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885875

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2018
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Databases
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' data is hosted (1) in the UK, and (2) overseas.
	tabling member printed	Lord Harris of Haringey
	uin	HL6975
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2018 answer text <ol><li><p>95% of Defra’s data is hosted in the UK.</p></li><li><p>5% of Defra’s data is hosted overseas (predominantly in Dublin, Republic of Ireland).</p></li></ol><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 30/04/2018 11:30:44 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2671 label Biography information for Lord Harris of Haringey

867371

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2018
	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	Environment Agency and Food Standards Agency: 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, what assessment he has made of the recommendations directed towards the (a) Environment Agency and (b) Food Standards Agency arising from the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Futures Review, published in January 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	133346
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>(a) The Environment Agency is working with the Cabinet Office, Defra and other regulators on implementing the recommendations in the Regulatory Futures Review.</p><p> </p><p>Progress builds on existing schemes, including: <br></p><ul><li><p>improving cost recovery through implementing its new charging scheme from 1 April 2018;</p></li><li><p>working with business on plans to develop regulated self-assurance and earned recognition beyond the existing pig and poultry assurance scheme;</p></li><li><p>working with major stakeholders to refresh its outcome based approach to implementing regulation as set out in the 2013 Environment Agency report, ‘<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/312703/LIT_9902.pdf" target="_blank">Regulating for people, the environment and growth</a>’; and</p></li><li><p>working with others on the feasibility of improving data sharing between regulators through the establishment of a Regulatory Intelligence Hub.</p><p> </p></li></ul><p>(b) The Food Standards Agency fully recognises the need to improve and modernise the way that regulatory controls for food are delivered. It is pursuing the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Futures Review recommendations through its ‘Regulating our Future’ programme (ROF programme) launched in February 2016. It aims to ensure a sustainable approach to food safety regulation, one that brings about behaviour change to benefit consumers. The ministerial responsibility for the Food Standard Agency falls under the Department for Health and Social Care, who can be contacted for further information.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/03/2018 14:39:22 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

931109

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2018
	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	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	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 2017 Countryside Stewardship claimants have received their full payment.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	157121
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2018 answer text <p>1,311 2017 Countryside Stewardship claimants have now been paid in full<em>.</em></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 28/06/2018 11:35:10 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

968213

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2018
	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	Livestock Industry
	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 he has made an assessment of the potential productivity of the livestock industry over the next six months.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	170845
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2018 answer text <p>2018 has been a challenging year for the UK farming sector. The year started with a prolonged cold spell which in some parts of the country necessitated the prolonged feeding of stock. In addition spring planting of crops was delayed in many parts of the country. The cold spell was followed by hot and dry weather during June and July that facilitated the early and quick harvest of winter crops, but impeded grass growth causing farmers to start feeding first cut silage and raising concerns about the availability of supplies of winter fodder.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Among crop farmers, the picture is mixed; overall there are reductions expected in 2018 crop yield and there may be concerns over quality, especially in relation to spring planted crops and oilseed rape. The situation, however, is highly variable depending on local soil conditions and rain deficit and for some the decrease in yield and quality is expected to be offset by an increase in price and by lower costs, for example, of grain drying.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The main impact of the recent drought conditions is likely to be felt by the grazing livestock sector facing a shortage of fodder. The full extent, however, of the impacts will not be realised until later in the year and it will also be the case that such impacts are likely to be specific to the individual circumstances of farmers in terms the level of stock and feed on-farm and the impact of the drought on local feed supply relative to previous years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have prioritised practical solutions to help farmers increase access to fodder and bedding through flexibilities in scheme rules both now and in the coming months. These actions will help farmers to limit the impact of extra feed costs by allocating land to forage growth and grazing. We will keep the situation under review for both arable and livestock sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 170846 question first answered 14/09/2018 11:31:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

968214

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2018
	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	Arable Farming
	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 he has made an assessment of the potential productivity of the arable industry over the next six months.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	170846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2018 answer text <p>2018 has been a challenging year for the UK farming sector. The year started with a prolonged cold spell which in some parts of the country necessitated the prolonged feeding of stock. In addition spring planting of crops was delayed in many parts of the country. The cold spell was followed by hot and dry weather during June and July that facilitated the early and quick harvest of winter crops, but impeded grass growth causing farmers to start feeding first cut silage and raising concerns about the availability of supplies of winter fodder.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Among crop farmers, the picture is mixed; overall there are reductions expected in 2018 crop yield and there may be concerns over quality, especially in relation to spring planted crops and oilseed rape. The situation, however, is highly variable depending on local soil conditions and rain deficit and for some the decrease in yield and quality is expected to be offset by an increase in price and by lower costs, for example, of grain drying.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The main impact of the recent drought conditions is likely to be felt by the grazing livestock sector facing a shortage of fodder. The full extent, however, of the impacts will not be realised until later in the year and it will also be the case that such impacts are likely to be specific to the individual circumstances of farmers in terms the level of stock and feed on-farm and the impact of the drought on local feed supply relative to previous years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have prioritised practical solutions to help farmers increase access to fodder and bedding through flexibilities in scheme rules both now and in the coming months. These actions will help farmers to limit the impact of extra feed costs by allocating land to forage growth and grazing. We will keep the situation under review for both arable and livestock sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 170845 question first answered 14/09/2018 11:31:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

969121

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2018
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Health
	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 Department uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal well-being when formulating policy; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national well-being in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	171302
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2018 answer text <p><br></p><p>In line with the Government’s Green Book, Defra policy is appraised and developed using an assessment of costs and benefits. This appraisal is based on improving well-being. Policy makers and analysts use a range of data sources in making this assessment, which can include ONS estimates of personal well-being.</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p><br></p><p>Defra recognises that the quality of the environment underpins our well-being and prosperity. During the last 12 months we have introduced a range of actions to improve well-being, including those set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Clean Air Strategy.</p><p><br></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 14/09/2018 11:26:57 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

931197

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2018
	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: South West
	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 decrease water wastage in the South West.
	tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
	tabling member printed	Scott Mann
	uin	157198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambitions for reducing leakage. This includes supporting Ofwat’s challenge to the industry to reduce leakage by 15% by 2025.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Ofwat monitors progress against leakage targets and will take action if water companies do not meet them. For example, following an Ofwat investigation into Thames Water’s leakage performance, Thames Water agreed to pay £65 million back to customers as part of an overall package of payments and penalties worth £120 million.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">We expect water companies to set ambitious leakage reduction targets and make sure they meet these targets. Water companies are currently setting out their targets for leakage reduction in their long term water resources management plans.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambitions for reducing leakage. This includes supporting Ofwat’s challenge to the industry to reduce leakage by 15% by 2025. </ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">In 2016/17, South West Water’s leakage rate was 102 litres per property per day, Bristol Water’s rate was 87 litres per property per day and Wessex Water was 112 litres per property per day. This compares with a national figure of 121 litres per property per day. </ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">All water companies are currently setting out their targets for leakage reduction in their long term water resources management plans. </ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/07/2018 16:17:54 question first ministerially corrected 03/07/2018 16:46:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey previous answer version 67335 answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

857032

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2018
	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	Xylella
	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 with the horticulture industry to contain the spread of xylella fastidiosa.
	tabling member constituency	East Antrim
	tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
	uin	131544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2018 answer text <p><em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> is not present in the UK and we have been proactive in engaging with the horticultural industry about the risks from this disease. We appreciate that it has a crucial role to play in minimising the risk of its introduction. In September 2017 the Chief Plant Health Officer wrote to businesses growing and trading host plants to encourage good biosecurity and careful sourcing of plants. Biosecurity guidance has also been developed, with bespoke guidance produced for industry.</p><p> </p><p>We have published information about <em>Xylella</em> on the Plant Health Portal and provide frequent updates to industry groups and individual businesses. We have, in association with the Horticultural Trades Association and the National Farmers Union, developed guidance on <em>Xylella</em> host plants to encourage good practice when sourcing plants. The industry has responded positively to this engagement, and we have noted that many retailers and nurseries are changing their buying behaviours to go above and beyond the minimum requirements. Stakeholder groups have also developed their own initiatives, including through the Horticultural Trades Association and Royal Horticultural Society, to ensure that best practice approaches are adopted by their members and at their events.</p><p> </p><p><em>Xylella</em> is present in some other EU Member States, and we are have strongly pressed for the EU to strengthen measures to prevent further spread of the disease. Restrictions on the import and movement of high risk host plants were increased through new EU emergency legislation, which took effect in December. The UK pushed hard for this legislation to be put in place, including Defra’s Secretary of State writing to the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytensis Andriukaitis to urge stronger action.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 16/03/2018 12:16:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

964183

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	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 Feed
	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 his Department has to provide a support package for farmers who have had to use their winter store of feed as a result of the recent water shortage.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	169252
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2018 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare, and we have been focusing on practical measures to support farmers to increase their access to fodder and bedding.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In response to farmers’ queries, we have already clarified that English farmers, unlike farmers in some other EU countries where derogations from European law have been sought, have been able to use Ecological Focus Area fallow land for grazing since 1 July.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK was the first Member State to raise a concern with the Commission over the difficulties farmers faced in establishing Ecological Focus Area catch crops by the required date of 20 August. Other Member States agreed with us and the Commission agreed that “force majeure” should apply in these circumstances, so we could waive any penalties for farmers for non-compliance with EU law.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are seeking a derogation from the EU requirement to sow only certain seed types which are unpalatable to livestock in Ecological Focus Areas as catch crop. The derogation we expect to secure this week will allow for grass and herbaceous forage to be grown in those areas, and for those areas to be grazed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>On Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and forestry legacy agreements, farmers are able to ask Natural England to agree a temporary variation to the agreement conditions, either as an Environmental Stewardship Derogation (to date, over 100 have been granted) or a Countryside Stewardship Minor and Temporary Adjustment (over 30 have so far been granted).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are considering 30 agri-environment options where farmers and land managers are more likely to be affected by drought to see where we would accept temporary derogations. These include derogations that may help support grazing, bedding and fodder. In some cases, these could provide for earlier cutting, grazing or sowing of forage within certain parameters that are designed to minimise the overall environmental impact.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As regards cash flow, the Rural Payments Agency and Natural England are fully focused on getting basic payment scheme (BPS) and agri-environment scheme payments issued promptly. In addition, we are considering options such as bringing forward bridging payments for those BPS claimants who have not received their BPS 2018 payments by the end of December.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is clear that the main impact of the recent drought conditions is likely to be felt by livestock farmers facing a shortage of fodder and that the full extent of the impacts may not be realised until later in the year. We have prioritised practical solutions to help farmers increase access to fodder and bedding both now and in the coming months. These actions will help farmers to limit the impact of extra feed costs by allocating land to forage growth and grazing, but we will keep the situation under review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 169254 question first answered 06/09/2018 12:41:43 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

964185

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	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 Feed: Cumbria
	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 protect animal welfare in the light of the feed shortages anticipated in Cumbria due to the recent water shortage.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	169254
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2018 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare, and we have been focusing on practical measures to support farmers to increase their access to fodder and bedding.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In response to farmers’ queries, we have already clarified that English farmers, unlike farmers in some other EU countries where derogations from European law have been sought, have been able to use Ecological Focus Area fallow land for grazing since 1 July.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK was the first Member State to raise a concern with the Commission over the difficulties farmers faced in establishing Ecological Focus Area catch crops by the required date of 20 August. Other Member States agreed with us and the Commission agreed that “force majeure” should apply in these circumstances, so we could waive any penalties for farmers for non-compliance with EU law.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are seeking a derogation from the EU requirement to sow only certain seed types which are unpalatable to livestock in Ecological Focus Areas as catch crop. The derogation we expect to secure this week will allow for grass and herbaceous forage to be grown in those areas, and for those areas to be grazed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>On Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and forestry legacy agreements, farmers are able to ask Natural England to agree a temporary variation to the agreement conditions, either as an Environmental Stewardship Derogation (to date, over 100 have been granted) or a Countryside Stewardship Minor and Temporary Adjustment (over 30 have so far been granted).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are considering 30 agri-environment options where farmers and land managers are more likely to be affected by drought to see where we would accept temporary derogations. These include derogations that may help support grazing, bedding and fodder. In some cases, these could provide for earlier cutting, grazing or sowing of forage within certain parameters that are designed to minimise the overall environmental impact.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As regards cash flow, the Rural Payments Agency and Natural England are fully focused on getting basic payment scheme (BPS) and agri-environment scheme payments issued promptly. In addition, we are considering options such as bringing forward bridging payments for those BPS claimants who have not received their BPS 2018 payments by the end of December.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is clear that the main impact of the recent drought conditions is likely to be felt by livestock farmers facing a shortage of fodder and that the full extent of the impacts may not be realised until later in the year. We have prioritised practical solutions to help farmers increase access to fodder and bedding both now and in the coming months. These actions will help farmers to limit the impact of extra feed costs by allocating land to forage growth and grazing, but we will keep the situation under review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 169252 question first answered 06/09/2018 12:41:43 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron