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1126606

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Farmers: Suicide
	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 suicides in the farming sector, what steps he is taking to monitor levels of distress in that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	254107
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra takes the issue of farmers and agricultural workers’ wellbeing very seriously. I am aware that rates of suicide are higher across the agricultural sector generally than they are for the general population. I know that they often have a solitary lifestyle, it is hard work and their businesses are subject to unpredictable factors such as the weather. As part of the Future Farming programme we are looking at the impact of policies on wellbeing, and we are also working with partners to foster personal and business resilience.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our on-going work using data on the farming sector, we monitor the published ONS statistics on suicides by employment group. As well as headline mortality numbers, we keep under review the issues that may affect broader experiences of positive and negative wellbeing.</p><p> </p><p>Officials meet regularly with farming and rural charities to hear first-hand about resilience in the farming sector. This provides an indication of how farmers and farm workers are responding to any pressures affecting the sector.</p><p> </p><p>Government launched its first ever Loneliness Strategy in October 2018. One of Defra’s commitments is to hold regular stakeholder roundtables to tackle the issues of loneliness and isolation in rural areas. The next roundtable, to be chaired by Lord Gardiner, is being held on 11 June 2019. Defra also provides financial support through an annual grant of £1.7 million to Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), whose network of 38 rural community councils work on housing and transport issues that we know can affect farming communities.</p><p> </p><p>Defra works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on this issue. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights the higher risk of suicide experienced by certain occupational groups, and this includes agricultural occupations. Through the Strategy, DHSC has ensured that every local authority has a suicide prevention plan in place to implement tailored approaches to reducing suicides based on the needs and demographics of local communities.</p><p> </p><p>In October 2018, the Prime Minister announced the first Minister for Suicide Prevention, and she recently met the Farming Community Network to understand better the issues facing farmers.</p><p> </p><p>It is important that farmers are aware of the people they can turn to if they are going through difficult times. In particular, the farming charities – the Farming Community Network, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Addington Fund – all do a brilliant job in supporting farmers and their families. The National Farmers Union also has a regional network of advisers who can provide support.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 21/05/2019 14:49:38 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1127520

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Subsidies
	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 publish the (a) names and (b) locations by region of each of the Environmental Land Management Scheme pilots.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	256211
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The Environmental Land Management (ELM) pilot is planned to run for three years starting from late 2021 and will cover the whole of England. The first tests and trails, informing different elements of ELM, should start shortly and the proposals ELM have received to date are spread across the whole of England.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 23/05/2019 13:06:07 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128308

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Tree Planting
	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 (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take in response to the recommendations on planting trees made by the Climate Change Committee in its report Net Zero – The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming, published in May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	257400
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change published its report on 2 May. We very much welcome this analysis and will be responding in a timeframe that reflects the urgency of this crucial issue.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is driving forward its manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees over the course of this parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We have kick started a vast Northern Forest, which will see 50 million trees planted from Liverpool to Hull; allocated £10 million to plant new trees in our towns and cities through the urban trees challenge fund; and appointed a Tree Champion to lead our engagement on a new English Tree Strategy. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced £50 million to help plant new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently consulted on Best Practice Guidance and issued the Urban Tree Manual, which support the sustainable management of trees. The National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, encourages better recognition of trees and woodlands for the wider natural capital benefits they can provide.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257421 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:06:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128314

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Tree Planting
	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 (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to encourage local authorities to implement the recommendations on planting trees made by the Climate Change Committee in its report Net Zero – The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming, published in May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	257421
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change published its report on 2 May. We very much welcome this analysis and will be responding in a timeframe that reflects the urgency of this crucial issue.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is driving forward its manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees over the course of this parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We have kick started a vast Northern Forest, which will see 50 million trees planted from Liverpool to Hull; allocated £10 million to plant new trees in our towns and cities through the urban trees challenge fund; and appointed a Tree Champion to lead our engagement on a new English Tree Strategy. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced £50 million to help plant new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently consulted on Best Practice Guidance and issued the Urban Tree Manual, which support the sustainable management of trees. The National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, encourages better recognition of trees and woodlands for the wider natural capital benefits they can provide.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257400 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:06:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128399

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Farmers: Suicide
	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 14 May 2019 to Question 254107 on Farmers: Suicide, if he will set up a round table for hon. Members representing agricultural constituencies to discuss what steps can be taken to reduce the number of suicides of farmers and farm workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	257438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>This is a good suggestion and I would welcome the opportunity to explore further with colleagues representing agricultural constituencies these important issues that were raised in debate on 22 May.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Department for Health and Social Care work closely together to monitor and improve mental health and wellbeing in rural communities and I suggest that officials from both departments join us in this discussion.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 05/06/2019 11:18:02 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128925

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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: Subsidies
	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 publish a regular progress report on the operation of the Environmental Land Management Scheme’s tests and trials; and the funding from the public purse is available to participants in those trials.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	258953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>In advance of the introduction of the new Environmental Land Management System, we will use tests and trials as a means to work with farmers, land managers and stakeholders so that they can contribute to the contents and design of the new system. This will enable us to test and trial elements of the new system with different user groups to understand how and if they work in a real life environment. We expect to be able to approve the first of the tests and trials in the near future. The level of funding will be based on an assessment of the expected outcomes of the individual proposals and the provision of value for money.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 06/06/2019 09:49:42 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128926

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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: Subsidies
	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 for funding for rural development after the end of the LEADER programme and when the UK ceases to have access to EU Structural Funds; and what priority will rural businesses, communities and the environment receive in relation to the Shared Prosperity Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	258954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Through the socio-economic schemes within the Rural Development Programme for England we are investing over £500 million in rural business and communities. This includes over £250 million for rural business growth and broadband infrastructure through the Growth Programme and £150 million for locally-identified business and community priorities through LEADER.</p><p> </p><p>Our manifesto committed to establishing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to reduce inequalities between communities by raising productivity, following our departure from the EU. The Fund will operate across the UK in rural and urban areas. It will tackle inequalities between communities, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind. Leaving the EU will allow us to spend money according to our own priorities rather than those set by the EU.</p><p> </p><p>It is intended that simplified administration will ensure that investments are targeted effectively to align with the challenges faced by places across the country and supported by strong evidence about what works at the local level. This includes considering current European investments in rural economies and lessons from the community-led LEADER programme.</p><p> </p><p>We want to ensure that the UKSPF works for rural businesses, communities and the environment, and the design of the fund will take into account the dynamics of rural economies and the particular challenges faced by rural communities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is responsible for delivering the UKSPF. Defra officials are working closely with MHCLG to develop the ways in which the UKSPF will support the rural economy after we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>We will consult widely on the design of the UKSPF. Over the past year we have held 25 engagement events across the UK with over 500 representatives from a breadth of sectors, in order to aid policy development. The consultation will build upon these early conversations with decisions on how it will operate, its priorities and budget to be determined at the forthcoming spending review.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 06/06/2019 15:20:45 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1129592

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Land: Contamination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 2012 revisions to the Statutory Guidance on dealing with contaminated land.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	259840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The 2012 Statutory Guidance was issued following an extensive review with the contaminated land sector, local authorities, other interested Government departments and agencies. In 2014, Defra funded research to assess the level of understanding and impact of the revised guidance. This assessment is publicly available: <a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12496_SP1011-AssessmentoftheImpactoftherevisedStatutoryGuidance.pdf" target="_blank">http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12496_SP1011-AssessmentoftheImpactoftherevisedStatutoryGuidance.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/06/2019 09:10:28 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1129615

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	EU Rapid Alert Systems for Food and Feed
	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 has taken to ensure the maintenance of access to the EU’s rapid alert system for food and feed after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	259842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>Food safety is one of the Government’s top priorities on leaving the EU. The UK Government is committed to maintaining a strong relationship with the EU Commission on Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The exact arrangements for UK participation in RASFF will be a matter for the next phase of the negotiations and part of wider discussions on the co-operation of UK authorities with EU agencies.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 10/06/2019 16:50:57 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1129687

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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: Subsidies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the number of pilot projects initially envisaged as part of the environmental land management scheme has been reduced.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	259848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>My officials are currently developing plans for the National Pilot of the Environmental Land Management scheme. Among other things, this will involve deciding how many farmers and other land managers will take part. Decisions on specific numbers have not yet been made. The pilot is likely to begin with relatively small numbers of participants to help test the prototype system, identify problems and make improvements. The intention is to increase numbers of participants throughout the three year pilot period to test the system on a larger scale.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 11/06/2019 09:52:43 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew