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1715338

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2024
	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	Dangerous Dogs: Enforcement
	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 Dog Legislation Officers there were on 15 September 2023; how many and what proportion of those Dog Legislation Officers have received training in the identification standard for an XL Bully; and how many new Dog Legislation Officers have been trained since 1 January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	24482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>Defra does not hold data on the number of Dog Legislation Officers. This information is held by individual police forces.</p><p> </p><p>We have supported the police to deliver additional training to Dog Legislation Officers to make sure the ban is effectively enforced.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 07/05/2024 14:03:55 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1715368

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2024
	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	Dangerous Dogs: Veterinary Services
	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 XL Bullies registered with the exemption scheme have not been neutered.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	24561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>For a Certificate of Exemption to remain valid, owners must arrange to have their XL Bully dog neutered and to provide evidence of this to Defra by set deadlines. These deadlines are 30 June 2024 if the dog was 12 months or older on 31 January 2024, 31 December 2024 if the dog was at least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old on 31 January 2024, and 30 June 2025 if the dog was younger than 7 months on 31 January 2024.</p><p> </p><p>As these deadlines have not yet passed, we have not received and processed all forms and so we do not hold data on the number of XL Bullies that have not been neutered. We recommend that owners arrange for their dogs to be neutered as soon as possible to meet these deadlines.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 07/05/2024 14:04:48 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1715370

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2024
	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	Wildlife: 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, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the use of catapults to harm wildlife illegal.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	24563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously, including those involving the use of catapults. There is already sufficient legislation in place which protects wildlife against the use of catapults.</p><p> </p><p>The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. While the Act does not specifically include catapults in the list of weapons that a person must not use to kill an animal, it is still illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species. There are a range of offences around deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife under provisions not just in this Act, but also in the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes against wildlife under these Acts.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 07/05/2024 13:58:51 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1715385

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2024
	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, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on trends in the level of (a) dredging and (b) desilting as a means of flood prevention.
	tabling member constituency	Bassetlaw
	tabling member printed	Brendan Clarke-Smith
	uin	24564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>Ministers and Defra officials regularly meet with the Environment Agency to discuss flood and water management issues, including dredging.</p><p>The Environment Agency assesses each situation individually and dredge when it is the right solution, and it provides long-term value for money. Understanding where it will, and will not, reduce flood risk is key.</p><p>Where there is evidence that dredging will reduce flood risk to local properties or agricultural land without increasing flooding downstream, it meets government criteria, and is cost effective, the Environment Agency will do it.</p><p>Dredging can contribute to reducing flooding in some locations, but in others dredging would be an extremely inefficient and ineffective way to manage flood risk, as the natural processes in many rivers can cause the silt to return and accumulate in the same places very quickly. We also know from historic records and modelling that dredging in some locations can increase erosion and flood risk for communities downstream.</p><p>In extreme flooding events, the relatively small increases in width and depth achievable by dredging the channel do not provide anywhere near enough capacity to contain the excess flood water, since the channel may already be full of water, and therefore does not prevent flooding.</p><p>Any structures encroaching in the river such as bridges, weirs and natural features need to be considered, as these could be damaged or may be pinch points with hard foundations which can make dredging ineffective. Deepening can in some instances also cause destabilising of natural riverbanks leading to soil erosion and damage to riverside flood defences.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 07/05/2024 13:52:10 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4756 label Biography information for Brendan Clarke-Smith

1714841

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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: 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 estimate he has made of his Department's spending on agricultural payment schemes in the financial year 2022-2023.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	24213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>In September 2023, the Farming and Countryside Programme (FCP) published an annual report for financial year 2022 to 2023. This set out that the FCP spent a total of £2.230 billion on our existing, and new farming schemes.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:26:24 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1714849

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 assessment of the potential merits of introducing a legal definition of vegetarianism.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>There are no current plans to introduce a legal definition of the term ‘vegetarianism’, but the use of this and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The term ‘suitable for vegetarians’ is used voluntarily by the food industry. There is no legal requirement to describe a product as either suitable or unsuitable for vegetarians.</p><p> </p><p>The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food. These rules mean that manufacturers, retailers and caterers should be able to demonstrate that where foods are presented as 'vegetarian' reasonable steps have been taken to avoid cross-contamination with non-vegetarian foods during storage, preparation, cooking or display.</p><p>Defra and the FSA will continue to work with businesses and consumers to ensure everyone can make safe and informed choices when purchasing items labelled as ‘vegetarian’.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:38:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714850

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 assessment of the potential merits of introducing guidance for (a) food manufacturers and (b) hospitality venues serving food on the definition of vegetarianism.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>The terms ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Vegan’ do not currently have legal definitions in the UK, but the use of these and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The term ‘suitable for Vegetarians’, is used voluntarily by the food industry. There is no legal requirement to describe a product as either suitable or unsuitable for vegetarians.</p><p> </p><p>There are no current plans to produce guidance specifically for food business operators on the definition of vegetarianism.</p><p> </p><p>However, Defra and the FSA will continue to work with businesses and consumers to ensure everyone can make safe and informed choices when purchasing items labelled as vegan or vegetarian.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:36:56 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714851

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 his Department defines vegetarian food; and whether restaurants using the same gloves to prepare food for (a) vegetarians and (b) non-vegetarians are defined as vegetarian.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>The terms ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Vegan’ do not currently have legal definitions in the UK, but the use of these and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers. <br> <br> In order not to mislead, manufacturers, retailers and caterers should be able to demonstrate that where foods are presented as 'vegetarian' reasonable steps have been taken to avoid cross-contamination with non-vegetarian foods during storage, preparation, cooking or display. Food law provides a robust framework that protects public health and consumer interests and requires food businesses that produce, process, and distribute food to apply food safety controls that ensure food they place on the market is safe and is what it says it is. This includes avoiding cross contamination of foods including ensuring that work areas, surfaces and equipment used for raw and ready-to-eat food are adequately separated.</p><p><br> While it may not be possible to avoid cross-contamination in a busy kitchen, it is incumbent on a food business to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to avoid cross-contamination and where appropriate, to inform customers where there is a risk</p><p><br> Trading standards officers attached to the Local Authority are responsible for checking compliance with the food information requirements.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:29:57 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714852

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: 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, when he expects the bovine tuberculosis vaccine to be deployed.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>Developing a vaccine against TB in cattle is one of the Government’s top priorities. Defra aims to have a deployable cattle TB vaccine (‘CattleBCG’) and a new companion DIVA skin test (to detect infected among vaccinated animals) in the next few years. Field trials of the CattleBCG vaccine and the DIVA skin test started in 2021 and are ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>Final deployment will rely on the success of the ongoing field trials, achieving UK Marketing Authorisations from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) (for both CattleBCG and the companion DIVA skin test), gaining international recognition through the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) and our trading partners for both products, an IT system to record and trace vaccinated cattle, and acceptance of vaccination from stakeholders across the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the development of a bovine TB cattle vaccine can be found on the TB Hub at <a href="https://tbhub.co.uk/resources/frequently-asked-questions/development-of-a-deployable-tuberculosis-vaccine-for-cattle/" target="_blank">https://tbhub.co.uk/resources/frequently-asked-questions/development-of-a-deployable-tuberculosis-vaccine-for-cattle/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:34:40 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714980

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Furs: Sales
	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 planned timescales are for publishing the results of the consultation entitled The Fur Market in Great Britain, which closed on 31 May 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	24222
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 April 2024 to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green, PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-04-16/22091" target="_blank">22091</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 07/05/2024 13:16:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith