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782116

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2017
	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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Government support for the food and farming sectors after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	110741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2017 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has had productive discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as we design a future agricultural policy to best support our farmers to grow more, sell more and export more great British food. I have also met with BEIS ministers to discuss these issues.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 08/11/2017 17:13:33 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1382248

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2021
	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	Alcoholic Drinks: Supply Chains
	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 the supply of wine and spirits over the festive period 2021-22.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	81938
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response, and it is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. We do not anticipate disruption to the supply of alcohol this Christmas.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has acted quickly to tackle the challenges to our supply chains, which were brought on by global pressures including the pandemic and the international shortage of HGV drivers.</p><p> </p><p>Some of these Government-led key measures include the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency’s action to increase HGV tests to 3,000 per week, the introduction of 16-week skills bootcamps to train new and returning drivers and the Department for Transport’s action to streamline HGV testing with a minimised regulatory framework adding around 50,000 more tests to be conducted.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the Transport Secretary relaxed driver hours regulation, allowing more deliveries to be made during unprecedented times of national driver shortage to manage food supply chain bottlenecks. This relaxation will last up to 9 January 2022 in England, Scotland and Wales covering the Christmas peak demand period for food across the supply chain.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 30/11/2021 11:42:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1280232

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2021
	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	Animal Grooming: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason dog grooming businesses are not required to close during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021, but are prohibited from offering their services, and do not qualify for Government covid-19 support.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	142910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2021 answer text <p>Dog grooming businesses are not on the list of businesses required to close. The latest coronavirus regulations permit dog groomers to continue working, subject to distancing, hygiene and other safety requirements being met. This may include dog groomers collecting pets from their owners' homes and then returning them once they have been groomed. The Canine and Feline Sector Group has already issued advice for pet businesses, including dog groomers, on how to operate safely within the new restrictions. This includes a protocol for the handover of pets and may be found online: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfsg.org.uk%2Frepository%2F360%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7C1a9b3ef1a46c42052e4c08d8c38f255f%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637474366864278230%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=kGKVMyuX9nf%2BYvPYK8Q5e1zOKdPO%2Fmrw8eMvkp3wisY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.cfsg.org.uk/repository/360/</a></p><p>The Government has issued advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking after the welfare of animals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7C1a9b3ef1a46c42052e4c08d8c38f255f%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637474366864288223%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=F7Mx2Z0Ry2HajhcS6AD2VdLdXOpqS5Gx4lkM%2BA4xePA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals</a> This advice makes clear that you may leave your home to take your pet to be groomed. You should do this only if necessary for your animal's welfare and not simply for aesthetic purposes. You should contact the groomer in advance to make an appointment. Ask the groomer if they operate a mobile collection and drop-off service.</p><p>The Government has put in place a range of business support measures since March 2020. These include loans, small business grants through local authorities, mortgage holidays and VAT deferral. These measures have been updated in line with local and national restrictions. In November, at the beginning of the second national lockdown, Government made available £1.1 billion in discretionary funding allocated to each local authority to support businesses via the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). This was topped up with a further £500 million in January 2021.</p><p>Local authorities have significant discretion in the businesses they support and the amount of grant funding per business based on local priorities.</p><p>Given the new national restrictions, other amendments now include:</p><ul><li>Extending the coronavirus job retention scheme to support the wage costs of employers until end of April 2021.</li><li>Increasing the overall level of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme grant to 80% of trading profits covering November to January for all parts of the UK.</li><li>Extending the Bounce Back Loan Scheme application deadline to the end of March 2021, to further support eligible firms who need it during this ongoing period of difficulty.</li></ul><p>We encourage businesses that have been unable to access support, or who are unsure about what support is available, to contact their Government-backed Local Growth Hub for free tailored guidance and support.</p><p>Furthermore, the Business Support Helpline (FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098) provides free, impartial business support and advice to businesses.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/01/2021 17:15:43 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1288265

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	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	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 the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the financial sustainability of animal rescue organisations.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	156365
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2021 answer text <p>Animal rescue organisations do excellent work, often on a voluntary basis, protecting animals against cruelty and ensuring that unwanted and abandoned animals in the UK are offered the opportunity of a forever home. I am acutely aware that the coronavirus pandemic, and specifically the measures put in place to control the spread of the virus, continue to affect individuals, businesses and charities caring for animals.</p><p> </p><p>The sector has kept us regularly updated of the developing situation, sharing their surveys particularly with respect to the rescue and rehoming of companion animals, and sharing information on cruelty investigations.</p><p> </p><p>The latest figures from a survey by the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) show that although the animal rescue sector has seen a drop in income during the pandemic the financial sustainability in the sector appears to be improving. This suggests that rescues have adapted to the new situation either through fundraising in different ways or taking advantage of grants made available by the ADCH and other sources. More rescues are now taking in dogs and cats and more are rehoming. In Quarter 4 of 2020 there was a 24% year on year reduction of cat intake and a 32% reduction in dogs entering rescues. 68% of rescues have reported more people wish to foster dogs or cats and 58% wish to rehome a dog or cat.</p><p> </p><p>National equine welfare charities have also kept us closely informed of the status of the Covid-19 Equine Rescues Emergency Fund established by the Pet Plan Charitable Trust together with World Horse Welfare and the National Equine Welfare Council. The current picture of equine welfare is better than feared, but we continue to keep things under review.</p><p> </p><p>Defra remains committed to continued engagement with the sector to understand the longer-term impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, monitor the animal welfare implications of this and offer appropriate advice.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 25/02/2021 13:25:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1651627

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2023
	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	Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023
	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 her Department plans to proceed with the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) Regulations.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	193127
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2023 answer text <p>We remain committed to introducing a ban on e-collars controlled by hand-held devices that deliver an electric shock to cats or dogs. Parliamentary business will be announced in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 13/07/2023 10:51:13 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1245593

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2020
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of additional veterinary professionals required to process animal health export certificates prior to consignment after the end of the transition period in the event that a deal is not reached with the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	106987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr on 5 October 2020, PQ 96843.</p><p> </p><p>[https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-09-29/96843]</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/11/2020 16:23:08 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

782074

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2017
	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	Borders
	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 preparations he is making to ensure sanitary and phytosanitary checks take place at the UK border on the day the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	110739
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2017 answer text <p>The precise nature of our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiation. The Government is working to secure a deal which achieves the freest possible trade in goods and services between the UK and the EU.</p><p><br> Discussion on the sanitary and phytosanitary conditions and related official controls that will be applicable to trade in animal and plant products will form part of these negotiations. Negotiations between the UK and the EU have so far been limited to the withdrawal arrangements. Like all Government departments, Defra is working on preparations for a range of scenarios to deliver a smooth departure from the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 08/11/2017 11:46:42 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

786892

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2017
	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	Britvic
	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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on operations at Britvic in (a) Norwich and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	112431
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>Britvic is part of our dynamic and world-class food and drink industry and is investing £240 million in their manufacturing operations in the UK. Officials at Defra have been in contact with Britvic, who have indicated that the proposal to transfer production from their current Norwich site is to consolidate their manufacturing operations.</p><p> </p><p>Britvic is in the process of consulting on the proposals with elected employee representatives and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment at this time. We know that this is an uncertain time for Britvic workers affected by the news and we will be working with the company to ensure that employees receive appropriate support.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 112430 question first answered 20/11/2017 11:44:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

782928

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2017
	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	Britvic: Norwich
	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 received an HR1 form from Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd notifying him of the potential loss of jobs at the company's Norwich site.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	111066
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2017 answer text <p>Information provided to the Government under Section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, regarding proposed redundancies is commercially confidential. The purpose of this information is to provide those facing redundancy, with assistance such as training and job seeking advice. Any information provided through this process is not in the public domain. It is open to employers to take legal action for breach of confidence if such unauthorised disclosures were made. Therefore, we are unable to provide the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>Officials at Defra have been in contact with Britvic. The company is in the process of consulting on the proposals with elected employee representatives and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment at this time. We know that this is an uncertain time for Britvic workers affected by the news and we will be working with the company to ensure that employees receive appropriate support.</p><p>Britvic is part of our dynamic and world-class food and drink industry, which is our largest manufacturing sector. It is a private company, and, therefore, the Government is not involved in its decision-making process. DWP stands ready to support the company’s workforce in the event of potential job losses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 111067 111068 question first answered 07/11/2017 17:39:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

782930

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2017
	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	Britvic: Norwich
	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 discussions he has made with the management at Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd on potential job losses in Norwich.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	111067
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2017 answer text <p>Information provided to the Government under Section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, regarding proposed redundancies is commercially confidential. The purpose of this information is to provide those facing redundancy, with assistance such as training and job seeking advice. Any information provided through this process is not in the public domain. It is open to employers to take legal action for breach of confidence if such unauthorised disclosures were made. Therefore, we are unable to provide the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>Officials at Defra have been in contact with Britvic. The company is in the process of consulting on the proposals with elected employee representatives and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment at this time. We know that this is an uncertain time for Britvic workers affected by the news and we will be working with the company to ensure that employees receive appropriate support.</p><p>Britvic is part of our dynamic and world-class food and drink industry, which is our largest manufacturing sector. It is a private company, and, therefore, the Government is not involved in its decision-making process. DWP stands ready to support the company’s workforce in the event of potential job losses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 111066 111068 question first answered 07/11/2017 17:39:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson