Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1192031

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Dogs: Coronavirus
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 (a) professional dog walkers and (b) kennels are able to walk their dogs more than once a day under the social distancing measures announced by the Government on 23 March 2020.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	41911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has issued guidance which sets out which businesses must close, and clarifies that “Other businesses can remain open, their employees can travel for work purposes if they cannot work from home”, and “it is important for other businesses to carry on”. Dog walking businesses and kennels are not required to close by the Government. These businesses should make every effort to comply with social distancing and hygiene guidelines; otherwise they should carry on with their normal day to day routines.</p><p> </p><p>The Canine and Feline Sector Group, which advises both the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and Defra Ministers, has issued its own guidance to pet businesses, including professional dog walkers and boarding kennels, on how they can continue to operate under current restrictions, including how to exercise dogs, and in line with guidance around social distancing and hygiene. <a href="http://www.cfsg.org.uk/coronavirus/SiteAssets/SitePages/Home/CFSG%20Animal%20Business%20Guidance%2007.0" target="_blank">http://www.cfsg.org.uk/coronavirus/SiteAssets/SitePages/Home/CFSG%20Animal%20Business%20Guidance%2007.0</a></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 06/05/2020 16:30:21 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1192149

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Public Footpaths: Coastal Areas
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 delegate authority to Natural England to agree the whole route for the South Coast coastal path.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	41879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra’s and Natural England’s roles in delivering the England Coast Path, including those stretches on the south coast, are well defined and set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and subsequent regulations. The two organisations work closely together to ensure that the path is delivered in a way that provides fair balance between the interests of users and those of landowners and occupiers along the route. There are no plans to change these ways of working.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/05/2020 16:36:34 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1192164

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Air Pollution
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 28 April 2020 to Question 38589 on Air Pollution: Pollution Control, whether he has commissioned further analysis of the (a) economic viability and (b) practical deliverability of the WHO guideline limit for PM2.5.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	42012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>We are developing a clear evidence-based process for setting the fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) target introduced in the Environment Bill. This process will involve thorough analysis and independent expert advice, considering economic, social and technological factors. It will also involve detailed analysis to assess what additional action would be needed to achieve potential targets. Stakeholders, Parliament and the public will have the opportunity to comment on and provide input to the development of an ambitious and achievable target.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to taking action on PM<sub>2.5</sub>, as it is the pollutant that has the most significant impact on health.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 42013 question first answered 12/05/2020 16:38:28 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

1192173

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Air Pollution
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 28 April 2020 to Question 38589 on Air Pollution: Pollution Control, whether he has commissioned further analysis of a pathway to achieving the WHO guideline limit for PM2.5.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	42013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>We are developing a clear evidence-based process for setting the fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) target introduced in the Environment Bill. This process will involve thorough analysis and independent expert advice, considering economic, social and technological factors. It will also involve detailed analysis to assess what additional action would be needed to achieve potential targets. Stakeholders, Parliament and the public will have the opportunity to comment on and provide input to the development of an ambitious and achievable target.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to taking action on PM<sub>2.5</sub>, as it is the pollutant that has the most significant impact on health.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 42012 question first answered 12/05/2020 16:38:28 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

1192179

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Milk: Coronavirus
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 his Department is taking to ensure that the milk supply chain is not disrupted during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Edmonton
tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
uin	42136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra is working closely with the dairy industry to manage the impact of COVID-19. Demand for milk and some dairy products has increased in supermarkets and the vast majority of Britain’s dairy farmers continue to supply their contracts at the usual price. However, between 5 and 10 per cent of total milk production goes to the service trade, and these farmers have been impacted by the significantly reduced demand.</p><p> </p><p>At the outset of the pandemic, the Government announced a number of emergency measures to support farmers, processors, and retailers. These include designating the food sector as critical to the response, with those working in the production, processing, sale, distribution or delivery of food categorised as “key workers” and granting derogations on drivers’ hours limitations.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, to support milk producers, the Government announced on 17 April a temporary easing of some elements of competition law to make it easier for the dairy industry to come together to maximise production, processing and storage efficiency and ensure as much product as possible can be processed into high quality dairy products. This approach will allow the market for milk to adjust to the change in demand for milk while allowing production to be restored when shops, restaurants and pubs are able to open again. Exempted activities have been developed in conjunction with the dairy industry.</p><p> </p><p>The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) together with Dairy UK are launching a new £1 million campaign to drive consumption of milk and other dairy products. Running over 12 weeks, the campaign will highlight the role that milk and other dairy products play in supporting moments of personal connection during times of crisis. Defra and the devolved administrations are jointly contributing towards the financing of this campaign.</p><p> </p><p>The dairy industry can access various Government backed loan schemes. The COVID-19 Business Interruption Loans scheme is available to farmers, milk buyers and milk processors. In addition, the new Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will apply to businesses including those operating in agriculture, will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans.</p><p> </p><p>In recognition of the unprecedented challenges facing this sector, on 6 May 2020, Defra announced a new fund to help support those dairy farmers who have seen decreased demand due to the loss of the food service sector. The new fund will provide support for those most in need. Eligible dairy farmers in England will be entitled to up to £10,000 each, to cover 70% of their lost income during April and May to ensure they can continue to operate and sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Public intervention for skimmed milk powder and butter continues to be available. Industry can sell skimmed milk powder and butter into public intervention when the price they would receive on the open market falls below the intervention price. This provides a floor price for dairy products. From 7 May, UK dairy processors are also eligible to apply for EU funded private storage aid in respect of skimmed milk powder, butter and cheese.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 12/05/2020 11:44:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1192283

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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: New Forest
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 representations he has received from the (a) Official Verderer, (b) Commoners Defence Association and (c) National Park Authority of the New Forest, on (i) damage to the landscape caused by excessive numbers of depastured cattle and (ii) the establishing of the reference period for delinking Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments from the requirement to make an annual BPS application in order to continue to receive such payments; what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports that the increase in cattle numbers on the Forest in recent years is unsustainable; and if he will make it his policy to make a decision on that matter as soon as possible and treat the New Forest as a special case.
tabling member constituency	New Forest East
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Lewis
uin	41876
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>We have received three pieces of correspondence from the New Forest Commoners Defence Association on these subjects.</p><p>The New Forest National Park Authority are aware of the challenges and have been working with the Forestry Commission, Verderers and the Commoners Defence Association to help find the best solution to support commoning and deliver the best outcomes for land management.</p><p>Natural England recently recommended that the Environmental Stewardship Higher Level agreement with the Verderers should be extended by one year as the agreement was delivering its objectives and the Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the forest were being managed in a way that improved their condition. We are not aware of damage to landscape due to increased numbers of de-pastured cattle.</p><p>We intend to consult further with the industry before setting the detailed rules for delinked payments. This will help us get the approach right for farmers and allow us to take account of any particular concerns, such as the impact on commoners.</p><p>The reference period to be used for delinked payments is one of the areas that we intend to consult on. For example, we could make payments based on the Basic Payment Scheme payments the farmer was entitled to receive in a particular scheme year or average over a number of years. We understand the importance of carefully deciding on this reference period and of communicating it to the industry in good time.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 11/05/2020 09:09:52 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1192328

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
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	Restaurants: Coronavirus
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 the conditions required to ease the lockdown include plans to (a) rebuild public confidence in the safety of the restaurant sector and (b) promote awareness that food handlers are key workers that are eligible for covid-19 testing.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	41969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra, alongside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Devolved Administrations, is working closely with representatives from the food and beverage hospitality sector to support their planning towards reopening and their continued operations. This includes identifying what ongoing support businesses may need from the Government as they implement the measures required to protect workers and customers as restrictions are eased.</p><p> </p><p>It is possible for many businesses to reopen safely, in a cautious way, and we welcome the reopening of food-to-go businesses, predominantly for drive thru, in line with</p><p>social distancing measures. Providing clear advice and guidance will be important to restoring confidence in restaurants, takeaways and other hospitality businesses, not only for customers but for workers too. This will be a key part of Government planning as we move towards the easing of restrictions.</p><p> </p><p>This includes measures such as the Government expanding the eligibility for testing to all essential workers with symptoms of coronavirus, including those working in the food and drink industry. As a result of rapidly increasing testing capacity, we have been able to implement this and we have published advice including on how to arrange tests.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 12/05/2020 14:52:09 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1191978

registered interest
date	30/04/2020
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: Hormone Treatments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 5 March (HL1872), why they have adopted the EU's legislation on the use of growth hormones in food production; and what caused the change in policy held by previous governments on that legislation within the Council of European Agricultural Ministers.
tabling member printed	Lord Jopling
uin	HL3775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>As a Member State, the UK transposed EU Council Directive 96/22/EC (as amended) into domestic law ‘Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015', with similar legislation for Wales and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The law reflects UK Government policy on the use of growth hormones in food production and remains in force now we have left the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is committed to maintaining our current high food safety and animal welfare standards and these protections will continue now we have left the EU.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 15/05/2020 10:11:32 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	883 label Biography information for Lord Jopling

1191999

registered interest
date	30/04/2020
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 of Prey
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) number, and (2) geographical spread within England, of (a) buzzards, and (b) red kites.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL3796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>A report published by the British Trust for Ornithology estimates that the number of breeding buzzards in Great Britain is 61,500 – 85,000 pairs and the number of breeding red kites is 4,370 pairs (<a href="https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/apep-4-population-estimates-birds-great-britain-and" target="_blank">https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/apep-4-population-estimates-birds-great-britain-and</a>).</p><p> </p><p>There is no similar data for English populations. However, buzzards are common throughout England and Natural England estimates that there are up to 30,000 breeding pairs. Natural England also estimate that there are 2,000 pairs of red kites which are most commonly found in central and southern England.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent information on the geographical distribution of birds in Britain is provided by the BTO’s 2007-2011 Atlas of breeding and wintering birds <a href="https://app.bto.org/mapstore/StoreServlet" target="_blank">https://app.bto.org/mapstore/StoreServlet</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 15/05/2020 10:11:02 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1192000

registered interest
date	30/04/2020
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	Horticulture
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK horticultural industry.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL3797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the crucial role that the UK’s horticulture industry plays in both feeding the country and promoting people’s wellbeing. It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on horticulture businesses up and down the country and the Government is acutely aware of the challenges facing parts of the industry at this time.</p><p>We know it is vital that the sector has access to the labour it needs, and we are aware of concerns about the impact that current restrictions on the movement of people could have on the number of seasonal workers coming to the UK. We are therefore urgently considering what measures could be put in place to help mitigate labour shortages.</p><p>We will continue to work closely with representatives from across the horticulture supply chain to identify what short-term and long-term support the sector needs. As horticulture is part of the agricultural sector, impacts of COVID-19 on the horticulture industry are being overseen by the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group, which meets weekly to monitor UK agricultural markets and to provide forewarning of any atypical market movements. During the coronavirus outbreak, this has allowed Defra and the devolved administrations to share the latest stakeholder information and data to assess the effects of COVID-19 on the agricultural industry, to ensure we have an evidence base of what is happening in specific markets and geographical regions.</p><p>We will continue to monitor the situation and to work closely with the sector to assess and respond to emerging issues as they arise.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 15/05/2020 13:57:48 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten