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1045634

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	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	Animal Welfare
	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 enhance animal welfare standards as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Whilst the UK already has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, we are considering what more can be done in the context of our future agricultural policy. We will maintain our existing standards and look to raise standards sustainably over time as new research and evidence emerges.</p><p> </p><p>In England, we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond regulatory requirements that are not sufficiently rewarded by the market and want to provide greater transparency and certainty for consumers and for farmers. We are also looking to control exports of live animals for slaughter.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this work related to our departure from the EU, we are planning to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty to five years. We are also introducing a ban on the ivory trade which is the toughest in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:32:51 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1054774

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	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	Food
	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 consider estalishing a national food policy.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	216317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>While the immediate priority for the department is planning for No Deal, the Government is committed to publishing a National Food Strategy once we leave the EU.</p><p>This work is being led by Henry Dimbleby, Defra’s lead Non-Executive Director. He is still in the early scoping stage but we expect it to cover the entire food system, from farm to fork.</p><p>As the Secretary of State outlined in his letter to Neil Parish on 30 October (https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/environment-food-rural-affairs/correspondence/181030-Secretary-of-State-toChair-Food-strategy.pdf), it will build on the work already underway in the Agriculture Bill, the Environment Bill and the Fisheries Bill, ensuring that our food system delivers healthy and affordable food for all people and is built upon a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.</p><p>I expect the role of farming with respect to food security, providing healthy diets, the use of new technology and protecting the environment will be covered.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 12/02/2019 11:41:15 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1000293

	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	Litter
	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 littering in communities across the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	187351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2018 answer text <p>We published the Litter Strategy for England in April 2017, setting out our aim to clean up the country and deliver a substantial reduction in litter and littering within a generation.</p><p>We have launched the Litter Innovation Fund to support councils and communities in the development and evaluation of innovative approaches to tackling litter. From April 2018, we have also increased the maximum fixed penalty for littering and given councils in England new powers to tackle littering from vehicles.</p><p>The first annual report on our progress delivering the actions set out in the Litter Strategy was published in July this year, and we will continue to report annually on our progress for the rest of this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/11/2018 17:39:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024010

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2018
	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	Veterinary Medicine
	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 his Department has made of the number of qualified veterinary surgeons that would be required to sign off export health certificates for the export of animals and animal products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	201659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>We have analysed expected demand for export health certificates (EHCs) if we leave the EU without a deal.</p><p> </p><p>We have looked at the capacity within the current veterinary market, and taken into consideration a number of factors that will impact on the amount of time required by official vets to sign EHCs for EU-bound products.</p><p> </p><p>We are also making it possible for the providers of certification services to employ new support officers to carry out certain administrative aspects of the EHC process, freeing up the time and capacity of official vets to provide the final assurances for the EHC.</p><p> </p><p>We expect demand for EHCs will be at the lower end of estimates and expect efficiencies to be made by the larger exporters.</p><p> </p><p>Therefore, we estimate the market will need increased capacity equivalent to about 50 full-time official vets and providers of certification services are confident they can meet the demand.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 20/12/2018 16:57:08 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045636

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	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	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, how many fly-tipping incidents there have been in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210618
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only. The below table shows the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded in England in the last five years.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>857,655</p></td><td><p>905,604</p></td><td><p>941,896</p></td><td><p>1,011,199</p></td><td><p>997,553</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The national fly-tipping statistics are published annually by Defra and are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 24/01/2019 09:46:35 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024690

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2018
	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: Exports
	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 he has made of the potential effect on levels of safety of certifying non-qualified personnel to sign-off health certificates for animal exports which are currently drafted by veterinary surgeons.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	202057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>There are no plans to certify non-qualified personnel to sign-off export health certificates.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of assurance of our exports is a high priority for the government and important for our trading partners. The use of Certification Support Officers will have no impact on this. As now Export Health Certificates will continue to be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) when that is required by the importing country. Certification Support Officers (CSOs) will be trained and authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency so they will have a suitable qualification. They must work under the direction of an OV and may carry out preparatory and administrative tasks, such as checking documents, identifying products or sealing containers. Ultimately, the official vet must be satisfied that the required conditions have been met before signing the certificate. CSOs are not authorised to assist with the certification of live animals.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 18/12/2018 12:36:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1087103

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2019
	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	Fishing Gear: Labelling
	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 to require commercial fishing enterprises to carry identification marks on their (a) nets, (b) gear and (c) ancillary equipment in UK waters.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	231437
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>The control and enforcement of fisheries legislation in UK waters is a devolved matter and each Devolved Administration is responsible for control and enforcement in their waters.</p><p> </p><p>Legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009) is in place that requires masters of a fishing vessel using passive gear or beam trawls to mark their fishing gear. Masters must mark certain nets, lines, pots and beam trawls, with the port letter and number of their vessel. Marker buoys must also be attached. This will make sure all vessels are able to clearly identify fishing gear and prevent instances of gear conflict. The Marine Management Organisation has been involved with some joint working (with Maritime and Coastguard Agency, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation and Royal Yachting Association) on reviewing marking of fishing gear for safety at sea purposes.</p><p> </p><p>For all types of fishing gear, masters of a fishing vessel must attempt to retrieve any lost gear. If they are unable to do so they must notify the UK fisheries authorities.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 19/03/2019 11:35:42 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1054772

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	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	Agriculture: UK Trade with EU
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of WTO tariffs on farmers in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	216315
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a net importer of many agricultural products including pigs, poultry and beef. The imposition of WTO tariffs in the event of leaving the EU without a deal will be lower on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>The sheep sector exports 30% of production primarily to the EU so is more exposed. Currency adjustments are likely to mitigate some of the effects as well as food price inflation within the EU market for lamb but we anticipate there would still be negative impacts from a no deal exit for the sheep sector.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 11/02/2019 13:26:57 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045640

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	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	Environment Protection: Crime
	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 new initiatives his Department plans to bring forward to tackle environmental crimes.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State commissioned an independent review into serious and organised crime in the waste industry which was published in November last year. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our new strategic approach to tackling crime and poor performance in the waste sector and actions in response to the recommendations of the review. We will:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>consult on a fundamental reform of the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system to ensure that the supply of waste to criminals is curtailed;</p></li><li><p>consult on mandatory digital tracking of waste movements; and</p></li><li><p>work with the Environment Agency to create a Joint Unit for Waste Crime to deal with the threat of serious and organised criminal gangs.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>These actions will build on the strong action we have already taken, including by:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>legislating to enable local authorities and the Environment Agency to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who breach their duty of care to only pass their waste to authorised operators who can dispose of it legally and safely. The penalties came into force on 7 January this year;</p></li><li><p>enhancing local authorities’ and the Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and introducing new powers for the Environment Agency to block access to problem waste sites.</p></li><li><p>increasing the fixed penalties for littering offence, and introducing new powers to tackle littering from vehicles. From April this year, the minimum fixed penalty for littering will rise from £50 to £65; and</p></li><li><p>consulting on improved guidance to litter authorities on the proportionate and effective use of their enforcement powers. The new guidance will be published shortly.</p><p> </p></li></ul> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/01/2019 13:10:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1092135

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2019
	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	Fruit: 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, whether it will remain his Department's policy to retain the ban on the importation of citrus products that have been treated with (a) oxytetracycline and (b) streptomycin after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	234720
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s policy is to agree a deal with the EU in which case the UK will enter an implementation period. During this time, EU law will continue to apply whilst the Future Economic Partnership is negotiated. Longer term policy on plant protection will depend on the outcome of those negotiations.</p><p> </p><p>At the point of departure from the EU in a no deal scenario, the UK will retain current EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in UK law, along with the existing regulatory processes for determining whether any new UK MRLs should be set.</p><p> </p><p>Oxytetracycline and streptomycin are not approved as active substances for use in the EU and no food, irrespective of its origin, is permitted to have residues at levels consistent with use of the substances. This applies to all food placed on the market, including imports. This will remain the position under UK law unless revised UK MRLs are requested and found to meet all the legal requirements. These requirements include demonstrating, on the basis of scientific data, that the proposed MRL does not put consumers’ health at risk.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 28/03/2019 14:50:09 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord