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1038355

registered interest
date	09/01/2019
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	Farmers: Advisory 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, what plans he has to increase access to independent agronomic advice for farmers in advance of proposed changes in agricultural legislation under the Agriculture Bill 2017-19.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	206712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2019 answer text <p>There are already a range of independent organisations that offer agronomic advice to farmers. This includes the Association of Independent Crop Consultants who provide advice to growers covering 3.5 million acres in the UK.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In terms of designing future schemes, we will work closely with farmers, stakeholders and other organisations to consider the role of specialist advice in helping land managers deliver environmental benefits through the new Environmental land management (ELM) scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 14/01/2019 17:13:18 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1038555

registered interest
date	09/01/2019
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	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, when he plans to lift the minimum five hectare qualification for receiving farm subsidy payments.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	206819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to remove the five hectare minimum qualification for receiving Direct Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme in England.</p><p> </p><p>We will pay Direct Payments for the 2019 scheme year on the same basis as for 2018. We also plan to allocate the money paid in Direct Payments for 2020 in much the same way that we do now. We will, however, look to make simplifications to make it easier to apply for and administer Direct Payments to increase value for money. We will do this as soon as we can, and in line with the terms of the implementation period.</p><p> </p><p>The future agriculture policy outlined in the Agriculture Bill does not envisage area based direct payments in the longer term.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 14/01/2019 17:31:40 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1037858

registered interest
date	08/01/2019
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	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, what plans his Department has to expand the badger vaccination programme.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	206347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2019 answer text <p>Landowners and private groups across England can apply to Natural England for a licence to vaccinate badgers against TB. Animal &amp; Plant Health Agency (APHA) provides training for those who wish undertake such vaccination and Defra provides financial support for projects within the Edge Area under the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS).</p><p>BEVS, relaunched in 2018 following a global vaccine shortage, provides matched funding and training for groups that want to take part. Three groups were successful with their applications in 2018. On 13 September 2018 we re-opened the scheme and asked for expressions of interest from those wishing to apply to vaccinate from 2019. The application process closes on 25 January 2019.</p><p>A long-standing research programme at APHA to identify an oral vaccine and a palatable bait in which to deliver it is also ongoing. An efficacy study is currently in progress, with results due later this year.</p><p>We are currently considering the report of the TB Strategy review, conducted by a team led by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, the scope of which includes badger vaccination. A Government response to the review will be published later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/01/2019 13:42:08 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1037250

registered interest
date	07/01/2019
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	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, what steps his Department is taking to examine whether the use of the BCG vaccine on badgers has reduced the incidence of cattle-borne bovine TB.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	205812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>Defra has funded research to model the impact of vaccination of badgers with BCG on the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency has published an analysis of the effect of badger vaccination on the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle in the Badger Vaccine Deployment Project area.</p><p> </p><p>Professor Sir Charles Godfray’s TB Strategy Review report, published in 2018, considered the role of badger vaccination and the Government is currently considering its response.</p><p> </p><p>For further information, please use the following links:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039250%20" target="_blank">https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039250</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-analysis-of-the-effect-of-badger-vaccination-on-incidence-of-tb-in-cattle" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-analysis-of-the-effect-of-badger-vaccination-on-incidence-of-tb-in-cattle</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-strategy-for-achieving-bovine-tuberculosis-free-status-for-england-2018-review" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-strategy-for-achieving-bovine-tuberculosis-free-status-for-england-2018-review</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 11/01/2019 13:14:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1029314

registered interest
date	20/12/2018
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	Rural Areas: EU Grants and Loans
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 the letter of 18 November from the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for High Peak on small abattoirs, if he will provide (a) a list the 79 LEADER groups in England and (b) the closing date of applications for each LEADER group in each area.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	204630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>Full details of the 79 LEADER groups are available through the Rural Development Programme for England LEADER homepage on gov.uk.</p><p> </p><p>At a national level, the LEADER programme is on track to commit the majority of its funds by March 2019 with more than half of these groups now closed to new applications.</p><p> </p><p>Individual LEADER groups close their programmes when they have sufficient demand to spend their full allocation. As a result, the decision to close is made by the LEADER groups and is shown on their individual websites.</p><p> </p><p>A list of LEADER programmes currently open is provided in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Beds and Hunts Claylands</p></td><td><p>Chilterns</p></td><td><p>Clay Vales</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Coast, Wolds, Wetlands and Waterways</p></td><td><p>Durham and Coast Lowlands</p></td><td><p>East Kent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eastern Plateau</p></td><td><p>Fieldfare</p></td><td><p>Greensand Ridge</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Heart of Wessex</p></td><td><p>Loddon and Test</p></td><td><p>Mersey Rural</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>New Forest</p></td><td><p>North Nottinghamshire</p></td><td><p>North Pennine Dales</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North Warwickshire Hinckley and Bosworth</p></td><td><p>North Wessex Downs</p></td><td><p>North York Moors, Coast and Hills</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northern Lincolnshire</p></td><td><p>Northumberland Coast and Lowlands</p></td><td><p>Northumberland Uplands</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Plain Action</p></td><td><p>Rural Surrey</p></td><td><p>South East Cornwall</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Nottinghamshire</p></td><td><p>South Pennines</p></td><td><p>Vale Action</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wealden and Rother Rural Partnership</p></td><td><p>West Cheshire and Warrington</p></td><td><p>West Kent</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/01/2019 12:27:50 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1029343

registered interest
date	20/12/2018
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff
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 staff were employed in his Department on (a) 20 December 2018 and (b) 23 June 2016.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	204541
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The total number of staff employed by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 May 2016, 30 June 2016 and 30 November 2018 are shown below;</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month/Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31 May 2016</p></td><td><p>1,693</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30 June 2016</p></td><td><p>1,693</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30 November 2018</p></td><td><p>4,168</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Staff in Post Data is only run as at the end of each month in order to provide information for published statutory returns. The data provided is in line with the figures published at <a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-defra" target="_blank">Data.gov.uk - https://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-defra</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Along with other public sector employers, the department provides data to the Office of National statistics for the “Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey”. The most recent publication was 11 December showing data as at the end of September 2018 and can be found here - <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/publicsectoremployment/september2018" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/publicsectoremployment/september2018</a> .</p><p> </p><p>ONS data for earlier reference dates can be found here – <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/publicsectoremployment/previousReleases" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/publicsectoremployment/previousReleases</a></p><p> </p><p>The Staff in Post data has to go through a lengthy resource intensive verification process to eliminate a high proportion of errors. To provide data as at 20 December would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 11/01/2019 13:00:36 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1029407

registered interest
date	20/12/2018
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Project Bank Accounts
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 infrastructure contracts overseen by his Department have been let with the stipulation that a Project Bank Account must be applied in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Bury North
tabling member printed	James Frith
uin	204614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The government’s infrastructure contracts make provision for the use of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs), and departments have committed to use PBAs on all infrastructure projects unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. Due to the range of infrastructure projects undertaken by government, the approaches taken will vary.</p><p> </p><p>Ten infrastructure contracts overseen by the Environment Agency in the last year have been let with the stipulation that a PBA must be used.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 11/01/2019 12:53:48 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4637 label Biography information for James Frith

1028513

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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	Fisheries
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 information his Department holds on confidentiality agreements signed by the owners of vessels used by CEFAS in studying the effect of electric fishing in UK waters.
tabling member constituency	Newbury
tabling member printed	Richard Benyon
uin	203853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2019 answer text <p>Cefas confirm they do not have confidentiality agreements with the owners of the vessels concerned, nor do they feature in the standard tendering arrangements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 08/01/2019 12:04:24 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon

1028541

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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	Food: Manufacturing Industries
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 effect of policies in the Government's Immigration White Paper on the level of staffing in the food and drink manufacturing sector.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	203797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>The White Paper is the beginning of a consultation with employers about possible future options. Defra is considering the latest data, and working closely with industry to understand labour demand and supply, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements. Existing employees will be able to stay and there will be a period where lower skilled workers will be able to continue to travel to the UK to work once the new immigration framework is implemented.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/01/2019 13:43:19 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1027567

registered interest
date	18/12/2018
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Migrant Workers
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 his Department paying the £65 application fee for settled or pre-settled status for EU nationals (a) employed by and (b) working as an outsourced worker in his Department; what estimate he has made of the total cost to his Department of paying those fees; and what assessment he has made of the risks that the EU Settlement Scheme poses to the retention of EU nationals (i) employed by or (ii) working as an outsourced worker in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	203341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/12/2018 answer text <p>In line with other UK Government Departments, Defra currently does not plan to pay the Settled Status Fee for its non-UK EU citizen employees. The fee is set at an affordable rate (£65), less than the cost of a UK passport.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to estimate the cost of paying the settled status fee for non-UK EU nationals employed directly by the Department as nationality was not collected until October 2012 as part of pre-employment checks. The Department does not therefore hold this information for a proportion of permanent staff employed by the Department.</p><p> </p><p>Outsourced workers are not employees of the Department and therefore this would be a decision for their employers.</p><p> </p><p>We value the significant contribution made by EU citizens working in the Civil Service and we want these colleagues to continue to play a full role in the work of the Civil Service. We are committed to supporting our EU citizen employees across the Civil Service, and the important engagement with EU national networks across Government will continue over the coming months.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 24/12/2018 12:21:07 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas