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1674618
registered interest true more like this
date less than 2023-12-01more like thismore than 2023-12-01
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Gaza: Israel more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on reports on the presence of a tunnel beneath Al-Shifa Hospital. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 4863 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-12-06more like thismore than 2023-12-06
answer text <p>The UK cannot comment on specific reports. However, it is clear that Hamas has put Palestinians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and using civilians as human shields. The Foreign Secretary visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 23 November, where he met President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and other senior Israeli interlocutors to discuss the conflict. We are also clear that, in pursuing its legitimate right to self-defence against Hamas, Israel's military actions in Gaza must be carried out in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and Israel must take all possible measures to protect civilians.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Macclesfield more like this
answering member printed David Rutley more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-12-06T14:52:15.507Zmore like thismore than 2023-12-06T14:52:15.507Z
answering member
4033
label Biography information for David Rutley more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1661367
registered interest true more like this
date less than 2023-09-18more like thismore than 2023-09-18
answering body
Department for Transport more like this
answering dept id 27 more like this
answering dept short name Transport more like this
answering dept sort name Transport more like this
hansard heading Aviation: Nature Conservation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Habitats Directive on airfield planning applications. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 200084 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-10-16more like thismore than 2023-10-16
answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is supportive of airport growth where it can be delivered within its environmental obligations.</p><p> </p><p>Every development proposal should be judged by the relevant planning authority, taking careful account of all relevant considerations, including environmental impacts and proposed mitigations.</p><p> </p><p>Airport planning applications need to take into account the European Commission Habitats Directive where they could lead to significant impacts on areas of nature conservation, which could include a Habitat Regulations Assessment of the implications of the plans for that site.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire more like this
answering member printed Jesse Norman more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-10-16T16:35:12.097Zmore like thismore than 2023-10-16T16:35:12.097Z
answering member
3991
label Biography information for Jesse Norman more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645060
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Livestock: Disease Control more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken planning exercises in the last 10 years to test the UK's preparedness for managing a farm animal disease outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189874 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>There have been four UK-wide exercises involving Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency including their operational partners and stakeholder organisations:</p><ul><li>Exercise Holly (July 2021) tested government’s response to an outbreak of African swine fever.</li><li>Exercise Blackthorn (November 2017 to July 2018) tested the response to a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).</li><li>Exercise Willow (2016) examined the UK’s capacity to respond to a large cross-border outbreak of FMD.</li><li>Exercise Walnut (2013) tested the response to an outbreak of classical swine fever.</li></ul><p>We have also completed numerous operational, field and laboratory-based exercises to test and refine contingency plans on a yearly cycle, and our response capability has been tested by real-world outbreaks such as the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T15:47:25.943Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T15:47:25.943Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645061
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Animal and Plant Health Agency more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she made of the adequacy of Animal Plant and Health Agency veterinary resources; and if she will make a statement. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189875 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>APHA has approximately 430 veterinary posts and at the end of May 2023, 60 of these were vacant. Recruitment is underway and locum vets are being used while vacancies are being filled. Because of the nature of APHA work, veterinary resource needs can change rapidly. This was seen during last winter and the large avian influenza outbreak that required a prioritising resource allocation and the temporary expansion of the Agency’s workforce.</p><p> </p><p>APHA has contracts in place to enable it to bring in more veterinary resource from private veterinary practices at times of peak demand and this was heavily used during the outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>APHA also was also able to draw on veterinary resource from core Defra. There are other potential changes to APHA’s responsibilities which will require more veterinary resource. These changes are individually impact assessed to identify resource requirements. One such example is the new Border Operating Model where APHA is likely to need significant extra veterinary resource to check imported live animals. Defra provides APHA with additional funding to expand veterinary resource where needed.</p>
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T10:12:58.36Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T10:12:58.36Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645062
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Avian Influenza: Vaccination more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on developing an avian influenza vaccination trade strategy. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189876 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T15:43:23.227Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T15:43:23.227Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645064
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Business and Trade more like this
answering dept id 214 more like this
answering dept short name Business and Trade more like this
answering dept sort name Business and Trade more like this
hansard heading Exports: Notifiable Diseases more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of notifiable disease outbreaks on exports. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189877 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Business and Trade maintains regular dialogue with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a wide range of issues relating to agriculture and trade. The government will continue to prioritise trade facilitation in our FTAs to benefit UK exports.</p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Nigel Huddleston more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T13:15:55.003Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T13:15:55.003Z
answering member
4407
label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645071
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Animal and Plant Health Agency: Finance more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding she plans to allocate to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in each of the next five financial years. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189884 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Defra funding for financial year 2023-24 is £185.2 million RDEL (Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit) and £15.7 million CDEL (Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit). Indicative funding for 2024-25 has been set but is not yet confirmed and is expected to be agreed by January 2024. Future year funding beyond this is subject to the Government-wide spending review process which will determine the overall funding for Defra and APHA.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T10:05:22.057Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T10:05:22.057Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645072
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Birds: Disease Control more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps to (a) review and (b) update the notifiable avian disease control strategy, published on 30 August 2018. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189885 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>Current avian influenza disease control policy considers the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice, reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. Defra’s approach to avian influenza is set out in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnotifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy-2015&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEDC.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C66d08106fb534d86977008db6e56be2c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638225091055673566%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=B8v8nGXcZRImr36W5Oecl5q5UFJjuSzn38Gdmm5oTbE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>, published in September 2019. This document is currently under review and is being updated to reflect the recent legislative and policy changes that have already been implemented and an updated version will be published on gov.uk prior to the 2023/2024 high risk season. The Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain is supported by the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fmitigation-strategy-for-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-in-england-and-wales&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEDC.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C66d08106fb534d86977008db6e56be2c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638225091055673566%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=XeGc%2BnAP%2FT24UkTVHYQcz6SQGIA7qwBD2RlRBdjlLno%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales</a>, an updated version of which was published in March 2023.</p>
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T15:36:07.173Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T15:36:07.173Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1645073
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-15more like thismore than 2023-06-15
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Animals and Animal Products: France more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to suspend the import of (a) animals and (b) animal products from France after the commencement of its avian flu vaccination programme in autumn 2023. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 189886 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-23more like thismore than 2023-06-23
answer text <p>It is important to note that, according to Great Britain's Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy, avian flu vaccination, barring those in licensed English zoos, is currently not permitted for poultry and captive birds. These steps represent our commitment to maintaining animal and public health.</p><p>In response to France's commitments on its autumn 2023 avian flu vaccination programme, my department has formed a task force to explore broader vaccination use as a preventive measure against avian influenza.</p><p>This group, consisting of Government and industry experts, will formulate potential domestic strategies, with considerations for trade impact and necessary mitigations to prevent trade barriers, potentially including suspension of import of animals and animal products from France. All proposed changes will be backed by robust risk assessments.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sherwood more like this
answering member printed Mark Spencer more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-23T15:32:19.637Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-23T15:32:19.637Z
answering member
4055
label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter
1639404
registered interest true more like this
date less than 2023-05-22more like thismore than 2023-05-22
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Israel: Palestinian Islamic Jihad more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to condemn Iran for its alleged support for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s recent attacks on Israel. more like this
tabling member constituency Witney more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Courts more like this
uin 186220 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-05-31more like thismore than 2023-05-31
answer text <p>The UK Government regularly assesses the impact of Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to several militant and proscribed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and escalates already high tensions, with consequences for the international community. It is for this reason that we currently have over 350 sanctions in place against the Iranian regime. PIJ and other terrorist groups must cease their campaign of violence, for which there is no justification. As the Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement, we welcome the current Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and urge all sides to de-escalate tensions.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Macclesfield more like this
answering member printed David Rutley more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-05-31T14:16:59.11Zmore like thismore than 2023-05-31T14:16:59.11Z
answering member
4033
label Biography information for David Rutley more like this
tabling member
4589
label Biography information for Robert Courts remove filter