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1713023

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Inland Border Facilities: Ashford
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2024 to Question 21012 on Import Controls: Fees and Charges, by what date he expects a decision on designating Sevington as a Border Control Post.
	tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
	tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
	uin	23192
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The border control post at Sevington has now received its designation and is ready to begin operation on 30 April.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 16:11:14 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1713025

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Import Controls: Fees and Charges
	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 all consignments travelling from the EU to the UK on 1 May 2024 that are subject to the Border Target Operating Model, other than those coming through a privately-run Border Control Post, will be required to pay the Common User Charge.
	tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
	tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
	uin	23194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The common user charge will apply to all eligible sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) imports at a public BCP, whether or not they are selected for a BCP inspection.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 16:08:37 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1713133

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Large Goods Vehicles: Import Controls
	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 plans to take to help tackle hauliers moving consignments subject to the Border Target Operating Model who do not (a) pay the Common User Charge, (b) present for physical inspections at a Border Control Post when required and (c) provide the relevant health declarations.
	tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
	tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
	uin	23196
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>On the Common User Charge, we will put in place measures to deter late payment and payment avoidance, including charges for late payment. We’ll publish further information on compliance measures before the first invoices are issued.”</p><p> </p><p>Where the BCP has concerns, for example due to non-attendance, there are robust provisions in place to pursue the person responsible for the load. If it is not possible for the goods to proceed to the BCP, then the goods will be referred for inland controls by the local authority, enforceable through the data collected through customs declarations and pre-notification.</p><p> </p><p>Vehicles suspected to be carrying illegal imports (e.g. those for which customs declarations and pre-notification have not been made or suspected to have been made in bad faith) will continue to be stopped and dealt with by Border Force at the point of entry to the UK.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 16:05:55 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1714108

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2024
	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: Maladministration
	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 make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of administrative errors made by his Department in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	23867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Defra reports losses from error to the Public Sector Fraud Authority. We are unable to provide a breakdown of losses from administrative errors only – errors we report consist of aggregated losses arising from unintentional events, processing errors and official government errors. Data on fraud (including error) has only been published since 2017 and may be found in the Cross Government fraud landscape reports here: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2017&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C9db3eea3a1584873e44208dc68fddc8a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638500686738235582%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5Bga4Wga5LdP7olu0a2160pIkmVHBcdSmXxAQ7w7UDk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Cross-government fraud landscape annual report 2017</a>, <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2018&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C9db3eea3a1584873e44208dc68fddc8a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638500686738246511%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=BAsEuNt1PADSmfejThbJYpY7CUsfjEeMmPFaTJAk9Gc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Cross-government fraud landscape annual report 2018 </a>, <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2019&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C9db3eea3a1584873e44208dc68fddc8a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638500686738254558%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=IfTu3hDy0GBMD4IutCKwlxXmYhJ0ZSeoJo9CUD1tMo4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Cross-government fraud landscape annual report 2019</a>, <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F961505%2F2609-Executive-Summary-Fraud-Landscape-Bulletin-V7.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C9db3eea3a1584873e44208dc68fddc8a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638500686738263846%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=aiOAEVdeqy87z8AOF7CBwuDbedPB0YHO%2FCBwREf3F08%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Executive-Summary-Fraud-Landscape-Bulletin 2019-20</a>, <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcross-government-fraud-landscape-report-2021-2022%2Fcross-government-fraud-landscape-report-2021-2022-html&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C9db3eea3a1584873e44208dc68fddc8a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638500686738270947%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=bNeJQWw%2FNK0QZbnKelBVyTDggA%2BZh9AdPDDt8vbDl1Q%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Cross-Government Fraud Landscape Report 2021-2022</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 15:59:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1714106

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2024
	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: Departmental Responsibilities
	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 projects that have been written off within his Department in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	23865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Prior to preparing to leave the EU Defra had no major projects, with outcome delivery led through its Arm’s Length bodies and executive agencies. Defra now manages a portfolio of priority projects spanning policy to delivery which are critical to delivering our outcomes to ‘improve the environment, deliver net zero, reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding, increase the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhance biosecurity at the border and raise animal welfare standards’. All losses are reported in our <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fdefras-annual-reports&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C379c93c170f84ba5007a08dc69c4da6f%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638501541798228763%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=OSbjlsD7auQEONNbqXhiHPGPCwGD0atijo64ZRx0pso%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Annual Reports and Accounts</a> but we are unable to provide a breakdown of losses specifically relating to ‘writing off projects’ since our reporting data for losses is not disaggregated in this manner.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 15:54:46 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1714107

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2024
	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: Contracts
	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 cost to the public purse has been of contracts cancelled by his Department since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	23866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 23864 question first answered 01/05/2024 15:49:31 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1714105

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2024
	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: Procurement
	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 overspend on procurement within his Department in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	23864
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 23866 question first answered 01/05/2024 15:49:31 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1702295

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Solar Power
	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 plans to introduce a national monitoring system to track agricultural land being developed for ground mounted solar.
	tabling member constituency	Rutland and Melton
	tabling member printed	Alicia Kearns
	uin	22659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister said at PMQs last week, we must protect our nation’s food security and therefore our most valuable agricultural land.</p><p> </p><p>As per planning policy, local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, when making plans or taking decisions on new development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. Planning Practice Guidance also sets out a preference for the use of lower quality agricultural land.</p><p> </p><p>I agree that monitoring of the impacts of solar on agricultural land is important and am in discussions with my counterparts in DLUHC and DESNZ.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/05/2024 15:46:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4805 label Biography information for Alicia Kearns

1702530

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	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: Maladministration
	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 has taken to reduce the costs of error in the last three financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	22733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Figures used in the cross-Government <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/641c158b32a8e0000cfa9251/2974_Fraud_Landscape_Annual_Report_2022_.pdf" target="_blank">Fraud Landscape Report</a> show the level of detected error across the group including arm’s length bodies. The figures for 2021-22 and 2022-23 may be found in the following reports: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/635a7f1e8fa8f5653f83f4f0/defra-annual-report-2021-2022.pdf" target="_blank">Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22</a> and <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/653a9479e6c9680014aa9be8/annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf" target="_blank">Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Steps we have taken are detailed in the annual report and accounts. These include creation of a dedicated grants hub with counter fraud expertise, fraud risk assessments, prepayment checks allowing correction of errors prior to payment, audits of both the control environment and delivery bodies’ counter fraud capability, external assurance, as well as governance forums which routinely consider the risk of fraud and error at both design and delivery stages.</p><p> </p><p>The Government reports a combined fraud and error rate as it is difficult to disaggregate between the two, is cost intensive and may not be the most effective use of limited department resources. The choice is therefore left to the discretion of individual departments.</p><p> </p><p>When found, error would be defined as losses arising from unintentional events, processing errors and official government errors.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 15:42:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1713197

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Tree Planting: North of England
	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 work with metro mayors on delivering the White Rose forest objectives.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire, working in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities to increase woodland across the region and improve our natural environment. To deliver the objectives of our Community Forests and Woodland Creation Partnerships Defra works with a wide range of stakeholders in local government, the NGO sector and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/05/2024 15:26:46 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713280

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of H5N1 bird flu, following an outbreak in cattle in multiple US states with reports that many cattle are asymptomatic; what monitoring they carry out on (1) cattle, (2) other farm animals, (3) wild mammals, and (4) humans in contact with cattle; and what, if any, additional biosecurity measures are planned or being developed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	uin	HL4021
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is in close contact with counterparts in the United States on the incidents of influenza of avian origin in cattle in the USA. We know that the strain of virus involved has not been detected in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Food Standards Agency, the Cabinet Office and with international partners on risk assessments to consider the routes of incursion, animal to animal spread and animal to human spill-over and to review our well-tested surveillance mechanisms and preparedness activities in light of this emerging situation.</p><p> </p><p>In response to the unprecedented global outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in wild and kept birds, the UK's avian influenza national reference laboratory at the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge laboratory has increased its surveillance in both wild birds and wild mammals and genome analysis of the virus itself while keeping a close eye on its spread in global populations of wildlife. In addition, we have published an ‘Influenza A (H5N1) infection in mammals: suspect case definition and diagnostic testing criteria’ on gov.uk to support veterinary professionals and others in knowing when to report suspicion. This case definition will be updated in due course as further information on the emerging situation in cattle in the USA becomes available.</p><p> </p><p>We are monitoring the situation closely but at this time have no reason to suspect the virus is circulating in our cattle, nor is this strain of the virus circulating in Europe. We have had no recent cases of avian influenza in kept birds, or findings of influenza of avian origin in kept or wild mammals, and the risk level from wild birds is low. We have discussed the need for surveillance in wildlife, domestic animals and humans with DHSC and UKHSA and are considering the case for additional surveillance for influenza of avian origin in cattle and how best such animal health surveillance could be undertaken.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 01/05/2024 14:24:52 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1713281

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Soil: Environment Protection
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect soil monitoring data will become available from the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	uin	HL4022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment is a new environmental monitoring programme, assessing the state and condition of ecosystems in England and their natural capital. The field data, including soils data, is being collected on a 5-year cycle that runs from 2023/24 to 2027/28. Final statistics and data will be published after 2027/28 when 100% of the data has been collected and there are outline plans to publish interim statistics, mid cycle, once 50% of the field data has been collected.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 01/05/2024 11:08:06 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1713283

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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: Land Use
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of Grade 1 and 2 lowland peat is let on annual farm business tenancies; and what steps they are taking to ensure this land is not being farmed in a manner that is accelerating its degradation and threatening future food security.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Caithness
	uin	HL4024
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Peat policy is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Defra does not have any data on the percentage of Grade 1 and 2 lowland peat let on annual farm business tenancies.</p><p> </p><p>In the Environmental Improvement Plan, we said that we are committed to halting the degradation of our lowland peat soils which causes such significant harm to the environment.</p><p> </p><p>We have also agreed to take forward action on all recommendations of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force Chair's report, recognising the vital role that lowland peat soils play in producing food for our nation and supporting our rural economies.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently funding approximately £12.5million on projects on paludiculture, local collaboration, and water management, as first steps towards a more sustainable future for lowland agricultural peat.</p><p> </p><p>We are also developing a new England Peat Map that will help us identify areas for future intervention.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 01/05/2024 11:07:30 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	3310 label Biography information for The Earl of Caithness

1702147

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Fraud
	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 has taken to reduce the costs of fraud in his Department in the last three financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	22571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is determined to uncover fraud in the public sector and is proud of its record. As part of this, the Government established the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In 22/23 the PSFA set a target of delivering £180m of savings to the taxpayer. In fact, the PSFA far surpassed this within the first 12 months by preventing and recovering £311 million.</p><p> </p><p>As it enters its second year, the PSFA has a target of achieving £185 million of savings for the taxpayer. The Government has also announced an additional £34 million to deploy cutting edge tools and Artificial Intelligence tools to help combat fraud across the public sector, saving £100 million for the public purse. This is in addition to existing partnerships between PSFA and the tech sector.</p><p> </p><p>Defra's headline response to countering fraud is set out in the Governance Statement of the Annual Report and Accounts. The Annual Report and Accounts for Defra for the past three years may be accessed here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F61a604d4e90e070441bcf801%2Fdefra-year-end-accounts-2020-2021.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C0b72e9bfb1ac409d674008dc643a0ba0%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638495447675813239%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=nRH7wZaPnUSZoCAOuuRfC4J9iBUIEJlhE39vCGv0noc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F635a7f1e8fa8f5653f83f4f0%2Fdefra-annual-report-2021-2022.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C0b72e9bfb1ac409d674008dc643a0ba0%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638495447675824944%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=abUKBzLyva8eBsqNoa7LhJrVtZR1IxuzCJRLRd2MHt8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F653a9479e6c9680014aa9be8%2Fannual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C0b72e9bfb1ac409d674008dc643a0ba0%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638495447675831576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=YkHVyZ%2FaD50a%2BqgeyTMM0KGwgwIxwqtHIu5pIKWG2Fo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 09:34:23 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1713200

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Avian Influenza: Disease 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, with reference to the statement by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention entitled Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the US, published on 1 April 2024, what assessment he has made of the level of risk posed by H5N1; and whether he has had discussions with the (a) Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the potential implications for the UK Biological Security Strategy of that statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	23177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>We are in close contact with counterparts in the United States on the incidents of influenza of avian origin in cattle in the USA. We know that the strain of virus involved has not been detected in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency, Food Standards Agency and Cabinet Office officials and with international partners on risk assessments to consider the routes of incursion, animal to animal spread and animal to human spill-over and to review our well-tested surveillance mechanisms and preparedness activities in light of this emerging situation.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 01/05/2024 08:58:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1713859

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2024
	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: Treaties
	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 is participating in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa that began on 23 April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
	tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
	uin	23677
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department participated in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa. Officials from Defra attended the fourth session of negotiations to develop a global plastics pollution treaty, and I attended the high-level segment hosted by Canada ahead of the start of formal negotiations. The UK’s negotiating mandate covers the relevant policy from across Government departments and we continue to strongly support the active and meaningful participation of stakeholders, including UK businesses, at all stages of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process. As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK remains committed to securing an ambitious treaty by the end of 2024 that includes measures to address plastic pollution across the full lifecycle of plastic. We continue to work closely with other member states and stakeholders at, and beyond, the fourth session of the INC to advance negotiations and pave the way for a historic agreement.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/04/2024 16:03:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1713588

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2024
	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	Flood 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, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2024 to Question 22631 on Flood Control, when the meeting with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s Flood and Water Group took place, and if he will publish the letter that Group wrote to his Department after the meeting.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
	tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
	uin	23553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>In considering the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) study into surface water flooding, Defra officials met with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s (ADEPT) Flood and Water Group on 30 January 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Following the meeting ADEPT officials shared a short note setting out their views on the NIC’s nine recommendations which the government considered in developing the response to the study.</p><p> </p><p>It is not the Department’s policy to publish exchanges between officials.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 30/04/2024 10:23:56 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1713519

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2024
	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: Public Expenditure
	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 make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of cash losses incurred by his Department arising from (a) theft, (b) fraud, (c) arson, (d) sabotage and (e) gross carelessness in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	23501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>Estimates and actual losses for 2023-24 are currently in the process of being finalised and will be published in our Annual Report and Accounts. Losses from theft and fraud are expected to be in the region of losses incurred in previous years. The figures for 2021-22 and 2022-23 may be found in the following reports: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/635a7f1e8fa8f5653f83f4f0/defra-annual-report-2021-2022.pdf" target="_blank">Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22</a> and <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/653a9479e6c9680014aa9be8/annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf" target="_blank">Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23</a>. The level of detected fraud across Defra in 2021-22 may also be found in the cross-Government <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/641c158b32a8e0000cfa9251/2974_Fraud_Landscape_Annual_Report_2022_.pdf" target="_blank">Fraud Landscape Report</a>. We are unable to provide any estimates regarding arson, sabotage and gross carelessness as our losses data is aggregated and it is not possible to easily report this level of detail.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 30/04/2024 08:44:19 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1713284

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Seeds
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure there are no delays by the Animal and Plant Health Agency in processing applications for new seed varieties; and when they will determine the causes of the current backlog of applications so that in future new varieties are made available to UK growers in a timely manner.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Caithness
	uin	HL4025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The backlog of applications for variety listing following EU exit has now largely been resolved.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency and Defra are working closely with stakeholders to monitor the processes involved in variety listing and are currently instigating improvements and resilience in the system.</p><p> </p><p>The UK authorities are working together to develop the first UK Plant Variety and Seeds strategy. Following a Call for Ideas and further industry engagement, additional improvements in the plant variety listing process are anticipated.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 29/04/2024 14:40:41 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	3310 label Biography information for The Earl of Caithness

1713029

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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 Experiments
	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 make it his policy to replace the lethal dose 50 test with non-animal testing methods.
	tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
	tabling member printed	Dame Tracey Crouch
	uin	23178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for West Derby on 24 April 2024, PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-04-17/22419" target="_blank">22419</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 29/04/2024 14:36:38 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1701633

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when guidance for the Sustainable Farming Incentive online application portal will be set out.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL3864
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3861 HL3862 HL3863 HL3865 question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:17 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1701632

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when farmers in existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements can transfer to the new offer.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL3863
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3861 HL3862 HL3864 HL3865 question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:17 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1701631

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when farmers will be able to apply for the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL3862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3861 HL3863 HL3864 HL3865 question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:17 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1701630

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish further information on the combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL3861
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3862 HL3863 HL3864 HL3865 question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:17 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1701634

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when the new Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship actions can be added to areas already in the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement, particularly in upland areas where the HLS agreement has a linked Upland Entry Level Stewardship agreement.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL3865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller grouped question UIN HL3861 HL3862 HL3863 HL3864 question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:17 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans