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166307

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2014
	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	Rivers: Pollution Control
	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 implications for her policies of the findings of the WWF-UK report, The state of England's chalk streams, published in November 2014; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
	uin	216160
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government recognises the environmental and cultural importance of this rare river habitat. We will study the WWF’s report and consider carefully any recommendations it contains.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Chalk rivers are well represented in both the national and European designated site network, which aims to protect sites of high conservation value. Action is underway on the majority of these sites to address pressures such as physical modification, effluent, diffuse pollution and abstraction.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A strategic programme of physical habitat restoration is underway on these rivers (including the 11 chalk river Sites of Special Scientific Interest that need restoration). Led jointly by Natural England and the Environment Agency, it involves a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners. Some 70 kilometres of chalk stream have been improved since 2011.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra has provided funding to support these activities. A new catchment based approach to support river basin management planning is strengthening local engagement and helping the Environment Agency to better understand and respond to pressures on the water environment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Water companies are investing £3.4 billion between 2010 and 2015 to support the achievement of Water Framework Directive environmental objectives. This has contributed to substantial reductions in phosphate pollution, to which chalk streams are particularly sensitive, and additional investment is proposed to secure further improvements. Water companies are also engaged in research to overcome technical limitations on phosphorus reduction.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Changes have been made to 44 abstraction licences affecting chalk streams. The Water Act 2014 will enable the Environment Agency to make further progress in preventing unsustainable abstraction. The Government is also putting in place a balanced package of measures to further tackle agricultural pollution<ins class="ministerial">. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The benefits of these actions are likely to take some time to be reflected in reported water body status because the environment can take a considerable time to recover once pressures have been reduced.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 01/12/2014 13:42:53 question first ministerially corrected 01/12/2014 14:21:47 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson previous answer version 30832 answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

178680

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	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	European Union
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of the Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies, broken down by (1) staff time, (2) printing costs, (3) running of engagement events, (4) witness expenses, (5) publicity of the reports, and (6) any and all other associated costs.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Scott of Needham Market
	uin	HL4830
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review:</p><ul><li>Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency);</li><li>Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC);</li><li>Agriculture; and</li><li>Fisheries.</li></ul><p> </p><p>1) Staff costs</p><p>The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p> </p><p>2) Printing costs</p><p>Defra paid approximately £13<del class="ministerial">0</del>,000 to print and publish the four reports.</p><p> </p><p>3) Running engagement events</p><p>Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p> </p><p>4) Witness expenses</p><p>Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses.</p><p>5) Publicity</p><p>Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports.</p><p> </p><p>6) All other associated costs</p><p>There were no other associated costs.</p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 23/02/2015 13:02:07 question first ministerially corrected 11/03/2015 13:09:46 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley previous answer version 45712 answering member printed Lord De Mauley answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	2542 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Needham Market

388934

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2015
	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	Crops: Pests
	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 trends in numbers of cabbage stem flea beetle in the UK since December 2013.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
	uin	6313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2015 answer text <p>Defra has not undertaken any assessment of the trends in numbers of cabbage stem flea beetle in the UK. However, we are aware that the AHDB <ins class="ministerial">and others have recently carried out work to look at levels of infestation and at the consequences for growers. </ins><del class="ministerial">published an assessment on this area in 2014.</del></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/07/2015 06:00:24 question first ministerially corrected 21/07/2015 15:39:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice previous answer version 15624 answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

77965

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2014
	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	Genetically Modified Organisms: Labelling
	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 position is in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations on labelling of products containing GM in the UK food chain; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ogmore
	tabling member printed	Huw Irranca-Davies
	uin	205728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">This issue has yet to be discussed in detail within the framework of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. The Government will consider its negotiation position based on a range of factors including the environmental impact and public health benefit of such anti-microbial treatments that can reduce potential for foodborne illness.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The existing EU rules which require GM-derived food to be labelled are not expected to be discussed or reviewed as part of the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 22/07/2014 10:12:20 question first ministerially corrected 25/07/2014 08:04:43 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice previous answer version 11865 answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1476 label Biography information for Huw Irranca-Davies

100078

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Floods: Somerset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of (1) the feasibility of constructing a permanent flood defence barrage to protect the village of Westonzoyland in the Somerset Levels, and (2) the likely effectiveness of temporary demountable flood defences in the coming winter.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL2284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>1. The Environment Agency is constructing a permanent scheme to replace temporary defences. Steps are being taken so that protection is maintained should there be an increased flood risk during construction.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2. Demountable defences were considered as an option. However, after consulting local residents the Environment Agency took the decision to construct a permanent solution.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 30/10/2014 14:33:05 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

100159

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Dangerous Dogs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs have been removed from their owners because those dogs were deemed dangerous in the last year.
	tabling member constituency	Daventry
	tabling member printed	Chris Heaton-Harris
	uin	211204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>Statistics on the number of dogs seized are not held centrally. Such information would be held by each police force.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 28/10/2014 12:41:44 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris

100160

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Dangerous Dogs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions there have been for owning a dog banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Daventry
	tabling member printed	Chris Heaton-Harris
	uin	211209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences under 1(3) of the Dangerous Act 1991<sup>(1)</sup>, England &amp; Wales, 2012-2013<sup>(2)(3)</sup> can be seen in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Outcome</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Proceeded against</p></td><td><p>354</p></td><td><p>232</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>(1) Possession, without exemption of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog.</p><p> </p><p>(2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</p><p> </p><p>(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from the administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</p><p>Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services – Ministry of Justice <strong>PQC 830-14</strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 28/10/2014 12:37:54 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris

100161

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Solar Power: Biodiversity
	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 conclusions of the BRE National Solar Centre Report on Biodiversity Guidance for Solar Developments published in partnership; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
	tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
	uin	211259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>We want farmers to prioritise making the best use of their land for agriculture and food production, rather than secondary uses. Nevertheless, we welcome the work of the BRE in partnership with the solar and biodiversity conservation sectors to encourage best practice where solar farms are permitted, to mitigate some of the impacts of these developments.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 24/10/2014 13:43:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

100162

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Weeds Act 1959
	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 compliance with the Weeds Act 1959 across the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
	tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
	uin	211219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Weeds Act 1959 across the UK. Natural England (the delegated authority for investigating complaints about injurious weeds) monitors compliance with the Act through the collection of data such as the number of enforcement notices issued per year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There were 37 enforcement notices in 2013. However, we encourage communications between landowners and complainants to try and resolve any issues informally. In the vast majority of cases, this approach is successful.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 28/10/2014 13:51:31 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

100163

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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	Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff employed by contractors working in her Department's central offices are paid below the London Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and what estimate she has made of the cost of ensuring that all such staff receive that wage.
	tabling member constituency	North Tyneside
	tabling member printed	Mrs Mary Glindon
	uin	211261
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>There are 2 major contracts arranged by the core Department which employ some people who earn less than the Living Wage or London Living Wage. Outside London, 179 people are employed on these contracts and earn less than the Living Wage. In London, 28 people are employed on these contracts and earn less than the London Living Wage, although 4 of those earn more than the national Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p>We do not currently have an accurate cost estimate for ensuring that all these staff are paid the living wage rates for the UK and London.</p><p> </p><p>It would incur disproportionate cost to examine all our smaller contracts.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently 9 temporary staff from employment agencies who are paid less than the UK Living Wage and employed outside London, and none in London paid less than the London Living Wage. These numbers can change at any time.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson grouped question UIN 211260 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:11:41 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon