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1364188

registered interest
date	28/10/2021
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	Food: Exports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to support food and drink exporters.
tabling member constituency	Buckingham
tabling member printed	Greg Smith
uin	903877
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2021 answer text <p>We want people at home and abroad to be lining up to Buy British. We have announced an export package to support food and drink producers, and will be establishing an Export Council. This will bring together industry and Government to drive export growth. We are also expanding our agri-food counsellor network to make sure that our sectors can take advantage of export opportunities.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/10/2021 10:48:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4778 label Biography information for Greg Smith

1364189

registered interest
date	28/10/2021
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: Vacancies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment his Department has made of the effect of labour shortages on the harvesting of crops in autumn 2021.
tabling member constituency	North Thanet
tabling member printed	Sir Roger Gale
uin	903878
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2021 answer text <p>Defra is working closely with farmers and growers to address labour shortages and help them secure the labour needed for harvesting. This year, the Seasonal Workers Pilot has been expanded for 2021 to 30,000 visas. Growers can also recruit workers with status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to support the horticulture sector in recruiting more UK workers, and undertaking a review to examine the potential for automation to meet future need.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/10/2021 10:51:11 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	87 label Biography information for Sir Roger Gale

1364190

registered interest
date	28/10/2021
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	Meat: Consumption
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to promote the consumption of British meat.
tabling member constituency	Don Valley
tabling member printed	Nick Fletcher
uin	903879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2021 answer text <p>We want people at home and abroad to be lining up to Buy British. Our farmers produce high-welfare, high-quality meat and we are committed to supporting them. Our new farming schemes will offer the opportunity to move towards a more pastural system, producing higher quality meat that is reared in a sustainable way.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/11/2021 08:14:08 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4832 label Biography information for Nick Fletcher

1363884

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Tourist Attractions: Sewage
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 prevent excessive sewage in tourist areas.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	64617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>In 2019 98.3% of UK Designated Bathing Sites passed the minimum standard for bathing and more than 70% of bathing waters achieved the 'excellent' rating, compared with 28% at the highest standard in the 1990s.</p><p>Water quality is a devolved matter and the following information is for England only.</p><p>I have been crystal clear that water companies must take further action to reduce sewage discharges from Storm Overflows and this is a Government priority. Our draft Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat sets out for the first time that we expect water companies to take the steps required to &quot;significantly reduce…. storm overflows.&quot; We have also announced that we will put that instruction on a statutory footing with a new duty on water companies to progressively reduce the impact of sewage discharges.</p><p>Furthermore, our Environment Bill also includes the following new duties directly on water companies to:</p><ul><li>publish statutory Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, for the first time, setting out how they will reduce overflows, as well as detailing other improvements, and provides the power for government to direct companies if these plans are inadequate;</li><li>monitor water quality up and downstream of areas potentially affected by discharges;</li><li>publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis;</li><li>publish near real time information -within 1 hour- on the operation of storm overflows.</li></ul><p>We will not hesitate to use our powers to hold companies to account. Earlier this year Southern Water was handed a record-breaking £90 million fine, and Thames Water was fined £4 million and £2.3 million for separate incidents.</p><p>New amendments have been tabled that place duties on government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows and reduce their impact. There is also a duty to report to Parliament on progress on implementing the plan. We will also produce a report outlining further evidence regarding elimination of Storm Overflows by September 2022.</p><p>Truly reducing harm from storm overflows will require a collaborative approach between many actors. To this end, in August 2020 I established the Storm Overflows Taskforce to bring together key stakeholders from the water industry, regulators, and environmental NGOs, with a long-term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows. The Taskforce has already taken steps to improve monitoring and transparency and has commissioned research to gather evidence on the costs, benefits and feasibility of different options.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 04/11/2021 17:05:43 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1363890

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Rivers: Sewage
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 cost was of producing the video, published 26 October 2021 used to promote the Government's proposed new sewage and rivers policy.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	64729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2021 answer text <p>The video published 26 October 2021 was made in-house by the Defra group communications Digital Engagement and Creative Content team and did not incur a cost.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/11/2021 16:17:17 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1363895

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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 read the UN Environment Programme's The Emissions Gap Report 2021; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	64731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>We welcome the UN Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report 2021. As this report makes clear, it is important that each country delivers on their 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions and net zero commitments. The UK’s pledge to cut emissions by at least 68% by 2030 is one of the most ambitious in the world.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has been pressing all leaders to commit to ambitious climate action ahead of COP26 to help keep 1.5°C in reach. We will continue to do this, at COP and throughout our Presidency year.</p><p> </p><p>Domestically, we are taking vital steps through our recently published Net Zero Strategy to play our part. My department has a crucial role to play in helping this government achieve its net zero target. As set out in the Net Zero Strategy, we will support our agriculture and land use sectors to reduce emissions, restore huge swathes of peat, create vast woodlands, and take action to reduce harmful waste and gases. This is central to our ambition to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 04/11/2021 14:39:34 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1363936

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Slaughterhouses: CCTV
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 mandatory CCTV in abattoirs has resulted in any prosecutions of abattoir employees for offences against animals.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	64637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2021 answer text <p>Three individuals have been convicted of animal welfare offences identified following the review of CCTV by the Official Veterinarian since the introduction of legislation in England in May 2018.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 01/11/2021 17:32:04 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1363943

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
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 amount of PFAS chemicals impacting (a) environmental and (b) human health.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	64690
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2021 answer text <p>Defra and the Environment Agency are working with other regulators, including the UK Health Security Agency, to improve understanding of the chemical risks posed by per-fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) and respond appropriately.</p><p><br> Defra and the Environment Agency have initiated a coordinated programme of work to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches. The scope of the programme includes international engagement to understand approaches being taken across the world; collecting environmental data in England; developing new analytical methods; working with industry to assess risks of PFAS produced in the UK; identifying current and legacy uses and mapping potential sources; river catchment investigations; water company investigations to understand sources to sewer and wastewater treatment options.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, the Environment Agency and HSE, at Defra’s request, are investigating the risk posed by PFAS through a Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA) which will consider how best to manage any identified risks.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 02/11/2021 17:28:27 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1363946

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Buildings: Land Drainage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to require the mandatory implementation of sustainable drainage systems for new developments to help achieve biodiversity net gain targets.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
uin	64757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2021 answer text <p>In August 2021 the Government announced a review of the case for implementing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, which started this autumn. This review will look at the benefits and impacts of implementation as well as alternative methods for ensuring that sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS, are incorporated in future developments and maintained after construction.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/11/2021 16:20:13 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1363983

registered interest
date	27/10/2021
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	Turkeys: 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 assessment he has made of barriers to the supply of turkeys for Christmas 2021.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	64736
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain which has coped well in responding to unprecedented challenges. Defra works closely with businesses and other stakeholders to monitor and assess food supply.</p><p> </p><p>We have listened to concerns from the sector and we know that the run-up to Christmas is a particularly important time for farmers and food producers, who need more workers on their farms to meet seasonal demand and more HGV drivers on the roads to deliver food across the country in this period.</p><p> </p><p>In response to these exceptional circumstances, Defra has announced that up to 5,500 poultry workers and 5,000 HGV drivers transporting food and fuel will be able to enter the UK on temporary visas for work in the lead up to Christmas 2021. These are temporary, emergency measures.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also took decisive action to support the CO2 industry to reach a deal which will continue the supply of CO2 to UK businesses, including those in the poultry processing sector. The deal will run until January 2022 ensuring the CO2 supply over Christmas.</p><p> </p><p>The actions we have taken will ensure that poultry businesses have access to the necessary workforce and materials to mitigate any potential risks to food supply in the run up to Christmas.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/11/2021 17:20:44 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones