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1124553

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
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	Plastic Bags: Biodegradability
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 ensure that plastic bags labelled as biodegradable or compostable break down quickly in a natural environment.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	250462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is concerned that, in the absence of agreed standards, claims about the biodegradability of plastic based products cannot be verified leading to potential confusion in the market place, possible increased levels of consumption and potential environmental harm at the point of disposal.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Bioeconomy Strategy published on 5 December 2018, the Government committed to work with UK Research and Innovation and industry to seek evidence on the demand, benefits and implications (for example the impact on recycling streams) of a standard for bio based and biodegradable plastics that would include carrier bags. The call for evidence will seek evidence in relation to labelling and information provision.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/05/2019 12:11:25 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1124564

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
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: Labelling
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 the Government has to bring forward legislation proposals to force retailers to display full lists of ingredients in their fresh produce.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	250431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>Under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers, all prepackaged food must include a label which provides the consumer with certain mandatory information, including a full list of ingredients. In addition, key allergens, as defined in Annex II of the Regulation, must be emphasised in the ingredient list, for example, by printing them in a bold typeface.</p><p> </p><p>For non-prepackaged foods and foods which are prepackaged for direct sale, a full list of ingredients is not required on the label; however, information about allergens must be made available to the consumer, whether that be on the label, orally at the point of sale or by some other means.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has recently closed a consultation to strengthen allergen labelling laws relating to pre-packaged food for direct sale and give consumers clearer information on the food they buy. We are considering all responses and continuing to work at pace to bring forward the changes necessary to give consumers greater confidence in the safety of their food. We will announce next steps soon.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 09/05/2019 15:09:29 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1124131

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	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 plans he has for a strategy to manage bovine TB in the countryside without using badger culling; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	249821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>A successful strategy for eradicating bovine TB involves addressing all routes of spread of infection, including cattle-to-cattle, cattle-to-badger, badger-to-badger and badger-to-cattle.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s 25 year bovine TB eradication strategy, we are taking strong action to eradicate the disease and protect the future of our dairy and beef industries, with emphasis on detecting infection early in cattle herds, containing and removing it as quickly as possible, and tighter biosecurity. We also enable farmers and landowners to carry out badger culling and/or badger vaccination, subject to strict licensing criteria by Natural England.</p><p> </p><p>Sir Charles Godfray’s review of the strategy is an important contribution that will inform future approaches around our goal of eradicating the disease in England by 2038.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 09/05/2019 15:15:19 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1124135

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Agriculture and Waste Disposal: Carbon 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, what steps he is taking to reduce emissions in agriculture and waste management.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	249917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra is committed to take action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. As the cornerstone of our future agriculture policy, the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) system will pay public money for the provision of environmental public goods, including mitigation and adaption to climate change. Our Clean Growth Strategy (CGS) and 25 Year Environment Plan also set out a range of specific commitments to reduce emissions from agriculture.</p><p>This year we have started to develop a new emissions reduction plan for agriculture, which will set out our long-term vision for a more productive, low-carbon farming sector. This policy development will be informed by research, modelling, stakeholder engagement and feasibility studies. We are establishing a Lowland Agricultural Peat Taskforce to identify how to protect our peat carbon stores and prevent further emissions. In addition we are making progress towards our target to plant 11 million new trees in this parliament and continuing to phase down fluorinated gases.</p><p>For waste, the majority of our emissions are in the form of methane generated by biodegradable waste breaking down anaerobically in landfill. We have made significant improvements in this area, with emissions from the waste sector falling by 70% since 1990. This is mostly due to the implementation of methane recovery systems at UK landfill sites, as well as policies such as the landfill tax reducing the amount of waste disposed of here.</p><p> </p><p>Further improvements will come from policies announced in the recent Resources and Waste Strategy, which are currently being consulted on. For example, we want to introduce a consistent set of materials to be collected across local authorities and municipal businesses, which would include food waste being collected separately. This is expected to divert a significant amount of biodegradable waste away from landfill and therefore lead to a reduction in the associated emissions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/05/2019 14:47:30 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1124173

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Fisheries
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 support the fishing industry in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Nigel Dodds
uin	249860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU will mean the UK will become an independent coastal state for the first time in 40 years. The UK will be able to control access to UK waters and secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities, for the benefit of the whole of the UK fishing industry, including Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>Our vision for future fisheries policy is set out in the Fisheries White Paper: Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations. The Fisheries Bill provides the powers necessary to manage our fisheries as an independent coastal state.</p><p> </p><p>On 10 December 2018, the Secretary of State announced £37.2 million of extra funding for the UK seafood sector for projects approved during 2019 and 2020 to boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state. In line with the existing allocation of European Maritime and Fisheries Fund funds, £3.6 million of this additional funding will be allocated to Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 09/05/2019 15:25:20 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

1124258

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Nappies: 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 support the Government is providing for the introduction of reusable nappy schemes by local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	249993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our ambition to eliminate avoidable waste. We welcome initiatives which keep waste out of landfill, such as reusable nappy schemes, whilst recognising the importance of wider environmental considerations such as energy usage. The Government is carrying out research on nappies that will look at such issues as the relative energy, water and waste impacts of the alternatives.</p><p> </p><p>We are exploring policy options in line with our commitment in the strategy and will develop proposals in due course for a range of individual products, including disposable hygiene products. This will involve in-depth discussions with industry and other stakeholders.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/05/2019 15:21:59 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1124274

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Circuses: Wildlife
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 wild animals of each species are currently licensed for use in travelling circuses in England; and which of those wild animals are classified as dangerous.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	249841
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>There are currently 19 wild animals licensed by Defra for use by two travelling circuses in England. The 19 wild animals are 6 Reindeer; 4 Camels; 4 Zebras; 2 Racoons; 1 Fox; 1 Macaw; and 1 Zebu.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; Camels, Zebra and Reindeer (domestic Reindeer excepted) are classified as dangerous animals.</p><p> </p><p>In each of the last five complete calendar years the following number of breaches (as defined as a significant breach of one of the 17 different licensing conditions or standards assessed at each inspection) were identified in the two licensed circuses:</p><p> </p><p>2014 – 1</p><p>2015 – 2</p><p>2016 – 0</p><p>2017 – 0</p><p>2018 – 0</p><p> </p><p>Each licensed circus is inspected at least three times a year, with at least one inspection being unannounced. Where any breaches were found, the circuses were required to undertake remedial actions to address the issues identified.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 249842 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:26:28 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1124279

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Birds: Pest 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 assessment he has made of the effect on (a) pest control, (b) agriculture and (c) animal welfare of Natural England’s withdrawal of three General Licences for pest control.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249792
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra fully recognises the implications of the withdrawal of these licences for pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers. For this reason, the Secretary of State has taken back decision making powers with respect to the three licences in question. Defra has initiated a call for evidence in order to better understand the impact of the withdrawal, which closes on Monday 13 May. Due to the nature of the general licences, Natural England does not hold records of the numbers of people who rely on them but it estimates up to 50,000 people may be affected.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 249796 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:40:47 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1124281

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Birds: Pest 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 estimate he has made of the number of people that control pests under the terms of the General Licence.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra fully recognises the implications of the withdrawal of these licences for pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers. For this reason, the Secretary of State has taken back decision making powers with respect to the three licences in question. Defra has initiated a call for evidence in order to better understand the impact of the withdrawal, which closes on Monday 13 May. Due to the nature of the general licences, Natural England does not hold records of the numbers of people who rely on them but it estimates up to 50,000 people may be affected.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 249792 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:40:47 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1124282

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Circuses: Wildlife
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 travelling circuses are currently licensed to use wild animals in England; and how many licences for such use have been breached in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	249842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>There are currently 19 wild animals licensed by Defra for use by two travelling circuses in England. The 19 wild animals are 6 Reindeer; 4 Camels; 4 Zebras; 2 Racoons; 1 Fox; 1 Macaw; and 1 Zebu.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; Camels, Zebra and Reindeer (domestic Reindeer excepted) are classified as dangerous animals.</p><p> </p><p>In each of the last five complete calendar years the following number of breaches (as defined as a significant breach of one of the 17 different licensing conditions or standards assessed at each inspection) were identified in the two licensed circuses:</p><p> </p><p>2014 – 1</p><p>2015 – 2</p><p>2016 – 0</p><p>2017 – 0</p><p>2018 – 0</p><p> </p><p>Each licensed circus is inspected at least three times a year, with at least one inspection being unannounced. Where any breaches were found, the circuses were required to undertake remedial actions to address the issues identified.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 249841 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:26:28 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope