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1081906

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
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	Fishing Vessels: Northern Ireland
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 have taken place between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland to resolve the issue of the two Northern Irish fishing vessels seized by the Irish Navy on 26 February 2019.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	228157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2019 answer text <p>On 26 February, two Northern Ireland fishing vessels were detained in Dundalk Bay. The skippers of the boats appeared in court on 1 March. They have since been released without conviction and the boats returned.</p><p> </p><p>The Voisinage Arrangement between the UK and Ireland provides for reciprocal access to fish in the 0-6nm zone. However, the arrangement has been suspended by Ireland following a decision by the Irish Supreme Court in 2016. As a result, fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within Ireland’s 0-6nm zone is currently not permitted. The UK has continued to respect the arrangement but cannot allow this unequal treatment to continue indefinitely.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has made numerous representations to the Irish Government since 2016 to push for the reinstatement of the arrangement as soon as possible. Following the seizure of the two vessels, the Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, committed on 1 March to changing the law to restore the status quo to what it was before 2016, and has indicated that he is confident the legislation can be passed quickly. Government officials are seeking confirmation from the Irish Government of the timetable for this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 07/03/2019 14:24:57 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1077127

registered interest
date	25/02/2019
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: 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 he is taking to protect rare breeds of UK (a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	225511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The UK has one of the richest native rare breed populations in the world and their importance is recognised at both international and UK levels. We have identified 104 UK native breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To protect our native rare breeds Defra works with the Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee and the evolved administrations on all rare breed issues, particularly their conservation and sustainable use.</p><p> </p><p>We have:</p><ol><li><p>Established an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-farm-animal-genetic-resources-fangr-breed-inventory-results" target="_blank">Annual Inventory</a> to provide data on populations of breeds.</p></li><li><p>Published the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-country-report-on-farm-animal-genetic-resources-2012" target="_blank">UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources</a> which, in part, outlines conservation plans and priorities for specialist and native breeds.</p></li><li><p>Carried out annual reviews of the lists of Breeds at Risk present in the UK using statistics taken from the Annual Inventory.</p></li><li><p>Created contingency plan guidance for Breeds at Risk in the event of an exotic disease.</p></li></ol><p> </p><p>Some rare native breeds are also supported through agri-environment schemes. Details on total agreements and value of funding under Defra run schemes, including Environmental Stewardship (HR2) and Countryside Stewardship (SP8) (grazing supplement for rare native breeds), for the years 2015–2018 are:</p><p> </p><p>2015 – 1,454 agreements totalling £2,958,854</p><p>2016 – 1,404 agreements totalling £2,832,800</p><p>2017 – 1,340 agreements totalling £2,707,668</p><p>2018 – 1,310 agreements totalling £2,719,028</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 11:48:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1064671

registered interest
date	21/02/2019
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	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 he has made of the adequacy of enforcement of laws on animal cruelty.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	224329
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The animal welfare laws in England contain effective powers to enable their robust enforcement.</p><p> </p><p>Any person or organisation, such as the RSPCA, can take forward private prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The RSPCA in particular investigates many allegations of animal welfare offences where additional powers are needed, for example to gain entry or to seize animals. The RSPCA will often work in partnership with the police or local authorities who have these specific powers under the Act.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government is increasing the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences from six months’ to five years’ imprisonment.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 28/02/2019 14:34:45 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1063840

registered interest
date	19/02/2019
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	Dangerous Dogs
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 dog attacks on humans there have been in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	222845
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>Defra does not keep a record of the numbers of people bitten by dogs. Data for admission to hospital in England as a result of a dog bite is available online from NHS digital.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 27/02/2019 17:40:55 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1063841

registered interest
date	19/02/2019
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	Poultry: Legionnaires' Disease
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 outbreaks of legionnaires in turkeys there have been in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	222846
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>Legionnaires’ disease is a water-borne infection that affects humans and Defra is not aware of any cases of Legionella bacteria affecting turkeys.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 27/02/2019 17:57:51 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1063918

registered interest
date	19/02/2019
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	Salmon: Scotland
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 discussions officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Scottish Government on trends in mortality rates for farmed salmon.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	223058
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is aware of concerns about trends in mortality rates for Scottish farmed salmon. Aquaculture is a devolved matter. The issue is therefore a matter for the Scottish Government, which we understand is taking action, including through the Farmed Fish Health Framework. Officials are in regular discussions with Scottish Government counterparts on a wide range of issues related to fishing and aquaculture.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 26/02/2019 11:08:36 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058688

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Stoats: 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 steps his Department is taking to control stoat numbers.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219436
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>While the Government regulates the management of wildlife it is not directly involved in the control of stoats. Responsibility for management lies with the landowner or occupier.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/02/2019 12:05:30 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058689

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Deer: 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, how many cases of chronic wasting disease in deer there were in each of the last five years; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU on tackling that disease.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219437
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>To date no cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer have been confirmed in the UK. Since 2016, 24 cases have been confirmed in Norway (details can be found on their <a href="http://www.hjortevilt.no/skrantesjuke/" target="_blank">website</a>) and one in Finland. These are the only cases to date in Europe.</p><p> </p><p>Defra officials are in ongoing discussion with the European Union on measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The EU has banned the import of live cervids and cervid meat and products from member states and third countries where the disease has been confirmed, and has also banned the import and transit of urine lures. Following the first confirmation of CWD in Norway in 2016, the European Commission has introduced safeguard measures to limit the seasonal movements of live animals between certain regions of Norway, Sweden and Finland.</p><p> </p><p>The UK will continue to implement these controls following our departure from the EU.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 19/02/2019 11:19:57 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058690

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Water: Pollution 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 steps his Department is taking to reduce water pollution from industry.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219438
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Water pollution from industry is controlled by permits issued under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2015. In England, these permits are issued by the Environment Agency (EA) and control the levels of pollution in effluent discharges by setting limits on the chemical concentration and volume of the effluent. The limits are set to protect waters from the adverse impacts of pollution and to meet the appropriate environmental standards for river, ground water and bathing water quality. Operators must comply with the permit and it is an offence to breach a permit condition. Enforcement action may be taken dependant on the nature and severity of the offence.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to controlling pollution from discharges using permits, the EA receives around 40,000 water pollution incident reports per year. Most have little or minor impact but there are around 250 incidents per year which are classified as significant or serious. Very few of these are deliberate acts and are caused accidentally after spillage or system failure. Most significant or serious pollution incidents come from the water industry and agriculture. The remainder are spread across other sectors such as transport, retail, manufacturing, domestic and residential or are a result of natural causes.</p><p> </p><p>The EA responds to all serious incidents and follows them up with appropriate action including warning letters, formal caution, civil sanctions and prosecution. In 2014 the sentencing guidelines were revised so that fines are now related to the level of culpability and the company’s turnover. This has seen a steep rise in the value of fines which is now a much greater deterrent to causing pollution.</p><p> </p><p>Working to control discharges through environmental permits and by taking decisive action in response to pollution offences has led to significant reductions in pollution and improvements in water quality over recent years. Plans for continued improvement in this area are included in the Government's 25 Year Environmental Plan.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 11:06:26 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058691

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Salmon
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 increase stocks of (a) wild and (b) farmed salmon in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219439
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The management of wild salmon populations, freshwater fisheries and salmon farming is devolved.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government is collaborating with industry on the “Salmon Five Point Approach” to address the pressures that cause salmon numbers to fall, such as water quality, migration barriers, marine survival and exploitation. In 2018, the Government introduced National Salmon and Sea Trout Protection byelaws which restrict recreational and net fisheries in England, to reduce exploitation and conserve adult salmon enabling them to spawn successfully.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 12:35:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon