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1010267

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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: Staff
	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 people were employed by his Department on 19 November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The number of staff employed by the department as at 31 October 2018 was 4146. This will be consistent with data due to be published by 7 December 2018 at <a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-defra" target="_blank">Data.Gov.UK - Dataset Workforce Management Information Defra</a>, in line with Cabinet Office arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>We are unable to provide this data as at 19 November 2018 without incurring disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 26/11/2018 19:00:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010269

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Food: 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 checks his Department takes to ensure that no insects or pesticides are brought into the UK through food imports.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>In EU food law, the expectation is that food is not contaminated. Food must be safe and fit for human consumption. This applies to all food placed on the market (i.e. supplied for profit or not) in EU Member States.</p><p> </p><p>Consumers should be provided with information about food which enables them to make safe and informed food choices.</p><p> </p><p>Even where foreign bodies found in food which might not in themselves be harmful to health, including insects or other foreign bodies that should not be in the food, or are not described as being part of the food, the food would still likely be deemed ‘unfit for human consumption.’</p><p> </p><p>Food imported into the EU for placing on the market within the EU must comply with the relevant requirements of food law.</p><p> </p><p>Importers, distributors and retailers of food are under a statutory obligation to comply with maximum residues levels set for pesticides in food. They must put in place appropriate quality controls to ensure this. This requirement is backed up by a substantial UK Government programme of testing for residues in food and drink; results are published on the GOV.UK website.</p><p> </p><p>Controlled plant products are inspected for quarantine pests on a risk basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 27/11/2018 17:16:05 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010271

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Fertilisers
	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 his Department's policy will be on time limits for farmers to spread fertiliser after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>We are committed to meeting our legal obligations, including having set dates for fertiliser spreading under the requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to review agricultural policy to support farmers and deliver environmental benefits in a way that better reflects UK circumstances, in line with the terms of any future agreement with the EU.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/11/2018 17:08:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010273

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Farms: Floods
	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 his Department's policy is on financial support for farmers affected by heavy flooding.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192879
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>It is the long-standing policy of successive Governments that compensation is not paid for losses due to damage caused by flooding or coastal erosion. This is because, except in very limited circumstance, no-one has a right to flood or coastal erosion defences or, if defences are provided, there is no legal requirement to provide any particular standard of defence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Farms are businesses and, like all businesses, should take actions to try and limit the impacts of flooding on their property or assets, and aim to have insurance in place for any losses incurred by a flood.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 26/11/2018 15:25:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010283

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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: Northern Ireland
	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 fishermen in Northern Ireland on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>There have been extensive, positive and productive discussions between Defra and representatives of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland, most recently following the launch of Defra’s White Paper, Sustainable fisheries for future generations, and following the introduction of the Fisheries Bill.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 27/11/2018 17:23:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

997271

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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	Food: Prices
	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 his Department has plans to introduce legislative proposals to regulate food prices after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	184917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>No. It is not the Government's role to set retail food prices or to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions by companies. Our research has found that consumer food prices depend on a range of factors, including commodity prices, currency exchange rates, and oil prices, and this will continue to be the case when we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>We work closely with industry to promote transparency for consumers and internationally to promote open global markets. The work we are doing helps to support a competitive domestic market so producers and retailers can offer the best prices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/11/2018 14:46:33 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

997273

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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	Food: UK Trade with EU
	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 Exiting the European Union on the importation of food from EU countries after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	184918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the DExEU Secretary and other Cabinet colleagues about our readiness for leaving the EU. In recent weeks the Government published a range of technical notices which provided information on preparations for leaving the EU, including importing and exporting.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 01/11/2018 14:26:04 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

997287

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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: Seasonal Workers
	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 his Department's policy is on the provision of financial support to farmers that are unable to hire seasonal workers in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a no deal.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	184923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2018 answer text <p>We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal, and we remain confident we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the EU.</p><p> </p><p>We do not want or expect a no deal scenario. It is however the duty of a responsible Government to continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes including the unlikely event of no deal. Defra are taking necessary steps to ensure the country continues to operate smoothly from the day we leave.</p><p> </p><p>Defra understands the importance of seasonal labour in supporting a successful and effective agricultural sector, and is considering how best to support the needs of the sector both before and after the UK leaves the EU. Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that there is a long term strategy for the food and farming workforce as part of the future immigration policy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will introduce a new pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020 enabling up to 2500 non-EEA migrant workers to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible horticultural sector.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/11/2018 11:54:37 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

997288

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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	Fly-tipping: Rural Areas
	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 steps his Department has taken to prevent fly tipping in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	184924
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2018 answer text <p>Policies to tackle fly-tipping are devolved. In England, the government is committed to tackling fly-tipping in rural and urban areas. Local authorities and the Environment Agency have a wide range of enforcement powers to tackle fly-tipping and we have recently strengthened these. In 2016 we gave local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced local authorities’ and Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.</p><p> </p><p>This year we consulted on the power to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who fail in their duty of care and pass their waste to fly-tippers. Two thirds of fly-tipping incidents involve household waste so this will help address the main source of the crime. Subject to parliamentary approval this new power will be available to local authorities and the Environment Agency later this year. We will also support local authorities in increasing householders’ awareness of their duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of properly.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 06/11/2018 16:53:21 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

992799

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2018
	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: Migrant Workers
	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 the Home Department on the development of the UK’s immigration policy after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	182165
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>It is a key priority of this Government to enable an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain, which invests in its people and skills. To help achieve this, we will ensure that there is access to enough appropriately skilled labour to drive continued industry growth and productivity.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the UK prepares to leave the EU, Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that the food and farming sector has access to the workforce it needs as part of the future immigration policy.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office and Defra recently jointly announced a pilot scheme to bring seasonal migrant workers to UK farms.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 26/10/2018 12:02:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson