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1134004

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Livestock: Exports
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 bring forward legislative proposals to ban the export of live animals from the UK for fattening and slaughter.
tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
tabling member printed	Laura Smith
uin	268497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s manifesto made it clear that we would take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter once we leave the European Union.</p><p>Last year we launched a Call for Evidence on controlling live exports for slaughter and improving the welfare of all animals during transport. We passed this evidence to the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC), who recently submitted their advice to Defra and the Devolved Administrations including in relation to live exports. We are considering FAWC’s report and aim to publish it, along with a Government response, this summer. We expect to come forward with proposals for public consultation to improve animal welfare in transport in due course.</p><p>As we move towards a new relationship with the EU and the rest of the world, we have a unique opportunity to shape future animal welfare policy in the UK to ensure the highest standards in every area.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 02/07/2019 15:59:28 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

1134125

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Forests
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 progress made in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on meeting the 2011 Bonn Challenge; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	268399
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Forestry is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Although not formally signed up to the Bonn challenge, we share its aims and are fully committed to woodland creation and restoration. Our 25 Year environment Plan has a goal of increasing tree cover in England from 10% to 12% by 2060. Recently we have funded £5.7 million to kick start the Northern Forest, announced a £10 million Woodland Carbon Guarantee fund, and launched a £10m fund for new trees in our towns and cities through the urban trees challenge fund. Since 1995 we have supported the National Forest Company in establishing woodlands to restore large areas of industrially impacted land in central England.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 02/07/2019 16:38:56 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134163

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Forests: North of England
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 ensure the preservation of the Northern Forest.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Trees are vital environmental, social and economic assets. We need to take action to protect all trees from pests and diseases to preserve the benefits trees provide, include those trees that are planted within the Northern Forest.</p><p> </p><p>Our woodlands and forests are protected by the Forestry Act and Felling Licence regulations. In most cases a licence is required from the Forestry Commission before a landowner can undertake tree felling, with the Forestry Commission taking into account the UK Forestry Standard when considering felling applications. Where clear felling takes place there is, in most cases, a requirement to restock the woodland to maintain our woodland resource.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting trees from pests and diseases is essential in realising our ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. The Tree Health Resilience strategy, published in May 2018, sets out how Government will work with others to reduce the risk of pest and disease threats, and how we will strengthen the resilience of our trees to withstand these threats. The strategy includes a National Action Plan that sets out what we are already doing and what we and others will need to do to protect our trees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has invested £5.7m to kick-start the development of the Northern Forest, which will have planted 1.8 million trees by the end of the Parliament to offer a firm foundation to continue to deliver against its longer term vision.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our ancient woodlands and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised in our 25 Year Environment Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Planning authorities are required to consult the Natural England and Forestry Commission ‘standing advice’ on ancient woodland and veteran trees when determining planning applications that may affect such habitats.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also providing funding of £5m for the HS2 Woodland Fund. This supports the restoration of existing plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) as well as the creation of new native woodland.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268381 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:02:09 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134164

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Forests: Conservation
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 preserve forests throughout the UK.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Trees are vital environmental, social and economic assets. We need to take action to protect all trees from pests and diseases to preserve the benefits trees provide, include those trees that are planted within the Northern Forest.</p><p> </p><p>Our woodlands and forests are protected by the Forestry Act and Felling Licence regulations. In most cases a licence is required from the Forestry Commission before a landowner can undertake tree felling, with the Forestry Commission taking into account the UK Forestry Standard when considering felling applications. Where clear felling takes place there is, in most cases, a requirement to restock the woodland to maintain our woodland resource.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting trees from pests and diseases is essential in realising our ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. The Tree Health Resilience strategy, published in May 2018, sets out how Government will work with others to reduce the risk of pest and disease threats, and how we will strengthen the resilience of our trees to withstand these threats. The strategy includes a National Action Plan that sets out what we are already doing and what we and others will need to do to protect our trees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has invested £5.7m to kick-start the development of the Northern Forest, which will have planted 1.8 million trees by the end of the Parliament to offer a firm foundation to continue to deliver against its longer term vision.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our ancient woodlands and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised in our 25 Year Environment Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Planning authorities are required to consult the Natural England and Forestry Commission ‘standing advice’ on ancient woodland and veteran trees when determining planning applications that may affect such habitats.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also providing funding of £5m for the HS2 Woodland Fund. This supports the restoration of existing plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) as well as the creation of new native woodland.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268380 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:02:09 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134166

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Tree Planting
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 trees are being planted annually in the UK; and whether the Government is meeting its target on tree planting.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Trees, woods and forests are a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only. Neither Defra nor the Forestry Commission records tree planting data except for trees planted in England with central Government support.</p><p> </p><p>The latest figures from the Forestry Commission’s report on <em>Government supported new planting of trees in England</em>, published on 13 June, show that from April 2018 to March 2019 at least 2.06 million trees have been planted with central Government support, equivalent to approximately 1,273 hectares of woodland creation. Between April 2017 and March 2018, 1.6 million trees were planted with central Government support, equivalent to approximately 1,045 hectares of woodland creation.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has planted 16.1 million trees since 2010, and remains on course to plant 11 million trees in this Parliament, 2017-22. Woodland creation is a key activity of our 25 Year Environment Plan.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 02/07/2019 16:09:14 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134168

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Tree Planting
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 increase the planting of trees.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the reply previously given to the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Paul Farrelly, on 20 June 2019 to PQ 265458.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268384 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:35:19 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134169

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Tree Planting
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 encourage landowners to plant trees.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the reply previously given to the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Paul Farrelly, on 20 June 2019 to PQ 265458.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268383 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:35:19 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134178

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Forests: Fires
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 takes to (a) prevent, (b) tackle and (c) deal with the aftermath of forest fires.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	268390
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has overall responsibility for wildfires and publishes data which shows most fires in grassland, woodland and crops are set deliberately.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Data provided by the Home Office is analysed and published by the Forestry Commission in addition to guidance that explains how owners can 1) reduce the risk of wildfire damaging their woodlands and 2) help woodlands recover from forest fires. The Forestry Commission holds workshops on Wildfire Prevention; over 150 land managers from the private and public sector have attended these. The Forestry Commission has an incident specific contingency plan for dealing with severe wildfire. In January 2019 this plan was tested in a major exercise which included staff from Defra, the Environment Agency, Public Health England, Natural England, Avon and Somerset Police, Forestry England and Forest Research.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra are currently undertaking a review of wildfire in relation to moorland and peatland management recognising that woodland habitats are a factor in such wildfires.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/07/2019 15:51:13 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1134270

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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 assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the establishment of the new Horse Welfare Board on further improving the high standards of welfare in British racing.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	268340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses and the BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The BHA has strong links to the international racing industry and was involved in establishing the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers that the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities and fixtures at British racecourses is good. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met the BHA as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results and intend to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268341 268342 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:06:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1134272

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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 assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities at fixtures at British racecourses regulated by the British Horseracing Authority to uphold horse welfare.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	268341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses and the BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The BHA has strong links to the international racing industry and was involved in establishing the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers that the standards of regulation, veterinary provision and facilities and fixtures at British racecourses is good. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met the BHA as well as the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board. This Board was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare specialists. This was a constructive meeting where the number of fatalities of racehorses was acknowledged and both sides agreed that further action is required to tackle avoidable harm and make the sport safer.</p><p> </p><p>The Board committed to doing all it can to improve welfare outcomes. I stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results and intend to stay in regular contact with both the BHA and newly appointed Horse Welfare Board to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 268340 268342 question first answered 02/07/2019 16:06:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching