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1506859

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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	Compost: Peat
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 (a) adequacy and (b) ease of access to peat-free mixes for (i) ornamental growers and (ii) retailers, in the context of the health and growth needs of many floral species.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	51837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>Ministers are aware that the horticulture industry has already made significant progress in terms of developing peat free alternatives and sourcing suitable material but recognise that certain sectors face particular technical obstacles and will need longer to make the transition to peat free.</p><p>The proposed ban will be framed in such a way as to provide time limited exemptions for the professional horticulture sector, in order to allow time to overcome these barriers. Officials are currently consulting with horticultural industry representatives to inform our detailed proposals.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 51838 question first answered 30/11/2022 09:50:26 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506860

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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	Compost: Peat
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 press release entitled Sale of horticultural peat to be banned in move to protect England’s precious peatlands, published on 27 August 2022, what assessment he has made of (a) the time that will be required for the horticultural industry to complete its transition to peat-free products and (b) whether any exemptions will be required within the sector.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	51838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>Ministers are aware that the horticulture industry has already made significant progress in terms of developing peat free alternatives and sourcing suitable material but recognise that certain sectors face particular technical obstacles and will need longer to make the transition to peat free.</p><p>The proposed ban will be framed in such a way as to provide time limited exemptions for the professional horticulture sector, in order to allow time to overcome these barriers. Officials are currently consulting with horticultural industry representatives to inform our detailed proposals.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 51837 question first answered 30/11/2022 09:50:26 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506873

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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	Horticulture: Seasonal Workers
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 independent report entitled Automation in Horticultural Review, published in July 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that report's recommendation on establishing a long-term seasonal workers' scheme to stabilise workforce pressures in the sector, help growers evaluate their labour needs, and incentivise long-term capital investments in automation technology.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	51839
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of a reliable source of seasonal labour for horticulture and the poultry sector and the role of automation in the food supply chain.</p><p>The Government’s forthcoming response to the review of automation in horticulture will therefore outline actions to complement the immediate need for seasonal workers and help attract more residents of the United Kingdom into agricultural work – the overall aim of both being to, over time, reduce the sector’s dependency on seasonal migrant labour.</p><p> </p><p>Following an announcement in the Government Food Strategy, an extra 10,000 visas have been released for the Seasonal Worker visa route - bringing the total for this year to 40,000 visas.</p><p> </p><p>Under current agreement with the Home Office a similar number will be rolled forward for 2023. Defra are discussing with them precisely what the number will be, using evidence from the NFU and other stakeholders provided in 2022 and having regard to the Prime Minister’s stated support for a short term expansion of the visa route.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the Government Food Strategy in June, the Government has now commissioned an independent labour review which will consider how automation, domestic labour and migrant labour can contribute to tackling labour shortages in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The review will focus on farming, processing, and food and non-alcoholic drink manufacturing as sectors which are critical for food production and food security. The review is being chaired by John Shropshire, an industry veteran who stepped down from his role as CEO of major horticulture producer G’s Group last year. He will be supported by an expert panel drawing in expertise from across the sectors covered by the review.</p><p>Defra continues to speak regularly with the agriculture sector and other government departments to understand labour supply and demand, including for both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the farming workforce. Defra is also working closely with the Home Office to ensure that the requirements for these sectors are understood across Government.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 15:32:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506874

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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	Recreation Spaces: Urban Areas
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 help ensure that local tree and plant growers are utilised in outdoor public projects in urban areas to help improve air quality.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	51840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>We know that trees outside woodlands, including trees in urban areas, parks, and along roads and footpaths can provide many environmental benefits for people<del class="ministerial">, including improved air quality</del>.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">There is strong evidence that healthy, well-chosen and well placed urban trees can provide a large range of benefits valuable to the economy and to people. This includes a relatively small but beneficial impact on urban air quality. However, current evidence suggests that trees would not be enough to solve the air quality problems at a city scale. </ins></p><p>Through the Nature for Climate Fund we are boosting the numbers of trees near to where people live<ins class="ministerial">, investing millions of pounds in tree planting and in the skills to incorporate trees in the right places to generate maximum benefits.</ins> <del class="ministerial">including:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· up to £4.4 million available to local communities through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund to plant and establish new trees;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· providing almost £8 million of financial support to local authorities to increase their capacity and specialist skills to plant and manage trees, through the ground-breaking Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· planting up to 150,000 large trees in towns and cities across England using the £6 million Urban Tree Challenge Fund;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· contributing to the £9 million Levelling Up Parks Fund, which will create over 100 new parks to increase access to green space in urban areas.</del></p><p>Additional funding is being provided to support tree growers and seed suppliers across England, to help meet the growing demand for trees. We have developed capital and innovation grants for the sector that will encourage the adoption of mechanisation and automation, and help enhance the quantity, quality, diversity and biosecurity of domestic tree production.</p><p>Alongside this, Defra has been working closely with the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group who have published an action plan 'Unlocking green growth: A plan from the ornamental horticulture &amp; landscaping industry'. This sets out the industry's potential contributions to tackling some of the environmental challenges facing the UK, including through the use of a greater proportion of British-produced plants and trees in public sector projects, and the incorporation of more community green spaces within the urban planning process. Where Government can help, we will work with the sector to help it take advantage of the opportunities outlined in the action plan.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 28/09/2022 11:45:29 question first ministerially corrected 10/10/2022 12:52:35 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison previous answer version 20966 answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506165

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Antibiotics: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with her international counterparts on the subscription deal for two antimicrobials, cefiderocol and ceftazidime–avibactam, for the NHS in England.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	49734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department has raised awareness of England’s subscription-style payment model for antimicrobials through a range of bilateral and multilateral forums. The Department has also advocated for other countries to share results of similar models to address the market failures in antibiotic research and development and/or to develop suitable models.</p><p>The Department has engaged with Senators in the United States of America who are co-sponsoring the PASTEUR Act, which aims to establish a subscription model. We have also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sweden which includes commitments to incentivise antimicrobial research and development.</p><p>During the United Kingdom’s G7 Presidency, health and finance Ministers committed to explore options to incentivise new antimicrobials through research and development and onto the market and ensure security of supplies. Ministers have committed to report on progress during Japan's presidency next year.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 27/09/2022 11:22:28 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506362

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Highway Code: Publicity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a television advertising campaign to help to raise awareness of the changes to the Highway Code which came into effect on 29th January 2022.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	49735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2022 answer text <p>The changes to The Highway Code to help improve road safety for people walking, cycling and horse riding have been communicated in two phases:</p><ul><li>A factual awareness raising campaign in February and March, alerting road users to the changes as they came into effect.</li><li>A broader behaviour change campaign in July and August, to align with seasonal increases in active travel, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the new guidance.</li></ul><p>Both phases of the campaign were supported by a significant media spend, using channels such as radio, digital audio, video on demand and social media advertising.</p><p>Specialist media planners and buyers are commissioned to secure the optimum and most cost-effective media placement for our messaging. The campaign plan used contextual opportunities, raising awareness at the point of the behaviour, as well as priming opportunities to diffuse tensions and build empathy and understanding amongst road user groups. Channels were selected that were able to build high levels of reach and frequency amongst the target audiences to deliver both message take-out and planned behaviour change.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 22/09/2022 07:51:05 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506391

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
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	Pigmeat: Preservatives
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 support the production of nitrite-free (a) bacon and (b) ham in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	49736
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>Nitrites are an approved food additive for use in bacon and ham products. The HM Government considers that existing levels of nitrites and nitrates in food products are sufficiently protective of consumers. Where individual companies decide to use authorised alternatives to nitrites, this is ultimately a commercial decision as to what products they bring to market.</p><p> </p><p>Existing requirements on the control of additives in food production ensure that food is produced safely and is labelled to enable consumers to make informed choices on the food they buy and consume. The HM Government is always looking for ways to support innovation in the food industry but takes the position that intervention should be restricted only to areas where there are food safety or health concerns based on available evidence.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 16:52:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506392

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Meat Products: Preservatives
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of nitrites in meat products.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	49737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2022 answer text <p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with the food industry to ensure that nitrites and nitrates are used at the lowest possible levels to achieve its technological function, without jeopardising the safety of food. Maximum legal limits for nitrates have been determined based on scientific evaluation and are monitored through risk-based compliance checks. There are no plans to reduce the levels of nitrates in processed meat products.</p><p>The FSA will seek independent scientific advice whenever new credible scientific studies emerge, which will be considered with existing evidence and determine whether any further action on authorised food additives is necessary.</p> answering member constituency Sleaford and North Hykeham answering member printed Dr Caroline Johnson question first answered 22/09/2022 11:51:50 answering member 4592 label Biography information for Dr Caroline Johnson
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506394

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Bowel Cancer: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of bowel cancer in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	49738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2022 answer text <p>Since 2019, the National Health Service Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in England has issued a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit to eligible people for use at home, which can detect changes in the bowel which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer. The FIT kit requires one sample to be taken and replaced the previous test which required three samples, which has increased uptake in England.</p><p>The FIT home testing kit is currently available to everyone aged 60 to 74 years old and the majority of 56-year-olds. The NHS BCSP is expanding the FIT kit offer to 58-year-olds and the programme will be offered to all those aged 50 to 74 years old by 2025. In 2023, an NHS bowel cancer screening communications and marketing campaign is planned to increase the uptake of the FIT home testing kit in eligible people across England.</p><p>Obesity can increase the likelihood of developing bowel cancer therefore we have introduced measures to help people to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. New Regulations on out-of-home calorie labelling for out of home food sold in large businesses including restaurants, cafes and takeaways came into force on 6 April 2022. These aim to ensure people can make more informed, healthier choices when eating food out or ordering takeaways. We are also working to make the food and drink that is available to consumers healthier through reformulation programmes.</p><p>Reducing tobacco use and supporting smokers to quit can prevent 15 types of cancers, including bowel cancer. An independent review of the Government’s tobacco control policies led by Javed Khan, published on 9 June 2022, makes recommendations to support the Government’s ambition for England to be smoke-free by 2030. We are currently considering the recommendations to inform a new Tobacco Control Plan.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/09/2022 10:40:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1505281

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Cannabis: Medical Treatments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Introduction to Sector Deals, updated in June 2019, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a sector deal for the medical cannabis industry.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	48424
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>BEIS have no plans to assess the merits of introducing a sector deal for the medical cannabis industry. We will continue to support the Life Science sector through delivery of the Life Science Vision.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 28/09/2022 17:04:30 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day