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1182020

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2020
	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	Foie Gras: 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 plans his Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the import of foie gras into the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	23530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>While allowed under EU law, the Government has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. The production of foie gras by force feeding is banned in the UK as it is incompatible with our domestic legislation.</p><p> </p><p>After the transition period, there will be an opportunity to consider whether the UK can adopt a different approach to foie gras imports and sales in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 09/03/2020 11:57:58 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1439868

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2022
	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	Pets: Import Controls
	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 introducing visual checks at (a) ports and (b) the Eurotunnel to ensure that a pet animal is (i) the same as the animal listed on the pet passport, (ii) not heavily pregnant and (iii) not suffering from poor welfare conditions; what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle the smuggling of puppies; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	138020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2022 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 Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers at the point of entry. Carriers can refer suspected non-compliances to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).</p><p> </p><p>Animal welfare legislation requires that when animals are transported their transportation must comply fully with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare, such as, they must be fit for the intended journey; transported in the appropriate conditions; and, when transportation is for a commercial purpose, the transporter must hold a GB authorisation. APHA works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June 2021 and completed committee on 18 November 2021. The Bill allows us to further protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation. In August 2021, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on our proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets, including rescue pets, into Great Britain. This included proposals to ban the commercial and non-commercial movement into Great Britain of puppies under the age of six months, heavily pregnant dogs and dogs which have been subjected to low welfare practices such as ear cropping or tail docking. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary response in due course. This will allow us to take onboard the views of the public and interested groups on puppy smuggling and low welfare imports in order to shape our future policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2022 13:49:50 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1230176

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	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	Livestock Industry: 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, what assessment his Department has made of potential effect of intensive animal farming on the prevalence of zoonotic diseases.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	83755
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>We know that potential zoonotic pathogens transfer from the environment, wildlife and livestock to humans. Research so far indicates that global changes in land use are disrupting the balance of wild animal communities and the beneficiaries appear to be species that carry diseases known to infect humans. It is estimated that 60% of all human diseases originate in animals. More intensive farming may expedite the spread of the pathogens.</p><p> </p><p>The Department's Veterinary Risk Group and the Human Animal Infections Risk and Surveillance Group carry out horizon scanning and risk assessment for emerging threats associated with livestock farming and wildlife, internationally and domestically.</p><p> </p><p>The Defra agency Cefas is currently working on a review of risks of zoonotic pathogens arising from aquaculture settings globally.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely carry out surveillance on farms for zoonotic pathogens. We have significant surveillance programmes testing for TB, avian influenza, salmonella, AMR and brucelloses. We work closely with the Food Standards Agency on detecting food borne pathogens and with local health protection teams and environmental health officers to control any outbreaks of zoonotic disease associated with livestock farming, consumption of products of animal origin or exposure to livestock.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/09/2020 16:23:12 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1279011

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2021
	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	Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	When he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on animal sentience.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	911180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/01/2021 15:39:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1195535

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2020
	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	Wildlife: 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, what reports he has received on the increase in (a) the international trade in tigers and tiger body parts and (b) captive breeding of wild animals; and what steps he is taking to ban trophy imports to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	46605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which places strict controls on international trade in tigers. We are aware of concerns raised in relation to the illegal trade in tigers and tiger farms and remain fully committed to working with our international partners, including through CITES, to ensure strong protection is in place and to bring an end to the illegal trade in wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>A consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK was undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. The outcome of the consultation, and the accompanying call for evidence, will inform our next steps and we are continuing to work on this important area.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/05/2020 15:21:47 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1273062

	registered interest
	date	30/12/2020
	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	Animal Products: 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, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce an import ban on lion trophy items to the UK in advance of the Government's plans to bring forward legislative proposals on enhanced animal welfare legislation in 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	132859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government made a manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals, and held a consultation on the issue between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The COVID-19 outbreak set the timetable back, as many of our officials formed part of the response to the pandemic. However, we are continuing to work on this important area and will publish a response as soon as we can on GOV.UK. The outcome of the consultation and the call for evidence will inform our next steps.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/01/2021 14:59:03 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1230178

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	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	Seals
	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 his Department has to ban seal shooting in UK waters before the US Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provision Rule deadline of 1 January 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	83757
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is taking action to prevent the killing of seals in English, Welsh and Northern Irish waters as a result of commercial fishing. The Marine Management Organisation has not issued licences to kill or take seals in the last ten years under the Conservation of Seals Act for the purpose of preventing damage to fisheries. However, the ‘netsman’s defence’ provision in the Act allows the unlicensed shooting of seals to prevent damage to equipment, or fish within it, and where specific firearms and ammunition are used. We have tabled amendments to the Fisheries Bill that will, if passed, make it illegal to kill seals intentionally or recklessly. These amendments aim to ensure that UK fisheries exports are compliant with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Scottish Parliament recently passed similar legislative changes via the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 09/09/2020 15:31:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1437825

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2022
	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	Food Supply
	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 his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of plant-based foods as an alternative to meat-based products in the context of the forthcoming Food Strategy White Paper.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	133988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government gathers and coordinates data and statistics to monitor food purchasing and eating habits to understand consumption trends. This includes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population in the UK and the Food Family Survey with detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes by UK households.</p><p>The Government's advice on consumption and diet is set out in the Eatwell Guide - which provides advice on how to obtain a balance of healthier and more sustainable food and includes recommendations such as to have a diet that includes more fibre, fruit and vegetables.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 133987 question first answered 17/03/2022 09:05:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1437824

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2022
	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	Food: Consumption
	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 trends in the levels of plant-based food consumption in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the way in which plant-based food consumption can support his Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	133987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government gathers and coordinates data and statistics to monitor food purchasing and eating habits to understand consumption trends. This includes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population in the UK and the Food Family Survey with detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes by UK households.</p><p>The Government's advice on consumption and diet is set out in the Eatwell Guide - which provides advice on how to obtain a balance of healthier and more sustainable food and includes recommendations such as to have a diet that includes more fibre, fruit and vegetables.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 133988 question first answered 17/03/2022 09:05:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1274280

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2021
	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	Fishing Vessels: Territorial Waters
	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 his Department has to ban supertrawlers from UK waters.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	133781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>Now that the transition period has ended, we are reviewing our policy on access for supertrawlers. This review will be driven by evidence. Under the Fisheries Act we have the powers to choose which vessels we license but our measures must comply with the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement which prohibits discrimination against individual vessels. Supertrawlers are mostly pelagic, operating mid-water, and do not make contact with the seabed.</p><p> </p><p>Vessels permitted to fish in UK waters will have to be licensed and comply with UK rules and regulations including those on sustainability. Licence conditions set by UK Sea Fisheries Authorities will apply to both UK and foreign vessels alike.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/01/2021 16:03:48 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith