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 grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1626357

registered interest
date	09/05/2023
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 recent discussions she has had with representatives of the RSPCA on preventing the practice of ear cropping.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	184013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence in England and Wales to carry out a non-exempted mutilation (e.g., where it is not carried out for medical purposes) including the cropping of a dog's ears. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs has not met with representatives of the RSPCA to discuss the cropping of dogs’ ears</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 15/05/2023 13:24:25 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1625967

registered interest
date	05/05/2023
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 Act 2020
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 including public access to the countryside in the definition public good in the Agriculture Act 2020.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	183860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>The public goods supported by the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fukpga%2F2020%2F21&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C91692ec513224cc4ce9708db50997147%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638192392173754292%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=J7IZhKRaDDoIVAtjIO1cXNNhSSiCYHIjnyvYJTO87UE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Agriculture Act 2020</a> are listed under <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fukpga%2F2020%2F21%2Fsection%2F1&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C91692ec513224cc4ce9708db50997147%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638192392173754292%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=8gOvW0ikgdl%2FGMyitqEMhjVuMPErRZZW1NPR7%2Fi%2BHfE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Section 1 of the Act</a>. Section 1 allows financial assistance to be given for or in connection with any one or more of a range of purposes, including supporting public access to and enjoyment of the countryside, farmland or woodland and better understanding of the environment. We have confirmed in <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fenvironmental-land-management-update-how-government-will-pay-for-land-based-environment-and-climate-goods-and-services%2Fenvironmental-land-management-elm-update-how-government-will-pay-for-land-based-environment-and-climate-goods-and-services%23access-and-engagement&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C91692ec513224cc4ce9708db50997147%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638192392173754292%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Xat%2BhU0A90wSfgrKMSCx8Uuf50NEJTqmp%2FYGcpteeD8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">a recent publication</a> that we will continue to pay for access to the countryside.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 15/05/2023 09:42:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1610478

registered interest
date	14/04/2023
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	Lighting: Pollution
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 assessment she has made on the impact of light pollution on the environment in areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and surrounding areas.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	180611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2023 answer text <p>Our National Parks (NP) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have some of the best dark skies across Great Britain and attained some of the earliest dark sky designations in Europe. 53% of our darkest skies are in NPs and AONBs, demonstrating the vital role these places play, and seven of our NPs and AONBs have been internationally recognised for their dark skies and are managed in ways that conserve dark skies for the benefit of people and wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has worked with other government departments to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that policies and decisions should limit the impact of light pollution on local amenities, dark landscapes and nature conservation. We continue to work with partners including leading scientists to review the latest studies and ensure we continue to address key threats to biodiversity.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 20/04/2023 14:39:56 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1610481

registered interest
date	14/04/2023
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 Supply: Drug Resistance
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 her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of water sanitation on antibiotic resistance.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	180614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2023 answer text <p>The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency (EA) have been working with the water industry to research the occurrence and transport of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics through wastewater treatment works as part of the industry funded Chemical Investigations Programme. The results were recently published by UK Water Industry Research (<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fukwir.org%2Fthe-national-chemical-investigations-programme-2020-2022-volume-1-investigations-into-changes-to-antimicrobial-resistance-through-wastewater-and-sludge-treatment-processes-0&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqtransfers%40defra.gov.uk%7C5dd1ef5f910d4774eb2b08db40076dbc%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638174172863276604%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ILyuUDBNXoCeYS%2FLQItjXvSqB0GMqNK12Ldo6n5a2u8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">The National Chemical Investigations Programme 2020-2022 Volume 1 - Investigations into changes to Antimicrobial Resistance through wastewater and sludge treatment processes (ukwir.org)</a>) and next steps are being considered.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/04/2023 15:47:50 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1603627

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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, what steps her Department is taking to monitor data from retail supply chains to understand the impact on food supply and consumer choice.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	163719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. We speak regularly with food industry figures, who remain confident in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments. Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods to ensure we have the latest available data. Defra’s view is that the most effective response to food supply disruption is industry-led, with appropriate support and enablement from HM Government.</p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. This report will serve as an evidence base for future policy work.</p><p> </p><p>In recent weeks some supermarkets applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa, where a high proportion of produce consumed in UK at this time of year is grown.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods affected to ensure we have the latest available data.</p><p> </p><p>Supermarkets are confident that supply will be back to normal by the end of this month.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 163720 163721 163723 question first answered 16/03/2023 15:07:02 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1603628

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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, what indicators her Department uses to determine the threshold for intervention in the food supply chain.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	163720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. We speak regularly with food industry figures, who remain confident in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments. Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods to ensure we have the latest available data. Defra’s view is that the most effective response to food supply disruption is industry-led, with appropriate support and enablement from HM Government.</p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. This report will serve as an evidence base for future policy work.</p><p> </p><p>In recent weeks some supermarkets applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa, where a high proportion of produce consumed in UK at this time of year is grown.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods affected to ensure we have the latest available data.</p><p> </p><p>Supermarkets are confident that supply will be back to normal by the end of this month.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 163719 163721 163723 question first answered 16/03/2023 15:07:02 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1603629

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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, what steps her Department takes to routinely monitor the range of food products available to consumers.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	163721
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. We speak regularly with food industry figures, who remain confident in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments. Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods to ensure we have the latest available data. Defra’s view is that the most effective response to food supply disruption is industry-led, with appropriate support and enablement from HM Government.</p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. This report will serve as an evidence base for future policy work.</p><p> </p><p>In recent weeks some supermarkets applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa, where a high proportion of produce consumed in UK at this time of year is grown.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods affected to ensure we have the latest available data.</p><p> </p><p>Supermarkets are confident that supply will be back to normal by the end of this month.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 163719 163720 163723 question first answered 16/03/2023 15:07:02 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1603630

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) affordability and (b) availability of food in the UK; and what assessment she has made of trends in the level of those matters compared to prior to the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	163722
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2023 answer text <p>The December 2021 UK Food Security Report examined past, current, and predicted trends relevant to food security, with chapters on UK Food Supply and Food Security at Household Level. This report serves as an evidence base for future policy work, and the Government is committing to producing such an assessment at least once every three years.</p><p> </p><p>We know that rising food prices are a big contributor to the high levels of inflation that people are currently experiencing. However, we have seen a slight fall in the official food price inflation figures for January and we will watch to see if this is the start of a sustained fall in food price inflation.</p><p> </p><p>Given the impact of high food prices, tackling inflation is this government’s number one priority, with a plan to more than halve inflation this year, and we’re monitoring all key agricultural commodities so that we can work with the food industry to address the challenges they face.</p><p> </p><p>Low-income households are the most affected by high food and energy prices. This is why we have provided a package of support to help people with the rising cost of food. This includes £37 billion the government has committed to support households with the cost of living. £1 billion of this has gone towards help with the cost of household essentials.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. We speak regularly with food industry figures, who remain confident in the food supply chain.</p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 20/03/2023 14:51:22 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1603632

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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: Production
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 sufficient data is available to monitor domestic food production across all agricultural sectors.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	163723
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. We speak regularly with food industry figures, who remain confident in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments. Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods to ensure we have the latest available data. Defra’s view is that the most effective response to food supply disruption is industry-led, with appropriate support and enablement from HM Government.</p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. This report will serve as an evidence base for future policy work.</p><p> </p><p>In recent weeks some supermarkets applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa, where a high proportion of produce consumed in UK at this time of year is grown.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods affected to ensure we have the latest available data.</p><p> </p><p>Supermarkets are confident that supply will be back to normal by the end of this month.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 163719 163720 163721 question first answered 16/03/2023 15:07:02 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1581202

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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	Fireworks: Animals
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 she has made a recent assessment of the potential benefits for vulnerable animals of introducing firework control zones.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	133537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2023 answer text <p>Defra has not made an assessment of the benefits of introducing firework control zones. However, the Government takes the issues associated with the sale and use of fireworks seriously. There is a comprehensive regulatory framework already in place for fireworks which aims to strike the right balance for people to enjoy fireworks, while aiming to reduce risks and disturbances to the welfare of animals.</p><p> </p><p>It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal unnecessary suffering - and this includes through the misuse of fireworks. Users of fireworks need to use them responsibly and be aware of animals close by, and those found guilty of causing animals unnecessary suffering can face up to five years’ imprisonment.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 02/02/2023 16:21:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman