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178680

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	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	European Union
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of the Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies, broken down by (1) staff time, (2) printing costs, (3) running of engagement events, (4) witness expenses, (5) publicity of the reports, and (6) any and all other associated costs.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Scott of Needham Market
	uin	HL4830
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review:</p><ul><li>Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency);</li><li>Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC);</li><li>Agriculture; and</li><li>Fisheries.</li></ul><p> </p><p>1) Staff costs</p><p>The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p> </p><p>2) Printing costs</p><p>Defra paid approximately £13<del class="ministerial">0</del>,000 to print and publish the four reports.</p><p> </p><p>3) Running engagement events</p><p>Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p> </p><p>4) Witness expenses</p><p>Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses.</p><p>5) Publicity</p><p>Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports.</p><p> </p><p>6) All other associated costs</p><p>There were no other associated costs.</p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 23/02/2015 13:02:07 question first ministerially corrected 11/03/2015 13:09:46 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley previous answer version 45712 answering member printed Lord De Mauley answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	2542 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Needham Market

178237

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2015
	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: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether farmers require a credit reference to apply for Common Agricultural Policy grants; and if so, what legislation applies and which organisation or body produces the reference.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
	uin	HL4703
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2015 answer text <p>Farmers do not need to have a credit reference to apply for Common Agricultural Policy grants.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the registration process on the new Rural Payment Service customers will need to complete a verification process to confirm their identity. This is to prevent any fraudulent activity. Although personal verification is a mandatory requirement for registration on the Rural Payment Service, a customer can choose whether they do this via the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) helpline or through GOV.UK VERIFY depending on their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Customers can choose either to call the RPA helpline (on 0300 0200 301) and answer a series of security questions relating to previous claims, or use the new online GOV.UK VERIFY service, which will eventually replace Government Gateway. Customers can select a certified verification company from a list on GOV.UK VERIFY; there are currently two certified companies on the service, Experian and Digi-identity, and more companies will become available in the future. Both Experian and Digi-identity use an individual’s credit history to confirm their identity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 16/02/2015 16:53:16 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

178238

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2015
	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	Floods: Somerset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Somerset floods of 2014, what payments have been made to date to farmers who lodged claims; and what proportion of those payments have been made by (1) central government, (2) local government, and (3) the appeal fund raised to help those affected.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
	uin	HL4704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2015 answer text <p>Defra awarded £1.74 million in grants to farmers in Somerset through the Farming Recovery Fund. To date grant claims totalling £1.23 million have been received and as of 6 February 2015, £818,055 has been paid out.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not hold information on money paid out by local Government or by any local appeal funds.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 17/02/2015 16:02:18 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

178349

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2015
	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	RSPCA
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the RSPCA, as a private organisation, is able to bring prosecutions but is not subject to independent inspection or Freedom of Information requests.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL4737
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2015 answer text <p>The RSPCA is able to bring prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 because that particular piece of legislation allows anyone to do so, even private individuals, if they have the necessary evidence to do so. The RSPCA is not a public authority and so is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 16/02/2015 16:53:29 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

178632

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	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	Common Agricultural Policy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the comments by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Agriculture, Liz Truss MP, in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> on 1 February, about the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its impact on farmers in the United Kingdom, whether they intend to seek reform of the CAP or to propose United Kingdom withdrawal from it if a negotiated reform is not possible.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL4782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government’s priorities are to reform the European Union so that it is more flexible, competitive and democratically accountable.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Reform negotiations of the CAP happen every seven years. Through successive negotiations the Government has made progress in achieving reform but work needs to continue to deliver a more competitive and market-orientated CAP. The Government will be fully involved in the next round of CAP reform negotiations which will be implemented throughout the EU after 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is focused on the implementation of the most recent CAP reform. The Secretary of State has made clear to the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, the UK’s immediate priorities for simplification, most notably on the Greening measures. The Commissioner’s commitment to reduce red tape and administrative burden is welcome. UK Ministers are working with the European Commission and other Member States to secure the most ambitious action on CAP and its simplification. My officials have engaged with stakeholders across the UK on this agenda, and their views will be incorporated into the Secretary of State’s response to Commissioner Hogan’s request for input this week.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 24/02/2015 17:15:09 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

178912

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2015
	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: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the earliest date on which farmers in England will be able to submit their applications for the basic payment scheme for 2015.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
	uin	HL4908
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>For 2015 there will not be an application window in the traditional sense. Customers will start to build their Basic Payment Scheme application from the moment they register on the Rural Payment Service. As of 22 February, 49,642 businesses have registered.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since January, customers have been able to register, check and confirm personal, business and land details, and give permission for others to act on their behalf. Customers also update and amend their land information such as adding features and land cover. Customers will be able to confirm entitlements and eligibility from March 2015, and can complete and submit their claims from April until 15 May 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 23/02/2015 16:29:09 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

178914

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2015
	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: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy information technology system, farmers who are prevented from completing their applications for payments by 15 May will be subject to penalties for late submission.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Byford
	uin	HL4909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>Under article 13 of EU regulation 809/2014, Member States must require claims to be made by no later than 15 May, and this is the deadline adopted in the UK. Late claims submitted within the next 25 days are subject to a penalty of 1% of the claim for each working day’s delay. Claims already submitted by 15 May can be adjusted after that in some circumstances. We expect that the Rural Payments system, and our provision of support to those who may face any difficulty in applying online, will ensure that all farmers have every opportunity to claim their direct payments by 15 May. There are <em>force majeure</em> provisions for those that fail to submit on time which can apply in limited circumstances.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State is also seeking to make such penalties more proportionate in future.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 24/02/2015 12:58:06 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3343 label Biography information for Baroness Byford

179200

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	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	Dog Fighting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to end dog fighting.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hoyle
	uin	HL4937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>Dog fighting has been banned in this country for over 100 years. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of £20,000 or both. In addition, the police have powers to investigate allegations of dog fighting as well as powers of arrest against those suspected of being involved in this barbaric practice.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 23/02/2015 16:36:02 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	1000 label Biography information for Lord Hoyle

179227

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	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	Fisheries: Navy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 10 February (HL4601), whether the three offshore patrol vessels referred to as fulfilling the Royal Naval commitment to fishery protection included the Offshore Patrol Vessel presently deployed to the West Indies for five months.
	tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
	uin	HL4964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2015 answer text <p>There is a formal agreement between the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Royal Navy that provides for the Royal Navy to supply surveillance and fisheries inspection services to the MMO. The agreement contains a commitment from the Royal Navy to provide 500 days of service annually to the MMO. It has three offshore patrol vessels based in UK waters: HMS Severn, HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey. The MMO do not specify how many or which vessels will be used at any one time to fulfil this role.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>HMS Severn was available to contribute to delivery of that commitment between 1 April and 19 November 2014 after which it was tasked with other high priority duties. On projected figures it is anticipated that the Royal Navy will meet its commitments to the MMO for the financial year through the combined use of HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 25/02/2015 16:07:46 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead

179253

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	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	Hunting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the United for Wildlife's follow-up to the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, what representations they are making to ensure that subsistence hunters are not being criminalised or evicted from their lands in the name of conservation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL4990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>We have not made any specific representations on this issue.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is one of the global leaders in the response to the illegal trade in wildlife. At the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade held in February 2014 more than 40 Governments committed to action designed to strengthen law enforcement, reduce demand and support alternative livelihoods of communities affected by poaching and trafficking. These Governments recognised the illegal trade in wildlife as a major barrier to sustainable, inclusive and balanced economic development that damages ecosystems, undermines good governance and the rule of law, threatens security, and reduces the revenue and local benefits earned from economic activities such as wildlife‐based tourism and the sustainable utilisation of and legal trade in wildlife. They recognised that sustainable livelihoods will be best supported by engaging with communities living in and around protected areas to reflect their needs alongside those of local wildlife.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We welcome the leadership of the Botswana Government in hosting the Kasane Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade on 25 March as a follow-up to the London Conference.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 23/02/2015 13:30:58 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch