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1690785

registered interest
date	21/02/2024
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Health and Safety
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 comply with principle (d) of schedule 1 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	15107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>Defra designs work and workplaces to adapt to the needs of the individual so far as is reasonably practicable.</p><p> </p><p>Defra’s Health and Safety Policy, and Management System, focuses on the principles of prevention of all work-related harm. Work tasks and activities of the individual are risk assessed by the business using a framework of policies and good practice guidance (based on legislation and Health and Safety Executive legal guidance) to develop safe systems of work. Line managers are responsible for ensuring that work roles and tasks are suited to the individual and that employees are competent to carry out tasks and roles safely and without risk to physical or psychological health.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of Defra workplaces provide a range of flexible workspaces, furniture and equipment to suit the work activity of the team or individual. Bespoke or specialist items are provided if an employee requires personal adaptations for health and safety purposes or workplace adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 12/03/2024 13:39:56 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1688564

registered interest
date	08/02/2024
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Health and Safety
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 all (a) buildings and (b) workplaces staff from their Department occupy have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	13748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Yes, all buildings and workplaces which staff from Defra occupy have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:17:47 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1686349

registered interest
date	31/01/2024
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	Aquaculture: Shellfish
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 30 January 2024 to Question 11649 on Aquaculture: Shellfish, what steps his Department is taking to challenge the EU's restrictions on undepurated Class B live bivalve molluscs; and (b) through what mechanism those challenges are made.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Anthony Mangnall
uin	12412
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2024 answer text <p>We have challenged the EU's restrictions on undepurated Class B live bivalve molluscs through the mechanisms provided by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These include the TCA SPS Committee, TCA Partnership Council and Trade Partnership Committee. Minutes of these Committees can be found at <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Ftrade-and-cooperation-agreement-governance&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C479fb696679a4dcc5a7b08dc2348f215%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638424043442546086%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1IsanlcwlnGEOKUNvCBDdOEGWGdwZPwYtUYk7pMxNkY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Trade and Cooperation Agreement Governance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 06/02/2024 13:57:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4762 label Biography information for Anthony Mangnall

1685259

registered interest
date	26/01/2024
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	Aquaculture: Shellfish
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 support the shellfish aquaculture industry.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Anthony Mangnall
uin	11649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>Since 2021, the Government has awarded £22.3 million to support the shellfish aquaculture industry in areas such as improving sustainability, preventing shellfish disease, and better skills and training.</p><p>The Government's Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan prioritises action to improve the water quality of 63 of the largest shellfish waters in England by 2030.</p><p>The Government continues to challenge the EU's restrictions on undepurated Class B live bivalve molluscs which we believe are unjustified and disproportionate to the risk under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 30/01/2024 13:09:25 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4762 label Biography information for Anthony Mangnall

1676543

registered interest
date	08/12/2023
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	Pigs: 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 recent assessment he has made of the impact of farrowing cages on the welfare of pigs.
tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
uin	6046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2023 answer text <p>Defra’s 2018 statutory welfare code of practice for pigs confirms that “the aim is for farrowing crates to no longer be necessary and for any new system to protect the welfare of the sow, as well as her piglets”. The UK already has a significant outdoor pig sector with 40% of the national sow breeding herd farrowing freely on outdoor units with no option for confinement.</p><p> </p><p>We are firmly committed to maintaining our strong track record on animal welfare and continue to work with the farming industry to maintain and enhance our high standards. The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, part of our new domestic agricultural policy, supports farmers to produce healthier, higher welfare animals. The Government’s welfare priorities for the Pathway include supporting pig producers to transition away from confinement systems.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 18/12/2023 13:26:09 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1675164

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
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	White Fish: 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, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of an (a) partial and (b) full exemption for (i) charter boats and (ii) recreational anglers of a future ban on pollock fishing following the recommendation of such a ban by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.
tabling member constituency	Broxbourne
tabling member printed	Sir Charles Walker
uin	4991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2023 answer text <p>On 30<sup>th</sup> June 2023 the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) issued zero-catch advice for pollack 6 and 7 for the first time. In the annual UK-EU negotiations on fishing opportunities, our approach to negotiating catch limits is based on the best available scientific advice, balanced with commitments to economic sustainability and providing opportunities for the UK fleet, consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Act and Joint Fisheries Statement.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of the significant potential implications of a zero-catch fishery for pollack. In line with our approach to other zero-advice stocks, we negotiated an allocation of pollack to address unavoidable bycatch by the UK fleet, to avoid choking related fisheries.</p><p> </p><p>While the evidence base is limited, the ICES advice for pollack in area 6 and 7 notes that recreational catch is likely to be a large component of the total catch. Further work is needed to explore the potential to reduce pressure on the stock through management of the recreational fishery, underpinned by data and the best available scientific evidence. This is in line with our commitments under the Joint Fisheries Statement, including ensuring that recreational sea fishing is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.</p><p> </p><p>As this is a jointly managed stock with the EU, we have committed to take forward work on this important issue in the Specialised Committee on Fisheries as a matter of urgency in 2024. We will work closely with the recreational sector throughout this process.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/12/2023 11:42:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker

1669401

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
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	Cannabidiol
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 he has had recent discussions with (a) the Food Standards Agency and (b) its advisory committees on its guidance on the acceptable daily intake of cannabidiol (CBD) for consumers, published on 12 October 2023.
tabling member constituency	Reigate
tabling member printed	Crispin Blunt
uin	1416
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2023 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Government’s arm’s-length bodies, including the Food Standards Agency, on a range of issues.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 17/11/2023 16:24:39 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	104 label Biography information for Crispin Blunt

1648626

registered interest
date	28/06/2023
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: Unmanned Air Vehicles
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 potential merits of using drones instead of mechanical spraying equipment on steep hillsides.
tabling member constituency	North Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Bill Wiggin
uin	191518
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2023 answer text <p>The control of bracken may be needed on terrain such as steep hillsides which cannot safely be accessed by vehicles for spraying or for mechanical control (such as crushing). For this reason, the emergency authorisation recently granted for spraying bracken with Asulox in England allows for aerial application from helicopters. This is subject to requirements to limit risks to the environment, particularly measures to reduce spray drift, and the need to obtain an aerial spraying permit.</p><p> </p><p>Aerial spraying is subject to requirements under pesticides legislation, in particular the assessment of the safety of the pesticide for use in this way and a system of permits for each spray operation. Drone application of pesticides is considered to come within the legal definition of aerial spraying. It is recognised that drones potentially enable more targeted application of pesticides than other means of aerial spraying. The Health and Safety Executive is leading work with drone operators and other relevant industries to develop a shared understanding of the issues to ensure drone spraying can be done safely.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 191520 question first answered 03/07/2023 09:50:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1428 label Biography information for Sir Bill Wiggin

1639223

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
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	Pesticides: 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 she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to support farmers importing plant protection products that require parallel trade permits.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	186077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>The parallel trade arrangements set out in EU legislation were based on information sharing between the Member States. Parallel trade permits that were in place when the UK left the EU have been continued for a time. Defra is aware that sales of these parallel products end on 30 June 2023, and the final date for use is 30 June 2024. Secretary of State is committed to supporting farmers with appropriate use of plant protection products, within the context of securing a thriving, environmentally sustainable farming sector, engaging with Cabinet colleagues as appropriate. DEFRA is aware of farmer concerns about parallel trade permits and, together with the Health and Safety Executive, we are monitoring the situation.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 24/05/2023 16:41:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

1629026

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
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	Pesticides: Licensing
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 she has made of the potential impact of the Government's decision to withdraw parallel trade permits for plant protection products on the agriculture industry.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	185894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>The parallel trade arrangements set out in EU legislation were based on information sharing between the Member States. Parallel trade permits that were in place when the UK left the EU have been continued for a time. Defra is aware that sales of these parallel products end on 30 June 2023, and the final date for use is 30 June 2024 and, with the Health and Safety Executive, we are monitoring the situation.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/05/2023 14:55:07 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous