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1145700

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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	Agriculture: Biofuels
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 she has made of the potential effect on (a) wheat and (b) dairy farmers of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and what assessment she has made of the level of the UK's reliance on imported bioethanol.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	290722
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>We have been meeting regularly with the food and farming sectors across the UK to understand and anticipate the potential impacts of a no deal scenario on our agri-food industry. The UK is a net importer of dairy but there are specific products of which we are net exporters. These may face tariff and non-tariff barriers to future EU export, and this will have a larger impact on Northern Ireland where they are heavily reliant on the Irish market. For wheat, for the last few years the UK has been a net importer, but it’s likely that this harvest will see us becoming a net exporter. MFN tariffs on wheat into the EU are extremely high, however, there is an underutilised tariff rate quota.</p><p> </p><p>We currently import around 2/3rds of our bioethanol, mainly from the EU. The UK alcohol industry, particularly gin and vodka, is reliant on EU bioethanol. Bioethanol is also a vital processing aid in the production of food flavourings and colourings, household and industrial cleaners, toiletries, cosmetics and medicinal agents. Ethanol is a globally traded commodity and we do not anticipate any shortages as a result of our exit from the EU.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/10/2019 12:38:54 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1145702

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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	Eggs: Salmonella
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 estimate she has made of the number of scheduled tests for salmonella in eggs that were (a) carried out behind schedule and (b) not carried out.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	290637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>National Control Plan official sampling is done annually as per legislative requirements. The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) are an approved Industry Control Body for their own assurance scheme members and their annual official sampling is carried out by their auditors NSF International. Non-BEIC producers are sampled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, APHA completed all official sampling on non-BEIC laying farms in the timescales required. 2019 sampling for non-BEIC laying farms is also on track for completion within the timescales required.</p><p> </p><p>As part of routine regulatory inspections APHA inspectors audit each egg producer’s salmonella sampling records in order to review operator sampling. Where late or missed sampling is identified a penalty notice will be issued. In addition, where there is no clear current test present at the time of the inspection, the inspector will immediately take the appropriate samples for testing and will serve a notice applying restrictions to the eggs pending a clear test result.</p><p> </p><p>The number of penalty notices that have been raised against producers in England are:</p><p> </p><p>01/06/16-31/05/17 - 30.</p><p>01/06/17-31/05/18 - 44.</p><p>01/06/18-31/05/19 - 35.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 01/10/2019 17:57:44 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1145796

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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	High Speed 2 Line: Buckinghamshire
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 environmental impact of planned works in preparation for High Speed Rail 2 around Steeple Claydon in Buckinghamshire.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	290784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) is not aware of any current applications for any consents works for this area.</p><p>The EA determines applications on a technical basis, using information and data to inform judgements. It ensures that the applicant, with the EA’s input, has identified and assessed any potential impacts on the water environment. Any consent issued must contain appropriate conditions to protect against these impacts. An application can be refused on the grounds of unacceptable risk to the environment.</p><p>With regard to Natural England’s remit, the Phase 1 Environmental statement identified the principal ecological issues in this area as the loss and fragmentation of habitat used by bats; habitat loss and disturbance affecting at a number of local wildlife sites, and fragmentation of habitat used by black hairstreak butterfly habitat. High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) has designed a suite of woodland and other planting to address these impacts although the loss of ancient woodland at Decoypond Wood LWS cannot be fully compensated as ancient woodland is irreplaceable. HS2’s mitigation includes the Sheephouse Wood mitigation structure which will be provided to avoid potential impacts on bats crossing the HS2 corridor adjacent to Sheephouse Wood. Natural England has issued HS2 Ltd a bat licence for works in the Bernwood area.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 04/10/2019 13:59:18 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1145442

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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	Seagrass: Carbon Capture and Storage
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 her Department has made of the merits of the use of underwater seagrass to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	290321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>Defra recognises the role of blue carbon ecosystems including seagrasses, to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it for long periods of time as well as providing multiple other benefits such as storm protection, improving water quality, and benefiting biodiversity and fisheries.</p><p> </p><p>Our Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership have assessed how seagrass habitats can be managed and protected in a changing climate (<a href="http://www.mccip.org.uk/media/1816/mccip-seagrass.pdf" target="_blank">mccip-seagrass report card</a>).</p><p> </p><p>Nature-based solutions, including the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass, are key to tackling climate change and averting its impacts.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 02/10/2019 16:13:15 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1145448

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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	Livestock: Transport
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 she has to review the six day standstill rule.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	290439
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>If livestock move on to a farm the standstill rule requires the farmer to retain all livestock on their farm, in most instances for six days, before being able to move any of them off again. There are a number of exemptions such as moves to slaughter. The aim is to find the balance between reducing the risk of undetected disease spread and the need to trade.</p><p>In 2018, officials discussed the rule with representatives of the industry. It was agreed that a review of the rule would need to await the delivery of the new Livestock Information Service (LIS) as this will be a key source of movement data. The LIS will replace the current separate species movement reporting services in England. Delivery is planned to commence in late 2020 and should take approximately 2 years. Any consequent proposals to change the standstill arrangements will be assessed on an epidemiological risk basis and will be subject to public consultation.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/10/2019 15:33:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1145475

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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: Energy Supply
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which provider supplies energy to her Department; how much CO2 was emitted through her Department’s energy consumption in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria her Department uses to select an energy supplier includes how environmentally friendly the supplier is; and what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from its energy use.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	290327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>The Defra Group publishes its annual carbon footprint in its annual report and account. The latest version is published here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818863/defra-annual-report-2018-2019-web.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818863/defra-annual-report-2018-2019-web.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>This report provides an overview of Defra group performance against the GGC targets.</p><p> </p><p>Defra Group emitted 61,128 tonnes CO<sub>2</sub>e in 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>We are mandated to use Crown Commercial Services Frameworks when it comes to selecting our energy suppliers. These are EDF, British Gas Business for electricity and Corona for Gas.</p><p> </p><p>We are unable to comment on the selection criteria used in awarding these supplier a place on these frameworks.</p><p> </p><p>88% of the electricity Defra Group purchases comes from renewable sources from these suppliers.</p><p> </p><p>We have reduced our carbon emissions by 48.8% since 2010, through investments in energy saving technology across the group by retrofitting:</p><p> </p><ul><li>LED lighting,</li><li>updated building management systems,</li><li>biomass boilers,</li><li>energy efficient boilers,</li><li>solar photovoltaics</li><li>and wind turbines.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We are looking to continue this investment through our SR19/SR20 bids in sustainable technology.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/10/2019 13:35:09 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1145493

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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: Navy
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 Answer of 11 July 2017 to Question 2722, what progress she has made on assessing the required strength of the fisheries protection fleet after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	290370
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>We will continue to monitor, control and enforce fishing regulations in our own waters as an independent costal state after we leave the EU on 31 October. We currently take robust intelligence-led enforcement action against illegal fishing and this will continue when we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>We have assessed the risk of increased illegal fishing when the UK leaves the EU and have strengthened our resources accordingly. This includes an increase to the number of frontline warranted officers, increased aerial surveillance and further vessels to enhance patrolling capacity at sea.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/10/2019 15:29:46 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1145496

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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: UK Trade with EU
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 plans to extend the lamb purchase scheme announced by the Prime Minister on 30 July 2019 to (a) other meats, (b) poultry and (c) fish.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	290371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>We have made it clear that we will support vulnerable sectors through Government intervention in the event of a ‘no deal’, should this be necessary. We will be monitoring the sectors which may be exposed to short-term difficulties as a result of EU Exit closely to identify early signs of market disturbance allowing us to react swiftly.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/10/2019 13:33:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1145501

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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	Export Health Certificates: Veterinary Medicine
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 estimate she has made of the number of vets that will be required at ports and airports to issue export health certificates in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and how many vets are currently available.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	290372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>Exporters are required to have certified Export Health Certificates before goods leave the approved premises, therefore we do not anticipate any need for additional certifying officers at UK borders.</p><p>To date, over 1000 vets are registered as official veterinarians that can certify Export Health Certificates – an increase of around 60% since February 2019. We have put in place a number of measures to increase certifier capacity, including introducing a new certification support officer role to assist certifiers in collating the evidence needed, as well as providing free training for vets.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 04/10/2019 15:55:38 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1145503

registered interest
date	24/09/2019
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	Agriculture
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 will take to ensure adequate supplies of (a) animal feed, (b) fertilisers and (c) other crop treatments which cannot be stockpiled in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	290373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>We are in regular dialogue with the farming unions, processors and allied industries about the availability of animal feed and other supplies in the event of a no deal.</p><p>In 2017, the UK produced 13.9 million tonnes of animal feed. Included in this amount was 3.9 million tonnes of ingredients imported from third countries and 2.2 million tonnes from the EU. This would suggest that the sector is less dependent on imports from the EU. However, we will continue to monitor the markets in order to determine the impact of our leaving the EU on prices and supply.</p><p>In preparations for no deal, the Government has taken steps to secure additional freight capacity, guaranteeing the supply of critical goods.</p><p>Existing EU regulations for marketing fertilisers will be converted into UK law in the event of a no deal withdrawal. Products sold as EC fertilisers can be sold in the UK with the same packaging for two years as long as they continue to comply with the EU regulations. This system has been developed to ensure continuity of supply of fertiliser imports from the EU to the UK farming industry. The information has been published in a guidance document available on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manufacturing-and-marketing-fertilisers-if-there-is-no-brexit-deal" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manufacturing-and-marketing-fertilisers-if-there-is-no-brexit-deal</a></p><p>The UK is a net importer of fertilisers, and therefore a valuable market for exports from other countries. We are expecting the supply of fertilisers to remain consistent and to continue to use trading routes which do not include the port of Dover. We will continue to look at all likely EU withdrawal scenarios with a view to limiting consequential impacts on the supply chain and trade.</p><p>In the event of no deal, the same pesticide products will continue to be authorised for use in the UK immediately after departure.</p><p>After withdrawal, businesses trading with the EU will broadly be subject to customs controls in the same way as businesses who are trading with the rest of the world. HMRC has announced that a number of temporary easements are in place to help businesses make this transition, including measures to simplify tariffs and customs declarations.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 04/10/2019 11:27:58 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock