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1458564

registered interest
date	19/04/2022
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	Pets: Travel
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 implications for his policies of the Dogs Trust's recommendation to move the focus of enforcement of the pet travel legislation from carriers to a qualified animal professional from a Government agency.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	155690
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Carriers work closely with operational colleagues at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Border Force, and they are committed to preventing illegal imports of pet animals. Authorised pet checkers are trained by APHA prior to being granted approval and receive annual audits of their checking and processing to ensure they uphold our requirements. APHA regularly reviews its border enforcement work against known travel trends of those that seek to illegally import puppies to the UK, to keep pace with this rapidly evolving criminal activity. Part of this work includes intelligence-led targeting of suspected smugglers, alongside partner agencies, including Border Force. Border Force operates a 24-hour service, seven days per week and alerts APHA to suspected non-compliant dogs and puppies. Targeted intelligence-led work often takes place outside of normal working hours as needed. The Government is satisfied with the workings of these current arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 27/04/2022 17:34:56 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1454177

registered interest
date	24/03/2022
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 Products: Imports
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 his timetable is for bringing forward the Animals Abroad Bill; and whether he plans to include a ban on the advertising and offering for sale of attractions, activities or experiences in that bill, such as low-welfare animal venues.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	146602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2022 answer text <p>As set out in the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are committed to promoting high animal welfare standards both at home and abroad. This includes delivering a range of measures to promote the welfare of animals beyond UK borders, setting a global example for high welfare and conservation standards.</p><p> </p><p>We are moving forward with our plans to deliver one of the toughest bans in the world on the import of hunting trophies from thousands of endangered and threatened species. We are firmly committed to the ban, and this will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows. We are also looking at further measures to protect animals abroad, including banning the import and export of detached fins, and taking action against low welfare animal experiences.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 29/03/2022 15:56:33 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1439868

registered interest
date	10/03/2022
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	Pets: Import Controls
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 potential merits of introducing visual checks at (a) ports and (b) the Eurotunnel to ensure that a pet animal is (i) the same as the animal listed on the pet passport, (ii) not heavily pregnant and (iii) not suffering from poor welfare conditions; what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle the smuggling of puppies; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	138020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2022 answer text <p>We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers at the point of entry. Carriers can refer suspected non-compliances to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).</p><p> </p><p>Animal welfare legislation requires that when animals are transported their transportation must comply fully with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare, such as, they must be fit for the intended journey; transported in the appropriate conditions; and, when transportation is for a commercial purpose, the transporter must hold a GB authorisation. APHA works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June 2021 and completed committee on 18 November 2021. The Bill allows us to further protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation. In August 2021, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on our proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets, including rescue pets, into Great Britain. This included proposals to ban the commercial and non-commercial movement into Great Britain of puppies under the age of six months, heavily pregnant dogs and dogs which have been subjected to low welfare practices such as ear cropping or tail docking. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary response in due course. This will allow us to take onboard the views of the public and interested groups on puppy smuggling and low welfare imports in order to shape our future policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2022 13:49:50 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1437824

registered interest
date	03/03/2022
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: Consumption
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 levels of plant-based food consumption in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the way in which plant-based food consumption can support his Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	133987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government gathers and coordinates data and statistics to monitor food purchasing and eating habits to understand consumption trends. This includes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population in the UK and the Food Family Survey with detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes by UK households.</p><p>The Government's advice on consumption and diet is set out in the Eatwell Guide - which provides advice on how to obtain a balance of healthier and more sustainable food and includes recommendations such as to have a diet that includes more fibre, fruit and vegetables.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 133988 question first answered 17/03/2022 09:05:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1437825

registered interest
date	03/03/2022
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 Supply
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 his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of plant-based foods as an alternative to meat-based products in the context of the forthcoming Food Strategy White Paper.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	133988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government gathers and coordinates data and statistics to monitor food purchasing and eating habits to understand consumption trends. This includes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population in the UK and the Food Family Survey with detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes by UK households.</p><p>The Government's advice on consumption and diet is set out in the Eatwell Guide - which provides advice on how to obtain a balance of healthier and more sustainable food and includes recommendations such as to have a diet that includes more fibre, fruit and vegetables.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 133987 question first answered 17/03/2022 09:05:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1420287

registered interest
date	07/02/2022
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	Carbon Emissions: Agriculture and Land Use
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 potential merits of developing a nature-positive and net-zero aligned decarbonisation strategy for agriculture and land use as recommended by WWF and the Climate Change Committee.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	119503
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2022 answer text <p>Defra is fully committed to supporting the cross Government and cross societal work to reach net zero emissions by 2050. We set out our work in this area as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, and have regular conversations with BEIS at all levels, including between Secretaries of State, on net zero. Our UK Food Security report also highlighted the importance of tackling climate change to support a resilient food supply and the future resilience of farming businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Our future farming environmental land management schemes will be crucial to delivering our goals to decarbonise agriculture and land use in England. In January the department published a target to decarbonise agricultural emissions by a total of up to 6 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per annum in Carbon Budget 6 (2033-37). We will pursue further opportunities to support farmers and land managers' contribution to delivering our Carbon Budgets, including through investment in innovation.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Act introduced statutory Environmental Improvement Plans (EIP) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies with strong land use elements. Together with our planning system they will help to maximise the benefits of any land use change. As part of our next EIP, the review of the 25 Year Environment Plan due in 2023, we will be setting out our policy pathways to reach our legally binding targets under the Environment Act, including to halt the decline in nature by 2030.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 119504 119505 question first answered 16/02/2022 17:57:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1420288

registered interest
date	07/02/2022
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	Carbon Emissions: Agriculture and Land Use
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 he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on developing (a) a target and (b) a strategy for decarbonising agriculture and land use in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	119504
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2022 answer text <p>Defra is fully committed to supporting the cross Government and cross societal work to reach net zero emissions by 2050. We set out our work in this area as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, and have regular conversations with BEIS at all levels, including between Secretaries of State, on net zero. Our UK Food Security report also highlighted the importance of tackling climate change to support a resilient food supply and the future resilience of farming businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Our future farming environmental land management schemes will be crucial to delivering our goals to decarbonise agriculture and land use in England. In January the department published a target to decarbonise agricultural emissions by a total of up to 6 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per annum in Carbon Budget 6 (2033-37). We will pursue further opportunities to support farmers and land managers' contribution to delivering our Carbon Budgets, including through investment in innovation.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Act introduced statutory Environmental Improvement Plans (EIP) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies with strong land use elements. Together with our planning system they will help to maximise the benefits of any land use change. As part of our next EIP, the review of the 25 Year Environment Plan due in 2023, we will be setting out our policy pathways to reach our legally binding targets under the Environment Act, including to halt the decline in nature by 2030.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 119503 119505 question first answered 16/02/2022 17:57:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1420289

registered interest
date	07/02/2022
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	Carbon Emissions: Agriculture and Land Use
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 merits of developing a nature-positive and net-zero aligned decarbonisation strategy for agriculture and land use as recommended by WWF and the Climate Change Committee.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	119505
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2022 answer text <p>Defra is fully committed to supporting the cross Government and cross societal work to reach net zero emissions by 2050. We set out our work in this area as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, and have regular conversations with BEIS at all levels, including between Secretaries of State, on net zero. Our UK Food Security report also highlighted the importance of tackling climate change to support a resilient food supply and the future resilience of farming businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Our future farming environmental land management schemes will be crucial to delivering our goals to decarbonise agriculture and land use in England. In January the department published a target to decarbonise agricultural emissions by a total of up to 6 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per annum in Carbon Budget 6 (2033-37). We will pursue further opportunities to support farmers and land managers' contribution to delivering our Carbon Budgets, including through investment in innovation.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Act introduced statutory Environmental Improvement Plans (EIP) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies with strong land use elements. Together with our planning system they will help to maximise the benefits of any land use change. As part of our next EIP, the review of the 25 Year Environment Plan due in 2023, we will be setting out our policy pathways to reach our legally binding targets under the Environment Act, including to halt the decline in nature by 2030.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 119503 119504 question first answered 16/02/2022 17:57:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1379531

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
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	Trapping
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 effectiveness of snare traps; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	76640
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2021 answer text <p>While some people consider snares to be an inhumane and unnecessary means of trapping wild animals, others maintain they are an essential tool in controlling foxes and rabbits.</p><p> </p><p>There is a code of practice for the use of snares to control foxes in England which sets out clear principles for the legal and humane use of snares, using evidence from snare-use research to improve their deployment and design. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 also prohibits the use of self-locking snares and the setting of any type of snare in places where they are likely to catch certain non-target animals such as badgers. It also requires snares to be inspected on a daily basis.</p><p> </p><p>However, when used improperly, snares can cause immense suffering to both target and non-target animals including pet cats and dogs. The use of snares is therefore an issue we are looking at closely as part of our continued drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Government’s Animal Action for Welfare Plan, published in May of this year, we are looking at whether changes need to be made to reflect concerns raised.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 10/12/2021 14:52:44 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1357283

registered interest
date	21/09/2021
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	Horses: 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, with reference to the evidence presented in the BBC Panorama documentary, entitled The Dark Side of Horse Racing, broadcast on 24 July 2021, that some horses are travelling from Ireland to Great Britain to be slaughtered, whether his Department has plans to review its policy and legislation on the distance travelled by horses for slaughter in response to that evidence; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	52468
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare during transport.</p><p> </p><p>We consulted earlier this year on a wide range of proposals to improve how animals are transported in England and Wales, including reduced journey times for horses. In August we published a joint response, with the Welsh Government, to the consultation[1] outlining how we will be taking reforms forward.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1011728/animal-welfare-in-transport-consultation-response.pdf" target="_blank">Improvements to animal welfare in transport: summary of responses and government response (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/09/2021 09:55:59 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith