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1140863

registered interest
date	22/07/2019
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: Disease 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 assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the badger culling programme.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	280129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>During 2018, badger culling operations in 32 areas of England were all successful in meeting their targets. According to Natural England’s chief scientist, the results show that industry-led badger culling continues to deliver the level of effectiveness required by the policy to be confident of achieving disease control benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Assessments of the effectiveness of badger culling are published annually on gov.uk at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bovine-tb-controlling-the-risk-of-bovine-tb-from-badgers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bovine-tb-controlling-the-risk-of-bovine-tb-from-badgers</a></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 31/07/2019 10:21:43 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1140932

registered interest
date	22/07/2019
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, how many pilot environmental land management schemes have been agreed, where those pilots will take place; and what the start date is for each such pilot.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	280135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>Tests and trials allow us to co-design and test the operability of elements of the new system and to understand if and how new elements of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme work in a real life environment. Tests and trials are not analysing methods of delivery of environmental outcomes rather how the scheme or innovative mechanism will operate.</p><p> </p><p>We received 113 proposals from stakeholders to conduct tests and trials of the new ELM scheme in phase one. We identified 49 of these which most closely matched the identified priorities and would help us test critical elements or building blocks of the new scheme. Of these 49, two have subsequently merged with other phase 1 proposals and one has withdrawn from the process, leaving 46.</p><p> </p><p>The national pilot is due to start in 2021. It will test different types of possible approaches to deliver the new ELM scheme, and the underlying scheme mechanics (such as the payments system) before the ELM scheme launches in 2024.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 05/08/2019 08:31:24 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1141131

registered interest
date	22/07/2019
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	Bees: Pesticides
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 EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed decision on 17 July 2019 to suspend the 2013 European Food Safety Authority guidance on bee safety tests for new pesticides, how the UK voted in that Standing Committee meeting; and what plans he has to prevent the approval of pesticides that can (a) destroy wild bee populations and (b) cause long-term harm to honeybees.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	280362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the need to protect bee populations from the effects of pesticides. This requires an effective scientific means of assessing the risks and enabling sound decisions. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) drew up new guidance on the risk assessment in 2013, however this has not been adopted by the European Commission because a number of Member States had a variety of concerns about whether it was workable. The UK was among those proposing that the EFSA draft should be the starting point but that further work would be needed to develop it.</p><p> </p><p>The Commission has now decided to ask EFS to review the draft and, in the meantime to begin to introduce aspects of the draft that are considered to be more immediately implementable. The Standing Committee vote on 17 July was to make minor changes to the rules on assessing the risks of pesticides so as to reflect the partial implementation of the 2013 draft guidance.</p><p> </p><p>We remain committed to the continuing development of a comprehensive and workable approach to important this issue as we build the national pesticides regime after the UK leaves the EU. We will work with stakeholders to develop an up to date approach that ensures that potential risks to bees can be properly assessed.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/08/2019 10:29:13 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1140574

registered interest
date	19/07/2019
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: Credit Unions
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 9 July 2019 to Question 271328, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	279364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>Defra does not currently have the facility for employees to join a credit union through payroll deductions. Staff can make arrangements to contribute to a credit union via direct debit.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is currently investigating options for enhancing Employee Financial Wellbeing as part of a cross Civil Service pilot. Once the pilot is complete, my department will be considering options for our staff, including the possibility of credit unions.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 31/07/2019 15:14:42 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1140181

registered interest
date	18/07/2019
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	Poultry: Antibiotics
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 reduce the use of antibiotics in chicken farming.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	278963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>The British Poultry Council, representing 90% of UK chicken meat, reported a reduction in use from 49 mg/kg in 2014 to 10 mg/kg in 2017 (latest data). Their current published ambition is to keep use below 25 mg/kg.</p><p> </p><p>The UK national cross-government 5 Year action plan on antibiotic resistance includes our commitment to work with vets and farmers to keep sector targets under review and define new antibiotic use objectives by 2021.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 31/07/2019 14:59:39 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1140244

registered interest
date	18/07/2019
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 progress the Government has made in planning for farm payments in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Chuka Umunna
uin	279013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has pledged to continue to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this Parliament, expected in 2022; this includes all funding provided for farm support under both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 of the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This commitment applies to the whole of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has further guaranteed that the current level of agricultural funding under CAP Pillar 1 will be upheld until 2020, as part of the transition to new domestic arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>To deliver this, Defra has made a number of statutory instruments under the powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. These statutory instruments provide certainty and stability to individuals and businesses by maintaining the current approach, ensuring the relevant EU-derived domestic legislation is operable following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and allowing the current CAP arrangements to continue to operate and payments to beneficiaries to be made.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 31/07/2019 15:19:47 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

1140246

registered interest
date	18/07/2019
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	Rural Development Programme
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 Guidance on how to prepare for Brexit if there's no deal, published by the Department for Exiting the European Union, what parts of the plan for receiving rural development funding in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal have been implemented.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Chuka Umunna
uin	279014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK Government has guaranteed that any rural development projects where funding has been agreed before the end of 2020 will be funded for their full lifetime.</p><p> </p><p>This means in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal there will be no substantive change for farmers, land manages and rural businesses who have agreements funded by the UK Rural Development Programmes (RDP) due to finish after 31 October 2019, and existing application and contracting arrangements remain in place for those planning to seek funding after this date but before the end of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to update information about the RDP for England and the schemes open for applications on the rural grants and payment pages of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/rural-development-programme-for-england-network" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 31/07/2019 10:40:03 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

1140419

registered interest
date	18/07/2019
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: Ethnic Groups
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 BAME staff are employed at (a) grade 7, (b) grade 5 and (c) grade 3 in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	279048
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>As at 30 June, the number of BAME staff employed in the department for the grades requested is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>BAME Staff</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>SCS 2 (Grade 3)</strong></p></td><td><p>Less than 5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>SCS 1 (Grade 5)</strong></p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Grade 7</strong></p></td><td><p>72</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>As ethnic minority staff remain underrepresented at senior levels, the Civil Service set ambitious targets in June 2018 to increase the flow of ethnic minority civil servants into the SCS. Defra is committed to this activity.</p><p> </p><p>Summary representation rates of ethnic minority SCS by department are published on the Civil Service diversity dashboard as at December 2018. At that time, Defra had 7.1% BAME SCS representation.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/08/2019 10:36:51 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1139680

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
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, with reference to the report entitled, Business Management Practices on Farms, England 2016/17, published by his Department in February 2018, what steps he is taking to increase the number of farm businesses that undertake (a) business and (b) land management planning; and what assessment he has made of the effect of new Environmental Land Management system as outlined in the statement of 12 September 2018 on the ability of farmers to produce land management plans.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	278335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>The new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will give farmers and land managers incentives to deliver a wide variety of environmental benefits. We are exploring the role of land management plans in the ELM scheme, including through undertaking a number of tests and trials on the use of land management plans.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/08/2019 10:25:50 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1139681

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
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 measures will be included in a future environmental land management scheme as outlined in the policy statement of 12 September 2018 on health and harmony: the future for food farming and the environment in a green Brexit, to ensure all farm businesses can create land management plans and participate in the new payment schemes.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	278336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2019 answer text <p>The new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will give farmers and land managers incentives to deliver a wide variety of environmental benefits through paying public money for delivering environmental public goods. In developing ELM, we are exploring how to maximise participation to increase the environmental benefits that are delivered. To support this, we are undertaking a number of tests and trials which include the role of land management plans and expert advice for farmers and land managers.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/08/2019 10:07:43 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew