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1518800

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Marine Environment: North East
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 of the Joint agency investigation into Teesside and Yorkshire Coast Crab and Lobster mortalities published on 31 May 2022, if he will publish all ministerial correspondence in connection with that investigation and report with (a) the Environment Agency, (b) the Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science and (c) the Marine Management Organisation.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	58894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>All raw data informing the conclusions of the joint agency investigation is currently undergoing accessibility formatting and will be published shortly. Defra does not routinely publish all Minister’s correspondence and has no plans to do so in this case.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 09:58:44 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1518803

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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: Skilled 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, whether his Department is taking steps to help address skills shortages in the red meat industry.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Patricia Gibson
uin	58952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government supports a competitive red meat sector and we are working closely with industry to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the sector's workforce.</p><p>The Skilled Worker route is open to all those eligible who wish to come to the UK to work in a skilled job they have been offered, including butchers in the red meat industry. This is coupled with an emphasis on employers investing in, and training, the domestic workforce. Defra is working with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to raise awareness of career opportunities within the food and farming sectors among the United Kingdom workforce. HM Government and industry have also established a new professional body for the farming industry: The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). TIAH will enable the industry to drive greater uptake of skills, creating clear career development pathways, and promoting the sector as a progressive, professional, and attractive career choice.</p><p>As announced in the Government Food Strategy in June, HM Government has now commissioned an independent review which will consider how automation, domestic labour and migrant labour can contribute to tackling labour shortages in the food supply chain. The review will focus on farming, processing, and food and drink manufacturing as sectors which are critical for food production and food security.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 09:23:17 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4435 label Biography information for Patricia Gibson

1518822

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Agricultural Products: Exports
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 estimate of the change in agri-food exports from Northern Ireland to Japan between 2019 and 2021.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	58939
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>According to the latest HM Revenue and Customs’ regional overseas trade data, agri-food exports from Northern Ireland to Japan were estimated to be worth £6.47 million in 2019 and £11.06 million in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 09:23:11 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1518823

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	River Tees: Pyridine
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 (a) the levels of pyridine in marine species fished in the River Tees estuary, and (b) the possible health risks of those species for human consumption.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	58943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>The European Chemicals Agency states that pyridine is not considered persistent, toxic, and likely to bioaccumulate. It is also not considered a contaminant of concern for marine sediment under OSPAR (the convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic), due to its high solubility in water. On this basis, pyridine is not routinely tested for in the same way as other, recognised contaminants of concern. A substance likely to be pyridine was detected in crab tissue as part of the 2021 mortality incident investigation. However, the method used is not validated for tissue detection and so the numerical results are not conclusive. Research is ongoing to validate a method of tissue detection which will then confirm the concentrations of pyridine observed.</p><p> </p><p>There is very limited potential for pyridine to be present within species for human consumption due to its low likelihood to bioaccumulate.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 09:32:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1518843

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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: Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in the context of rising prices for feed, fertiliser and fuel, if he will take steps to provide extra support with energy costs to farmers and crofters.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Patricia Gibson
uin	58954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>While no national Government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of energy, we will continue to support British farmers and crofters.</p><p> </p><p>The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide a price reduction to ensure that all businesses, including chemical companies, and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. Non-domestic customers do not need to take action or apply to the scheme – support will automatically be applied to bills.</p><p> </p><p>HM Government is also supporting businesses to improve their energy efficiency by at least 20% by 2030. This could deliver up to £6 billion in cost savings by 2030.</p><p> </p><p>We have extended the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme by three years and more than doubled its budget.</p><p> </p><p>We have also provided these sectors with broader support, bringing forward half of this year’s BPS payment as an advance injection of cash to farm businesses. Payments will be paid in two instalments each year for the remainder of the agricultural transition period.</p><p> </p><p>We have issued statutory guidance providing clarity to farmers on how they can use slurry and other manures during autumn and winter. We have delayed changes to the use of urea fertiliser until spring 2023 and introduced new slurry storage grants to help farmers comply with the Farming Rules for Water, reducing dependence on artificial fertilisers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 09:32:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4435 label Biography information for Patricia Gibson

1518849

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Marine Protected Areas: 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 recent assessment he has made of the impact of bottom trawling on ecosystems in designated Marine Protection Areas.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	58924
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a devolved competency and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Marine Management Organisation and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities assess on a site-by-site basis which fishing activities could prevent MPAs from achieving their conservation objectives. Byelaws are developed using an evidence-led process to determine what management is required to protect sites and to not unduly restrict legitimate fishing activity.</p><p> </p><p>Nearly 60% of our 178 English MPAs are already protected from damaging fishing activity, including byelaws this year in the first four offshore sites, which ban bottom towed gear over sensitive habitats. We are aiming to have all MPAs in English waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 18/10/2022 14:11:21 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1518850

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Environment Agency: 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, what the yearly change was in numbers of staff working in the Environment Agency from (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-2017, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-2019, (e) 2019-2020, (f) 2020-21 and (g) 2021-22.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	58926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total employees (payroll employees only)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>9,673</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>10,103</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>9,490</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>9,873</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>10,326</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/21</p></td><td><p>10,201</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/22</p></td><td><p>10,378</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-22</p></td><td><p>10,890</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>In 2017/18, 895.9 FTE were TUPE-ed (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)) to Defra.</p><p> </p><p>Recruitment controls were implemented in 2020/21 to mitigate impacts from COVID and other cost pressures.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2021/22, recruitment continues to support an increased capital programme and new duties funded through Spending Review 20 and Flood Recovery funding, as well as ongoing support to Defra group on priority work linked to COVID management.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 18/10/2022 15:01:16 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1518889

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Rights of Way
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 Answer given on 27 May 2022 to Question 5327, on Rights of Way, when the Government plans to bring forward proposed rights of way reforms including repealing the 2026 cut-off date to record historic rights of way.
tabling member constituency	Winchester
tabling member printed	Steve Brine
uin	59009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government is committed to implementing the rights of way reform package as soon as reasonably practicable in 2023 and is working closely with the Stakeholder Working Group in finalising the individual measures. The 2026 cut-off date will be repealed as soon as a suitable legislative vehicle has been identified.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 19/10/2022 11:00:05 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine

1518896

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Marine Environment: North East
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 of the Joint agency investigation into Teesside and Yorkshire Coast Crab and Lobster mortalities published on 31 May 2022, if he will commission an independent expert analysis of the data and materials contained in that report.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	59069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>All raw data informing the conclusions of the joint agency investigation will be published shortly. This is a complex area of research, and we will continue to work with universities and other experts to understand it better.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 13/10/2022 13:26:24 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1518903

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
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	Fishing Limits
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 it his policy not to set catch limits for any stocks that are higher than those recommended by scientific advice in fisheries negotiations with the EU, Norway and North East Atlantic coastal states in the next year.
tabling member constituency	Gosport
tabling member printed	Dame Caroline Dinenage
uin	58998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>The United Kingdom advocates an approach towards setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) which is founded on the best available scientific advice and which will maintain or rebuild sustainable fish stocks and fisheries. In addition, for a number of target stocks a further key consideration when setting the TACs is their interaction with other stocks caught in the same mixed fishery.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 18/10/2022 15:59:11 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage