Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1177013

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Microplastics: Marine Environment
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 her Department is taking to prevent micro plastics from entering the sea.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	14020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>Microplastics, pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm, can fragment from larger items or be intentionally produced. Our aim is to prevent plastic pollution at its source and develop a circular economy approach to plastic.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, we launched one of the world’s toughest bans on the sale and manufacture of microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, helping to prevent billions of tiny plastic pieces from entering the ocean every year.</p><p> </p><p>Pre-production plastic pellets are a major source of microplastics. Current estimates put the number of pellets lost during the production of plastic in the UK between 5 billion and 53 billion. We have been engaging with industry to encourage businesses to do more, including signing up to Operation Clean Sweep, to prevent plastic pellet loss.</p><p> </p><p>To address evidence gaps from other sources of microplastics we have commissioned:</p><p> </p><ol><li>A study from the University of Plymouth to investigate the sources and pathways of microplastics from tyres and textiles into the marine environment.</li><li>A Rapid Evidence Assessment by Defra on “Analysis, Prevalence and Impact of Microplastics in Freshwater and Estuarine Environment”.</li></ol><p>These reports will be published this year and the evidence will help us continue to develop policies to tackle the problem.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:17:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177034

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Chemicals
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 progress his Department has made on the development of a national chemicals strategy.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>Work on the Chemicals Strategy (CS) started in the summer of 2019. A broad programme of stakeholder engagement is underway to help shape the vision and scope of the CS. To date, we have engaged with interested stakeholders from industry representatives to academia to voluntary organisations.</p><p> </p><p>We will publish a Call for Evidence in the spring to seek views on the safe and effective management of chemicals. This will be published on Defra’s website. It will help inform the development of a draft CS for consultation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:15:43 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177039

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on classifying per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances as a group of chemicals in the Stockholm Convention.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>There is a growing global awareness of the adverse effects on human health and the environment of polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS); the widespread occurrence of it in products and the environment make it a complex challenge.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is a signatory to the Stockholm Convention which bans and/or restricts the production, use and emissions of substances listed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). We will continue to engage with the Stockholm process on the management PFAS as a group of chemicals.</p><p> </p><p>The UK participated in recent discussions on PFAS at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where we offered our scientific expertise to support work on new PFAS assessments and life cycle approaches. We will continue to work with partners around the world to develop our approach domestically and internationally.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:19:00 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177040

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Chemicals: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he bring forward legislative proposals to tighten the regulations on the (a) control and (b) use of highly persistent chemicals.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13973
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>The production, use, and disposal of Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) chemicals is managed in order to protect human health and the environment. Substances that fulfil the criteria for a POP are banned or restricted under the international Stockholm Convention and we regulate to enforce those restrictions.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan has specific targets to reduce emissions of POPs to the environment and we produce a triannual National Implementation Plan. It sets out our ambitions for the next three years and reports on previous actions and targets.</p><p> </p><p>We will also consider whether further action is needed to reduce the impact of these chemicals in the forthcoming Chemicals Strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:16:36 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177041

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of monitoring levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in the sea as part of the Marine Strategy.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13974
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>The Environment Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science will carry out field studies in 2020 to estimate levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in sediments in selected English estuaries and coastal waters. The results will be used to inform assessments of the risks posed by these chemicals to humans and sea life as part of the UK Marine Strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:13:26 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177042

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in consumer products.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13975
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a group of thousands of chemicals that are widely used in consumer and industrial products. There are existing restrictions on the use of certain PFAS under the Stockholm Convention, to which the UK is a signatory, and under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.</p><p> </p><p>My department is working with regulators to improve the understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2020 14:14:44 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177043

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Sharks: 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, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a limit on the number of each shark species caught in UK territorial waters.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	13976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK strongly supports the need to ensure scientifically robust catch limits are in place for all shark species exploited commercially within and outside of UK territorial waters.</p><p> </p><p>The Common Fisheries Policy, which we will continue to follow during the transition period, already provides a framework for the protection and management of sharks within UK waters. Beyond this, the UK will continue to use the most recent scientific advice when setting Total Allowable Catches and Quotas. Landing prohibitions remain in place for angel shark, basking shark, white shark, spurdog and porbeagle shark.</p><p> </p><p>Owing to the often highly migratory nature of elasmobranchs, as they move across national and international boundaries regularly, it is important that management is implemented throughout the range of the species rather than in isolation. Therefore, the UK continues to press for the establishment of scientifically justified catch limits for commercially exploited sharks within international Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/02/2020 10:10:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1177050

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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: Standards
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 responsibilities local authorities have to ensure high standards of animal welfare in their area.
tabling member constituency	Basildon and Billericay
tabling member printed	Mr John Baron
uin	13942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>Local authorities respond to individual cases of animal welfare and can allocate resources based on local priorities. Under the <em>Animal Welfare Act 2006</em>, local authorities in England and Wales have powers to enforce the <em>Animal Welfare Act 2006</em>, which includes powers of entry and seizure in order to inspect allegations of poor animal welfare and cruelty.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities also have primary responsibility for the enforcement of legislation concerning animal welfare on farm, in transport and at markets. In addition, in England, local authorities have a statutory duty to enforce <em>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018</em>, which regulate pet selling, dog breeding, dog and cat boarding, riding schools and exhibiting animals. Under the 2018 Regulations, local authorities have powers to issue, refuse and revoke licences for the five regulated activities. Local authorities are also responsible for licensing zoos under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and independent racing greyhound tracks under <em>The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010</em>”.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone concerned about a local authority’s handling of animal welfare cases can raise this in the first instance with the relevant local authority, of if not satisfied with the outcome, can refer the matter to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 12/02/2020 15:50:55 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1390 label Biography information for Mr John Baron

1177066

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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: 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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals for the licensing of equine (a) sanctuaries, (b) rescue centres and (c) re-homing centres.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	13984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>Animal sanctuaries and rescue and rehoming centres carry out important work to ensure that unwanted and abandoned animals are offered the opportunity of finding a permanent home. This includes those organisations caring for equines. Concerns have been raised by the sector about variations in welfare standards across the sector, and that some individuals prioritise commercial gain over the welfare needs of animals.</p><p> </p><p>In England, Defra has been working closely with organisations such as World Horse Welfare and the National Equine Welfare Council and its members, to better understand the benefits and impacts, particularly on smaller rescue centres, if licensing or other regulation was introduced on the sector.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to engage with the sector on these questions. Any proposal to bring forward such regulation will be subject to a full public consultation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 17/02/2020 10:36:48 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1176660

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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: Waste
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans the Government has to reduce food waste by 20 per cent as recommended in the Committee on Climate Change's January 2020 report, Land use: Policies for a Net Zero UK.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	900657
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2020 answer text <p>Waste is a devolved matter. Data recently published by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) shows UK food waste fell by almost 15% since 2007 – enough to fill Wembley Stadium three times. However, I know there is more to do everywhere. The Resources and Waste Strategy which covers England only sets out a range of policy actions to reduce food waste further including a £15 million food waste fund, a consultation on mandatory reporting of food waste by businesses, and continued support of cross-sector collaboration through the Courtauld Commitment 2025 to achieve a 20% reduction.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 06/02/2020 17:15:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain