructure, encourage new entrants to the industry and ensure the best science research and technology is used in fisheries management. One of the key objectives of the Fund is to enable an environmentally sustainable fishing industry that gives most value for money and reflects the long-term needs of the sector.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the UKSF, HM Government delivers an annual investment of £32.7 million to support the fishing and seafood sectors and protect the marine environment. Funding is divided between each of the four fishing administrations and is designed to deliver grant funding schemes, support evidence gathering and protect our waters. The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme invests at least £6 million annually to help support the long-term sustainability, resilience, and prosperity of the seafood sector in England. Funding across the UK has been secured every year until April 2025, providing long term investment to the sector.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 15/11/2022 12:19:12 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1540096

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
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	National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
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 she has had meetings with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	80591
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2022 answer text <p>In the last twelve months, Defra Ministers have had regular meetings with the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) to discuss a wide variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 15/11/2022 12:23:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1540363

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
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	Poultry: Avian Influenza
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 her Department has taken to support the poultry industry in response to the 2022 bird flu outbreak; how much financial support has been provided to that industry in response to that outbreak; and how many compensation claims have been (a) made and (b) processed as of 7 November 2022.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	80733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Outbreaks of avian influenza in both kept and wild birds continue to occur at an unprecedented scale across Europe and the UK with cases continuing to be confirmed into year two of the outbreak for the first time. We recognise that these outbreaks are very distressing for the individual poultry farmers that are affected.</p><p>On 28 October we announced a new package of measures to support domestic producers with the impacts of AI. This included changes to the compensation scheme (effective from the 1<sup>st</sup> October) in response to significant concerns from industry on the impact the rapid mortality caused by the current H5N1 strain and risk that escalating case numbers leading to substantial delays to culling can have on the amount of compensation paid.</p><p>Compensation will now be linked to decisions taken at the start of planned culling rather than at the end. This will allow us to give earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation, better reflect the impact of outbreaks on premises and lead to swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures.</p><p>Compensation paid for birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. Compensation is also not paid for other things that have to be seized because they pose a risk of transmitting disease.</p><p>The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1022649%2Fpoultry-valuation-table.zip&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4af77730e1a247f3ddf908dac62abde4%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638040184127851064%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=63ZTcEtoaSQCAZ1PMOqCr091XWMzxhJaeXTZQsyHBR4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">valuation rate card</a> (or for specialist stock by a specialist valuer). We do not comment on individual claims and the amount of compensation that keepers receive is not disclosed.</p><p>In addition, in England, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) operates a financial support payment scheme for those farmers most in need. More information is available on gov.uk and from the RPA helpline.</p><p>Furthermore, in consultation with the Food Standards Agency, an easement to marketing rules is also being introduced in Great Britain. The measures mean that farmers who breed turkeys, geese, ducks or capons for their meat will have the option to slaughter birds early, and to freeze them, which can then be defrosted and sold to consumers as whole birds, stuffed crowns or 2/3 bird roasts between the period 28 November and 31 December 2022. Products will also need to be properly labelled and accompanied by in-store signage and online information for customers. This option is being introduced to give producers certainty over business planning.</p><p>We produce over 11 million turkeys in the UK every year. Over the Christmas period approximately 8 million turkeys, 200,000 geese and 100,000 ducks are sold to some of the highest standards in the world. Around 50% of these are usually sold frozen.</p><p>There is no immediate threat to the food supply chain as a result of the current outbreak, with the introduction of this measure helping mitigate any potential risks to the supply of seasonal poultry products for the Christmas market.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2022 17:42:56 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1539389

registered interest
date	04/11/2022
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	Deposit Return Schemes: Plastics and Tin
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 recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of plastic and tin deposit return schemes; and when she plans to set out the Government's position on such schemes.
tabling member constituency	Tamworth
tabling member printed	Christopher Pincher
uin	79294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>In its 2019 manifesto, the Government committed to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. We expect the introduction of a DRS to deter littering of in-scope containers; increase recycling of in-scope containers; provide higher quality recyclate for reprocessors; and change consumer behaviours with potential knock-on effects to other environmental activities. Further details on when a Deposit Return Scheme will be introduced will be set out in due course in the Government consultation response.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 14/11/2022 11:44:48 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher

1539461

registered interest
date	04/11/2022
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	Flood Control: Capital Investment
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 policy paper entitled The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, published on 18 November 2020, how much his Department has spent on the six-year capital investment programme for flood and coastal defences through point nine on protecting our natural environment since the publication of that plan.
tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
uin	79289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Investment in flooding and coastal erosion in England is provided by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).</p><p> </p><p>HM Government has invested £761 million in 2021/22, the first year of the capital Flood and Coastal Risk Investment Programme.</p><p> </p><p>Information on government spending on flood and coastal erosion risk management is available on GOV.UK within the document <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1070943%2FFunding_for_FCERM_March_2021_Final_v1_accessible.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMarcus.Fry%40defra.gov.uk%7Cfa258a8748e44438128d08dac1936a1b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638035136140114326%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=9bPZWgRNxmvDPXbJQp0lvDcXGyDYUURN%2FYClQUpNRGk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Central Government Funding for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in England</a>, March 2022.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 14/11/2022 17:00:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1539494

registered interest
date	04/11/2022
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: Exports
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 she is taking to consult UK farmers and food processors on her decision to change pre-export requirements from a farmer declaration to a veterinary attestation with immediate effect on 13 December 2022.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	79285
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Businesses exporting goods from GB to the EU are required by the EU to use Export Health Certificates (EHCs) signed by an official vet. EU law sets out the rules which animals and products from third countries must meet via an EHC. Since the introduction of the EU’s Animal Health Regulation in April 2021, these requirements have included a need for ‘regular’ animal heath visits by a veterinarian to establishments of origin of animals providing products of animal of origin for export i.e., for meat, the farm where the animals were kept before slaughter. These requirements are set by the EU and are not within the control of the UK Government. The purpose of the veterinary visit is to detect or provide information on the signs of disease and these visits must take place at a frequency proportionate to risk.</p><p> </p><p>Official Veterinarians (OV) are required to meet the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons principles when signing Export Health Certificates. The process of providing evidence of regular vet visits is outlined to Official Veterinarians and exporters in the Notes for Guidance. We are aware of the concerns raised by industry about the process of providing evidence of regular vet visits for non-assured farms and we are engaging with businesses and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to try and ease the burden on exporters in meeting these EU requirements. Defra’s published existing Notes for Guidance to support this export activity is clear that 13 December date for a change to the form of evidence a certifying vet can accept will be kept under review. We expect to issue further information to industry in the coming weeks.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2022 17:48:31 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1539495

registered interest
date	04/11/2022
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	Pigs: 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, what steps are being taken to ensure that import controls are sufficient to protect UK pigs from African Swine Fever.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	79286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>We announced new controls restricting the movement of pork and pork products into Great Britain to help safeguard Britain's pig population. Travellers from the EU are no longer allowed to bring pork or pork products weighing over two kilograms into GB, unless they are produced to the EU's commercial standards. The new controls, which came into force on 1 September, will strengthen GB's biosecurity in relation to the standards for bringing pork and pork products into GB from the EU and EFTA states. More information on the new controls can be found on GOV.UK.</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/news/strict-new-controls-on-pork-and-pork-products-to-protect-britains-pig-sector-against-african-swine-fever" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/news/strict-new-controls-on-pork-and-pork-products-to-protect-britains-pig-sector-against-african-swine-fever</a></p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2022 17:55:04 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1539021

registered interest
date	03/11/2022
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: Republic of Ireland
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 she has had recent discussions with her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on controlling the spread of avian flu.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	78898
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has regular discussions with her counterparts in the Republic of Ireland, the EU and globally through the World Organisation for Animal Health.</p><p> </p><p>At the international level, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) virologists and epidemiologists collaborate with colleagues in Europe and around the world to closely analyse viruses involved in both outbreaks in poultry and other captive birds and those found in wild birds, with the aim of trying to understand what makes these viruses different and how they might change in the future. Collaboration is underway to investigate the cases we’re currently reporting. This work is facilitated through the World Animal Health Organisation (WOAH) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) international reference laboratory for Avian Influenza located at APHA Weybridge.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, DAERA in Northern Ireland also have regular discussions with the Republic of Ireland regarding the current outbreak of avian influenza, given they share a land border, and are able to pass information between this forum and the UK forums, including the UK’s National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) meetings, the Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG) and the different stocktakes where ongoing disease control strategy is reviewed.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the current situation both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken, including vaccine development.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2022 19:28:44 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart