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1308476

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the use of cages in the breeding of game birds; how many animal welfare inspections of game bird farms in England and Wales were undertaken in (a) 2019 and (b) 2020; how many of those visits resulted in action being taken against the person responsible for a welfare breach; and whether follow up inspections were carried out in those circumstances.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	180659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>We are committed to improving our already high standards of animal welfare and are examining the evidence around the use of cages in farming, including their use for breeding pheasants and partridges.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of gamebirds is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The Statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes offers additional protection and provides keepers with guidance on how to meet the welfare needs of their gamebirds as required by the 2006 Act. It recommends that barren cages for breeding pheasants and small barren cages for breeding partridges should not be used and that any system should be appropriately enriched.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out targeted inspections on gamebird farms. Advice on compliance is a key component of all APHA inspections.</p><p> </p><p>APHA game bird inspections conducted and action taken:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Inspections</p></td><td><p>District Holdings Inspected</p></td><td><p>Advisory Letter</p></td><td><p>Follow Up Visit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 19/04/2021 15:04:20 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1287345

registered interest
date	19/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 his commitment to introduce a licensing regime for game bird releasing on certain European protected sites for 2021, whether there are sites which have been identified as being in unfavourable status as a result of pheasant or red leg partridge release; what steps Natural England has taken to improve the status of those sites; and whether those sites have improved since the designation of that status.
tabling member constituency	North Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Bill Wiggin
uin	154808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2021 answer text <p>Natural England works closely with the owners and occupiers of protected sites and routinely assesses consent applications to ensure that any gamebird releasing operations that may be proposed would not have harmful effects on the habitats and species of special interest for which these sites are protected. As of 22 February 2021, Natural England has assessed three European Sites (or parts of them) as being in an unfavourable condition as a result of gamebird releasing activity and requiring remedial action. Natural England continues to work with the managers at all these sites to investigate and remedy the issues identified, including enforcement action where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/02/2021 17:49:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1428 label Biography information for Sir Bill Wiggin

1287346

registered interest
date	19/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 his Department's policy that gamebird releases require a buffer zone from a European protected site, for what reason (a) walking, (b) organised bird watching events and (c) other activities which can disturb wildlife within several hundred meters do not have a buffer zone applied to them.
tabling member constituency	North Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Bill Wiggin
uin	154809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2021 answer text <p>There is scientific evidence that the release of non-native gamebirds can have negative impacts on protected habitats and species, particularly through nutrient enrichment of the soil and depletion of vegetation, and that these impacts can be felt beyond the point of release. Whilst we look to improve our understanding of this impact on specific sites Defra’s interim general licence proposals on non-native gamebird releases therefore relate not only to European protected sites but a buffer zone around these sites.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/02/2021 17:51:38 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1428 label Biography information for Sir Bill Wiggin

1286479

registered interest
date	11/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 preferred option for the interim licensing regime of game bird release on protected sites remains general licences.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	153427
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2021 answer text <p>We have launched a public consultation on our proposals for the interim licensing of game bird releasing which includes the use of a general licence. We are committed to achieving an interim licensing regime which is both effective and workable for users.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/02/2021 14:15:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1285490

registered interest
date	10/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 (a) licences and (b) consents have been issued for (a) game bird release, (b) outdoor sports and (c) leisure and recreation activities on European protected sites under the interim licencing scheme for 2021.
tabling member constituency	Buckingham
tabling member printed	Greg Smith
uin	152657
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government is preparing to introduce an interim licensing regime for the 2021 releases of common pheasant and red-legged partridge within European protected sites and within a 500m buffer zone around the sites. A consultation will be launched shortly proposing a general licence to cover the majority of European Protected Sites. It will not cover consents or include other activities beyond gamebird release.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/02/2021 14:18:31 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4778 label Biography information for Greg Smith

1285554

registered interest
date	10/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 the cost to the public purse has been of reviewing gamebird releasing on European protected sites compared with the cost of reviewing other outdoor sports, leisure activities and recreation activities in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	152678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2021 answer text <p>I can confirm that it is the Government's policy to introduce an interim licensing regime for the 2021 releases of common pheasant and red-legged partridge within European protected sites and within a 500m buffer zone around the sites. A consultation has been launched that sets out the proposals.</p><p>The cost to the public purse of reviewing gamebird releasing on European protected sites has not been specifically calculated or compared to other outdoor pursuits.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 152679 question first answered 26/02/2021 14:15:49 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1285555

registered interest
date	10/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 it is his policy to introduce a licensing regime for gamebird releasing on certain European protected sites for 2021.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	152679
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2021 answer text <p>I can confirm that it is the Government's policy to introduce an interim licensing regime for the 2021 releases of common pheasant and red-legged partridge within European protected sites and within a 500m buffer zone around the sites. A consultation has been launched that sets out the proposals.</p><p>The cost to the public purse of reviewing gamebird releasing on European protected sites has not been specifically calculated or compared to other outdoor pursuits.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 152678 question first answered 26/02/2021 14:15:49 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1285162

registered interest
date	09/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 avian influenza, what steps he has taken to ensure gamebird breeders (a) register captive gamebird flocks and (b) comply with all other relevant aspects of legislation.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	151840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2021 answer text <p>Defra encourages all keepers to register their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and keep contact details up to date, so APHA can contact them quickly if there is a disease outbreak in their area and they need to take action.</p><p>If keepers have more than 50 birds, they are legally required to register their flock within one month of their arrival at their premises. If the keeper has less than 50 birds, including pet birds, they are still strongly encouraged to register.</p><p>Mandatory requirements to register kept gamebirds can be found at the following link: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fpoultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7C55e93ce2fbe547f0f88608d8d1c2b73a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637489981515231361%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UeExP4PKsP9Cho1pXoxBPszoYN3J0xEP%2Bebu6D%2B5Q%2Bw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms</a>.</p><p>The public can register with the APHA alerts service to receive email and text alerts for exotic notifiable diseases, which includes Avian influenza (AI).</p><p>AI is a notifiable animal disease. If a bird keeper or the public suspect any type of AI in poultry or captive birds they must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline. Failure to do so is an offence and enforced by local authorities.</p><p>An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared across the whole of England. The AIPZ means all bird keepers in England (whether they have pet birds, captive gamebirds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions including from the 14 December 2020 keeping their birds indoors except in very specific circumstances.</p><p>Further details of the measures that apply in the AIPZ including biosecurity guidance and housing measures can be found on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Favian-influenza-bird-flu%23AIPZ&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7C55e93ce2fbe547f0f88608d8d1c2b73a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637489981515241356%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=kM9JZOGCUUInon4twcUIAMkTWAcn4tV2BXoagt6pl%2FQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 17/02/2021 14:54:22 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1285309

registered interest
date	09/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 help ensure Natural England has adequate resources to assess applications to the interim licensing regime for the 2021 to release game birds on or near European protected sites.
tabling member constituency	Buckingham
tabling member printed	Greg Smith
uin	151871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2021 answer text <p>Defra is working closely with Natural England to ensure that they have the capacity and capability to assess individual applications for the forthcoming interim licensing regime for pheasants and red-legged partridges on and near European Protected Sites. We will be launching a public consultation on the interim licencing regime shortly.</p><p>Natural England is very aware of the timeframes involved and the need for decisions to be made promptly to align with the shooting industry's annual calendar of activity.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2021 15:16:52 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4778 label Biography information for Greg Smith

1285310

registered interest
date	09/02/2021
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	Game: Birds
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 plans he has to review the effect of (a) sport and leisure and (b) other activities on European protected sites; and what other activities will be covered by the interim licencing scheme for release of game birds in 2021.
tabling member constituency	Buckingham
tabling member printed	Greg Smith
uin	151872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2021 answer text <p>Natural England, and other competent authorities, have a duty to review consents for activities on areas subsequently designated as European sites, within a reasonable timeframe.</p><p> </p><p>We plan to shortly consult on our proposals for the interim licensing of game bird releasing. We are committed to achieving an interim licensing regime which is both effective and workable for users.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/02/2021 15:05:39 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4778 label Biography information for Greg Smith