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1151433

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Horse Racing: 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, what recent comparative assessment she has made of the number of racehorse fatalities (a) in the first nine months of 2019 and (b) in the same period in 2018; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the British Horseracing Authority in reducing annual levels of racehorse fatalities; and with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2019 to Question 242198 on Horse Racing: Animal Welfare, what recent discussions officials in her Department have had with the British Horseracing Authority.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	3670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The official annual statistics on fatality rates are published on the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) website, in an approach endorsed by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. We would expect the fatality rates for 2019 to be published by BHA in the New Year. Officials regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including the BHA.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 30/10/2019 14:08:57 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1151434

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Horse Racing: 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 she will make it her policy to set up new independent welfare body to protect race horses from abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	3671
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The Horse Welfare Board (HWB) was formed in March 2019 and is currently developing a comprehensive equine welfare strategy, covering the whole life of the racehorse, which will be published in the coming months. The Government will stay in regular contact with the industry and the new HWB. We will continue to press them for improvements in racehorse welfare and a reduction in the number of fatalities.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 30/10/2019 14:05:41 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1140943

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Dutch Elm Disease: Disease Control
	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 the Government is taking to (a) support local authorities managing and tackling elm disease and (b) ensure that Brighton and Hove City Council has adequate support to protect the National Elm Collection in the city.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	280285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Landowners are responsible for managing the trees on their land. All Local Authorities, including Brighton and Hove, have been provided with the legislative powers necessary to safeguard the nation’s elm population and prevent the spread of elm disease. These powers are set out in the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order 1984. They allow officers (appointed by the Local Authority) who suspect the presence of this disease to enter any land to inspect trees and take samples, and where disease is present, to take action to eradicate it. Government has a strong risk-based biosecurity response to reduce the pest and disease risk to trees involving comprehensive international and domestic surveillance, stringent border biosecurity, robust contingency plans and world leading research. Government invests over £30million per year on our plant health service.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 09/09/2019 13:32:17 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1141407

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Food Supply
	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 legal responsibility of local authorities to provide food in a time of crisis extends to (a) children, (b) people on a low income, (c) elderly people, (d) disabled people and (e) housebound people.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	281010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Food is a critical national infrastructure sector and Defra has lead Government department oversight of responsibility for food supply in England. The policy is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the constitutional settlement.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is not responsible for the supply of food and drink to the population in an emergency, and the expertise, capability and levers to plan for and respond to food supply disruption lie within the industry. However, we have well established relationships with the food and drink sectors, and we work collaboratively with the food industry and across Government to support coherent and robust industry contingency planning and response in the event of an incident situation. The food industry is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities do not have a general duty to provide food but have duties to provide food to particular groups in particular circumstances, including schools and care settings. Public sector food provision for specific sectors is led by the relevant Government departments. Defra works with lead Departments (including DfE, DHSC and MoJ) to support their contingency planning for food supply to public services. Defra’s role involves providing advice and support to these departments who in turn work with their public services to ensure that supply is resilient.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to a strong safety net for those who need it, which is why this Government continues to spend over £90 billion a year on welfare benefits.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 14:02:23 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1484809

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2022
	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	Phytophthora Pluvialis: Disease Control
	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 relevant authorities have taken to prevent the outbreak of phytophthora pluvialis since that disease was confirmed in (a) Devon and Cornwall on 20 October 2021 and (b) Cumbria on 19 November 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	27573
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2022 answer text <p>Following the positive identification of <em>Phytophthora pluvialis </em>on western hemlock and Douglas-fir trees in a woodland in Cornwall in September 2021, several findings of the pathogen have now been identified in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Surrey and Shropshire, and at multiple sites in Scotland and Wales.</p><p>This is the first report of the pathogen in Europe and the first published finding of <em>P. pluvialis</em> on western hemlock.</p><p>Forestry Commission and scientists from Forest Research are leading intensive action to understand more about the pathogen. This includes UK wide aerial surveillance, extensive ground survey of over 1200 sites across England, and comprehensive research and modelling to explore factors such as climatic suitability and species susceptibility. On most of the sites affected, the symptoms are mainly on young, naturally regenerated western hemlock.</p><p>A Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) is being undertaken to evaluate the latest scientific and economic evidence, assess the risk posed to the UK and inform our approach. We are currently seeking views on the PRA through public consultation.</p><p>In the meantime, we have adopted a cautious approach. An initial risk assessment has concluded that <em>P. pluvialis</em> meets the criteria to be classified as a GB quarantine pest for regulatory purposes. To prevent spread of disease, robust management action is underway on the most affected sites. Six demarcated areas have been introduced around confirmed outbreaks, and there are prohibitions on the movement of any wood, isolated bark and trees (tanoak, western hemlock, pine and Douglas-fir) originating from within a demarcated area, and any plants for planting that have originated or reside within the demarcated area.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 12/07/2022 12:59:31 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1484808

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2022
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Civil Servants
	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 of the 91,000 jobs proposed to be cut from the civil service will be from his Department; and whether he has made an assessment of the impact of that reduction on the ability to grow numbers of skilled staff recognised in the three year spending review agreed in March 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	27572
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2022 answer text <p>No decisions have been taken on where reductions will be made to civil service headcount.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 11/07/2022 07:34:04 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1464056

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	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: Subsidies
	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 potential merits of increasing support payments and grants to farmers in England in the context of rates of agricultural inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2022 answer text <p>In light of recently rising input costs and price volatility around certain agricultural commodities such as nitrogen fertiliser, the Government is planning to change the way we make payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2022. Eligible farmers will now receive their payment in two instalments - half from the end of July and the rest from December 2022. This will be a permanent change to Direct Payments that will remain for the rest of the agricultural transition. By doing this, the Government intends to inject cash into farm businesses, helping them to make business decisions sooner, with more confidence.</p><p> </p><p>This builds on the increase in revenue payment rates for the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme to reflect the change in costs since 2013, which Defra announced in January 2022. The majority of payment rates increased, on average by around 30%, although rate changes vary from option to option. These changes affected around 30,000 agreements.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2022, Defra began rolling out the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to recipients of the BPS. SFI will help with the costs of sowing nitrogen fixing plants and green manures in crops to substitute some fertiliser requirements for the coming season, as well as reducing the dependence on manufactured fertilisers which are impacted by the price of gas. Rising fertiliser prices highlight that we need to find alternatives and move towards more organic-based fertiliser products. SFI is designed to help farmers move to these new sustainable farming methods gradually - which will improve environmental conditions of the land, while building the long-term resilience of our food security and production.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State recently announced a range of measures in support of the current situation, such as delaying changes to the use of urea fertiliser to help farmers manage their costs and improving statutory guidance for use of slurry. Defra has also created the Fertiliser Taskforce - where Government and industry are working together to help improve market confidence and provide farmers with the information they need to make business decisions on fertiliser use.</p><p> </p><p>Towards the end of this year, farmers will be able to apply for slurry storage grants, helping them to meet the Farming Rules for Water and reducing their dependence on artificial fertilisers. This grant will contribute towards the costs of covered slurry store construction projects, helping farmers to get six months storage capacity.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is supporting investment in technology and research to further improve productivity. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund has offered grants of up to £48m to over 4,000 applicants - enabling farmers to invest in equipment, technology and infrastructure. We have also announced a new Adding Value theme - a £30 million fund helping farmers and growers to process, diversify and add-value to their products. Furthermore, we have announced new Research Starter Projects - open to individual farming, growing or forestry businesses in England to develop feasibility studies to accelerate research and development.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to monitor the wider context of global supplies that can impact farm income and productivity, as well as take-up of our agri-environment and other schemes. Defra will use the findings to inform our plans throughout the agricultural transition.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/06/2022 08:35:40 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1464057

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	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	Sustainable Farming Incentive
	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 his Department plans to (a) publish (i) the remaining standards for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and (ii) the advanced level for the existing standards under the scheme and (b) open those schemes for applications from farmers.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2022 answer text <p>In March 2021, we revealed the eight standards that were going to be piloted in the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot agreements. These are now live and the learning from the pilot is being fed into the design of the live scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2021, we published an indicative timetable for when we expect future elements of the scheme to roll out. The scheme will launch later this year with core elements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, expanding those elements until we have the full offer available in 2025. As part of the early roll out in 2022 we will release the introductory and intermediate levels of the Arable and Horticultural Soils Standard and Improved Grassland Soils Standard, and the introductory level of the Moorland Standard, and, slightly later on, the annual health and welfare review. As indicated in the March publication of 2022, we intend to roll out the advanced levels of both soil standards in 2023 and the full moorland standard is set to be rolled out in 2024.</p><p> </p><p>When the scheme launches later this year, farmers who are eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will be eligible to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive. This covers most farmland in England. In later years, when we are ready to take on new customers not already registered for BPS, we will remove the BPS eligibility requirement, so a wider range of farmers will become eligible for the scheme. We do not expect to do this before 2024.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/05/2022 13:30:36 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1464090

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Legislation
	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 proportion of post-implementation reviews of legislation his Department has undertaken on time for legislation enacted over the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2022 answer text <p>Information on the number of pieces of primary and secondary legislation that have gone through post-legislative scrutiny by the department in the last ten years is not held by a central team in Defra. It would therefore incur disproportionate costs to obtain this information in full. We do have some information that we are able to provide between 2016 and 2022 which I have detailed here. We are unable to provide information older than 2016 without incurring disproportionate costs as this information is not held in the department.</p><p> </p><p>The information provided here is only held for internal administrative reasons and therefore may not be exhaustive, for example, due to machinery of government changes to departmental structure in the past decade.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has 91 statutory Post Implementation Reviews (PIRs) which we were obliged to publish between 2016 and 2022. Of these,</p><ul><li>29 have been completed,</li></ul><p>o 9 were completed by the statutory deadline,</p><p>o the remaining 20 were completed late.</p><ul><li>62 PIRs are currently outstanding.</li></ul><p> </p><p>A key factor in delays for those outstanding has been the need to prioritise work related to our exit from the EU and the response to the coronavirus pandemic. We are conscious the proportion of reviews completed on time is low and Defra is taking steps to address this backlog and strengthen our approach in this area and to complete future reviews on time.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/05/2022 13:41:36 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1454817

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2022
	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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
	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 is on track to meet the timeframe for the delivery of the Environment Land Management schemes and Agricultural Transition Plan this year; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	148140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2022 answer text <p>We have implemented our Agricultural Transition Plan in England and made great progress in working with farmers to design a better system for farm payments which incentivises sustainable farming, creates space for nature and enhances animal welfare outcomes. We are introducing the changes over a seven-year period to allow everyone time to adapt.</p><p>The Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot is already live. We have just published final details on the standards, and will open the scheme for early rollout of core elements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in Summer 2022, to allow us to make the first SFI payments before the end of the year. We have already launched the application process for the first round of Landscape Recovery projects, and this will be open until 24 May 2022. Local Nature Recovery is planned to begin a phased rollout from 2023.</p><p>Alongside this, we’ve already improved Countryside Stewardship, launched the Farming in Protected Landscapes grant funding scheme, as well as a £52 million Farming Investment Fund to boost productivity, and set out further details for our Animal health and welfare pathway.</p><p>This week we have also announced a package to support farmers through the growing season, helping businesses to work through the current fertiliser issues we are facing this year.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/04/2022 16:29:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas