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1176843

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2020
	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	Trees: 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, what procedures are in place to ensure that invasive tree pests and diseases are not imported on trees for plantation; whether additional steps will be taken to improve biosecurity after the transition period; and what biosecurity standards to prevent the import of invasive tree pests and diseases will be applied to new free trade deals that the UK agrees with (a) the US and (b) other countries.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	13453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK has robust controls in place to protect against tree pest and disease threats. These include being the most prolific user of the EU Protected Zone system, comprehensive official inspections and surveillance, and a statutory notification scheme for certain tree species imported from the EU. The UK operates under WTO obligations and will apply the EU Plant Health Regulation (which came into force in December 2019) until the end of the Transition Period. This risk-based regime prohibits or controls the import of high risk plants and planting material from third countries. The UK frequently uses national measures to enhance these biosecurity provisions. Horizon scanning for any new and emerging threats associated with tree imports is carried out continuously and the results are considered monthly by all UK Plant Health Authorities, facilitated by the Defra chaired UK Plant Health Risk Group. The UK Plant Health Risk Register (UKPHRR) is the principal screening tool used for this purpose and all outputs are published. The UKPHRR now has over 1000 entries (300 of which can impact trees), informing decision making and prioritisation in relation to tree health threats. UK legislation is updated on a frequent basis to protect against new and revised threats.</p><p> </p><p>After the Transition Period, the UK will continue with our risk based approach to maintain strong biosecurity protections. We will maintain our own autonomous sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regime to protect plant health and the environment, reflecting our existing high standards. The UK will introduce import controls on EU goods at the border and will continue to have controls on other third country goods. This will allow the UK to keep our borders safe and bio-secure.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is proud of its world-leading biosecurity standards. We will not lower our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk as we negotiate new trade deals. We are already considering what additional measures it might now be appropriate to introduce against key threats such as <em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> and the Emerald ash borer. In planning for all scenarios, we have always had three key objectives: to maintain current high levels of UK plant health biosecurity; to maintain the flow of goods at the border; and to minimise impacts on businesses.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/02/2020 14:31:42 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1183064

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2020
	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	Natural England: Public Appointments
	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 timetable is for the appointment of a permanent chief executive at Natural England.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	25644
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>The Cabinet office advertisement for the vacancy of Natural England Chief Executive closed on Friday 6 March. Sifting and candidate assessments are expected through March and Natural England plan to complete interviews early April 2020. A decision will be made shortly afterwards and the permanent Chief Executive should be in post as soon as possible, dependent on contractual arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 09/03/2020 16:35:34 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1185529

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2020
	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	Trade Agreements: Standards
	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's policy that trade negotiations will not compromise environmental and food standards includes no weakening of current UK pesticides standards relating to (a) maximum residue levels for currently approved pesticide active substances, (b) bans on food being imported into the UK which contains detectable residues of currently unauthorised active substances, (c) authorisation of new active substances and (d) maintaining existing bans on active substances including the ban on the three neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	29962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is proud of its world-leading food, health and animal welfare standards. We will not compromise on our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk as we negotiate new trade deals. Any trade agreements must respect the regulatory autonomy of both parties. Now that we have left the EU, the UK will operate an autonomous Sanitary and Phytosanitary regime, which covers the regulation of pesticides, to uphold our existing high standards.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government and devolved administrations have assured stakeholders that we will maintain current standards of environmental and health protection. Our EU exit legislation has carried across unchanged all of the statutory requirements of the EU regime relating to standards of protection, maximum residue level and approval of active substances. We will continue to ensure that decisions on the use of pesticides are based on careful scientific assessment of the risks, with the aim of achieving a high level of protection for people and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to draw on the considerable scientific and technical expertise of the Health and Safety Executive which will continue to operate as our expert national regulator on behalf of the UK Government and the devolved administrations. This puts the UK in a strong position in terms of having the necessary capacity and expertise to be able to take its own independent decisions after the transition period. There is a comprehensive Government programme of monitoring of pesticide residues in food, including imports, to determine whether food available to UK consumers complies with the statutory residue levels and is safe. The results of this monitoring are published following consideration by the Defra Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food. We will not compromise on these standards in our trade negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 24/03/2020 15:33:50 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1185530

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2020
	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	Pesticides
	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 a significant reduction in pesticide use will be required to meet the Government’s targets set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	29963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that it is right to minimise the use of pesticides and is committed to putting Integrated Pest Management at the heart of its approach, to make the greatest possible use of alternative pest and disease control methods in support of sustainable farming and land management. This will support the goals and targets of our 25 Year Environment Plan.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/03/2020 13:39:22 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1188286

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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	Food: Coronavirus
	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 take steps to ensure that Government advice on Public Health England’s healthy eating EATWELL plate informs (a) food purchasing during the covid-19 outbreak (b) food supply chains.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	37563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>In the United Kingdom, the national food model, the Eatwell Guide (EG), provides a visual representation of Government recommendations on a healthy balanced diet.</p><p> </p><p>The EG and associated messaging is promoted through a range of existing channels including: the NHS.UK website, the GOV.UK website, and the Government’s national social marketing campaigns Change4Life and OneYou. The principles of the guide also underpin Government guidance and tools including the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services and Public Health England’s catering guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The food industry has been working hard to keep food including fresh produce flowing into stores and people’s houses. The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry during disruption to supply situations. We have regular engagement with industry who are continuing to monitor the situation closely, taking the necessary steps to address issues where they arise. Following a significant spike in consumer demand, we have now seen stock levels in supermarkets improve. To support the food sector, the Government temporarily relaxed competition law and regulations relating to driver hours and delivery times so that the sector could work together to keep putting food on the shelves.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/04/2020 14:55:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1188288

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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	Food: Coronavirus
	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 he has had with representatives of (a) civil society organisations, (b) consumer groups, (c) public health organisations and (d) local authorities on ensuring people on low incomes have adequate access to nutritionally healthy food during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	37564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Defra officials are working closely with a) frontline food charities such as the Trussell Trust and FareShare; charities supporting the vulnerable such as Age UK and disabled charities; b) Citizen’s Advice Bureau; c) NHS England, Alzheimer’s Society and Kidney Care UK and d) Local Authorities and the Local Government Association; Local Resilience Forums made up of representatives from local public services, including the emergency services, local authorities, the NHS, and the Environment Agency. We are also engaging with supermarkets and with distribution companies such as Brakes and Bidfoods.</p><p> </p><p>We are remaining in regular contact with our stakeholders to identify the issues faced by people on low incomes in accessing nutritionally healthy food during the COVID-19 crisis, and to build intelligence in order to better inform the design of the scheme. Our regular stakeholder Forum totals 111 individuals from 62 voluntary and community sector organisations, universities and local authorities, plus representatives from DCMS, Defra, DfE, DHSC, DWP, MHCLG and the NHS.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State and Minister Victoria Prentis have personally engaged with the Trussell Trust. In addition, Minister Prentis has met with FareShare.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/04/2020 16:47:08 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1188289

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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	Food: Coronavirus
	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 issue nutrition advice to people during the lockdown period of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	37565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department of Health and Social Care is the Government department responsible for nutrition policy and Public Health England is responsible for issuing nutritional advice to the public.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has reissued advice for vitamin D supplementation. That is, if you are not going outdoors often, you should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. Therefore, we are recommending that while the stay at home measures are in place, everyone follows this advice (including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and older people).</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to advise that during this time everyone follows a healthy, balanced diet in line with the national food model, the Eatwell Guide.</p><p> </p><p>Public Health England has updated channels such as Change4Life, Start4Life and One You, to make them consistent with the wider COVID-19 and general advice on healthier eating.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/04/2020 14:47:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1188290

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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	Food: Coronavirus
	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 the Government is taking to encourage healthy eating among (a) children previously in receipt of free school meals and (b) other at-risk groups.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	37566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>In partnership with industry, the Government started to deliver shielding packages in late March, to those that are clinically extremely vulnerable and in need of essential supplies. Defra has worked with nutritionists to ensure that these packages are nutritious. Supermarkets are also prioritising online delivery slots for those that are most in need and have expanded their capacity for home deliveries.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working to support people who do not fall into the category of being clinically extremely vulnerable, but still need help getting essential food supplies. This includes those who are elderly, disabled or have health conditions that make it difficult for them to get the food they need. We are speaking to food retailers, delivery organisations and volunteer groups to help prioritise those individuals to access essential food.</p><p> </p><p>A very large number of schools have signed up for the national Free School Meals (FSM) voucher scheme. Through this scheme, schools can ensure that families with FSM-eligible children receive a weekly shopping voucher to the value of £15 per eligible child. Maintaining consumer choice is part of our offer. Families can use the vouchers to purchase healthy food options.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/04/2020 16:56:29 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1188933

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Food Supply: Zoonoses
	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 a recent assessment of the effect of the food production system (a) in the UK and (b) globally on levels of emerging zoonotic diseases; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	38462
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>The Food Standards Agency and Defra work together to ensure the safety of the food chain both within the UK and through global trade. We regularly assess any changes in food production methods or trade patterns for increased risk from emerging diseases.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/05/2020 13:47:20 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1192328

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	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	Restaurants: Coronavirus
	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 conditions required to ease the lockdown include plans to (a) rebuild public confidence in the safety of the restaurant sector and (b) promote awareness that food handlers are key workers that are eligible for covid-19 testing.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	41969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra, alongside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Devolved Administrations, is working closely with representatives from the food and beverage hospitality sector to support their planning towards reopening and their continued operations. This includes identifying what ongoing support businesses may need from the Government as they implement the measures required to protect workers and customers as restrictions are eased.</p><p> </p><p>It is possible for many businesses to reopen safely, in a cautious way, and we welcome the reopening of food-to-go businesses, predominantly for drive thru, in line with</p><p>social distancing measures. Providing clear advice and guidance will be important to restoring confidence in restaurants, takeaways and other hospitality businesses, not only for customers but for workers too. This will be a key part of Government planning as we move towards the easing of restrictions.</p><p> </p><p>This includes measures such as the Government expanding the eligibility for testing to all essential workers with symptoms of coronavirus, including those working in the food and drink industry. As a result of rapidly increasing testing capacity, we have been able to implement this and we have published advice including on how to arrange tests.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 12/05/2020 14:52:09 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas