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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

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

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

1124283

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	Pigeons
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 information his Department holds on the (a) value and (b) amount of the agricultural damage done by wood pigeons in England.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The current costs of woodpigeon damage to the individual grower sectors are not known.</p><p> </p><p>A 2014 estimate of woodpigeon damage to the overall UK oilseed rape crop was approximately £2 million for a ‘low impact’ year (2% of national crop severely damaged) and approximately £5 million for a ‘high impact’ year (5% of national crop severely damaged). This is based on an average loss of £131 per hectare for severely damaged crop. These figures were presented at a National Farmers Union bird deterrent event held in December 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have figures or estimates for damage overall to other UK crops. However, a small scale consultation in 2014 with growers produced estimates of economic loss associated with woodpigeon crop damage ranging from £125 per hectare for oilseed rape to £250 per hectare for peas and £330-£1,250 per hectare for brassicas. It should be noted that general estimates were often broad, lacked detail or in some cases were not provided.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/05/2019 14:32:47 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1124284

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	Pigeons
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 trends in the number of woodpigeons in England.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The Breeding Birds Survey 2017 estimates that the number of woodpigeons in England has increased by 39% from 1995 to 2017.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/05/2019 14:51:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1124286

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, whether he met with the interim Chair of Natural England to discuss the recent withdrawal of General Licences in England.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has discussed Natural England’s approach to the withdrawal of general licences with both Chief Executive Marian Spain and new Chair Tony Juniper.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 249800 question first answered 08/05/2019 16:58:36 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1124287

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, whether he has met the new Chairman of Natural England to discuss the withdrawal of General Licences in England.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	249800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has discussed Natural England’s approach to the withdrawal of general licences with both Chief Executive Marian Spain and new Chair Tony Juniper.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 249799 question first answered 08/05/2019 16:58:36 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching