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1138993

registered interest
date	15/07/2019
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	Birds: Pest 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, how many licences his Department has issued to kill (a) cormorants and (b) goosanders in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	277096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>The numbers of cormorant and goosander licences issued between 2014 and 2019 (to date) by Natural England on behalf of the Secretary of State are given in the table below. Individual licences are licences issued to an individual or angling club/fishery. An area based licence is one licence issued to a primary contact which covers multiple individuals amongst a group of fisheries within a defined catchment or area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Species</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong> <strong>(to date)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cormorant (Individual)</p></td><td><p>409</p></td><td><p>456</p></td><td><p>450</p></td><td><p>435</p></td><td><p>429</p></td><td><p>106</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Goosander (Individual)</p></td><td><p>31</p></td><td><p>35</p></td><td><p>29</p></td><td><p>29</p></td><td><p>29</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cormorant only (Area Based Licence)</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Goosander only (Area Based Licence)</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cormorant / Goosander (Area Based Licence)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/07/2019 14:33:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1138994

registered interest
date	15/07/2019
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	Fish
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 (a) cormorants and (b) herons on immature fish in English river systems.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	277097
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>The overall impact on immature fish is not assessed at a national level.</p><p> </p><p>However, in granting licences to control protected birds Natural England consider the evidence of damage provided by the applicant (for example the impact on immature fish) as well as the conservation status of the species.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, the Environment Agency have funded advisory posts to support affected fisheries using income from fishing licence sales. The current arrangement is part of the angling services contract awarded to the Angling Trust which pays for three posts that provide specialist management advice to angling clubs and fisheries owners impacted by cormorants and other fish predators<strong><em>.</em></strong></p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 18/07/2019 14:24:28 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1138995

registered interest
date	15/07/2019
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	Salmon
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 estimate he has made of salmon stocks in English rivers.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	277098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>Defra undertakes annual assessments of salmon and sea trout stocks for England and Wales. These assessments are conducted by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.</p><p> </p><p>The annual assessments, including the most recent for 2018, are published on GOV.UK. Which can be accessed via the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-of-salmon-stocks-and-fisheries-in-england-and-wales-in-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-of-salmon-stocks-and-fisheries-in-england-and-wales-in-2018</a></p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 18/07/2019 14:21:14 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1136998

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Nature 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, when he plans to authorise the General Licence for land designated as (a) Special Areas of Conservation and (b) Special Protection Areas.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	273303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>In his appearance at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee hearing on 2nd July 2019, the Secretary of State stated our ambition to have a robust licencing scheme in place by February 2020. The new scheme will include provisions for protected sites.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/07/2019 16:12:36 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1134270

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Horse Racing: 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 assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the establishment of the new Horse Welfare Board on further improving the high standards of welfare in British racing.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	268340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses and the BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The BHA has strong links to the international racing industry and was involved in establishing the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers that the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities and fixtures at British racecourses is good. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met the BHA as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results and intend to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268341 268342 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:06:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1134272

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Horse Racing: 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 assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities at fixtures at British racecourses regulated by the British Horseracing Authority to uphold horse welfare.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	268341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses and the BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The BHA has strong links to the international racing industry and was involved in establishing the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers that the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities and fixtures at British racecourses is good. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met the BHA as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results and intend to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268340 268342 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:06:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1134274

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Horse Racing: 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 assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the British Horseracing Authority's standards of regulation on horse welfare in British racing compared to other international racing jurisdictions.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	268342
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses and the BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The BHA has strong links to the international racing industry and was involved in establishing the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers that the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities and fixtures at British racecourses is good. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met the BHA as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results and intend to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268340 268341 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:06:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1129602

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
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	Birds: Pest 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, when he plans to announce the new rules on General Licences.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	259813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>We intend to make an announcement on the Secretary of State’s decision on general licences shortly.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/06/2019 10:26:19 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1129605

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
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 Industry
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 guidance he has given to sheep farmers in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	259816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the particular concerns of the sheep sector in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal as over 30% of UK sheepmeat production is exported to our near neighbours in the EU. Leaving the EU without a deal at the end of October would reduce returns for all sheep producers with the impact likely to be greater in the upland areas given the later pattern of marketing from these regions.</p><p> </p><p>This is why it is important to reach an agreement on our withdrawal from the EU. However, as any responsible Government would, we are also preparing for the possibility of ‘no deal’ and we are in close contact with representatives of the sheep sector across the UK regarding contingency plans to minimise disruption for the sector.</p><p> </p><p>Specific guidance for the food and drink sector is published on gov.uk. This includes advice for importers and exporters of animal products, food labelling, tariffs, data protection and more. Furthermore, alongside the publication of technical notices, we continue to work closely with farmers, businesses and trade associations across the food and drink sector to keep them informed of EU departure preparations.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 259817 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:46:19 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1129606

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
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	Hill Farming
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 the effect will be on upland sheep farmers of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	259817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the particular concerns of the sheep sector in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal as over 30% of UK sheepmeat production is exported to our near neighbours in the EU. Leaving the EU without a deal at the end of October would reduce returns for all sheep producers with the impact likely to be greater in the upland areas given the later pattern of marketing from these regions.</p><p> </p><p>This is why it is important to reach an agreement on our withdrawal from the EU. However, as any responsible Government would, we are also preparing for the possibility of ‘no deal’ and we are in close contact with representatives of the sheep sector across the UK regarding contingency plans to minimise disruption for the sector.</p><p> </p><p>Specific guidance for the food and drink sector is published on gov.uk. This includes advice for importers and exporters of animal products, food labelling, tariffs, data protection and more. Furthermore, alongside the publication of technical notices, we continue to work closely with farmers, businesses and trade associations across the food and drink sector to keep them informed of EU departure preparations.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 259816 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:46:19 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching