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1122918

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Birds: Pest Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the legal basis for the withdrawal at one day’s notice by Natural England of the general licences for bird control.
	tabling member printed	Lord Willoughby de Broke
	uin	HL15309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary</a></p><p>Natural England has issued three new licences.</p><p>Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15310 question first answered 15/05/2019 16:53:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1775 label Biography information for Lord Willoughby de Broke

1122919

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Birds: Pest Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have permitted Natural England to revoke general bird control licences before the result of any legal challenge to these licences is known.
	tabling member printed	Lord Willoughby de Broke
	uin	HL15310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary</a></p><p>Natural England has issued three new licences.</p><p>Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15309 question first answered 15/05/2019 16:53:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1775 label Biography information for Lord Willoughby de Broke

1124409

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cattle have been tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and then following slaughter have been negative on post-mortem testing; and what progress has been made in producing an accurate test before cattle are slaughtered.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Golding
	uin	HL15458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The early detection and removal of tuberculosis (TB)-infected cattle before they develop advanced pathology and/or clinical signs of the disease (and thus become highly infectious) is a key element of bovine TB eradication programmes, including England’s 25 Year Bovine TB Strategy. To that effect, we use ante-mortem tests that measure the animals’ immune response to infection with the bovine TB bacterium (<em>Mycobacterium bovis – M. bovis</em>), rather than rely on direct detection methods.</p><p> </p><p>The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, commonly known as the ‘skin test’, together with the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), is the legal standard approved in the EU legislation for the diagnosis of TB in live cattle in the UK. As with cases of TB in humans, only a proportion of those animals infected with <em>M. bovis</em> and reacting to a tuberculin skin test or IGRA display gross lesions of TB when subjected to post-mortem meat inspection in the slaughterhouse.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 (the last year for which an analysis of post-mortem findings is available), approximately 60% of the 32,000 cattle compulsorily removed for bovine TB control reasons in England as skin test reactors or IGRA positives did not have visible lesions of TB on post-mortem and were also negative for <em>M. bovis</em> on bacteriological culture (where performed).</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are constantly striving for new ways to maximise the effectiveness of TB testing of cattle to achieve the objectives of the Strategy. APHA may exceptionally authorise the private use of non-validated diagnostic tests for bovine TB in herds where the disease is persistent, in order to help detect additional infected animals that may have been missed by the approved official tests (rather than to negate a positive result to such tests). A policy position paper on non-validated diagnostics for TB in cattle is now available on the APHA Vet Gateway (<a href="http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/index.htm" target="_blank">http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/index.htm</a>).</p><p> </p><p>Over £4 million was allocated to TB research and development in 2018/19, with the anticipation of a similar spend this financial year. The majority of these finds are being invested in improving diagnostic tests alongside vaccine development. However, validation for a new test to World Organisation for Animal Health standards would only lead to official adoption if it demonstrated proven advantages in the detection of disease alongside the current test portfolio.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/05/2019 16:25:10 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	281 label Biography information for Baroness Golding

1125306

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Circuses: 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, whether he has plans to compensate circus owners who will no longer be able to use wild animals in their circuses under the Wild Animals in Circuses (No 2) Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	251947
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to compensate circus owners who will no longer be able to use wild animals in travelling circuses.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 15/05/2019 13:50:38 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1125307

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Circuses: 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 estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of an inspector appointed under the Wild Animals in Circuses (No 2) Bill; and from which budget that cost will be met.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	251948
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Currently only two circuses still use wild animal acts in Great Britain. Given any breach of the ban proposed in the Wild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill would involve a circus performing or exhibiting a wild animal in public, we do not believe many, if any, circuses will seek to contravene the ban. Therefore our estimate is that any cost to Defra of enforcing the ban will be negligible.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 15/05/2019 13:56:53 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1125309

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Circuses: 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 potential fate of the animals that may no longer be used in circuses under the Wild Animals in Circuses (No 2) Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	251949
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 require circuses using wild animals to have retirement plans in place, and these should ensure that high welfare standards should continue to apply to these animals when they are no longer used in travelling circuses.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 15/05/2019 14:01:43 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1124951

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Furosemide
	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 potential merits of banning the medication Furosemide from being used by trainers in equestrian training sessions.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	251224
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>Furosemide is an active ingredient authorised for use in veterinary medicines for dogs, cats and horses. Products containing furosemide are diuretic and are used to treat a build-up of fluid within the body, for example as a result of congestive heart failure. Medicines containing furosemide must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon before they can be administered to an animal.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not seek to interfere with the clinical judgement of a veterinary surgeon in determining the best available treatment to an animal under his or her care.</p><p> </p><p>There are no regulatory concerns that would necessitate a ban on the use of furosemide on the grounds of safety, quality or efficacy. Any ban on the use of a product in an equestrian sporting discipline is the responsibility of the relevant sport’s governing body.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 16/05/2019 10:52:08 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1125161

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Bullying
	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 cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against managers in his Department in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	251312
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>We do not record cases of bullying and harassment made specifically against managers. The table below shows the total number of cases per year.</p><p> </p><p>We have withheld the exact figure for years that involve less than five members of staff, to mitigate the risk of them being identified from the information provided.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of cases of bullying and harassment</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>Less than 5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>Less than 5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The overall number of staff working in Defra has risen substantially since 2017. Defra is committed to creating an environment where no one suffers from harassment, discrimination, bullying and victimisation, either directly or indirectly. We support the right of employees to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and our HR policies and procedures make it clear that the department will not accept inappropriate behaviours.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 15/05/2019 13:36:46 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1125692

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Fisheries: Quotas
	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 the reference to article 43(3) of the TFEU and the relative stability keys referred to in Article 130 of the Withdrawal Agreement include the interpretive recitals 36 and 37 concerning Hague Preference which are contained within EU regulation 1380/2013.
	tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
	tabling member printed	George Eustice
	uin	252565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>Article 130 of the Withdrawal Agreement provides for the relative stability keys for the allocation of fishing opportunities to be maintained during the implementation period. This provision is intended to ensure that the UK’s share of quota cannot be reduced and that the UK will continue to be able to invoke Hague Preference during the implementation period. The recitals to the basic Common Fisheries Policy Regulation (Regulation 1380/2013) make clear that relative stability should take account of the Hague Resolution and therefore this would be included in the reference to ‘relative stability keys’ in Article 130.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 16/05/2019 14:23:31 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1125706

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Agriculture: Apprentices
	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 support apprenticeship schemes in the agri-food sector.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	252634
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>New employer designed apprenticeship standards are at the centre of the Government’s drive to ensure all apprenticeships are of the highest quality. There are now 20 new high quality standards available in the agriculture, environmental and animal care sector, plus a further 15 in development. Available standards include crop technician and land based service engineer.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of standards is published on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s website:</p><p><a href="https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/</a> .</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for apprenticeships policy in England. Defra works closely with DfE on how the apprenticeship system works for the agri-food sector.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also seeks to act as a bridge between industry and Government to support the sector in making the most of the Government’s apprenticeships reforms. The key mechanism for this activity is the Food and Drink Sector Council, which has identified skills as a key priority. Options to support and improve engagement with agri-food apprenticeships, as well as wider skills related issues, are being developed as part of the work of the Workforce and Skills Group of the Council.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 16/05/2019 14:46:55 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon