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1127867

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Wildlife: Africa
	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 evidence there is that sustainable hunting has led to an increase of wildlife in African trophy hunting concession areas.
	tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
	tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
	uin	257000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has previously commissioned a report by Professor Macdonald on Lion Conservation with Particular Respect to the Issue of Trophy Hunting. This report found that the primary benefit associated with trophy hunting is the protection of wildlife habitat by reducing the major threat of habitat loss. Lion trophy hunting enables land to be maintained under wildlife-based land use and often prevents the conversion of the area to other forms of land use such as agriculture. This habitat protection is also important for many other species, including endangered species. The report notes that a total area of around 1.4 million km2 was conserved for trophy-hunting in sub-Saharan Africa, which exceeded the area of national parks in those countries by 22%. The report also cited studies on the number of jobs supported by trophy hunting.</p><p> </p><p>Environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) take different views on trophy hunting. My Hon. friend may be interested in the evidence cited by the</p><p><strong>IUCN</strong> (<a href="https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/iucn_informingdecisionsontrophyhuntingv1_1.pdf" target="_blank">https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/iucn_informingdecisionsontrophyhuntingv1_1.pdf</a>)</p><p><strong>WWF</strong> (<a href="https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/wwf_policy_and_considerations_re_trophy_hunting__july_2016_.pdf" target="_blank">https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/wwf_policy_and_considerations_re_trophy_hunting__july_2016_.pdf</a>),</p><p>and <strong>Save the Rhino</strong> (<a href="https://www.savetherhino.org/assets/0001/7279/What_is_trophy_hunting.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.savetherhino.org/assets/0001/7279/What_is_trophy_hunting.pdf</a>).</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 256999 257001 question first answered 30/05/2019 09:54:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1126851

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Village Halls: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that grants from the village hall improvement grant fund are able to be allocated to (a) Collingham Memorial Hall and (b) other halls where refurbishment is already underway and due for completion in time to commemorate the centenary of their opening in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Elmet and Rothwell
	tabling member printed	Alec Shelbrooke
	uin	254800
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government announced the establishment of the £3 million Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund on 5 April this year. It will be administered by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) on behalf of Defra and work is currently in hand to finalise arrangements. Halls can already make an expression of interest in the scheme through ACRE’s website and we understand that the trustees of Collingham Memorial Hall have already done so. It is not possible to guarantee funds for any particular hall. We hope that the first grants will be awarded in late summer.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 23/05/2019 11:47:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	3997 label Biography information for Sir Alec Shelbrooke

1126512

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Veterinary Medicine: 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 estimate he has made of the number of additional accredited vets that will be required in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ashford
	tabling member printed	Damian Green
	uin	254054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>In the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, all animals, products of animal origin (POAO), fish, shellfish, crustaceans, germplasm or fishery products exported from the UK to the EU will require an export health certificate (EHC). EHCs have to be certified by either a suitably accredited Official Veterinarian (OV) or, in the case of fish and fish products, either an OV or an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) employed by a local authority.</p><p> </p><p>Defra does not employ OVs or EHOs so we have engaged with the private sector and local government to identify means of increasing the number of authorised signatories available. From February we have provided free training for vets to become accredited to sign EHCs. Over 300 vets have completed the training, an increase of just under 50% in the total number of suitably qualified OVs.</p><p> </p><p>To support OVs we also created a new role of Certification Support Officer (CSO). A CSO can handle preparatory and administrative aspects of EHCs (checking documents, identifying products or sealing containers). This will free up OV time and capacity to provide the final assurance required. The number of qualified CSOs stands at 84.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/05/2019 16:28:47 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1127417

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Smuggling: Cats
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what border checks are carried out to ensure that cats and kittens are not smuggled illegally into the UK from EU countries.
	tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
	uin	HL15828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to preserving the UK’s high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare. The EU Pet Travel Scheme requires all pets travelling to Great Britain on approved routes to be declared. 100% of these are then subject to documentary and identity checks. All commercial EU consignments of dogs or cats receive documentary checks on entry and the Animal and Plant Health Agency conducts further risk based checks away from the border. We have increased resourcing at major UK ports to detect smuggled animals and continue to work collaboratively with Border Force, sharing intelligence in order to disrupt illegal imports.</p><p>On 13 May this year a statutory instrument[1] was laid in Parliament which will introduce a ban on commercial third party sales of puppies and kittens in England. This decision followed a public consultation which received over 6,500 responses, 96% of which supported the proposal. The ban itself is planned to come into force on 6 April 2020 and, once in place, anyone seeking to buy or adopt a kitten will have to deal directly with the breeder or with one of the UK’s many animal rehoming centres. Restricting the sale of kittens to licensed breeders has the potential to help deter people motivated to illegally import kittens for the purpose of financial gain.</p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111186954" target="_blank">The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019</a></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 29/05/2019 14:14:39 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.pdf title Draft Statutory Instrument
	tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

1126871

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Private Rented Housing: New Forest
	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 consultation in accordance with the Minister's Mandate preceded changes in the policy of letting dwellings in the New Forest administrated by the Forestry Commission; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	New Forest West
	tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
	uin	254708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Minister’s Mandate, which is mainly concerned with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Crown lands of the New Forest, does not contain any references to the provision or the letting of dwellings.</p><p> </p><p>The principles guiding the Forestry Commission’s approach to housing in the New Forest are unchanged. The Commission aims primarily to meet its operational requirements in respect of housing for its own workforce, some of whom are also Commoners, but also continues to offer discounted residential rents to other Commoners in the New Forest. The Commission plays a vital role in the life of the New Forest, and over the past 25 years has done much to support commoning through its land management and property policies. This includes substantial public subsidy on the basis of the benefits to commoning and maintaining the traditions of the New Forest, but this has to be balanced with the need for financial sustainability in managing the local housing stock and the cost to the taxpayer of caring for the nation’s forests.</p><p> </p><p>I would expect the Forestry Commission to seek approval from Ministers before any fundamental change in approach is implemented.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/05/2019 16:19:42 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1127808

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Plastics: Recycling
	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 businesses on the use of detectable black pigment in plastics to facilitate the recycling of plastic.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	257075
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra Ministers and officials have met industry representatives to highlight the importance of increasing the recyclability of materials, including black plastics. As part of our proposals to reform the UK packaging producer responsibility system, we have outlined options that provide a financial incentive for producers to move towards using more easily recycled packaging materials and formats. We expect these initiatives by industry, combined with our reforms, to work together to eliminate from use the problematic and difficult to recycle plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>Industry has committed to taking action on implementing solutions to prevent black plastic waste going to landfill and encourage recycling. In April 2018, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation published its Plastics Pact with support from Defra and 80 businesses, NGOs, government organisations and service providers. The Pact brings these organisations together with the aim of making 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. A number of UK Plastic Pact members, including Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl have committed to reducing or eliminating black plastic packaging, while other companies are using detectable pigment that enables black plastic to be recycled.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/05/2019 09:06:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1127803

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Plastics: Packaging
	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 representatives of supermarket chains on the reduction of single-use plastics for product packaging.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	257073
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is currently working with retailers and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to encourage their efforts to reduce waste and to explore the introduction of plastic-free supermarket initiatives in which fresh food is sold loose, giving consumers the choice.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recently consulted on reforms to the packaging producer responsibility system to ensure that packaging producers meet the full cost of managing and recycling packaging waste. This provides a strong incentive to producers to reduce the amount of packaging they use and to make packaging that is more easily collected and recycled.</p><p> </p><p>Industry is already taking action. In April last year, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched their world-leading UK Plastics Pact, with support from the Government, and all the major supermarkets have signed up to it. The Pact brings these organisations together with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated, which include action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging items. Our proposed reforms will support supermarkets in achieving those targets.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/05/2019 09:13:12 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1127807

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Plastics: Packaging
	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 plans to bring forward legislative proposals to restrict the use of (a) polystyrene and (b) PVC in plastic packaging.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	257074
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>In our Resources and Waste Strategy we committed to reform our current packaging producer responsibility system. We recently consulted on measures to ensure that producers pay the full costs of disposal for packaging they place on the market, as well as mechanisms to incentivise producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture. This includes making producers pay more if their products aren’t easily recyclable.</p><p> </p><p>We will consider legislative proposals as necessary in achieving our objective.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/05/2019 09:59:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1127677

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Pigeons: Pest 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 steps his Department is taking to help farmers control wood pigeon.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	256418
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the following answer applies to England only.</p><p>Farmers may operate under the new general licence issued by Natural England on 3 May to control wood pigeons to prevent serious damage to crops. If the circumstances in which they wish to act are not covered by the new licence they may apply to Natural England for an individual licence using the online application system.</p><p> </p><p>The government issued a call for evidence on 4 May to help inform its future decisions on general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences and will set out its next steps shortly.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/05/2019 12:50:59 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1127561

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Peat
	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 he has made of the effect of continued use of peat from UK peat bogs on environmental degradation.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	256355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only, unless otherwise stated.</p><p> </p><p>Emissions of greenhouse gases from peat extraction in the UK in 2017, were an estimated 337,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. Commercial extraction in England is licenced on approximately 664 hectares of peatland, across 29 sites.</p><p> </p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework, first published in 2012, ends the granting of new licences for peat extraction. Therefore, peat extraction in England will end when the remaining licences come to an end. We are also continuing to focus on reducing demand for peat in horticulture in England. This not only protects UK peat bogs, but recognises that two thirds of the peat sold in the UK is imported from the rest of Europe. In the 25 Year Plan for the Environment we signalled to the industry that if we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020, then we would take further measures. We are discussing what these potential further measures could look like.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also working with the industry to make the transition to peat alternatives, and to overcome the barriers to their use. For example, we are jointly funding research with the industry to overcome barriers to peat replacement in professional horticulture. We have also worked with the industry to develop a Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media, which allows manufacturers and retailers to make informed choices of growing media inputs to amateur/retail products, based on environmental and social impacts.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 256356 256363 question first answered 23/05/2019 10:44:17 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan