Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1139679

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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	Agriculture: Subsidies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	[Suggested redraft] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of farms at risk of closing down as a result of a new systems of agricultural payments as outlined in the Government's policy paper of 12 September 2018 on health and harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a green Brexit, what the size of those farms are; and the type of farming undertaken by those farms.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	278334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2019 answer text <p>In September 2018, alongside the Agriculture Bill and policy statement, the Government published an ‘Analysis of the impacts of removing Direct Payments’. This provided an overview of the potential impacts to different farm types and sizes of moving away from direct payments and introducing a new system of public money for public goods.<del class="ministerial"> It also showed the potential across all sectors for farmers to become more efficient – producing more for less – as a response to any reductions in direct payments.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Direct payments are untargeted, poor value for money, undermine efficiency and productivity improvements, and limit opportunities for new entrants. They have imposed unnecessary bureaucracy on farmers and can inflate rent prices. Some of our most successful and vibrant food-producing sectors of agriculture have never been subsidised. For example the poultry industry, the pig industry and the horticulture industry.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Direct payments are arbitrary payments based on land area that tend to favour larger land owners rather than smaller family farming businesses.</ins> In England we will phase out direct payments during an agricultural transition, giving time for farmers to adjust. Phasing out direct payments will free up money so we can reward farmers for delivering public goods, including environmental outcomes<ins class="ministerial"> and animal welfare</ins>.<del class="ministerial"> We recognise that some certain sectors are more dependent than others on direct payments but provided that these farmers are delivering public goods, they will be well placed to benefit from the new system.</del></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 01/08/2019 14:08:07 question first ministerially corrected 13/08/2019 09:11:36 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice previous answer version 131932 answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1123705

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	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	Smallholdings
	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 he has to further protect county farm smallholdings from precipitant sale; and what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on this matter.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	248572
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government values the role of county farm smallholdings, and particularly the opportunities they offer for new entrant farmers. We are considering how to help local authorities who want to retain and invest in their county farm smallholdings, so that they offer real opportunities for new farmers to start a foundation business and gain the experience they need to progress on to a larger unit.</p><p> </p><p>Officials have regular contact with local authorities and other organisations with an interest in county farm smallholdings.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 02/05/2019 09:54:31 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1123974

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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	Pesticides: 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, whether he plans to set up a new pesticides as a result of the resignation of key members from the Pesticides Forum and Voluntary Initiative.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	249194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The Pesticides Forum was set up by Government to bring together a range of organisations with an interest in how pesticides are used and the impact of their use. It plays a helpful role in supporting the National Action Plan (NAP) for pesticides by identifying issues and possible solutions across a range of pesticides issues. The Voluntary Initiative is an industry-led group which has done useful work in developing and promoting best practice in the use of pesticides. We regret that the Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Pesticides Action Network UK have decided to withdraw from these groups, which benefit from having a range of views around the table.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Government will develop its approach to pesticides, putting Integrated Pest Management at its heart. In doing so we will continue to reduce the impacts of pesticide use and maintain dialogue with all those that can help us to make further progress. As part of this process we will review the NAP and update it as necessary. This will involve public consultation and we hope that environmental and farming groups will engage actively with this.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 08/05/2019 15:45:31 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1125599

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Air Pollution
	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 wind speed required to disperse (a) PM 0.1 and (b) PM 1 particles from the place where they are emitted.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	252475
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>In 2018 the Government commissioned the Air Quality Expert Group to write a detailed report on ultrafine particles, which include PM 0.1 and PM 1.0. This report describes extensive research assessing the factors that affect the formation and dispersion of PM0.1 and PM1.0, including wind speed.</p><p> </p><p>This report is available at <a href="https://uk-ir.defra.gov.uk/library/reports.php?report_id=968" target="_blank">https://uk-ir.defra.gov.uk/library/reports.php?report_id=968</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 16/05/2019 12:12:13 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1125694

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	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	Rural Areas
	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 civil servants are (a) fully and (b) partially employed in (i) rural policy development and (ii) checking rural proofing of other departments and public bodies.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	252508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The work of most staff in Defra and its arms’ length bodies touches on rural areas, whether it is on agriculture, fisheries, natural environment or wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently 25 posts in Defra’s Rural Policy Team. All are involved in rural proofing, whether it is developing Defra’s approach, building the evidence base, engaging with stakeholders to identify concerns or working with other departments on specific issues.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, there are 29 posts in the team in Defra managing the Rural Development Programme for England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 16/05/2019 16:39:25 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1126606

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Farmers: Suicide
	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 suicides in the farming sector, what steps he is taking to monitor levels of distress in that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	254107
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra takes the issue of farmers and agricultural workers’ wellbeing very seriously. I am aware that rates of suicide are higher across the agricultural sector generally than they are for the general population. I know that they often have a solitary lifestyle, it is hard work and their businesses are subject to unpredictable factors such as the weather. As part of the Future Farming programme we are looking at the impact of policies on wellbeing, and we are also working with partners to foster personal and business resilience.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our on-going work using data on the farming sector, we monitor the published ONS statistics on suicides by employment group. As well as headline mortality numbers, we keep under review the issues that may affect broader experiences of positive and negative wellbeing.</p><p> </p><p>Officials meet regularly with farming and rural charities to hear first-hand about resilience in the farming sector. This provides an indication of how farmers and farm workers are responding to any pressures affecting the sector.</p><p> </p><p>Government launched its first ever Loneliness Strategy in October 2018. One of Defra’s commitments is to hold regular stakeholder roundtables to tackle the issues of loneliness and isolation in rural areas. The next roundtable, to be chaired by Lord Gardiner, is being held on 11 June 2019. Defra also provides financial support through an annual grant of £1.7 million to Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), whose network of 38 rural community councils work on housing and transport issues that we know can affect farming communities.</p><p> </p><p>Defra works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on this issue. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights the higher risk of suicide experienced by certain occupational groups, and this includes agricultural occupations. Through the Strategy, DHSC has ensured that every local authority has a suicide prevention plan in place to implement tailored approaches to reducing suicides based on the needs and demographics of local communities.</p><p> </p><p>In October 2018, the Prime Minister announced the first Minister for Suicide Prevention, and she recently met the Farming Community Network to understand better the issues facing farmers.</p><p> </p><p>It is important that farmers are aware of the people they can turn to if they are going through difficult times. In particular, the farming charities – the Farming Community Network, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Addington Fund – all do a brilliant job in supporting farmers and their families. The National Farmers Union also has a regional network of advisers who can provide support.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 21/05/2019 14:49:38 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1126852

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff
	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 full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in (a) May 2017 and (b) May 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	254722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Please find the answer to this question below. The information is taken as at the last working day of each month.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Date</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>FTE</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2017</p></td><td><p>2,245</p></td><td><p>2,159.91</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>3,769</p></td><td><p>3,606.33</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>All information relating to headcount and FTE figures for Core Defra and ALBs is published monthly in the Monthly Workforce Management Information report. Please see the link below for more information:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/9fb1ed1f-00c9-421b-ab18-c30c14559681/workforce-management-information-defra" target="_blank">https://data.gov.uk/dataset/9fb1ed1f-00c9-421b-ab18-c30c14559681/workforce-management-information-defra</a></p><p> </p><p>The answer covers permanent (payroll staff) for the department only. The response excludes contingent labour (Agency Staff/Consultants/Contractors/Interim Managers).</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 20/05/2019 16:50:10 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1127520

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Agriculture: Subsidies
	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 he will publish the (a) names and (b) locations by region of each of the Environmental Land Management Scheme pilots.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	256211
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The Environmental Land Management (ELM) pilot is planned to run for three years starting from late 2021 and will cover the whole of England. The first tests and trails, informing different elements of ELM, should start shortly and the proposals ELM have received to date are spread across the whole of England.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 23/05/2019 13:06:07 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128308

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	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	Tree Planting
	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 (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take in response to the recommendations on planting trees made by the Climate Change Committee in its report Net Zero – The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming, published in May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	257400
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change published its report on 2 May. We very much welcome this analysis and will be responding in a timeframe that reflects the urgency of this crucial issue.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is driving forward its manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees over the course of this parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We have kick started a vast Northern Forest, which will see 50 million trees planted from Liverpool to Hull; allocated £10 million to plant new trees in our towns and cities through the urban trees challenge fund; and appointed a Tree Champion to lead our engagement on a new English Tree Strategy. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced £50 million to help plant new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently consulted on Best Practice Guidance and issued the Urban Tree Manual, which support the sustainable management of trees. The National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, encourages better recognition of trees and woodlands for the wider natural capital benefits they can provide.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257421 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:06:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1128314

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	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	Tree Planting
	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 (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to encourage local authorities to implement the recommendations on planting trees made by the Climate Change Committee in its report Net Zero – The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming, published in May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	257421
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change published its report on 2 May. We very much welcome this analysis and will be responding in a timeframe that reflects the urgency of this crucial issue.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is driving forward its manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees over the course of this parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We have kick started a vast Northern Forest, which will see 50 million trees planted from Liverpool to Hull; allocated £10 million to plant new trees in our towns and cities through the urban trees challenge fund; and appointed a Tree Champion to lead our engagement on a new English Tree Strategy. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced £50 million to help plant new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently consulted on Best Practice Guidance and issued the Urban Tree Manual, which support the sustainable management of trees. The National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, encourages better recognition of trees and woodlands for the wider natural capital benefits they can provide.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257400 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:06:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew