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1504044

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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	Droughts and Rain
	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 cloud seeding to encourage rainfall during drought conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	45654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>Cloud seeding is not appropriate for managing droughts in England due to the weather patterns we receive. This makes it difficult to predict where the resulting rain will fall. There is a risk that the rain falls not in this country and could cause issues for neighbouring countries where rain is not needed. Cloud seeding is used in other countries around the world, but they generally have larger land masses and more stable weather patterns. There are also concerns relating to pollution that could be caused from the compounds used to create 'seed particles', depending on the nature of the particle used and the volume required to form an effective amount of rainfall.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 21/09/2022 16:57:03 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1503796

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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: Insects
	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 remove obstacles to the growth of the edible insect industry in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	45381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the role the alternative protein sector could have in contributing to UK growth. As stated in the Government's Food Strategy, through funding we will support progress on a wide range of issues, including alternative proteins. We will also work with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to develop dedicated guidance materials for approval of new alternative protein products while reviewing our novel food regulations. This will ensure they are transparent for innovators and investors, whilst maintaining world-leading consumer safety standards.</p><p>In addition, the FSA is aiming to introduce a legislative fix this year to permit edible insect sellers to continue to sell several species while they submit applications for authorisation under the novel food regulations. Novel foods normally require pre-market authorisation but the FSA plans to fix transitional arrangements from the EU retained law to allow necessary time to demonstrate the safety of these products. There are very few restrictions required on the use of insects as feed.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 16/09/2022 12:45:34 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1491206

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2022
	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	Plankton: North Atlantic Ocean
	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 made an assessment of the sustainability of plankton levels in the North Atlantic.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	40734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>As a contracting party to OSPAR, the regional seas convention covering the North-East Atlantic, the UK contributes to the assessment of plankton in the North-East Atlantic. Although the sustainability of plankton has not been specifically addressed by research at the North Atlantic scale, abundance and diversity of plankton in the North Atlantic is. These assessments indicate that there is variability in the plankton community, which is in accordance with the published scientific literature on plankton dynamics.</p> answering member constituency St Austell and Newquay answering member printed Steve Double question first answered 05/09/2022 06:48:38 answering member 4452 label Biography information for Steve Double
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1458278

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2022
	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	Cereals: 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, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of market speculation on grain prices.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	155577
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2022 answer text <p>Increases in international food commodity prices have been driven by a range of factors, including rising energy prices, increased demand, and trade disruption. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has impacted the ability of Ukraine to produce and export key agricultural commodities. This suggests that the main driver of the observed price changes is due to Ukraine’s inability to export. Previous assessments by Government economists have suggested there are good reasons to be sceptical that speculation in futures markets has been a significant cause of food price spikes. The department continues to monitor market developments closely alongside international partners like the Agricultural Market Information System.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 155576 question first answered 28/04/2022 08:14:38 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1458277

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2022
	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, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of market speculation on food prices.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	155576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2022 answer text <p>Increases in international food commodity prices have been driven by a range of factors, including rising energy prices, increased demand, and trade disruption. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has impacted the ability of Ukraine to produce and export key agricultural commodities. This suggests that the main driver of the observed price changes is due to Ukraine’s inability to export. Previous assessments by Government economists have suggested there are good reasons to be sceptical that speculation in futures markets has been a significant cause of food price spikes. The department continues to monitor market developments closely alongside international partners like the Agricultural Market Information System.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 155577 question first answered 28/04/2022 08:14:37 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1399571

	registered interest
	date	04/01/2022
	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	Whales
	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 his department has made of the potential merits of a revival of the whale population on (a) the international marine environment and (b) carbon capture.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	96765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2022 answer text <p>The UK Government plays a leading role championing the conservation and welfare of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) both in the UK and internationally. We fully recognise the importance of whale populations to the marine ecosystem, and the vital role they play to sequester carbon.</p><p> </p><p>We play an active role in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and are Vice Chair of the IWC’s Conservation Committee. The Conservation Committee considers a wide range of cetacean conservation issues, which includes increasing our understanding of their important role in ecosystem functioning and climate change.</p><p> </p><p>Research into the carbon capture potential from whales is ongoing within the scientific community and we anticipate some of this research to be reported on at the IWC’s Scientific Committee meeting in May this year. Defra officials and UK scientists will attend this meeting which will help improve our understanding of the importance of cetaceans in carbon sequestration.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 12/01/2022 13:22:48 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1351638

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	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
	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 support his Department is providing to countries affected by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	40589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. IUU fishing continues to be one of the most serious threats to ocean ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and the exploitation of protected and vulnerable marine species.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has launched a £500 million Blue Planet Fund that will support developing countries to protect the marine environment and reduce poverty. The Fund is managed by the Department for Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Financed from the UK Official Development Assistance Budget, the Fund will help eligible countries reduce poverty, protect and sustainably manage their marine resources and address human-generated threats across four key themes: sustainable seafood, biodiversity, climate change, and marine pollution. Tackling IUU fishing has been identified as one of the priority outcomes of the Blue Planet Fund.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/09/2021 13:51:53 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1301243

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2021
	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	Dogs: Smuggling
	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 5 March 2021 to Question 157953, how many people were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of puppy smuggling last year.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	166311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>Defra does not hold data on the number of individuals charged with and convicted of puppy smuggling related offences. Local authorities are the enforcement and prosecution body for puppy smuggling related offences. In 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) was notified of two prosecutions by local authorities under the following legislation: The Welfare of Animals (Transport)(England) Order 2006, The Animal Health Act 1981, The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 and The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011. However, local authorities are not required to notify Defra or APHA of prosecutions related to puppy smuggling and so this figure may not represent the total number of cases. We suspect the low number of prosecutions reported for 2020 was a result of courts being closed and cases delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2021 15:45:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1289719

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2021
	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	Dogs: 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, if he will introduce measures to restrict the age at which puppies can be imported to at least 14 weeks.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	157953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2021 answer text <p>Defra takes the issue of puppy smuggling and other illegal importations of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to these animals and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk.</p><p>As per our pet travel and commercial importation requirements, the minimum age a cat, dog or ferret can be vaccinated against rabies is 12 weeks old, followed by a 21 day wait when travelling from an EU Member State or another 'listed' third country. This means that the minimum age a cat, dog or ferret can enter GB from an EU Member State or another listed third country is 15 weeks old.</p><p>At present, there has been no substantive change to the pet travel requirements for pets entering Great Britain (GB) from the EU.</p><p>Now the Transition Period has ended, we have the opportunity to manage our own pet travel and commercial importation rules. We are actively listening to the concerns of stakeholders and the Government is considering options to strengthen our efforts to tackle puppy smuggling. These options will take into consideration the results from our latest disease risk assessments for GB and recommendations of stakeholders such as the British Veterinary Association and Dogs Trust, and recent parliamentary work from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 05/03/2021 13:07:40 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1287999

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	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	Genetic Engineering
	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 gene editing.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	156253
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2021 answer text <p>Defra’s view is that gene-edited organisms should not be regulated as genetically modified organisms if the end product could have been produced naturally, or by traditional breeding methods. Such gene-edited organisms would not contain DNA from other species. Defra is currently consulting on a proposal to amend the definition of a genetically modified organism as it applies in England.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 25/02/2021 13:27:59 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar