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1300143

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Hedgehogs: 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 steps he is taking to protect the UK's hedgehog population.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	164645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Environment Bill contains measures that will help improve the status of threatened species, including by setting at least one biodiversity target in law, as well as strengthening the biodiversity duty on public authorities to take action to conserve and enhance biodiversity.</p><p>We are also taking action, through our net gain provisions in the Bill, to support the role of new development in helping protect and create the habitat that our native species, including hedgehogs, need to thrive.</p><p>We are working with stakeholders and end users to determine the specific actions that will be paid for under our new schemes that reward environmental land management. We will set out more details on this later this year. The Agricultural Transition Plan set out examples of the types of actions that we envisage paying for under the schemes, including creating, managing and restoring habitats such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, which could all benefit species such as hedgehog.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/03/2021 13:02:35 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300144

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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: Production
	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 he has taken to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from food production in the run up to COP26.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	164646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>Sustainable agriculture and land use are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement. The 2019 IPCC land-use report set out the critical role that sustainable land use must play in climate mitigation and building resilience. The COP26 Nature Campaign aims to raise the profile of this agenda, building on the Just Rural Transition launched at the UN Climate Action Summit and providing a platform to highlight actions that leading countries are taking to deliver change.</p><p> </p><p>Reaching our Net Zero target is one of this Government's top priorities. We know that this will be a challenge, requiring action across the economy. It will mean changes to the way land is managed to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. We will support the sector to make these changes through the schemes set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The Agricultural Transition Plan published on 30 November 2020 outlined how the Government will support farmers and land managers by investing the money freed up from phasing out direct payments to pay for improvements to the environment, improve animal health and welfare and reduce carbon emissions. Simultaneously, we need to protect and increase our carbon stores, increasing afforestation and peat restoration rates across England, whilst supporting the adaptiveness and resilience of these ecosystems to risks which may arise under a changing climate. Our new environmental land management schemes will help deliver on this and include the Sustainable Farming Incentive, a universal scheme open to all farmers, which will support sustainable approaches to farm husbandry to deliver for the environment, such as actions to improve soil health and water quality, enhance hedgerows and promote integrated pest management.</p><p> </p><p>We will also take steps to reduce emissions through our animal health and welfare schemes and transitional support schemes. For example, we will support action to identify and eliminate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, which raises greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. And we will provide grants towards the cost of equipment, technology and infrastructure that will improve farmers’ efficiency, benefiting the environment. These could include precision agriculture and low-emission nutrient application equipment.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/03/2021 12:16:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300091

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Hedgehogs: 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 recent estimate he has made of hedgehog numbers in the UK; and if he will take steps to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to strengthen their protections.
	tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
	tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
	uin	164682
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>The latest ‘Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals’ estimates the hedgehog populations in the UK is 522,000.</p><p> </p><p>Wildlife policy is a devolved issue and this response is with regard to England only.</p><p>The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets out a legal duty for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake a review of Schedule 5 and 8 (protected species) every five years to determine whether any further species warrant inclusion, and for the Secretary of State to lay this advice before Parliament. This review process is science led and evidence based, with criteria for consideration of species agreed across the jurisdictions of the UK. The JNCC is currently reviewing schedule 5 and will make recommendations for any additions at the end of this year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/03/2021 14:38:25 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1300212

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Dogs: Imports and Sales
	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 he is taking to prevent the (a) import and (b) advertising and sale of dogs with cropped ears in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	164364
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>The practice of mutilating dogs’ ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the UK for 15 years.</p><p> </p><p>We already have some of the world’s highest animal welfare standards. The end of the transition period has opened up new opportunities for managing our own pet travel and commercial importation rules. We are actively listening to the concerns of stakeholders and the Government is considering options regarding the importation and commercial movements of dogs with cropped ears into Great Britain in line with World Trade Organization rules.</p><p> </p><p>Importers of animals must adhere to welfare standards as set out in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and in domestic legislation, The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO). This legislation aims to protect the health and welfare of animals during transportation and applies to dogs that are suffering injury as a result of non-exempted mutilations including cropped ears.</p><p> </p><p>The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or cropping a dog’s ears in England is six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. However, the Government is committed to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for both of these offences from six months to five years. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will implement this increase, will continue to receive Government support as it completes its passage through Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also continues to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of pets by deceitful sellers in the UK and abroad through our ‘Petfished’ campaign. This seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet, including those that have been subject to cropping. The campaign urges buyers to mitigate risks, for example by buying from trusted sellers such as those under the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder scheme, viewing puppies with their mothers and siblings, asking questions of the seller and following the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA Puppy Contract to ensure that puppies are in good health when purchased.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 11/03/2021 15:56:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1300319

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Plastics: Beaches
	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 alleviate the environmental impact of (a) polystyrene bodyboards and (b) other disposable beach products.
	tabling member constituency	Torridge and West Devon
	tabling member printed	Sir Geoffrey Cox
	uin	164389
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>We know that when polystyrene bodyboards and other items used at the beach are littered they can have harmful impacts on the environment. The Government is committed to encouraging local solutions for local problems. This is particularly relevant in dealing with litter and fly-tipping issues, which require a local approach, tailored to the characteristics of the area and the community in which the problems occur.</p><p>The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse advises councils to monitor and clean beaches below the high-water mark areas as appropriate. Beaches present unique challenges. They may not always be cleaned to the maximum standard possible because of the terrain, conditions, accessibility and the need to be sensitive to habitats. The duty body should do as much as is practicable. It is recommended that councils and beach managers are aware of the different types and nature of beaches in their areas and carry out regular monitoring and suitable cleaning.</p><p>The Government's Resources and Waste Strategy for England published in December 2018 sets out our plans to reduce plastic pollution and move towards a more circular economy. This builds on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. The measures set out in the Strategy will help our society move away from a 'take, make, use and throw' approach regarding resources and materials to where we reuse, recycle, and repair more and waste less. Our Environment Bill will enable us to significantly change the way that we manage our waste and take forward a number of the proposals from the Resources and Waste Strategy.</p><p>In general, we prefer to help people and companies make the right choice, rather than banning items outright. There may, however, be times when a ban is appropriate as part of a wider strategic approach. Which is why we introduced measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in October 2020. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/ or materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/03/2021 13:00:23 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox

1300415

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Dogs: Animal Welfare
	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 trends in the number of cases of illegal dog ear cropping in the last six years; and what steps his Department is taking to help (a) halt that practice and (b) prevent the importation of dogs that have had their ears cropped.
	tabling member constituency	Tiverton and Honiton
	tabling member printed	Neil Parish
	uin	164442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government has not made a specific assessment on the numbers of dogs with illegally cropped ears but we continue to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of pets by deceitful sellers in the UK and abroad through our ‘Petfished’ campaign. This seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet, including those that have been subject to cropping. The campaign urges buyers to mitigate risks, for example by buying from trusted sellers such as those under the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder scheme, viewing puppies with their mothers and siblings, asking questions of the seller and following the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA Puppy Contract to ensure that puppies are in good health when purchased.</p><p> </p><p>The practice of mutilating dogs’ ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the UK for 15 years. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or cropping a dog’s ears in England is six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. However, the Government is committed to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for both of these offences from six months to five years. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will implement this increase, will continue to receive Government support as it completes its passage through Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We already have some of the world’s highest animal welfare standards. The end of the transition period has opened up new opportunities for managing our own pet travel and commercial importation rules. We are actively listening to the concerns of stakeholders and the Government is considering options regarding the importation and commercial movements of dogs with cropped ears into Great Britain in line with World Trade Organization rules.</p><p> </p><p>Importers of animals must adhere to welfare standards as set out in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and in domestic legislation, The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO). This legislation aims to protect the health and welfare of animals during transportation and applies to dogs that are suffering injury as a result of non-exempted mutilations including cropped ears.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/03/2021 17:30:28 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4072 label Biography information for Neil Parish

1300406

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Plastics: Biodegradability
	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 the Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) rollout the use of additives to make ordinary plastic biodegradable.
	tabling member constituency	Stockport
	tabling member printed	Navendu Mishra
	uin	164673
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>In 2015, a Government report concluded that existing biodegradable standards are only applicable to very specific conditions such as industrial composters. We are concerned that, in the absence of robust standards, claims about the biodegradability of plastic-based products cannot be verified leading to potential confusion in the marketplace, possible increased levels of consumption and potential environmental harm at the point of disposal.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in line with the advice received from the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee and as set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government’s focus is on encouraging increased reuse and recycling of products and materials, to extract maximum value from them, in line with our ambition to transition to a circular economy. This being said, the Government recognises that innovation into biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards and are treated in line with those standards.</p><p> </p><p>As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence in 2019 to help consider the development of product standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call for evidence is now closed and we are currently analysing the responses received; we will publish a Government response shortly.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/03/2021 14:35:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4811 label Biography information for Navendu Mishra

1300090

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Inland Waterways and Rivers: Sewage
	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 ensure that untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers and other inland waters.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	164600
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>Tackling the harm caused by sewer overflows is a top priority for this Department.</p><p> </p><p>Since the privatisation of water companies, around £25 billion has been invested to reduce pollution from sewage, covering improvements in sewage treatment and in sewer overflows.</p><p> </p><p>During periods of significant rainfall untreated sewage diluted by rainwater will discharge through storm overflows to avoid streets, premises and sewage treatment plants from being flooded. Water companies are committed in the five-year business planning period (2020-25) to a significant programme of improvements to the monitoring and management of storm overflows at a cost of around £1.1 billion. This investment includes undertaking 800 investigations and 798 improvement schemes to provide environmental improvements by reducing spills from frequently spilling overflows.</p><p> </p><p>I recognise that there is more to do to manage sewage pollution. I met water company CEOs in September last year and made clear that the volumes of sewage discharged into rivers and other waterways in extreme weather must be reduced. To achieve this, I have set up a new Taskforce - bringing together Government, the water industry, regulators and environmental NGOs - which has agreed to set a long term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows. The Taskforce is now working on plans to start making progress towards that goal, and they have commissioned research to gather evidence on the costs, benefits and feasibility of different options.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are currently producing for the first time comprehensive Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans to assess the capacity of their wastewater networks. We are also taking key steps through the Environment Bill to require water companies to produce such Plans on a statutory basis. These plans will be another tool to help address the risks that storm overflows pose to the environment.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/03/2021 13:17:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1300294

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Shellfish: 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, what financial support the Government (a) has provided, (b) is providing and (c) plans to provide to assist in the purchase of equipment for the depuration of cockles for export to the EU from waters where depuration was not required prior to the end of the transition period; and what proportion of that support is available as (i) grants and (ii) loans.
	tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
	tabling member printed	Mark Tami
	uin	164366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>There is no scientific or technical justification for the European Commission banning the import of Live Bivalve Molluscs (LBMs), including oysters, from class B waters (where depuration/processing is required after harvest). We are seeking urgent resolution on the European Commission’s decision.</p><p>Grant funding to support the purchase of equipment for depuration was previously made available across the UK through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). In England similar support was delivered through the Maritime and Fisheries Fund (MFF), with equivalent funding provided to the devolved administrations. The MFF will continue to fund activities such as depuration as long as funding remains available under this scheme.</p><p> </p><p>At the Spending Review the Government provided replacement funds to enable the four nations of the UK to deliver their own domestic funding schemes, tailored to the needs of their sector. In England, we intend to open a new scheme for delivering grant funding in April. This will include support for the purchase of new equipment for depuration. The devolved administrations are responsible for the design and delivery of their own schemes.</p><p> </p><p>All of the support available has been provided through grants.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/03/2021 17:26:17 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1300462

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Animals: Exports
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to recruit fully trained veterinary professionals to carry out the necessary veterinary controls and inspections in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member printed	Lord Rogan
	uin	HL14001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>The recruitment of veterinary professionals for carrying out veterinary controls and inspections in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. This means that the responsible department is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA).</p><p> </p><p>Veterinary controls and inspections do not only take place in ports and airports but include work done on farms and in various types of establishment, including slaughterhouses.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>During the month of June 2020 (being typical of the base-line position for calendar year 2020) the number of staff employed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to carry out veterinary controls and inspections was in the order of:</p><p>- 114 qualified veterinarians,</p><p>- 69 qualified meat hygiene inspectors, and</p><p>- 27 trainee meat hygiene inspectors.</p><p> </p><p>At that time the number of staff employed in northern Ireland’s ports and airports, and authorised to carry out veterinary controls and inspections and participate in the goods clearance process was of the order of:</p><p>- Veterinarians – 1</p><p>- Portal Inspectors – 41</p><p> </p><p>Inspectors working in the ports are not meat hygiene inspectors but are portal inspectors who have received training in that specific role. Meat hygiene inspectors are only employed in DAERA’s Veterinary Public Health Programme which delivers the Official Controls in Food Business Operator premises on behalf of the Food Standards Agency for Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>When the grace period provided for by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland expires Northern Ireland the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs currently estimates that the number of staff required to conduct veterinary controls and inspections in Northern Ireland will, in total, approximate to:</p><p>- 186 qualified veterinarians,</p><p>- 69 qualified meat hygiene inspectors, and</p><p>- 27 trainee meat hygiene inspectors.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent estimates for the numbers of staff that will be required to conduct veterinary controls and inspections in Northern Ireland ports and airports, when the grace period provided for by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland expires, is as follows:</p><ol><li>Staff officially authorised to participate in the goods clearance process:</li></ol><p>- Veterinarians – 72</p><p>- Officially authorised portal inspectors – 122</p><p>- Officially authorised portal administrative officers – 80</p><ol start="2"><li>Staff providing operational support:</li></ol><p>- Industrial grade animal handlers – 12</p><p>- Stevedores – 72</p><ol start="3"><li>Support staff providing general administrative, professional and technical services:</li></ol><p>- Veterinarians, Portal Inspectors and admin staff - 3</p><p> </p><p>DAERA is on track to spend a total of £16m on personnel, infrastructure and IT systems to the end of the current financial year for the work necessary to carry out the required sanitary and phytosanitary checks at Northern Ireland’s Points of Entry.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL14002 HL14003 question first answered 22/03/2021 16:47:32 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2478 label Biography information for Lord Rogan