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1714849

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 potential merits of introducing a legal definition of vegetarianism.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>There are no current plans to introduce a legal definition of the term ‘vegetarianism’, but the use of this and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The term ‘suitable for vegetarians’ is used voluntarily by the food industry. There is no legal requirement to describe a product as either suitable or unsuitable for vegetarians.</p><p> </p><p>The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food. These rules mean that manufacturers, retailers and caterers should be able to demonstrate that where foods are presented as 'vegetarian' reasonable steps have been taken to avoid cross-contamination with non-vegetarian foods during storage, preparation, cooking or display.</p><p>Defra and the FSA will continue to work with businesses and consumers to ensure everyone can make safe and informed choices when purchasing items labelled as ‘vegetarian’.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:38:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714850

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 potential merits of introducing guidance for (a) food manufacturers and (b) hospitality venues serving food on the definition of vegetarianism.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>The terms ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Vegan’ do not currently have legal definitions in the UK, but the use of these and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The term ‘suitable for Vegetarians’, is used voluntarily by the food industry. There is no legal requirement to describe a product as either suitable or unsuitable for vegetarians.</p><p> </p><p>There are no current plans to produce guidance specifically for food business operators on the definition of vegetarianism.</p><p> </p><p>However, Defra and the FSA will continue to work with businesses and consumers to ensure everyone can make safe and informed choices when purchasing items labelled as vegan or vegetarian.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:36:56 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714851

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Vegetarianism
	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 his Department defines vegetarian food; and whether restaurants using the same gloves to prepare food for (a) vegetarians and (b) non-vegetarians are defined as vegetarian.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>The terms ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Vegan’ do not currently have legal definitions in the UK, but the use of these and indeed any term on food, whether retailed from a shop or on a menu for out-of-home sale, must not be misleading to consumers. <br> <br> In order not to mislead, manufacturers, retailers and caterers should be able to demonstrate that where foods are presented as 'vegetarian' reasonable steps have been taken to avoid cross-contamination with non-vegetarian foods during storage, preparation, cooking or display. Food law provides a robust framework that protects public health and consumer interests and requires food businesses that produce, process, and distribute food to apply food safety controls that ensure food they place on the market is safe and is what it says it is. This includes avoiding cross contamination of foods including ensuring that work areas, surfaces and equipment used for raw and ready-to-eat food are adequately separated.</p><p><br> While it may not be possible to avoid cross-contamination in a busy kitchen, it is incumbent on a food business to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to avoid cross-contamination and where appropriate, to inform customers where there is a risk</p><p><br> Trading standards officers attached to the Local Authority are responsible for checking compliance with the food information requirements.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:29:57 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1714852

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2024
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination
	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 expects the bovine tuberculosis vaccine to be deployed.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	24342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2024 answer text <p>Developing a vaccine against TB in cattle is one of the Government’s top priorities. Defra aims to have a deployable cattle TB vaccine (‘CattleBCG’) and a new companion DIVA skin test (to detect infected among vaccinated animals) in the next few years. Field trials of the CattleBCG vaccine and the DIVA skin test started in 2021 and are ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>Final deployment will rely on the success of the ongoing field trials, achieving UK Marketing Authorisations from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) (for both CattleBCG and the companion DIVA skin test), gaining international recognition through the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) and our trading partners for both products, an IT system to record and trace vaccinated cattle, and acceptance of vaccination from stakeholders across the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the development of a bovine TB cattle vaccine can be found on the TB Hub at <a href="https://tbhub.co.uk/resources/frequently-asked-questions/development-of-a-deployable-tuberculosis-vaccine-for-cattle/" target="_blank">https://tbhub.co.uk/resources/frequently-asked-questions/development-of-a-deployable-tuberculosis-vaccine-for-cattle/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 03/05/2024 10:34:40 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1676060

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2023
	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	Flood Control: Loughborough
	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 Environment Agency has plans to provide funding for flood mitigation in Loughborough over the next 5 years.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	5697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) is working with partners to manage flood risk within Loughborough.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has allocated funding to develop the Wood Brook and Tributaries Flood Risk Management Scheme which will better protect over 150 properties. Under the Government’s partnership funding policy, £4.7 million of Flood Defence Grant in Aid is available for the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The EA is also working with partners to develop a Strategic Catchment Plan to create a holistic and long-term approach to managing flood risk within Loughborough and the wider catchment.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 14/12/2023 15:12:08 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1628479

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2023
	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	Dairy Farming: Government Assistance
	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 increase the level of financial support available to dairy farmers.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	185630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>We recognise the challenges facing the dairy sector. The Prime Minister set out new support for farmers to strengthen food security and grow the economy at the Farm to Fork Food Summit on 16 May 2023. This includes the creation of a £1 million programme to help dairy businesses, particularly SMEs, to seize export opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government has acted to support the agricultural sector, including dairy farmers, in a number of ways.</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Farming Investment Fund offers opportunities for dairy farmers (and others) to apply for grants towards the purchase of equipment and technology, and to help fund transformational infrastructure projects, that increase productivity, boost environmental sustainability and improve animal health and welfare. Eligible investments include slurry infrastructure and robotic milking systems for example.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Furthermore, in May 2023, the Government more than doubled the funding available in the first round of Slurry Infrastructure grant, with further rounds to follow. The scheme will support a large number of dairy farmers to upgrade their slurry systems, to improve organic nutrient use, reduce pollution and improve farm productivity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Government made changes in 2022 to guidance on farmers using manures and steps aimed at bringing about more sustainable fertiliser technologies through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>2022 also saw increased grants for farmers and growers and boosting research and development through the Farming Innovation Programme.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In 2022, the Basic Payment Scheme payment was amended so that payments are made in two instalments to give farmers greater financial fluidity for the remainder of the agricultural transition period.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In January 2023, I set out in the Environmental Land Management Update details of new SFI actions that will be available in 2023. In 2024 we will be adding new actions to those currently available in SFI and Countryside Stewardship and improving a number of existing Countryside Stewardship options, which will provide more support to the industry and drive uptake at a time of rising costs for farmers as a result of global challenges.</li></ul> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/05/2023 14:10:20 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1626664

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2023
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2023 to Question 182475 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control, if she will make it her policy to change the compensation calculation for farmers in England whose cattle have been culled due to tuberculosis so that each animal is individually valued.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	184542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2023 answer text <p>Until 2006, compensation for TB affected cattle in England was determined using individual valuations. There was however significant evidence of overcompensation so, following a public consultation in 2004, Defra moved to a table-based valuation system. Almost all cases of TB compensation in England are now determined using table valuations. Table valuations are objective and based on real market data. There are no plans to alter this approach.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 17/05/2023 13:35:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1623465

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2023
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: 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 recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Welsh Government on differences between compensation payments in England and Wales for farmers whose cattle have been culled as a result of tuberculosis; and whether she plans to take steps with her counterpart to align compensation payment levels.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	182475
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>Bovine TB is the most significant animal health problem facing cattle keepers in England and Wales and so my Department works closely with Welsh Government to support the development of more effective disease eradication policies. However, responsibility for animal health matters, including approaches to compensation, is fully devolved.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 02/05/2023 11:29:04 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1567492

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2023
	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	Business: Recycling
	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 she is taking to help ensure that businesses separate recyclable waste from general waste.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	125512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2023 answer text <p>We want to increase the recycling of packaging material, food and other recyclable material in the ‘non-household’ municipal sector, which includes businesses, public organisations (e.g. schools, universities, hospitals and government buildings) and other organisations. This will help us to increase the amount of material that we recycle and reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill.</p><p><br> Following support in response to initial consultation, the Environment Act 2021 stipulates that all businesses will be required to arrange for the collection of a core set of materials (glass; paper and card; plastic; metal; and food waste) for recycling in England</p><p><br> In 2021 we published a second consultation on recycling consistency. This consultation sought views on increasing consistency in recycling, including on the materials in scope of collection; exemptions; statutory guidance for waste collectors and cost reduction options for micro firms.</p><p><br> We are finalising our policy positions and analysis for impact assessment – we aim to publish the consultation response soon.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 25/01/2023 17:16:32 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1507740

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2022
	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	Incinerators
	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 manage the capacity of existing waste incinerators throughout the country so that over capacity does not encourage waste destruction rather than repair, reuse and recycling.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	54690
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2022 answer text <p>Energy from waste should not compete with greater waste prevention, reuse or recycling. Defra is currently working to set the long-term commitments of the Resources and Waste Strategy for England (RWS) into legislation under the 2021 Environment Act through legally binding targets, including a target on waste reduction. Defra continues to engage with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding planning for waste infrastructure and, as per the RWS commitment, continues to monitor England's waste infrastructure capacity and associated infrastructure requirements.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 12/10/2022 08:14:55 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt