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1420700

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2022
	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	Veterinary Medicine
	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 potential merits of amending the Veterinary Medicines Regulations for the purposes of (a) encouraging innovation and (b) reducing bureaucracy in the production of animal medicines in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	120747
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2022 answer text <p>The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is in the process of reviewing the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR) to ensure that they are fit for purpose. The powers to amend and supplement the VMR are set out in the Medicines and Medical Devices Act.</p><p> </p><p>The Act mandates that, in considering changes to the VMR, we must have regard to the likelihood of the United Kingdom being seen as a favourable place in which to develop, manufacture or supply veterinary medicines. Using the powers in the Act we are able to take a proportionate, risk-based approach to regulation. We intend to, where possible, reduce administrative burdens on industry, whilst effectively ensuring safety for animals, humans and the environment, as well as supporting the availability of veterinary medicines and the UK as an attractive place for UK-based innovation.</p><p> </p><p>We will carry out a formal public consultation on the proposed changes to the VMR as they have effect in Great Britain. This consultation will include an assessment of the impact of those changes on UK businesses and provide the opportunity for all stakeholders to express their views.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 21/02/2022 17:46:55 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1626351

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2023
	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	Urban Areas: Environment Protection
	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 discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting the regreening of urban areas.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	184072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>Our Environmental Improvement Plan sets out our commitment for every household to be within a 15-minute walk of a green space or water – and this commitment reflects the ongoing work across government to deliver better access to nature across all sections of society. Cabinet colleagues’ departments helped develop the Green Infrastructure Framework, launched by Natural England in 2023. This will help local planning authorities and developers to create or improve green and blue infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. The Government will support local authorities to improve access to green infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 15/05/2023 12:08:01 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

905622

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2018
	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	Unilever: Norwich
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates and with whom he has had discussions on a rural development programme for Unilever's manufacturing operations in Norwich and its associated supply chain.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	144894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2018 answer text <p>I have received numerous representation from the Hon. Member for Norfolk North regarding the future of manufacturing operations on the Unilever site in Norwich.</p><p> </p><p>On 3 May I met the Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to discuss this issue. The Department has also been made aware of a potential application under the Rural Development Programme’s Growth Programme for funding to help set up a manufacturing and milling facility in Greater Norwich. However, an application has not so far been received.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 22/05/2018 14:58:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1626363

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2023
	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	Rural Areas: Business
	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 is taking steps to help improve the productivity of rural businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	184076
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to helping rural businesses prosper.</p><p> </p><p>Among other measures, Defra has launched the £110 million Rural England Prosperity Fund to help new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy as well supporting new and improved community infrastructure. The fund is being delivered by local authorities in eligible areas and we confirmed their allocations in April 2023 so that they can begin implementation.</p><p> </p><p>We also believe there is a huge opportunity for the agriculture and horticulture sectors to improve their competitiveness – developing the next generation of food and farming technology, adopting the latest techniques and investing in skills and equipment.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2021 we opened the Farming Investment Fund which is providing grants to farmers, foresters and growers (including contractors to these sectors) so that they can invest in the equipment, technology and infrastructure that will help their businesses to prosper, while improving their productivity and enhancing the environment. Following Round 1 of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund we have already provided funding of more than £33 million to 3,200 farmers.</p><p> </p><p>The Farming Innovation Programme is helping to drive innovations by providing £270 million of funding to support farmers, growers, foresters, and other businesses in England to develop innovative ways to increase productivity and environmental sustainability, as well as helping them to decarbonise by researching and developing new technologies, processes and practices.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Resilience Fund farmers and land managers in England can access free business support and advice. To date over 13,000 farmers have accessed this service.</p><p> </p><p>More widely the Government is taking steps to improve digital connectivity, a vital step to boost rural productivity. The Government is investing £5 billion through the Project Gigabit programme to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to hard-to-reach premises, in line with our commitment to reach 85% of UK premises with gigabit connectivity no later than the end of 2025 and as close as possible to 100% as soon as possible after that. The £1 billion Shared Rural Network programme is on track to deliver its target to reach 95% of UK landmass by the end of 2025, and further coverage improvements in the more hard-to-reach areas will continue to be delivered until the start of 2027.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 15/05/2023 09:32:47 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

922090

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2018
	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	Poultry: Trade
	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 his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the free movement of food-related poultry goods.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	152145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2018 answer text <p>We are conducting rigorous analysis of the full range of UK-EU trade scenarios on UK agriculture (including the poultry sector) as part of our planning.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 18/06/2018 11:58:57 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1129630

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Poultry Meat: USA
	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 assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) the poultry meat sector and (b) consumers of the importation of poultry washed with (i) chlorine and (ii) other antimicrobial washes from the US.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	259965
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to maintaining our rigorous standards on animal welfare and food safety after Brexit - high standards and high quality are what our domestic and global customers demand, and that is what we will provide.</p><p> </p><p>The existing food safety provisions regarding chlorine and other pathogen reduction treatments for poultry will be transferred into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 10/06/2019 14:40:41 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1340023

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2021
	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	Plastics: Waste Disposal
	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 implications for his policies on the treatment of plastic waste of the Greenpeace Plastic Pledge; and whether he has plans to implement the recommendations set out in that pledge.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	21848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2021 answer text <p>The Government's 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. We are making great strides to tackle plastic pollution. In December 2018 we published the Resources and Waste Strategy, which sets out how we want to achieve this and move towards a circular economy. Our approach is focused on increasing supply and demand for secondary materials to be recycled in the UK. We know more needs to be done, and for the most problematic plastics we are going faster - which is why we have committed to work towards all plastic packaging on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has a manifesto commitment to ban exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries. The Government has committed to consult on this measure and work to deliver this is underway. Defra has commissioned research to have a better understanding of plastic waste recycling capacity in the UK and OECD member countries, and this research will be key to the development of policy options to implement the manifesto commitment. We currently plan to consult before the end of 2022 on options to deliver the proposed ban.</p><p> </p><p>Legitimate imports of plastic waste into the UK will be destined for recovery operations. The UK Government does not permit the import of plastic waste for disposal. The UK Government has not assessed the benefits of a ban on plastic waste imports and has no plans to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Bill includes a requirement for the Government to set at least one long-term target on resource efficiency and waste reduction. This target will take a holistic approach to reduce consumption of all materials, including plastics, increasing resource productivity and reducing the volume of waste we generate. Work is already underway to develop these targets. In order to help guide the Government, the Resources and Waste Targets Expert Group has been formed. More information can be found at: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fgroups%2Fresources-and-waste-targets-expert-group&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C582f05e2cb6942481d9b08d93aef50a0%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637605621801428431%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=HdWvPclYnSm%2Bd%2Bf3n27sr6yi7PPTfxBUNtfIJVLvYxk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/resources-and-waste-targets-expert-group</a>. Moreover, the Government is exploring packaging recycling targets under our proposals for extended producer responsibility for packaging. The consultation on our more detailed proposals closed on the 4 June.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 22033 22044 question first answered 29/06/2021 15:14:15 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

438001

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2015
	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	Pets: Poisoning
	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 she will make an estimate of the number of (a) cats and (b) dogs killed by accidental ingestion of poisonous antifreeze in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	19839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2015 answer text <p>We have no estimates of the numbers of cats or dogs killed by antifreeze.</p><br /><p>However there are periodically reported cases where antifreeze may have contributed to the death of pet animals. This issue was most recently debated in Parliament on the 2 December 2014.</p><p><a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141202/halltext/141202h0002.htm#14120263000003" target="_blank">www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141202/halltext/141202h0002.htm#14120263000003</a></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/12/2015 13:25:20 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1252609

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2020
	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	Pets: Fireworks
	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 comparative assessment he has made of the effect on animals of the discharge of fireworks in (a) Sefton, (b) the North West and (c) the UK in (i) 2020 and (ii) previous years.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	116464
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>Defra understands concerns about the distress noisy fireworks can cause to pets, livestock and wildlife. This is one of the reasons that there is a noise level limit of 120 decibels on fireworks for home use. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering and this includes through the misuse of fireworks. The Government is supporting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will increase the maximum custodial penalty for this offence from six months to five years.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has shared advice on our social media channels on how owners can keep their pets safe. The statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, encourages dog owners/keepers to act responsibly, including avoid exercising dogs during events which they may find frightening such as firework displays. We would encourage livestock owners who are concerned about planned firework displays to contact the organisers to see if any compromises can be made, such as using less noisy fireworks.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/11/2020 14:51:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1235632

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	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	Organic Food
	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 secure equivalence agreements for organic products with her international counterparts.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	91629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>Defra is engaging with the 13 third countries with which we have organic equivalency arrangements and we expect to have arrangements in place for the end of the transition period. For countries with non-reciprocal arrangements, we will send them a letter confirming that we will continue to recognise their organic goods as we do now. For those countries with which we have reciprocal arrangements, we are updating the specific arrangements to reflect the end of the Transition Period.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the UK has proposed a technical annex which would include mutual recognition for organics as part of the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 22/09/2020 12:11:56 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson