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1083718

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
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	Pigs: Bovine Tuberculosis
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 TB tests on pigs have returned a negative result after a primary inconclusive test result in England in each year since 2013.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	229700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>We have interpreted the term ‘inconclusive test result’ as suspect pig slaughterhouse cases, tested in abattoirs when TB-like lesions are identified. For these ‘inconclusive’ cases, post mortem samples have been taken and processed for bacteriological isolation of Mycobacterium bovis <em>(M. bovis).</em></p><p>This information is available under the periodical statistics on Gov.UK:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/other-tb-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/other-tb-statistics</a></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total individual animal specimens submitted for post-mortem examination</p></td><td><p><em>of which:- </em>animal specimens where culturing was not attempted</p></td><td><p>Animal specimens which underwent laboratory culture</p></td><td><p><em>of which:-</em> animal specimens with culture results pending at end of period</p></td><td><p><em>of which:-</em> animal specimens that were culture positive for <em>M. Bovis</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>272</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>272</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>191</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>188</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>74</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>31</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>57</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>56</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>67</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>65</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>117</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>104</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>111</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>107</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Q1-Q3 2018</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>97</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 11:50:37 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1083719

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
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	Pigs: Bovine Tuberculosis
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 average time taken is from the date of a first sample to a final test result in TB tests on pigs in England for each year since 2013.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	229701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The average time to obtain results from growing cultures in the laboratory from samples taken from pigs can vary between 42 and 98 days.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><strong> Animals</strong></td><td><strong>Average Days</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2013</strong></td><td>73</td><td>81</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2014</strong></td><td>68</td><td>111</td></tr><tr><td><strong> 2015</strong></td><td>65</td><td>93</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2016</strong></td><td>104</td><td>93</td></tr><tr><td><strong> 2017</strong></td><td>108</td><td>88</td></tr><tr><td><strong> 2018</strong></td><td>144</td><td>92</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>APHA’s laboratory IT system does not hold the date the sample was taken. The data provided above has been calculated using the date when the samples were received at the APHA laboratory. This data excludes any incomplete submissions or those currently pending.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 11:38:16 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1043162

registered interest
date	17/01/2019
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	Poultry: 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 effectiveness of duck welfare rules for commercial duck farms; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	209783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK already has some of the highest standards of animal welfare, underpinned by existing legislation and farmed animal welfare codes. We are committed to maintaining our high animal welfare standards and to keep improving where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of ducks is provided for in the general provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. Defra has a statutory duck welfare code which encourages high standards of husbandry.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the main farm assurance schemes have standards in place which their members must also comply with, which set requirements to ensure the health and welfare of commercially produced ducks.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/01/2019 12:35:46 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1041785

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
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	Newcastle Disease
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 risk of Newcastle disease in the UK; what advice he is giving to reduce such a risk; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	208954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>Newcastle Disease is a serious notifiable disease in poultry and other birds, and so Defra monitors this disease globally.</p><p> </p><p>There is a continuous low background risk of any notifiable avian disease in the domestic poultry sector in the UK from our indigenous wild bird populations that carry various Newcastle disease viruses. The risk of Newcastle Disease to UK poultry is currently low, particularly so where good biosecurity is practiced by those keeping poultry and other birds. The latest risk assessment is available on gov.uk: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/newcastle-disease-in-sweden" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/newcastle-disease-in-sweden</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance is available to all keepers on gov.uk, including how to spot disease and how to prevent it through the use of good biosecurity. This includes vaccinating birds against the disease, for which a local vet should be consulted, and guarding against the potential for spread by ensuring premises and vehicles are cleansed thoroughly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 21/01/2019 15:23:35 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1027772

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	Drinking Water: Standards
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 he is taking to (a) improve the cleanliness of drinking water and (b) reduce the low-grade contamination of water supplies by lowering the number of pathogens in water; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	203306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>Drinking Water quality in the UK is required to meet a rigorous and comprehensive set of standards laid down in legislation and set to be protective of public health and these apply to water for all consumers. These requirements are enforced by a robust regulatory regime. Additionally water companies are required to risk assess and mitigate risks of any additional substances not specifically listed and which might otherwise present a potential risk to human health.</p><p> </p><p>With respect to pathogens, companies are required to have in place robust disinfection processes. The standard for bacteria indicative of pollution likely to contain human pathogens is zero (none permitted to be present). It is a criminal offence to supply water that has not been disinfected. In 2017, in England, there was one detection of E.coli from 154,431 samples taken at treatment works and 11 detections of E.coli from 186,163 samples taken from storage points in the network. In all cases action was taken to rectify any issues identified.</p><p> </p><p>The Drinking Water Inspectorate provides independent scrutiny of the performance of water companies in meeting standards and publishes an annual report containing statistics on drinking water quality on its website at <a href="http://www.dwi.gov.uk/about/annual-report/2017/Summary_CIR_2017_England.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.dwi.gov.uk/about/annual-report/2017/Summary_CIR_2017_England.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 07/01/2019 18:00:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1020476

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
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	African Swine Fever
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 he is taking to ensure that African swine fever does not enter the UK; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	199314
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Defra takes the risk of African Swine Fever (ASF) very seriously. Disease in the UK would have a devastating impact on our pig industry. In response to the spread of ASF in Eastern Europe and the confirmation of disease in feral pigs in Belgium, Defra’s risk assessment level has been raised to medium. This has been extensively and robustly communicated to the industry, all pig keepers and agencies working to protect our biosecurity. Correspondingly we have further increased our disease prevention activities. Defra is continuously closely monitoring the ongoing global disease situation.</p><p> </p><p>EU safeguard measures stops the movement of pigs and potentially risky pig products out of ASF affected areas in Member States. Defra checks the EU data systems to verify this for consignments coming to the UK. We have taken a strong risk based approach to any product we consider may be an issue. Defra is working very closely with the Commission and other MSs, included those affected, to share ASF expertise and knowledge.</p><p> </p><p>Practising strict biosecurity is essential for pig keepers to protect the health of their own animals. The risk of exposure to the pig population in the UK is highly dependent on the level of biosecurity on pig premises and is still considered to be low.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure awareness of the pathways and their risks which could potentially introduce ASF to the UK, all administrations have been running a communications campaign supported by the pig industry and veterinary bodies. This has been targeted with messages appropriate to pig keepers, smallholders, vets, slaughterhouses, hunters and transport operators using a variety of methods. Messaging to pig keepers include that it is essential to adhere to the swill feeding ban, and practise scrupulous biosecurity practices. Another key focus for awareness is people returning from ASF affected areas to remind them that it is essential to cleanse and disinfect vehicles and equipment, and of the risks posed by personal imports of meat from these areas.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has robust contingency plans in place to respond to outbreaks of exotic disease such as ASF and these plans are regularly tested. The disease control measures are set out in the Great Britain African and Classical swine fever control strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 10/12/2018 15:37:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

968346

registered interest
date	05/09/2018
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	Fly-tipping
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 he is taking to encourage local authorities to use the powers available to them to seize vehicles used in fly-tipping activities; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	170711
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping on a number of fronts. In 2015 we gave local authorities stronger powers to stop, search and seize vehicles of those suspected of fly-tipping. It is the responsibility of local authorities to use the powers available to them and we encourage them to do so when appropriate and proportionate. We are adding to these powers and have consulted this year on a new fixed penalty notice for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group has published guidance which sets out clearly the powers available to local authorities and other partners when tackling fly-tipping.</p><p> </p><p>The powers were enhanced in March 2015 and the data available since then shows a total of 326 vehicles seized by local authorities in England. 197 vehicles were seized in 2016/17, a 52% increase from 129 vehicles seized in 2015/16. The statistics for 2017/18 are due to be published in October. National fly-tipping statistics are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 170712 question first answered 10/09/2018 10:26:31 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

968347

registered interest
date	05/09/2018
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	Fly-tipping
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 vehicles have been seized because of their being used in fly-tipping activities since that power was introduced; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	170712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping on a number of fronts. In 2015 we gave local authorities stronger powers to stop, search and seize vehicles of those suspected of fly-tipping. It is the responsibility of local authorities to use the powers available to them and we encourage them to do so when appropriate and proportionate. We are adding to these powers and have consulted this year on a new fixed penalty notice for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group has published guidance which sets out clearly the powers available to local authorities and other partners when tackling fly-tipping.</p><p> </p><p>The powers were enhanced in March 2015 and the data available since then shows a total of 326 vehicles seized by local authorities in England. 197 vehicles were seized in 2016/17, a 52% increase from 129 vehicles seized in 2015/16. The statistics for 2017/18 are due to be published in October. National fly-tipping statistics are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 170711 question first answered 10/09/2018 10:26:31 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

968348

registered interest
date	05/09/2018
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	Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
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 he is taking to reduce the incidence of porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	170713
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>Endemic diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome affect animal health and welfare, as well as productivity. As set out in our 25 Year Environment Plan and the consultation <em>Health and Harmony, the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit, </em>Defra is working with the livestock industry to reduce significantly the impact of these endemic diseases. We are analysing consultation responses and developing proposals.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 10/09/2018 12:38:39 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

968350

registered interest
date	05/09/2018
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	Pigs: Animal Feed
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 plans to alter or repeal the ban on farmers feeding human food waste to pigs; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	170715
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to alter or repeal the ban on farmers feeding human food waste to pigs. It is already possible to feed pigs certain food waste originating from food producers, manufacturers and retailers, provided they comprise no prohibited animal by-products. However, the ban on feeding catering waste to pigs needs to stay in place as it can present a serious risk to animal health and has been directly responsible for major notifiable disease outbreaks around the world, including the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 10/09/2018 12:50:05 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight