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77809

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	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	Zoos
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the European Union's Zoos Directive 1999 in the United Kingdom through the zoo inspection system.
	tabling member printed	Lord Harrison
	uin	HL1106
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Zoo Licensing Act 1981, which sets out comprehensive licensing and inspection requirements for zoos, implements the EC Zoos Directive in Great Britain. Responsibility for administering these requirements rests with local authorities, which have powers to check compliance with zoo licences, to impose conditions and to take action. Ultimately this could mean closing part, or all, of a zoo if the requirements of the legislation are not met. This in turn ensures our compliance with the Directive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In response to concerns about how local authorities were carrying out this role, Defra commissioned research into local authority implementation of the Act. The 2011 report, which looked at the period 2008-2010, found no serious problems and indeed there was evidence of significant improvements in a number of areas during this time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The report made suggestions for further improvements, such as updating guidance and zoo inspection report forms. These, together with the majority of the suggestions, have been actioned and we continue to work to make further improvements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 22/07/2014 14:41:46 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	2488 label Biography information for Lord Harrison

90833

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2014
	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	Written Questions
	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 proportion of named day written questions were answered by her Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	208424
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Session</p></td><td><p>Percentage of named day written question answered within prescribed period</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-2013</p></td><td><p>56%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-2014</p></td><td><p>64%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-2015 to date</p></td><td><p>95% 1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>1. Figures for the 2014-2015 session cover questions for answer during the period 05 June to 05 September 2014, inclusive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Departmental performance information, for ordinary and named day Parliamentary Questions, is collated by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and submitted to the Procedure Committee. This is published on a sessional basis by the committee, and includes evidence regarding departmental performance. The monitoring report relating to the 2012-13 session was published on 13 February 2014 as HC1046. The report covering statistics relating to performance during the 2013-14 session will be published very shortly by the Procedure Committee.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 10/09/2014 10:17:51 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

65326

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2014
	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	Wind Power: Birds
	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 the Government's policy is on protecting migratory birds from the effects of offshore wind turbines; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
	uin	203543
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The EU Wild Birds Directive provides a strong framework for the protection of birds in Europe. This includes migratory species, both on land and at sea.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The developers of major infrastructure projects such as offshore wind farms are required to assess their impacts on the environment, including birdlife, and mitigate or compensate for impacts that cannot be avoided. The results of these assessments are considered by the relevant decision makers in determining applications for development consent for such projects in accordance with their legal obligations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/07/2014 14:57:41 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

65144

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2014
	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	Wildlife: 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 guidance his Department gives UK nationals on purchasing or acquiring (a) abalone, (b) coral, (c) conch, (d) shark fin, (e) sea turtle meat or shells, (f) bushmeat, (g) ivory and (h) rhino horn when overseas.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	203473
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The trade in endangered animal and plant species, and their import and export, is controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Guidance on the provisions of CITES are published on GOV.UK at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/cites-controls-import-and-export-of-protected-species" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/cites-controls-import-and-export-of-protected-species</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/07/2014 15:15:41 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

78633

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	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	Whales: Japan
	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 following the International Court of Justice's ruling that Japan's Antarctic whaling activity was not conducted for the purpose of scientific research.
	tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
	tabling member printed	Iain McKenzie
	uin	904934
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We will continue to make it clear at every appropriate opportunity that we see no justification for lethal scientific research on whales.We are now working within the EU and with other key parties to try to ensure that the findings of the International Court of Justice are reflected in the working practices of the International Whaling Commission, as the competent body for the conservation of whales.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/07/2014 12:08:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4246 label Biography information for Iain McKenzie

90064

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2014
	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	Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010
	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 the Greyhound Regulations 2010; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
	tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
	uin	207759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>No assessment of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 has yet been made. They are due for review five years after they came into force, which will be April 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 08/09/2014 13:00:57 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

57615

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	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	Water: EU Law
	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 basic measures his Department takes in relation to (a) controls on abstraction and (b) prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources in order to comply with Article 11.3 of the Water Framework Directive.
	tabling member constituency	Newbury
	tabling member printed	Richard Benyon
	uin	198576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Controls on water abstraction are applied through the licensing system operated by the Environment Agency, which sets out prior authorisation and control of water abstractions and impoundments.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Measures to prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources include:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>i. Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These make it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a water discharge activity or groundwater activity, except under, and to the extent authorised by, an environmental permit. The Environment Agency regulates discharges under the environmental permitting regime. It can carry out works itself to rectify activities causing pollution, or issue anti-pollution works notices to require work to take place to prevent, remedy or prohibit pollution, as well as prosecuting offenders if pollution does take place;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>ii. the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008, which aim to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution and the risk of further such pollution occurring. The regulations implement the Nitrates Directive, and apply within designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (57% of England);</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>iii. the Water Resources (Control of Pollution)(Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil)(England) Regulations 2010, which set standards for storing silage, livestock slurry and agricultural fuel oil to minimise the risk of water pollution. These are applicable nationally; and</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>iv. cross-compliance requirements for those farmers claiming direct payments and those participating in various rural development schemes.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 09/06/2014 15:46:40 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon

58158

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	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	Water: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 41W, on drinking water, whether his Department has conducted a study of levels of psychotropic drugs in UK rivers and seawater.
	tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
	tabling member printed	Jim Dobbin
	uin	198996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Currently no psychotropic drugs have been identified as Priority Hazardous Substances, Priority Substances or UK Specific Pollutants under the Water Framework Directive. As such no routine monitoring is carried out for these substances in England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, previous research by the Environment Agency on pharmaceuticals in surface waters included environmental monitoring for the psychotropic drug fluoxetine (an anti-depressant). In 2005, monitoring was undertaken in rivers downstream of a number of sewage works across England and Wales. Thirty-nine samples were taken with fluoxetine occurring in 85% of samples with a maximum concentration of 0.044 microgrammes/litre (µg/l), and norfluoxetine in 51% of samples with a maximum concentration of 0.083 µg/l.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>During 2011, a programme of monitoring for pesticides was undertaken in six catchments. The psychotropic drugs carbamazepine and gabapentin were detected in all six catchments with maximum levels of 0.7 µg/l and 1.2 µg/l respectively.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The report published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate evaluated the risk from psychotropic drugs in river water used for abstraction for drinking water supplies.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 09/06/2014 13:37:10 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	446 label Biography information for Jim Dobbin

61462

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	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	Water Charges: South West
	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 agreement has been reached to extend to 2020 the reduction to household water bills for South West Water customers.
	tabling member constituency	Penistone and Stocksbridge
	tabling member printed	Angela Smith
	uin	200276
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government announced the decision to fund South West Water to enable it to cut bills by £50 per year for all household customers in the Budget 2011. Households in the South West have received the reduction since April 2013. The understanding has always been that this reduction would continue for the duration of both the current spending review and the next.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 16/06/2014 15:04:18 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	1564 label Biography information for Angela Smith

64977

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2014
	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	Water Charges
	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 work his Department has done to assess the long term effect of investment and pricing decisions made by (a) his Department, (b) OFWAT and (c) water companies on affordability for consumers; and if he will publish all such work.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	203319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As the independent economic regulator for the water sector, it is OFWAT's duty to review water prices every five years. This includes assessing the investment and pricing proposals included in water company business plans before setting limits on what companies can charge their customers. Most company business plans are proposing flat or declining customer bills from 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>OFWAT has a rolling programme of activity to keep under review issues relating to affordability and it publishes analysis in this area. OFWAT is guided in its work by Defra's Strategic Policy Statement, published in May 2013, which sets out the policy framework within which the water regulator must operate and it identifies tackling affordability pressures as a key priority. OFWAT is required to monitor the action taken by water companies to help customers who struggle to afford their bills and report on this to the Secretary of State annually.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has published guidance to water companies on the introduction of social tariffs, to assist them in providing support to customers at risk of affordability problems. The Government encourages water companies to introduce social tariffs to help vulnerable customers, taking account of local circumstances, needs and views.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra is currently working with OFWAT and the Environment Agency to assess the long term affordability of water bills. This work will incorporate the outcomes of OFWAT's current review of water prices, which concludes in December 2014, and will report in 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson grouped question UIN 203253 203320 question first answered 07/07/2014 14:06:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle