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1134896

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	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	Horse Racing: 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 veterinary research funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board on the welfare of horses since 2000.
	tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
	tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
	uin	269623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government considers that veterinary research is vital to improving the lives of all horses.</p><p> </p><p>The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) is a non-departmental public body which was established to administer the Horserace Betting Levy, under which betting operators pay 10% of their profits on British racing back to support the sport.</p><p> </p><p>One of the statutory objectives of the HBLB is focused on the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science or veterinary education. To this end, the HBLB have invested over £35 million since 2000 in veterinary research and education, which I understand supports the welfare of all equines in Great Britain as well as thoroughbreds. Specific projects undertaken include the development of a novel technique for assessing and improving respiratory performance in racehorses.</p><p> </p><p>The Government welcomes these initiatives and acknowledges the importance of continued veterinary research to the welfare of horses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/07/2019 13:40:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1134897

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	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	Horse Racing: 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 effectiveness of the Horse Welfare Board in improving the standards of welfare in horseracing.
	tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
	tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
	uin	269624
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. On 14 May, I met the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes and is working on producing an equine welfare manifesto, outlining the industry’s priorities in this area. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results, and will continue to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and the newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to monitor progress of key actions and to press for further improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/07/2019 13:49:17 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1134898

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	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	Horse Racing: Equine Flu
	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 (a) his Department and (b) the Animal Plant and Health Agency have made of the effectiveness of the measures taken by the British Horseracing Authority in countering and containing the ongoing outbreak of equine influenza in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
	tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
	uin	269625
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Equine influenza is not a notifiable disease in the UK, which means that the industry takes responsibility for controlling the disease.</p><p> </p><p>Vaccination is the main control measure, alongside isolation of infected cases and minimising the mixing of horses during an outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has been monitoring the situation and maintaining close contact with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and the British Horse Council. We commend the BHA and other equine industry bodies for their swift action and for advising against unvaccinated animals being allowed to attend large gatherings.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/07/2019 15:21:04 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1134637

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Air Pollution
	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 co-operation with the EU on tackling air pollution after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
	uin	269048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains a signatory to the 1979 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and will continue to be at the forefront of international action and cooperation to tackle transboundary air pollution alongside the EU.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 13:23:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

1134638

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Air Pollution
	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 promote cross-departmental collaboration on adopting World Health Organisation standards for fine particulate matter.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
	uin	269049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Air Strategy sets out our commitments to take bold action across all parts of Government to achieve reductions in air pollution. We are committed to the setting of an ambitious long term target to reduce population exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Defra continues to work closely with other Government departments and agencies to deliver the Strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 09:34:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

1134867

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	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	Southern Water
	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 findings of OFWAT's recent investigation into whether Southern Water breached its statutory duties and licence obligations, what assessment he has made of the safety of the water supply in Southern Water supplied areas.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	269772
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Ofwat’s recent investigation related to the release of wastewater to the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Drinking water supplied by Southern Water is safe for consumers. Water companies are required to provide safe, wholesome drinking water. The Drinking Water Inspectorate scrutinises the results of treated water sampling by companies in England and Wales. This amounts to over 4 million sample results, over 230,000 of which are provided by Southern Water.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are required to take action when there are issues to be addressed. In the event of short term operational issues affecting supplies, there are well practiced procedures in place for protection of consumers. Companies are also required to rectify issues requiring medium to long term mitigation.</p><p> </p><p>Where the Inspectorate is not satisfied with a company’s response, it will take enforcement actions which range from making suggestions and recommendations through to criminal prosecutions. The Environment Agency is responsible for reporting on the quality of water in the environment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 16:23:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1134629

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Rural Areas: Loneliness
	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 Government Loneliness Strategy, what progress his department has made on convening a rural stakeholder group to (a) advise and support the work of Government Departments and (b) help support the communication of initiatives and good practice at a local level.
	tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
	tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
	uin	269062
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Government has engaged closely with the Loneliness Action Group in the development of, and now implementation of, its loneliness strategy. Defra officials have engaged with the quarterly Loneliness Action Group meetings, to share updates and hear the group's views. The Minister for Sport and Civil Society, who leads Government's work on loneliness, spoke at the Loneliness Action Group conference in May 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to tackling loneliness in rural areas. Last year the Minister for Rural Affairs co-hosted a roundtable on rural loneliness with the Minister for Loneliness.</p><p> </p><p>We share learning and ensure effective implementation via stakeholder engagement. A rural stakeholder forum, a commitment in the Government’s loneliness strategy, was held earlier this year, co-hosted by Defra and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). This was an opportunity for Government to listen to the challenges faced by rural communities trying to tackle loneliness and for attendees to share good practice. A further forum will be held in the autumn. The Minister for Rural Affairs held a smaller, more focused forum earlier this month. These events are part of ongoing conversations between Government and stakeholders on this important issue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 269063 question first answered 01/07/2019 10:21:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris

1134630

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Loneliness
	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 Loneliness Strategy, what steps his Department is taking with the Loneliness Action Group to (a) share learning on loneliness and (b) ensure the effective implementation of that strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
	tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
	uin	269063
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Government has engaged closely with the Loneliness Action Group in the development of, and now implementation of, its loneliness strategy. Defra officials have engaged with the quarterly Loneliness Action Group meetings, to share updates and hear the group's views. The Minister for Sport and Civil Society, who leads Government's work on loneliness, spoke at the Loneliness Action Group conference in May 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to tackling loneliness in rural areas. Last year the Minister for Rural Affairs co-hosted a roundtable on rural loneliness with the Minister for Loneliness.</p><p> </p><p>We share learning and ensure effective implementation via stakeholder engagement. A rural stakeholder forum, a commitment in the Government’s loneliness strategy, was held earlier this year, co-hosted by Defra and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). This was an opportunity for Government to listen to the challenges faced by rural communities trying to tackle loneliness and for attendees to share good practice. A further forum will be held in the autumn. The Minister for Rural Affairs held a smaller, more focused forum earlier this month. These events are part of ongoing conversations between Government and stakeholders on this important issue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 269062 question first answered 01/07/2019 10:21:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris

1133898

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2019
	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	Animal Welfare: Sentencing
	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 introduce tougher sentences for animal cruelty.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	267787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>I am pleased to report that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 26 June. The Bill, when passed, will increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from 6 months’ imprisonment to 5 years’ imprisonment.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/07/2019 13:43:58 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1134956

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	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	Plastics: Waste
	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 quantity of UK plastic waste that has been returned from countries overseas; what steps he is taking to dispose of that waste; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	269660
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Waste management is a devolved matter and the figures provided here for plastic waste returned in the years 2016 to 2018 relate to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The tonnages of returned waste shown in the table below are derived from requests made by regulators in other countries to the Environment Agency. When these instances occur the Environment Agency requires the exporter of the waste to make arrangements to bring it back. It is also the responsibility of the exporter to arrange for the returned waste to be dealt with in accordance with the waste hierarchy and in compliance with UK waste legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the corresponding annual tonnage and value of UK plastic waste exports are provided for the purpose of context.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Plastic waste exported from UK, kilotonnes<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>Value of plastic waste exports from UK, £m<sup>2</sup></p></td><td><p>Plastic waste returned to England, kilotonnes<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>789.9</p></td><td><p>158.2</p></td><td><p>0.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>660.7</p></td><td><p>138.7</p></td><td><p>4.19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>611.9</p></td><td><p>107.5</p></td><td><p>1.36</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Sources:</p><p>1 and 2: HMRC customs data</p><p>3: Environment Agency</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 10:14:21 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly