Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1000297

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	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	Agriculture
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the sustainability of the livestock farming sector when the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
	tabling member printed	Angus Brendan MacNeil
	uin	187315
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Agriculture Bill currently going through parliament provides the powers necessary to support sustainable livestock production by making payments to farmers for adopting approaches to farm husbandry that improve animal health and welfare and which protect the farmed environment. It also creates the powers needed to improve fairness and transparency in the supply chain so that livestock farmers can provide a fairer price for the food they produce. Finally, the government aims to secure a deep and comprehensive free trade deal with the EU that continues to provide for frictionless, tariff-free trade.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 12/11/2018 17:25:32 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1546 label Biography information for Angus Brendan MacNeil

1002157

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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	Agriculture: Climate Change
	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 tackle the risk of climate change to the food and farming sector.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
	tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
	uin	188099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Government to produce, every five years, an assessment of the risks to the United Kingdom arising from current and predicted climate change. Government published its second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) in January 2017 which endorses six priority risk areas identified by the independent evidence report produced by the Adaptation Sub-Committee in July 2016. This included risks to domestic and international food production and trade and potential opportunities from long-term, climate-related changes in global food production.</p><p> </p><p>The CCRA notes a number of potential risks to UK agricultural production arising from, for example, vulnerability to water shortages, pests and disease, and extreme weather events. The report also observes that warmer weather and longer growing seasons may improve agricultural productivity.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The second National Adaptation Programme, published in July 2018, sets out how we aim to tackle the risks to domestic and international food production and trade that England is facing from a changing climate. For example, Government’s commitment to review and publish the updated UK Food Security Assessment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is committed to taking action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. As the cornerstone of future agriculture policy, the new environmental land management system will use public money for the provision of public goods, including supporting farmers and other land managers to mitigate and adapt to climate change.</p><p>Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 16% since 1990, with many farms using more efficient agricultural practices. Land use, land use change and forestry continue to provide benefits in carbon sequestration. The Government recognises the importance of reducing emissions further in these sectors. The Clean Growth Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan set out the Government’s ambition for how this will be achieved.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 188097 188100 question first answered 12/11/2018 14:54:01 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1002158

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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	Agriculture: Climate Change
	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 mitigate the effects of climate change on the food and farming sector.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
	tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
	uin	188100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Government to produce, every five years, an assessment of the risks to the United Kingdom arising from current and predicted climate change. Government published its second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) in January 2017 which endorses six priority risk areas identified by the independent evidence report produced by the Adaptation Sub-Committee in July 2016. This included risks to domestic and international food production and trade and potential opportunities from long-term, climate-related changes in global food production.</p><p> </p><p>The CCRA notes a number of potential risks to UK agricultural production arising from, for example, vulnerability to water shortages, pests and disease, and extreme weather events. The report also observes that warmer weather and longer growing seasons may improve agricultural productivity.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The second National Adaptation Programme, published in July 2018, sets out how we aim to tackle the risks to domestic and international food production and trade that England is facing from a changing climate. For example, Government’s commitment to review and publish the updated UK Food Security Assessment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is committed to taking action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. As the cornerstone of future agriculture policy, the new environmental land management system will use public money for the provision of public goods, including supporting farmers and other land managers to mitigate and adapt to climate change.</p><p>Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 16% since 1990, with many farms using more efficient agricultural practices. Land use, land use change and forestry continue to provide benefits in carbon sequestration. The Government recognises the importance of reducing emissions further in these sectors. The Clean Growth Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan set out the Government’s ambition for how this will be achieved.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 188097 188099 question first answered 12/11/2018 14:54:01 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1001970

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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	Animals: Vaccination
	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 ensure the uninterrupted supply of veterinary vaccines in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	187984
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>We are working with the animal medicines industry to ensure that supplies of veterinary medicines remain available in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. We intend to minimise any additional regulatory burdens on industry as a result of leaving the EU.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 12/11/2018 16:45:07 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1002713

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Biodiversity
	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 spent on biodiversity conservation in (a) England and (b) the UK Overseas Territories in each of the last three financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
	tabling member printed	Layla Moran
	uin	188902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Defra spend on biodiversity in England was £278m in 2015/16; and £258m in 2016/17. Figures for 2017/18 are still being compiled for publication, and should be available in July 2019 as part of our update of our Biodiversity Indicators.</p><p>These figures include a proportion of the total expenditure on agri-environment schemes (55% – the proportion that is assessed to directly contribute to biodiversity outcomes specifically). They also include expenditure by Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission on managing the public estate, advice, research and monitoring.</p><p>This is likely to be an underestimate as spend on biodiversity is integrated into a wide range of Departmental programmes that support multiple outcomes. For example, the figures do not include all spend on marine and fisheries. In 2018/19 £21m will be spent on activities that contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity. In addition to this, much of the Department’s work to improve the sustainability of our fisheries will also contribute to improving marine biodiversity.</p><p>The main source of Departmental funding for biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) is through Darwin Plus, also known as “The Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund”. Defra’s contribution to Darwin Plus funding in the last three years is as follows: £1.85 million in 2015/16; £2 million in 2016/17; £2 million in 2017/18. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development also contribute.</p><p>Defra leads on a number of environmental protection projects under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) but these are funded and administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/11/2018 10:59:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran

1002718

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Birds of Prey: Conservation
	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 bring forward legislative proposals on vicarious liability for crimes against birds of prey.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	188753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which provides a powerful framework for the conservation of wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitats.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to introduce vicarious liability in England for offences related to wildlife crime.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/11/2018 11:09:19 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1000257

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	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	Cats and Dogs: Meat
	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 plans he has to close the legal loophole that allows human consumption of dog and cat meat in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	187378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>It is already illegal to sell dog and cat meat for human consumption and the Government has seen no evidence that dog or cat meat is being sold or consumed in this country.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 12/11/2018 16:31:03 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1002607

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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: Energy
	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 information he holds on the energy efficiency rating of buildings used by his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	188705
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Defra complies with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and implements a program of Display Energy Certificate (DEC) where applicable across its estate.</p><p> </p><p>We currently have 36 sites that require a DEC. These range from office buildings to laboratories. The table below shows the DEC rating of our buildings and the number of buildings in each category.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Table1: DEC rating and number of sites</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>DEC Category</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Sites</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>B</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>C</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>D</p></td><td><p>8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>E</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>F</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>G</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Grand Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>36</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Of the 10 sites rating E-G, 8 sites are laboratories (G rating – 1 site, F rating – 3 sites and E rating - 4 sites) and therefore have higher than average energy use due to the operational nature of these sites.</p><p> </p><p>The 2 remaining E rating sites are offices and are only 3 and 10 units from achieving D rating (average).</p><p> </p><p>We continue to invest in the energy efficiency of our estate, through our estate forward maintenance plan and our energy performance contract.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 12/11/2018 12:26:25 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1002626

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Fly-tipping
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce fly-tipping; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
	tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
	uin	188703
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping. We have given local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced local authorities’ and the Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this year we consulted on giving local authorities and the Environment Agency the power to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who fail in their duty of care and pass their waste to fly-tippers. A further announcement will follow later this year. We will also support local authorities in raising householders’ awareness of their duty of care and update the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice to better inform householders about how to ensure their waste is disposed of properly.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s Resource and Waste Strategy (due to be published before the end of the year), we are developing a strategic approach to waste crime. This will include further measures to tackle fly-tipping, including enhancing local-level partnership working and intelligence sharing and working with the court system to strengthen the sentences of fly-tippers to act as an effective deterrent.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/11/2018 11:04:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1000262

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	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: Production
	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 ensure that the food and farming sector has sufficient access to labour in order to sustain British food production (a) now and (b) in the future.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	187334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Defra understands the importance of 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 withdraws from the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have announced that the Government will introduce a new pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020, enabling up to 2,500 non-European Economic Area migrant workers to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible horticultural sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra is also 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> </p><p> </p><p>Defra is working with industry to raise awareness of the career opportunities within the agriculture and food industry to attract domestic workers, and is exploring the potential for innovation and automation in meeting future labour demands.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 12/11/2018 12:22:48 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron