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1580707

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2023
	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: Holiday Leave
	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 has notified staff to (a) tell or (b) remind them that they can sell annual leave in the last four months.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	132463
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>a) No and b) No.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 03/02/2023 14:55:09 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1582277

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2023
	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: Conditions of Employment
	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 they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	136653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>a) <strong>Equality Impact Assessments</strong>:</p><p>i. An Equality Impact Assessment is carried out for all new HR policies in Defra. Our HR Policy Team routinely considers equality impacts in relation to new HR policies and significant changes to existing HR policies and takes advice as necessary from our HR Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team to ensure compliance with our Public Sector Equality Duty.</p><p>ii. For new policies and where there is a significant change in policy, staff networks are consulted in preparation of the Equality Impact Assessment to ensure that potential equality impacts are identified and addressed.</p><p>iii. The Equality Impact Assessments are not routinely published but are available to staff on request.</p><p>b) <strong>Trade unions</strong> are always consulted in the development of new HR policies in Defra, through regular meetings between Defra HR and trade union representatives.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/02/2023 16:54:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1688564

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	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 and Safety
	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 all (a) buildings and (b) workplaces staff from their Department occupy have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	13748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Yes, all buildings and workplaces which staff from Defra occupy have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:17:47 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1329357

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2021
	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	Paraquat: Exports
	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 the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the export licensing of Paraquat.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10466
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2021 answer text <p>We take our trade and international obligations for human health and the environment seriously and continue to monitor action in other countries and learn from their experiences.</p><p> </p><p>The export of paraquat from Great Britain (GB) is regulated under the GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals. Companies intending to export any of these chemicals from the GB must notify the importing country via the exporter’s Designated National Authority. For GB, the Designated National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).</p><p> </p><p>Paraquat additionally requires the explicit consent of the importing country before export can take place. The exchange of information that PIC provides allows the importing countries to make informed decisions on the import of those chemicals and on how to handle and use them safely. This process is kept under review.</p><p> </p><p>We believe it is essential that the use of actives that are known to be hazardous to human health or the environment should be subject to scientific risk assessment, mitigation and regulatory protections. That is why we support notification of the export of Paraquat under GB PIC and support its listing under the Rotterdam convention.</p><p> </p><p>We also believe in evidence based international policy making through the use of scientific committees, such as the Chemical Review Committee, and support the strengthening of the international science:policy interface for chemicals and pesticides to support global decision making.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/06/2021 16:34:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1626995

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2023
	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	Eggs and Poultry
	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 using powers under Section 20 and 21 of the Agriculture Act 2020 to make a declaration of exceptional market conditions for the poultry and eggs sector.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	184707
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2023 answer text <p>We recognise that the agriculture industry, including the poultry and eggs sectors, has faced a number of challenges over the last year, particularly in relation to the increase of input costs as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, our assessment is that the conditions for intervention under Section 20 or Section 21 of the Agriculture Act are not currently met, not least because input costs are now falling.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to closely monitor the situation in each sector through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group and via regular, on-going sector stakeholder engagement.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 16/05/2023 09:09:59 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1354900

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	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	Dogs: Smuggling
	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 Dogs Trust's report, Puppy Smuggling: the scandal continues, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Dogs Trust’s recommendation that checks at the border should include a visual check to ensure that the pet animal is the same as the animal listed on the pet passport, and is the age stated.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	48260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.</p><p> </p><p>Authorised pet checkers are trained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) prior to being granted approval and receive annual audits of their checking and processing to ensure they uphold our requirements. They also receive refresher training and are encouraged to liaise with their APHA contacts to identify non-compliance trends and additional training requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Pet checkers will refuse travel or share intelligence with the APHA who can intercept at the port/border if non-compliance is suspected.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/09/2021 13:20:29 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1352239

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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	Cats: Imports
	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 cats entering the UK non-commercially were under six months of age in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
	tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
	uin	42205
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than ROI and NI) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.</p><p> </p><p>There are numerous approved routes into the UK by which pets can travel. These diverse routes are managed by independent pet checkers and by a variety of carriers including ferries, air travel and trains. Pet checkers and carriers independently record the number of how many cats, dogs, ferrets and assistance dogs have travelled and are required to record additional details of the animal where non-compliance is discovered. They may also independently record identifying details for their own records.</p><p> </p><p>The data regarding the Pet Travel Rules is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Raw data on the number of animals travelled via each authorised pet checker or carrier is provided to the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Border Force to enable effective enforcement action. This new system, with carrier captured data, records the number of pet animals entering the country more accurately than the previous legacy database (Pets database) which was initially deployed in 2006, but it is not a requirement to record the age of the animals travelling on those routes. Therefore, we cannot provide this data.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 13/09/2021 15:51:38 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1686349

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	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	Aquaculture: Shellfish
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2024 to Question 11649 on Aquaculture: Shellfish, what steps his Department is taking to challenge the EU's restrictions on undepurated Class B live bivalve molluscs; and (b) through what mechanism those challenges are made.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Anthony Mangnall
	uin	12412
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2024 answer text <p>We have challenged the EU's restrictions on undepurated Class B live bivalve molluscs through the mechanisms provided by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These include the TCA SPS Committee, TCA Partnership Council and Trade Partnership Committee. Minutes of these Committees can be found at <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Ftrade-and-cooperation-agreement-governance&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C479fb696679a4dcc5a7b08dc2348f215%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638424043442546086%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1IsanlcwlnGEOKUNvCBDdOEGWGdwZPwYtUYk7pMxNkY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Trade and Cooperation Agreement Governance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 06/02/2024 13:57:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4762 label Biography information for Anthony Mangnall

1345780

	registered interest
	date	12/07/2021
	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	Forests: Private Sector
	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 (a) private forestry sector's current stocking density levels and (b) ability of private sector operators to fulfil public contracts without increasing reliance on imported trees.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	31565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2021 answer text <p>We do not keep track of the private sector's current stocking density levels. However, through the England Trees Action Plan, we have set out measures to expand our data on trees, woodlands and forests. This includes establishing a Nursery Notification Scheme which will provide information on supply and demand of different kinds of tree, which will support nurseries and seed suppliers to produce the right stock at the right time.</p><p> </p><p>We do not hold information or make assessments on the ability of private sector operators to fulfil public contracts. However, we are working to increase tree production in our domestic nursery sector through targeted activities supported by the Nature for Climate Fund. This will include capital investment in nurseries to improve the quantity, quality, diversity and biosecurity of domestic tree production. This is necessary to create a resilient, healthy, and genetically diverse planting stock, which is ready for our future climate and grown in the UK. This should encourage further reliance on domestically grown trees.</p><p> </p><p>We know that collaborative engagement with both the public and private forest nursery sector is crucial to enhance nursery production. Through the England Trees Action Plan, we are setting out a roadmap for future engagement, building on what we already have in place. This will allow us to develop collaborative, committed and transparent relationships with the nursery sector that delivers better strategic alignment and enhances plant and seed production further.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 15/07/2021 15:48:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1684396

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2024
	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	Deer
	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 impact of increased culling of wild deer on the capacity of the food processing sector.
	tabling member constituency	Broxbourne
	tabling member printed	Sir Charles Walker
	uin	11023
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2024 answer text <p>We are working with the British Wild Venison Working Group, and others involved in the venison supply chain, to keep the situation under review to ensure that capacity to process deer carcases and increase supply of venison aligns with an increased effort to manage deer and reduce their impact on food crops, forestry and biodiversity.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 06/02/2024 13:30:38 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker