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1260140

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Odour Pollution: Lancashire
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 (a) mental and (b) physical health effects on communities residing near a landfill site of (i) the Environment Agency's report on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale reference AAM/TR/2019/12 and (ii) other breaches of World Health Organization’s odour guidelines.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	128309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.</p><p> </p><p>The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128310 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:26:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1260141

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Odour Pollution: Lancashire
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 (a) social and (b) economic effects of (i) the Environment Agency's report on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale reference AAM/TR/2019/12 and (ii) other breaches of World Health Organization’s odour guidelines on communities residing near a landfill site.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	128310
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.</p><p> </p><p>The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128309 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:26:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1260143

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Furs: Imports
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 potential merits of banning the import of animal fur into the UK.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	128321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and, after the transition period, the Government plans to retain current regulations banning the import of fur from domestic cats and dogs, and has laid secondary legislation to retain the ban on commercial seal hunts. Legislation has prohibited farming of animals for their fur since 2000 in England and Wales, and 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>Once the UK assumes an independent seat on international bodies such as CITES and OIE we will have an opportunity to promote our high standards in these international fora.</p><p> </p><p>Once our future relationship with the EU has been established there will be an opportunity for the Government to consider further the steps it could take in relation to fur imports.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/12/2020 15:32:02 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones

1260144

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	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, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2020 to Question 124350 on Pest Control: Animal Welfare, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on animal welfare and animal-related measures.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	128322
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>On 3 December, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on the ban of live animal exports for fattening or slaughter. The Government is also consulting on proposals to further improve animal welfare in transport more generally, such as reduced maximum journey times, animals being given more space and headroom during transport, stricter rules on transporting animals in extreme temperatures and tighter rules for transporting live animals by sea.</p><p>On 12 December, the Government launched proposals to ban keeping primates as pets in England, inviting the public to have their say on the issue over the next eight weeks. Findings from a recent call for evidence found that these animals' complex needs cannot be met in a home environment. Under these new plans, it will be an offence to keep a primate as a pet in England. Only those keeping primates to zoo level standards will be permitted to keep primates.</p><p>The Government is in the process of refining proposals for the manifesto commitments on the introduction of laws on animal sentience, a ban on the import of hunting trophies and tackling puppy smuggling, and will be publishing further detail in the coming weeks. We are still considering the best legislative vehicle to bring forward these reforms in the near future. We will be engaging with stakeholders and other Government departments as necessary.</p><p>Our manifesto commitment to introduce mandatory cat microchipping will be brought forward via secondary legislation in the coming months. The Government continues to support the passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill in Parliament to deliver our manifesto commitment to increase the maximum available penalty for the worst animal cruelty offences from six months to five years.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/12/2020 15:26:36 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones

1260247

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Chemicals: Regulation
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 plans he has to maintain current (a) controls and (b) restrictions on chemicals in the first year of the UK’s independent chemicals regulatory regime.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	128267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>Under UK REACH, all existing EU REACH authorisations and restrictions will be carried over into UK law at the end of the transition period. There will therefore be no change in protection from dangerous chemicals that are currently prohibited from use. <br> <br> From 1 January, the processes for the evaluation, authorisation and restriction under UK REACH will mirror the processes under EU REACH and will be used to assess and manage risks from chemicals in the same way. While we will not take divergent decisions for the sake of it, it would not be appropriate to automatically implement decisions that are taken by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) after the end of the transition period. This is because the impact of decisions on the UK will no longer be being considered. We can take ECHA’s decisions into account, but we will need to consider, in each case, whether they are right for the UK.</p><p><br> The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will operate as the UK’s Regulatory Agency. It is building capacity and capability to ensure that we have a robust and effective regulator in place from the point of transition. Recruitment of 130 additional staff, inclusive of scientists, administrators, occupational hygienists and socio-economists, is taking place in preparation for its expanded regulatory role on REACH and other chemicals regimes. This is the largest recruitment exercise ever undertaken in this area and underlines the importance and priority of chemical regulation to HSE. This recruitment and subsequent training, builds on the existing expertise HSE holds, having worked on some of the most complex dossiers under EU REACH.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128268 question first answered 18/12/2020 14:45:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1260248

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Chemicals: Regulation
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 resources his Department has allocated to the Health and Safety Executive to ensure it has capacity to consider whether (a) decisions and (b) developments in the European Chemicals Agency on hazardous chemicals should be implemented in UK REACH.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	128268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>Under UK REACH, all existing EU REACH authorisations and restrictions will be carried over into UK law at the end of the transition period. There will therefore be no change in protection from dangerous chemicals that are currently prohibited from use. <br> <br> From 1 January, the processes for the evaluation, authorisation and restriction under UK REACH will mirror the processes under EU REACH and will be used to assess and manage risks from chemicals in the same way. While we will not take divergent decisions for the sake of it, it would not be appropriate to automatically implement decisions that are taken by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) after the end of the transition period. This is because the impact of decisions on the UK will no longer be being considered. We can take ECHA’s decisions into account, but we will need to consider, in each case, whether they are right for the UK.</p><p><br> The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will operate as the UK’s Regulatory Agency. It is building capacity and capability to ensure that we have a robust and effective regulator in place from the point of transition. Recruitment of 130 additional staff, inclusive of scientists, administrators, occupational hygienists and socio-economists, is taking place in preparation for its expanded regulatory role on REACH and other chemicals regimes. This is the largest recruitment exercise ever undertaken in this area and underlines the importance and priority of chemical regulation to HSE. This recruitment and subsequent training, builds on the existing expertise HSE holds, having worked on some of the most complex dossiers under EU REACH.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128267 question first answered 18/12/2020 14:45:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1260250

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Checmials: Regulation
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 plans he has for a consultation on decisions made by the UK's independent chemicals regulator that deviate from controls and restrictions developed under EU REACH.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	128269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>From 1 January, we will operate UK REACH. It will retain the fundamental approach and core principles of EU REACH and continue to provide high levels of protection for human health and the environment.</p><p><br> We will have the freedom to take our own decisions based on the scientific evidence and tailored to the needs of businesses, but this does not mean taking divergent decisions for the sake of it, nor reducing standards and levels of protection.</p><p> </p><p>The legal framework for UK REACH provides for the input of external scientific advice to the UK Agency, so policy decisions on chemicals are supported by robust evidence and analysis. The UK Agency must then publish its opinions. This will ensure that there is transparency in the UK Agency’s opinion-making processes.</p><p> </p><p>We will keep the same level of transparency and stakeholder engagement in the opinion forming processes as our EU equivalent and be able to draw from a pool of scientific experts as required. This will ensure that the regulatory processes can be properly held to account. By ensuring sufficient transparency of scientific discussions we will mirror ECHA’s approach to appointing accredited stakeholder organisations to observe ECHA Committee meetings.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128270 question first answered 18/12/2020 14:48:10 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1260254

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Chemicals: Regulation
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 decisions to deviate from EU REACH controls after the transition period will be open to challenge in the event that stakeholders identify risks to society, the economy, human health or the environment.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	128270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>From 1 January, we will operate UK REACH. It will retain the fundamental approach and core principles of EU REACH and continue to provide high levels of protection for human health and the environment.</p><p><br> We will have the freedom to take our own decisions based on the scientific evidence and tailored to the needs of businesses, but this does not mean taking divergent decisions for the sake of it, nor reducing standards and levels of protection.</p><p> </p><p>The legal framework for UK REACH provides for the input of external scientific advice to the UK Agency, so policy decisions on chemicals are supported by robust evidence and analysis. The UK Agency must then publish its opinions. This will ensure that there is transparency in the UK Agency’s opinion-making processes.</p><p> </p><p>We will keep the same level of transparency and stakeholder engagement in the opinion forming processes as our EU equivalent and be able to draw from a pool of scientific experts as required. This will ensure that the regulatory processes can be properly held to account. By ensuring sufficient transparency of scientific discussions we will mirror ECHA’s approach to appointing accredited stakeholder organisations to observe ECHA Committee meetings.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128269 question first answered 18/12/2020 14:48:10 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1260260

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Pet Travel Scheme: Assistance Animals
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 proposals the Government has made to the EU on future pet travel arrangements to address the needs of assistance dog owners.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	128191
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>Defra has routinely highlighted to the EU Commission the impacts our listed status will have on users of assistance dogs. We are also proactively and positively engaging with the assistance dog community and relevant stakeholders on the impacts on dog movements to the EU after the end of the transition period. We will continue to closely work with assistance dog organisations to share the latest advice and guidance (in accessible formats) with their members on pet travel requirements.</p><p> </p><p>On 3 December 2020 the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed of the EU voted in favour of giving the United Kingdom Part 2 listed status for the purposes of non-commercial pet travel after the transition period.</p><p> </p><p>Part 2 listed status means similar health requirements to travel to the EU as now. However, new documentation will be required for pets and assistance dogs. We intend to publish further guidance shortly on what this development means for travellers, on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are disappointed not to become a Part 1 listed third country. We are clear we meet all the requirements for this and have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity. Our disease risk will also not change after the transition period and so we will continue to press the EU Commission on securing Part 1 listed status.</p><p> </p><p>There will be no changes to the current pet travel health requirements for entry into Great Britain and we will continue to accept EU pet passports.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/12/2020 14:34:20 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1260261

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Pet Travel Scheme: EU Countries
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 Government plans to implement a grace period before implementation of new rules for pet travel (a) to and (b) from the EU.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	128192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>On 3 December 2020 the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed of the EU voted in favour of giving the United Kingdom Part 2 listed status for the purposes of non-commercial pet travel after the transition period. It will be for the EU to decide on any future grace period relating to the regulations governing pet travel.</p><p> </p><p>This status will mean, from 1 January, similar health requirements to travel to the EU as now. However, new documentation will be required for pets and assistance dogs. We intend to publish further guidance shortly on what this development means for travellers, on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to press the EU Commission on securing Part 1 listed status as we are clear we meet all the requirements for this, and have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity.</p><p> </p><p>There will be no changes to the current pet travel health requirements for entry into Great Britain and we will continue to accept EU pet passports.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/12/2020 14:34:35 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock