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1086567

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Dogs: Quarantine
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 puppies have been seized and taken into quarantine since the Animal and Plant Health Agency established an intelligence team to gather data, intelligence and information on the illegal movement of dogs and puppies in 2015.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	230871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA’s) data retention period for import data is 3 years. APHA holds data on animals landed in Great Britain that do not meet the import requirements and therefore require quarantine, under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 (as amended) (RIO).</p><p> </p><p>The number of puppies quarantined in the last three years can be found in the table below. The figures for illegal animals also include:</p><p> </p><p>• pet animals that arrive at UK airports and during the pets check are found to be non-compliant.</p><p>• animals that are found ‘inland’ and after a trading standards investigation are found to be non-compliant.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Number of puppies quarantined</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p>680</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p>486</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p>178</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There are many reasons why people do not comply with the legislation concerning the importation of dogs entering the UK. As a result, Defra and APHA have put in place mechanisms to understand the cause of non-compliance through collaborative working with third sector partners, enhanced working with carriers and better sharing of information by developing intelligence networks.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the complex landscape, it is not possible to correlate the number of seizures to any one particular initiative. There have been a number of recent focused efforts from all involved parties including training carrier operatives on the requirements for compliant travel and changes to the hours of working of APHA staff at Dover. Intelligence gathered has been used effectively to alert other EU member states of issues arising, to disrupt illegal trade before it enters the UK.</p><p> </p><p>It is therefore through a combination of numerous activities that the number of dogs requiring seizure has dropped.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 14/03/2019 15:26:26 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1086568

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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: Transport
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 animals have been transported to mainland Europe for slaughter in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	230872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACEs) publishes data on the number of exports for slaughter. TRACEs has only published data from 2014-2016; data for 2017 and 2018 has not yet been published.</p><p> </p><p>The data can be viewed here: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/live_animals_en" target="_blank">https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/live_animals_en</a></p><p> </p><p>The total volume of trade in live exports for slaughter to the EU from the UK from 2014 to 2016 was:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Cattle </strong></p></td><td><p>3,982</p></td><td><p>7,673</p></td><td><p>10,464</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sheep</strong></p></td><td><p>361,769</p></td><td><p>321,343</p></td><td><p>385,099</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Pigs </strong></p></td><td><p>10,396</p></td><td><p>12,772</p></td><td><p>8,916</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>378,161</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>343,803</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>406,495</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The majority of animals are exported from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 14/03/2019 11:22:39 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1086702

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Seasonal Workers: Cornwall
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 estimate his Department has made of the number of seasonal workers employed in Cornwall in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	St Austell and Newquay
tabling member printed	Steve Double
uin	230817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The number of seasonal, casual or gang labourers on commercial agricultural holdings<sup>(a)</sup> in the South West Region on 1 June in each of the last five years is shown in the table below. County breakdowns are only available for 2013 and 2016, therefore figures for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are included for these years only.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Seasonal, casual or gang labour<sup>(b)</sup></strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West Region</p></td><td><p>4429</p></td><td><p>5440</p></td><td><p>5744</p></td><td><p>5415</p></td><td><p>6757</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cornwall and Isles of Scilly</p></td><td><p>837</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>1221</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>n/a: not available</p><p>Source: Defra June Survey of Agriculture</p><p>(a) Commercial holdings are those with significant levels of farming activity. These significant levels are classified as any holding with more than 5 hectares of agricultural land, 1 hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.</p><p>(b) Seasonal, casual or gang labour is defined as seasonal, casual and gang workers, including family and non-family workers who are usually employed for less than 20 weeks of the year.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 12:14:50 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	4452 label Biography information for Steve Double

1086721

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Hedgehogs: East Midlands
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 steps he has taken to tackle the decline in hedgehog numbers in the East Midlands.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	230910
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government has published advice on how to help hedgehogs through the creation of hedgehog havens and making gardens as welcoming as possible. This can be accessed at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/news/five-simple-steps-to-transform-gardens-in-to-hedgehog-havens" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/news/five-simple-steps-to-transform-gardens-in-to-hedgehog-havens</a></p><p> </p><p>We support the excellent work being undertaken by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, such as the Hedgehog Street campaign and their Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs which sets out a ten year approach to supporting this species. Natural England is taking action to address some of the objectives in this strategy.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat to provide benefits for species such as the hedgehog. Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for a range of species including hedgehogs.</p><p> </p><p>These actions are at a national level. We do not hold information on how they are being taken forward in the East Midlands specifically.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/03/2019 17:00:23 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1086725

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Smallholdings
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 ensure that local authorities are delivering value for money through their management of county council smallholding estates.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	230610
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra’s annual report to Parliament on the proceedings of local authority smallholdings in England published on 27 February 2019, shows that the reporting smallholding authorities generated a revenue account net surplus of around £16 million in 2017/2018 from their council smallholdings estates.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities regularly review all their commercial assets to establish strategies to help meet financial requirements and deliver service transformation needs. We encourage all smallholding authorities reviewing rural estate assets to follow the principles and guidance set out in the Rural Estate Asset Management Planning Good Practice Guidance which was prepared by the Association of Chief Estates Surveyors and the Tenancy Reform Industry Group.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 230612 question first answered 14/03/2019 12:22:42 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1086726

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Smallholdings
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 the Government last carried out an assessment of the performance of local authorities in delivering the objective for county council smallholding estates as set out in section 39 of the Agriculture Act 1970.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	230611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>I value the contribution council farms make in providing opportunities for new entrants to start off in farming.</p><p> </p><p>Every year Defra lays a report on the proceedings of Local Authority Smallholdings before Parliament and publishes it on GOV.UK. The most recent report was published on 27 February 2019 providing statistical and financial information on the delivery of council farm smallholdings estates across England for the financial year of 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The report can be downloaded from the GOV.UK website here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/68th-annual-report-to-parliament-on-smallholdings-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/68th-annual-report-to-parliament-on-smallholdings-in-england</a></p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 12:33:43 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1086727

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Smallholdings
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 whether recent disposals of county council smallholding estates have delivered the greatest possible return for the taxpayer.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	230612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra’s annual report to Parliament on the proceedings of local authority smallholdings in England published on 27 February 2019, shows that the reporting smallholding authorities generated a revenue account net surplus of around £16 million in 2017/2018 from their council smallholdings estates.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities regularly review all their commercial assets to establish strategies to help meet financial requirements and deliver service transformation needs. We encourage all smallholding authorities reviewing rural estate assets to follow the principles and guidance set out in the Rural Estate Asset Management Planning Good Practice Guidance which was prepared by the Association of Chief Estates Surveyors and the Tenancy Reform Industry Group.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 230610 question first answered 14/03/2019 12:22:42 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1086728

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Smallholdings
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 assist local authorities in the management of their county council smallholding estates for the benefit of new entrant and progressing farmers.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	230613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>I value the contribution council farms make as a way into farming for new entrants and progressing farmers. As set out in our Health and Harmony Policy Statement in September 2018, we are considering how to help Local Authorities who want to invest in their Council Farms, so that they offer real opportunities for new farmers to start a foundation business and gain the experience they need to progress onto a larger unit.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 12:29:18 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1086782

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Nature 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, how much his Department has spent in restoring British endangered species in each if the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	230847
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England runs a Species Recovery Programme which directly supports research and action to recover endangered or threatened species. Funding allocations for the Programme were £873,000, £737,000 and £777,000 in the years 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>This is only a small proportion of the Government’s expenditure on threatened species. Species conservation is integrated into funding programmes for protected sites, agri-environment schemes and wider investment in wildlife-rich habitats and ecosystems.</p><p> </p><p>Defra’s agencies and non-departmental bodies also work with a range of partners to support the recovery of threatened species. Natural England is working with a range of conservation organisations on the externally funded Back from the Brink programme to protect threatened species and their habitats. The Environment Agency is working with partners to support the conservation of freshwater priority species such as the freshwater pearl mussel and salmon.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/03/2019 10:08:15 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1086783

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	Nature Reserves
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 national nature reserves are (a) at risk of deteriorating and (b) deteriorating.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	230848
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>Information on the condition of National Nature Reserves is publicly available on Natural England’s designated sites viewer:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SearchEngland.aspx" target="_blank">https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SearchEngland.aspx</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/03/2019 16:55:59 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock