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1144875

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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	Bridleways and Public Footpaths: Motor Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are taking any action to prevent damage to footpaths and bridleways by off road vehicles and trail bikes; and if so, what this action entails.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL17709
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Some public rights of way allow for the legal use of motor vehicles. Footpaths and bridleways however do not. Any person riding an off-road motorised vehicle such as a trail bike on a public footpath or bridleway is committing a criminal offence and such issues are for the police to deal with.</p><p>Byways open to all traffic do carry vehicular rights and are managed by local highway authorities. Local authorities have the power to make traffic regulation orders to close routes to motorised vehicles if any problems occur, provided they fully consider and respond to any representations they receive about a proposed order.</p><p>In response to last year’s report from the House of Lords Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Defra is currently working with Natural England and stakeholders to assess current use of traffic regulation orders and refresh the guidance for local authorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 09/09/2019 11:09:14 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

1144241

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Trees: Urban Areas
	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 the Government will make an assessment of the effect of urban trees on levels of human physical health and well being; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	286093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Social and Economic Research Group of Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission, focuses on understanding the complex relationships between forestry, the environment and society. The importance of peri urban woods and urban woods for people’s wellbeing, both physical, mental and social is well known. The group is currently participating in a number of activities which will help increase our understanding of the health and wellbeing benefits of trees and greenspace.</p><p> </p><p>The Forestry Commission also supports the Urban Forest and Woodland Advisory Committee Network, which advises the Forestry Commission on forestry. The network has produced various publications on the benefits of a resilient urban forest, including for human health and quality of life.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 09/09/2019 11:25:30 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1144242

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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 assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding and other Government support for the tree nursery industry to ensure that it is able to plan and invest in the infrastructure required to increase the numbers of trees that the Government estimates will be required to be planted to help meet its climate change and biodiversity targets.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	286094
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>We do not provide direct support to tree nurseries. Our sustained support for new woodland creation helps ensure that there is ongoing demand for forest trees. The Forestry Commission has regular contact with representative bodies, sharing information on the expected level of tree planting and demand for trees to aid the planning of tree production.</p><p> </p><p>We are looking at how we can support the nursery industry in improving biosecurity and improve tree seed viability.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 09/09/2019 11:32:27 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1144243

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Trees
	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 the Government has to (a) collate statistics on the number of trees in the UK and (b) ensure that existing trees are adequately maintained.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	286095
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The National Forest Inventory Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission, gathers data on the number of trees within woodland in Britain. In addition it monitors the canopy area of trees outside of woodland within. More details of the work carried out and information it publishes can be found here: <a href="https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/about-the-nfi/" target="_blank">https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/about-the-nfi/</a></p><p> </p><p>All woodland is protected against unauthorised removal through the control of tree felling in the Forestry Act 1967, the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations and the planning system. Activities authorised and supported by the Forestry Commission, including woodland management which has grant support available through Countryside Stewardship and Felling Licences applications, are expected to meet the UK Forestry Standard, the Government’s approach to sustainable forestry.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 09/09/2019 11:27:41 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1144244

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Trees
	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 she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require each local authority to employ suitably qualified public-realm tree officers to ensure that (a) statistics are collated on the number of trees and (b) existing trees are adequately maintained in each local authority area.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	286096
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>A public consultation on policies to improve the management of our trees and woodlands by Local Authorities was opened in December 2018. The consultation ended in February 2019. This document set out Government’s view on the importance of trees, especially in an urban environment, and the need for more policies to enhance the status and protection of urban trees.</p><p>The Government committed in the 25 Year Environment Plan to introduce a duty on Local Authorities to consult the public on felling street trees. This will increase the transparency of decision-making and give the public a say in the management of these important natural assets. It will encourage local authorities to consider concerns raised and have regard to these when making decisions. This duty will be introduced in the forthcoming Environment Bill.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith grouped question UIN 285154 question first answered 09/09/2019 11:15:05 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1144267

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit
	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 meetings her Department has had with Durham County Council on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	286150
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>We have communicated on a range of topics with local authorities, including in a conference call on 13 August along with other Government departments. Each local Authority has established a Brexit lead officer to liaise with Government.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has identified areas where our exit preparations impact local authorities. For instance Environmental Health Officers are responsible for issuing Export Health Certificates on fish and we have discussed capacity and the requirements with them.</p><p> </p><p>We regularly contribute to a cross-government working group which coordinates engagement with local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Information on leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement relevant to a particular local authority can then be accessed by the local authority via shared channels, such as:</p><ul><li>MHCLG’s Local government Brexit preparedness page on GOV.UK;</li><li>MHCLG’s weekly e-bulletin to local authorities setting out all relevant updates for the week;</li><li>Presenting information at MHCLG’s monthly delivery board to local authority representatives;</li><li>The Food Standards Agency’s Smarter Comms platform accessed directly by regulatory officers in local authorities;</li><li>Cascading information via MHCLG’s network of nine regional local authority Chief Executives;</li><li>Using MHCLG’s newly established network of Brexit lead officers in each local authority;</li><li>Direct email messages to regulatory leads in relevant local authorities;</li><li>Engaging with and passing information through regulatory bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute or the Association of Port Health Authorities.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Information on a range of Defra’s exit projects if we leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement has been made available to local authorities through these channels. This includes information on:</p><ul><li>Exporting fish and shellfish (Export Health Certificates);</li><li>Importing fish and fisheries products (Catch Certificates);</li><li>Import control systems for animals, products of animal origin and high risk food and feed;</li><li>Food labelling changes;</li><li>The protection of habitats and species;</li><li>Waste;</li><li>Guidance for businesses exporting goods to the EU.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Local authorities have been invited to attend various meetings, including workshops, training events and roadshows on topics including:</p><ul><li>Changes to environmental regulations;</li><li>Changes to food and farming;</li><li>Changes to exports of animals and animal products;</li><li>Changes to imports of animals and animal products;</li><li>MHCLG’s regional roadshows on how local authorities will be affected by exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement in Wakefield, Birmingham, London and Cambridge;</li><li>Training on catch certificates in Wales, Inverness, Bristol and Newcastle;</li><li>Changes to trading standards regulatory functions in Exeter;</li><li>A series of teleconferences on changes to export health certificates;</li><li>A webinar on changes affecting border or coastal local authorities;</li><li>A workshop on regulatory services hosted by MHCLG with input from other departments including Defra.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 284989 285146 285321 question first answered 09/09/2019 15:36:50 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

1144440

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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: Wales
	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 contingency funding has been made available to the Welsh Government for the agricultural sector in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	286134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Defra is working closely with colleagues across the devolved administrations to understand the potential impacts of a no-deal exit on the agricultural sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Treasury has now made available £6.3 billion to prepare for Brexit, including £4.2 billion funding this financial year alone.</p><p> </p><p>In the event of no deal, the Government would of course take economic measures to mitigate any short-run disruption, support the economy through the transition, and to boost the long-term potential of the UK economy.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 09/09/2019 09:15:56 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1144479

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Forests: Woking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which areas of forestry and woodland in Woking constituency are classed by her Department as ancient woodland.
	tabling member constituency	Woking
	tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Lord
	uin	286220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Ancient Woodland Inventory can be found on Defra’s website at <a href="https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx" target="_blank">Magic Map Application</a>. It shows all the woodland and forestry areas in England classed as ancient woodland. This service is managed by Natural England.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 09/09/2019 11:06:53 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

1142689

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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: North Herefordshire
	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 steps her Department has taken to support the food and drinks sector in North Herefordshire.
	tabling member constituency	North Herefordshire
	tabling member printed	Bill Wiggin
	uin	284177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 09/09/2019 16:02:32 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1428 label Biography information for Sir Bill Wiggin

1142691

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Livestock: 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, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban cages for all farm animals in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	284180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The issue of cages for farmed animals is one in which the government is taking a close interest. We have already banned cages or close confinement systems where there is clear scientific evidence that they are detrimental to animal health and welfare. We banned the keeping of calves in veal crates in 1990, sixteen years before the rest of the EU. We banned the keeping of sows in close confinement stalls in the UK in 1999, and conventional battery cages for laying hens in 2012. I am pleased that the UK has by far the largest free range laying hen sector of any EU country, with over 50% of our hens kept in free range systems.</p><p> </p><p>The government is actively looking into the use of cages and we will be considering the full range of options that are available for future reform.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 05/09/2019 13:22:30 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly