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1147048

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Insects: Non-native Species
	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 estimate her Department has made of the number of invasive insect species in the UK as a result of the removal of compulsory tick treatment for pets at UK border; and whether there are any plans to reintroduce the tick treatment policy.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	292211
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>We do not hold the data requested for the number of invasive insect species in the UK as a result of the removal of compulsory tick treatment for pets at the UK border.</p><p> </p><p>Tick surveillance has shown that tick distribution and abundance is changing throughout the UK for many reasons, including habitat and climate change. Small numbers of localised infestations with non-native tick species have been reported in recent years, and imported rescue dogs have been demonstrated to be a higher risk for carrying ticks or being infected with tick-borne diseases. For these reasons, Defra strongly encourages pet owners to treat their pets to safeguard their animals against ticks and tick transmitted diseases when travelling abroad. Further advice can be obtained from their local vet, and via the Public Health England (PHE) leaflet available on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst Defra has no immediate plans to amend the tick controls for pet animals entering the United Kingdom, we remain concerned about the threat of ticks and tick-borne disease. As such, a risk assessment is being planned to guide future policy and Defra continues to monitor the disease situation through the Tick Surveillance Scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 07/10/2019 15:20:29 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1147050

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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: Climate Change
	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 (a) understand and (b) mitigate the risks to the food security of the UK population due to global climate change.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	292213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) published in 2017 identifies risks to domestic and international food production and trade as one of the UK’s top six risks from climate change. The second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) published in 2018, sets out a plan of actions across Government to address these risks (amongst others identified in the CCRA) over the following 5 years. Specifically the NAP includes actions to ensure a food supply chain which is resilient to the effects of a changing climate.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the action referenced above, we are reviewing the UK Food Security Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of UK food security in a global context. It was last published as a whole document in 2010 although the underpinning statistics are updated and monitored on a regular basis. The Assessment has six themes: Global Food Security; Global Resource Sustainability; UK Availability and Access; UK Supply Chain Resilience; Household Food Security; Consumer Safety and Confidence.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also commissioned an independent review to develop recommendations to help shape a national food strategy. The National Food Strategy will carry out an integrated analysis of our food system, looking across the issues of food security, climate change and health to develop a series of recommendations for Government.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 08/10/2019 12:01:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1147051

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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 the biggest risk is to the UK's food security in the (a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	292214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Sectors in the UK. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have joint responsibility for food as CNI. Defra is responsible for security of supply, and the FSA for food safety and food crime. Food supply is a devolved issue. Defra produces a Sector Security and Resilience Plan (SSRP) which is updated annually and a summary is publicly available.</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/786206/20190215_PublicSummaryOfSectorSecurityAndResiliencePlans2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/786206/20190215_PublicSummaryOfSectorSecurityAndResiliencePlans2018.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>This document sets out the risk landscape through identifying the main risks to the sector as described in the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA). and how these are managed. The UK food sector has a highly effective and resilient food supply chain, owing to the size, geographic diversity and competitive nature of the industry. While there are no individually critical food assets, the main risks arise from recognised dependencies on other critical services such as fuel, energy, transport and data communications.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 08/10/2019 11:43:55 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1147038

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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 Protection: British Overseas Territories
	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 submissions were received in response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories; and when her Department plans to publish its response to that consultation.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
	uin	292275
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>A total of 49 responses were submitted to the Call for Evidence on biodiversity and conservation funding in the Overseas Territories, and a summary of those responses will be published in due course. Decisions on future funding arrangements for the Overseas Territories, including any domestic replacements for EU funding, will be considered as part of the next full spending review.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith grouped question UIN 292276 question first answered 08/10/2019 09:45:34 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1147039

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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 Protection: British Overseas Territories
	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’s response to the call for evidence on environmental funding for the British Overseas Territories will include plans to replace the EU environmental funds of BEST and LIFE.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
	uin	292276
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>A total of 49 responses were submitted to the Call for Evidence on biodiversity and conservation funding in the Overseas Territories, and a summary of those responses will be published in due course. Decisions on future funding arrangements for the Overseas Territories, including any domestic replacements for EU funding, will be considered as part of the next full spending review.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith grouped question UIN 292275 question first answered 08/10/2019 09:45:34 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1147160

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Squirrels
	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 (a) protect red squirrels in Northumberland and (b) tackle the damaging effect of the invasive grey squirrel species.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	292240
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter. The information below only relates to England.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to protecting and expanding red squirrel populations and tackling the threats that grey squirrels pose to them. The Forestry Commission and Natural England are members of Red Squirrels Northern England, a red squirrel conservation partnership project managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which works in seven northern counties, including Northumberland. The Forestry Commission has also partnered with the Mammals Trust UK and Newcastle University on the Northumberland Kielder Forest Project, which considers the role that forest management can have in conservation of the species.</p><p> </p><p>The Forestry Commission undertakes actions to protect red squirrels from the impact of grey squirrels more widely as outlined in the Grey Squirrel Action Plan for England. This includes providing woodland management advice on maintaining red squirrel habitat and managing grey squirrels, including advising land-owners that receive funding through the Countryside Stewardship scheme who choose to control grey squirrels.</p><p> </p><p>Defra, Natural England and the Forestry Commission are signatories to the United Kingdom Squirrel Accord, working with over 30 other signatories, including Red Squirrels Northern England, to secure and expand red squirrel populations. Defra, in partnership with the Accord, has provided funding for work by the Animal and Plant Health Agency for the development of a fertility control method for grey squirrels. This research continues to show promise as one potentially effective and humane method to control grey squirrel numbers in the longer term.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/10/2019 11:32:02 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1147244

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Plastics: Seas and Oceans
	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 reduce plastic waste in oceans.
	tabling member constituency	Leigh
	tabling member printed	Jo Platt
	uin	292370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The UK is committed to tackling the scourge of marine litter and we are making significant progress towards addressing this issue. Our approach so far has been to reduce needless plastic waste entering the marine environment in the first instance.</p><p>Our ban on microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products, one of the strongest in the world, came into force in June 2018. Our plastic bag charge has led to a 90% reduction in the use of plastic carrier bags in the main retailers and last year alone raised over £51 million for environmental causes. We have consulted on plans to extend the charge to all retailers and on increasing the minimum 5p charge to at least 10p. In May 2019, we announced that a ban on the supply of plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds to the end user will come into force from April 2020. These policies are helping to deliver our Resources and Waste Strategy for England, our framework for eliminating all avoidable plastic waste. It builds on commitments in our 25 Year Environment Plan and sets out plans to maximise the value we get from resources, minimise waste, promote a circular economy, and better protect the environment.</p><p>Marine litter is a transboundary problem which requires international cooperation; that is why we are leading action on the global threat of marine litter. We continue to actively engage internationally through OSPAR, the G7 and the G20, and the UN. In April 2018, the Prime Minister announced the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, a ground-breaking initiative working with our Commonwealth partners to reduce marine plastic pollution. To help deliver this, we committed an ambitious package of up to £70 million of funding to drive research and innovation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/10/2019 11:17:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

1147279

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Incinerators
	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 waste incineration plants burning (a) residential, (b) commercial and (c) industrial waste were licensed in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
	tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
	uin	292246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency is responsible for issuing environmental permits for waste incineration plants in England. The following numbers of new permits have been issued for relevant plants over the last five years:</p><p> </p><p><strong>2014</strong>: Three plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste and one plant permitted to burn hazardous industrial wastes</p><p> </p><p><strong>2015</strong>: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste</p><p> </p><p><strong>2016</strong>: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste</p><p> </p><p><strong>2017</strong>: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste</p><p> </p><p><strong>2018</strong>: One plant permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste</p><p> </p><p><strong>2019 to date</strong>: Two plants each permitted to burn residential, commercial and industrial waste</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/10/2019 10:55:02 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty

1147264

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: St Helens
	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 she has made of the potential merits of (a) restoring sections of and (b) extending the Sankey Canal to join the main canal system through the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
	tabling member constituency	St Helens North
	tabling member printed	Conor McGinn
	uin	292280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department has not made any such assessments. Responsibility for canals, including their operation, development or restoration rests with the bodies that own them and for which they are the navigation authority. For the majority of the canal network in England and Wales the navigation authority is the Canal and River Trust (CRT). Responsibility for different sections of the Sankey Canal falls to three Unitary Authorities, the CRT, and a limited company.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 03/10/2019 08:44:11 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4458 label Biography information for Conor McGinn

1147158

	registered interest
	date	30/09/2019
	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	Crayfish: Pest Control
	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 steps her Department has taken to tackle invasive crayfish species in UK rivers.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	292239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>Policy on non-native crayfish is devolved; the following information is relevant to England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>We are in the process of eradicating the only known population of white river crayfish in England and Wales, using a natural pyrethrum based biocide. The trapping of crayfish is tightly regulated to prevent deliberate or accidental spread of crayfish. The Environment Agency has been active in instigating research into methods for managing non-native crayfish populations and mitigating their impact on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>On 8 March the Government laid the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (“the Order”) which applies across England and Wales. The Order is a key part of meeting the requirements of EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation (1143/2014), a core purpose of which is to take concerted action to tackle the threat that invasive species pose to our biodiversity and ecosystems. The Order will introduce an enforcement regime that will include the following non-native invasive crayfish species: signal crayfish, marbled crayfish, virile crayfish, spiny cheeked crayfish, and red swamped crayfish. The Order will introduce both civil and criminal sanctions including both fixed and variable monetary penalties and custodial sentences for the most serious infringements of the EU Regulation.</p><p> </p><p>On 18 July the Government launched a consultation on management measures for widely spread invasive alien species, including the signal crayfish, which closes on 12 September. Under the Invasive Alien Species Regulation, management measures must be put in place for widespread invasive alien species. The consultation asks for views on ways to manage populations of species of concern including for specified invasive crayfish species.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation can be found at</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invasive-alien-species-management-measures-for-widely-spread-species-in-england-and-wales" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invasive-alien-species-management-measures-for-widely-spread-species-in-england-and-wales</a></p><p> </p><p>We continue to work with water companies to improve biosecurity measures, including through the Clean, Check, Dry campaign.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/10/2019 11:05:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery