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1678081

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Organic 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 estimate he has made of the proportion of farming land that will be organic by the end of 2024.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	6991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government supports the development of organic farming through both Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). These schemes reward farmers for farming practices that help produce food sustainably and protect the environment. Farmers are able to choose from a range of standards which are suitable for their farms. We continue to work with organic farmers to understand how their farming practices might match the standards, including at higher levels of ambition.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 27/12/2023 15:25:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1678139

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Power Failures
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 there have been any power cuts on their Department's property in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	7088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/01/2024 answer text <p>There have been no power cuts on the Department's property in the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>We have generators at our key sites, and these are maintained and tested regularly to mitigate the risk of power cuts. In addition, we have UPS units (uninterruptible power systems) across the estate to protect our IT networks and users from the effect of short-term power outages.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also participates in business continuity exercises such as Exercise Mighty Oak, which was run earlier this year by the Cabinet Office to test the Government’s response to a national power outage.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 03/01/2024 09:37:14 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1678145

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Soil
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 debate that took place in the House of Lords on 8 September 2021 on the Environment Bill, column 867HL and the Answer of 4 January 2023 to Question HL4404 on Soil, for what reason his Department has not published a soil health action plan.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	7005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>The policies the Government had intended to put in a soil health action plan for England were included in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F64a6d9c1c531eb000c64fffa%2Fenvironmental-improvement-plan-2023.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C575950ca7ea7473b779b08dbffb2396d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638384913148817589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=yHCQ2%2BaiGNXIgL%2FElm89K8TcAr%2FD4bbH5Ou5AQxK3Xo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">2023 Environmental Improvement Plan</a> (EIP). The Government is required under the Environment Act 2021 to report on EIP commitments in the Annual Progress Report, which is independently monitored by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The next report is due to be published by July 2024.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/12/2023 16:28:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1678147

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Batteries: Recycling
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 he will make an assessment of the adequacy of battery recycling capacity; and if he will take steps to help increase the recyclability of batteries.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	7006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>Defra officials are currently reviewing the UK Batteries Regulations ahead of a consultation expected next year. The purpose of this review is to ensure as much waste battery material as possible is collected and managed efficiently, whether that be through reuse, repurposing or recycling routes.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 19/12/2023 14:36:27 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1678202

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Sustainable Farming Incentive: South Holland and the Deepings
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 applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 have been (a) made and (b) approved in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.
tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
uin	6966
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2023 answer text <p>The Sustainable Farming Incentive has a rolling application window and as of 15 December the RPA had received 6 applications of which 4 agreements have been offered and 3 accepted for the South Holland and the Deepings constituency.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 21/12/2023 10:33:33 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1678254

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Pet Travel Scheme: Dogs
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 dogs travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme via (a) sea, (b) tunnel and (c) air in each year between 2013 and 2022.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	7143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>The total number of dogs that travelled under the pet travel scheme is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Air</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Sea</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Tunnel</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>17,783</p></td><td><p>118,043</p></td><td><p>177,170</p></td><td><p>312,996</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>19,302</p></td><td><p>114,706</p></td><td><p>174,396</p></td><td><p>308,404</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>16,353</p></td><td><p>38,813</p></td><td><p>131,463</p></td><td><p>186,629</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>17,389</p></td><td><p>39,578</p></td><td><p>108,904</p></td><td><p>165,871</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>17,885</p></td><td><p>95,493</p></td><td><p>169,531</p></td><td><p>282,909</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This is a summary of dogs entering Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme via an approved route. It does not include pet animals that enter other parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands) or pet animals that enter Great Britain from other parts of the UK. It does not include any animals that enter Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme from the Republic of Ireland (as these movements do not need to follow an approved route).</p><p> </p><p>The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals.</p><p> </p><p>Please note that we do not hold any data prior to 2018.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 20/12/2023 17:16:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1678255

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Pet Travel Scheme: Cats
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 cats travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme via (a) sea, (b) tunnel and (c) air in each year between 2013 and 2022.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	7144
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>The total number of cats that travelled under the pet travel scheme is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Air</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Sea</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Tunnel</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>8,530</p></td><td><p>8,449</p></td><td><p>12,591</p></td><td><p>29,570</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>9,776</p></td><td><p>9,764</p></td><td><p>12,767</p></td><td><p>32,307</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>9,354</p></td><td><p>5,235</p></td><td><p>12,545</p></td><td><p>27,134</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>11,445</p></td><td><p>5,928</p></td><td><p>11,768</p></td><td><p>29,141</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>9,819</p></td><td><p>15,500</p></td><td><p>14,238</p></td><td><p>39,557</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This is a summary of cats entering Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme via an approved route. It does not include pet animals that enter other parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands) or pet animals that enter Great Britain from other parts of the UK. It does not include any animals that enter Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme from the Republic of Ireland (as these movements do not need to follow an approved route).</p><p> </p><p>The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals.</p><p> </p><p>We do not hold any data prior to 2018.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 20/12/2023 17:07:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1678260

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Water Supply: Infrastructure
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 implications of the Stannington gas flood in Sheffield Hallam constituency for his policies on the level of investment in maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
uin	7153
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>As set in the Plan for Water, the Government recognises the need for additional investment in water infrastructure. Ofwat set out a £51 billion five-year investment package in its 2019 Price Review, including requirements for water companies to cut leaks by 16% and reduce mains bursts by 12% between 2020 and 2025. We have also set a statutory water demand target, where leakage will need to reduce by 37% by 2038, this is part of the trajectory to achieving a 50% reduction by 2050. Ofwat will hold water companies to account for delivering leakage reduction targets, with financial penalties if they fail to meet them.</p><p> </p><p>In the specific case of the Stannington gas flood, a high-pressure water main rupture led to water ingress into the gas distribution network, impacting around 35 properties. Yorkshire Water responded by replacing the water main away from the gas network and providing a £60 goodwill initial automatic payment to affected customers and compensating for any property and appliance damage.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 22/01/2024 13:48:47 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1678263

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the exemption in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 that allows for the use of pig farrowing crates, in the context of the development of alternative systems.
tabling member constituency	Southend West
tabling member printed	Anna Firth
uin	7156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2023 answer text <p>Legislation sets minimum legal requirements and already allows for development and use of alternative farrowing systems. The UK 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>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’. Over the years the Government has funded research into farrowing systems which led to the website Freefarrowing.org. This site provides a variety of information and resources for pig farmers on the different farrowing options available and includes the latest research conducted on them.</p><p> </p><p>We 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 producers to transition away from confinement systems.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 21/12/2023 10:29:34 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4936 label Biography information for Anna Firth

1678264

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
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	Hornets: Mid Bedfordshire
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 made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the resources available to beekeepers to tackle the impact of Asian Hornets on (a) honey bees and (b) other wild pollinators in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
uin	7157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises that honey bees and wild pollinators are an essential part of our environment and play a crucial role in food production. All pollinators contribute the equivalent of more than £500 million a year to UK agriculture and food production, by improving crop quality and quantity. Pollinators are also beneficial to our wider, natural ecosystems.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising the potential impact that Asian hornet would have on honey bees and wild pollinators, Defra, in collaboration with the Welsh Government, has developed the Asian hornet contingency plan which details the response to Asian hornet. The plan is regularly reviewed and was last updated in January 2023. The operational response is carried out by the National Bee Unit (NBU), part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency.</p><p> </p><p>In 2023 the NBU has located and destroyed 72 nests in 56 locations. The NBU has now fine-tuned its response and enhanced its preparedness, and it can frequently find a nest within a day of an initial sighting being reported.</p><p> </p><p>The Defra funding for the NBU is to deliver the Bee Health Programme and other agreed actions including responding to Asian hornet. This includes ensuring that NBU inspectors’ expertise is maintained through training, and that they have the necessary equipment and support to work effectively.</p><p> </p><p>NBU has the necessary skills and experience and is therefore best placed to deliver the operational response.</p><p> </p><p>We appreciate the vital role that beekeepers take in the response through helping raise awareness of the threat of Asian hornet, educating people in identifying these insects, encouraging them to report any suspected sightings and monitoring traps. Accurate and timely reporting is critical to the response and helps the NBU to continue to respond quickly and effectively to any potential nests.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/12/2023 16:25:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern