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1681064

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2024
	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 Banks: Finance
	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 provide additional financial support to foodbanks in winter 2023-2024.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	9025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government does not have any role in the operation of foodbanks. Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations which bring people in local communities together to support one another. This is a great example of the generosity of spirit of communities across the country.</p><p>The Government is providing over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England to support the impacts of the increase in cost of living. This funding is supporting charities and community organisations right now through the £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund. This fund is awarding funding to frontline organisations supporting vulnerable households, including those which deliver food.</p><p>The second strand of the package, the £25.5 million VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, was opened in December 2023. This scheme will support frontline charities, community organisations and social enterprises across England to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.</p><p>The scheme has two main components:</p><ol><li>Independent Energy Assessment (IEA): This involves arranging an independent energy assessor to help identify energy-saving opportunities.</li><li>Capital Grants: Grants can be used to install capital energy efficiency measures, such as improving insulation or installing heat pumps.</li></ol><p>Organisations can first apply for an Independent Energy Assessment. Having completed the IEA, they can then apply, if they are eligible, for a capital grant between £2,000 and £150,000 to install capital energy measures. Applications for IEAs opened in December 2023 and applications for capital funding will be open through three rounds, starting from the second half of January 2024. All capital projects will need to be completed by March 2025.</p><p>Taken together, total support over 2022/23-2024/25 to help households with the high cost of living amounts to £104 billion – an average of £3,700 per UK household.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 9186 question first answered 19/01/2024 17:49:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1656616

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Food: 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, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory food waste reporting in the context of helping the UK to meet its target to halve food waste by 2030.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196402
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is fully committed to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target, which seeks to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030. We support the Courtauld Commitment 2030 which works for a more sustainable supply chain tackling food waste, reducing GHG emissions and water use. The new phase of commitments, Courtauld 2030, includes an updated target of a 50% per capita reduction in food waste by 2030 against the UK’s 2007 baseline.</p><p> </p><p>The Government consulted on options to improve reporting of food waste volumes by large businesses in England. As set out in our published response to the consultation, the Government has decided to enhance the voluntary approach to food waste reporting. Around a third of large food businesses already provide evidence to WRAP on their food waste and we propose to increase this number.</p><p> </p><p>A regulatory approach has greater total costs to businesses and the public sector than the voluntary approach and is not considered suitable at this time, when any additional costs may be passed on to consumers.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 196933 question first answered 11/09/2023 12:29:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1656617

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Food: 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, whether she has made an estimate of the potential financial savings for every £1 invested by businesses in food waste reduction.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196403
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Research has shown that for every £1 invested by businesses on food waste reduction, half saw a 14-fold or greater return on investment. We support retailers and food businesses to take action on food waste. We fund the Courtauld 2030 Commitment, a voluntary agreement with industry managed by WRAP. Action through Courtauld includes working with businesses to measure and reduce food waste through the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, helping them to take targeted action in their own operations and supply chains.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://wrap.org.uk/resources/business-case-reducing-food-loss-and-waste" target="_blank">The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste | WRAP</a></p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/09/2023 13:07:38 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1657307

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Food: Waste
	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 she has made of the implications for her Department's net-zero policies of not introducing new legislation on food waste.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>Through powers in the Environment Act 2021, we will introduce separate food waste collections from all households and businesses. This policy is key in our Net Zero ambitions through helping us achieve the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028.</p><p> </p><p>We are working to publish the government response to our 2021 consultation on Consistency in recycling as soon as possible. Alongside regulations we will publish a final impact assessment which will outline the net-zero benefits of the policy.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of food waste prevention, the Net Zero Strategy re-iterates the government’s commitment to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target, to halve global food waste per capita by 2030.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/09/2023 17:46:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1657308

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Food: Retail 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, if she will make it her policy to encourage unsold food in the retail space to be redirected to (a) food banks and (b) food security organisations.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The safe and speedy redistribution of surplus food is a Government priority. The Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy includes the expectation that all businesses prioritise surplus redistribution before disposal. Government works closely with businesses through our delivery partner the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to overcome any barriers to this requirement. This includes the development of guidance and best practice through a sector wide working group, and support for the Target Measure Act (TMA) approach to understanding and acting on food waste in supply chains, including the redistribution of any surplus should it arise.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2018, Defra funding of nearly £13m has supported both large and small redistribution organisations across the country to make sure more surplus food gets to charities.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/09/2023 17:30:23 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1657310

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Food: Waste
	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 she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to set food waste targets within the food supply chain.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196933
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is fully committed to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target, which seeks to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030. We support the Courtauld Commitment 2030 which works for a more sustainable supply chain tackling food waste, reducing GHG emissions and water use. The new phase of commitments, Courtauld 2030, includes an updated target of a 50% per capita reduction in food waste by 2030 against the UK’s 2007 baseline.</p><p> </p><p>The Government consulted on options to improve reporting of food waste volumes by large businesses in England. As set out in our published response to the consultation, the Government has decided to enhance the voluntary approach to food waste reporting. Around a third of large food businesses already provide evidence to WRAP on their food waste and we propose to increase this number.</p><p> </p><p>A regulatory approach has greater total costs to businesses and the public sector than the voluntary approach and is not considered suitable at this time, when any additional costs may be passed on to consumers.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 196402 question first answered 11/09/2023 12:29:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1653455

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2023
	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	Animal Welfare: Fish Farming
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2023 to Question 158986 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, what discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee's Opinion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish at the Time of Killing 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	194436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>A range of topics are discussed with Cabinet colleagues but such discussions are confidential.</p><p> </p><p>Defra officials will engage with relevant stakeholders to discuss the recommendations in the Animal Welfare Committee’s report once it is published.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 25/07/2023 11:08:25 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1643712

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2023
	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	Asulam
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2023 to Question 186764 on Bracken, when she plans to take a decision on the application for emergency authorisation of the use of Asulox.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	189010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2023 answer text <p>As stated in PQ 186764, a decision on the emergency authorisation for the use of Asulox will be made as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 15/06/2023 12:19:26 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1640091

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2023
	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	Bracken
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2022 to Question 28455 on Bracken: Weedkillers, whether her Department has put control measures in place to help protect (a) grazing land and (b) sensitive habitats from bracken in 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	186764
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>An application for emergency authorisation of the use of Asulox as bracken control for the summer period of 2023 has been received. This application is being considered and decisions on whether to grant emergency authorisation in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be made as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 05/06/2023 12:35:13 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1611823

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2023
	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	Livestock: Antibiotics
	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 she has made of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the preventative use of antibiotics on healthy farm animals to help (a) stop antimicrobial resistance and (b) safeguard the effectiveness of lifesaving antibiotics used to treat human illnesses.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	181367
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals while safeguarding their welfare. Changes to the law on veterinary medicines represent one tool that can be used to help effect reductions in antibiotic prescribing in animals. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 are currently under review, and the feedback from the recently closed public consultation will be analysed and considered.</p><p> </p><p>The publicly available consultation documents for the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fnews%2Fveterinary-medicines-regulations-consultation-is-launched&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Cdfb69f4b75164921260008db41860f8b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638175816741334967%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=JF83p9gUFl1DeR9ZVyhw8O1kf%2FQCIcN3c%2Fmt59jrVpU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">revision of the Veterinary Medicines Legislation</a> set out the rationale for the Government’s proposed approach to the use of antibiotics to prevent disease in animals (prophylaxis). In summary, the proposed new legal restrictions on antibiotic prophylaxis prohibit this type of use in all but exceptional circumstances in order to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, protect animal welfare and allow changes to prescribing practices to be made sustainably.</p><p> </p><p>To date in the UK, collaborative working between the Government, the veterinary profession and the agriculture sectors to focus on these issues has already resulted in our national sales of veterinary antibiotics reducing by 55% since 2014, and in 2021 we recorded the lowest antibiotic use yet.</p><p> </p><p>The Government takes a ‘One-Health’ approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as set out in the UK National Action Plan on AMR. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care, Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate meet regularly to consider appropriate actions to address AMR across the human and animal health sectors. This has included discussion on the preventative use of antibiotics in healthy farm animals.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 25/04/2023 11:16:45 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1611830

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2023
	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	Livestock: Antibiotics
	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 she has made of the level of risk to human health of antimicrobial-resistant superbugs originating from industrial farms.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	181374
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>Resistant bacteria and/or resistance genes can transfer between people and animals in both directions. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, along with other governmental partners, conducts two surveillance schemes for AMR in animals, including regular monitoring of AMR in major food-producing species: pigs and poultry. The results of these surveillance schemes are published annually in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1126450%2FFOR_PUBLICATION_-_UK-VARSS_2021_Main_Report__Final_v3_-accessible.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Cdfb69f4b75164921260008db41860f8b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638175816741334967%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uPdaiTQ9Y14sMCAvtNaa1CpJMGaDPqGSk%2FOof2PY5v8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales and Surveillance Report</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2014, the UK has reduced sales of veterinary antibiotics by 55% since 2014, and over this same period the UK have seen overall trend of decreasing antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from animals. The UK has a cross-government contingency plan in place which acts as an <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fresistant-bacteria-from-animals-of-possible-risk-contingency-plan%2Fresponse-to-the-identification-from-an-animal-of-a-resistant-bacterial-isolate-of-risk-to-human-or-animal-health-contingency-plan&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Cdfb69f4b75164921260008db41860f8b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638175816741334967%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=cSZMn9n0yoxqJl8vzxONDwgIUFFEWnBsFC0CYTTGqNE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">early warning system</a> for resistant bacteria found in animals with potential risk to animal and public health.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 25/04/2023 11:37:42 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1563093

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2022
	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	Factory Farming: Antimicrobials
	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 level of risk to human health of antimicrobial-resistant superbugs polluting rivers from nearby factory farms.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	113355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2023 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Edmonton on 6 December 2022, PQ 99926.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 114826 question first answered 18/01/2023 10:11:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1507782

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2022
	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	Deposit Return Schemes
	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 criteria will he use to assess the effectiveness of the Deposit Return Scheme proposals in delivering maximum environmental benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	54615
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2022 answer text <p>The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) objectives include boosting recycling levels, offering greater opportunities to collect higher quality, uncontaminated materials in greater quantities thus promoting a circular economy and reducing littering. Last year's consultation proposed that a key feature of the policy would be an ambitious 90% collection target for in-scope material which could be phased in, to ensure the ongoing high performance of the DRS.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 12/10/2022 08:09:04 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1507783

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2022
	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	Deposit Return Schemes
	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 his Department has taken during its establishment of the Deposit Return Scheme to ensure that it is fairly and equitably implemented to avoid adverse effects for the markets.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	54616
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government has consulted twice on the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Final details and the next steps for the DRS will be presented in HM Government's response to last year's consultation. We are working towards publication in late 2022. We will continue to work with industry and the Devolved Administrations to ensure that the scheme is delivered efficiently and effectively, and that it aligns with upcoming packaging reforms.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 12/10/2022 07:58:48 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506859

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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	Compost: Peat
	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 make an assessment of the (a) adequacy and (b) ease of access to peat-free mixes for (i) ornamental growers and (ii) retailers, in the context of the health and growth needs of many floral species.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	51837
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>Ministers are aware that the horticulture industry has already made significant progress in terms of developing peat free alternatives and sourcing suitable material but recognise that certain sectors face particular technical obstacles and will need longer to make the transition to peat free.</p><p>The proposed ban will be framed in such a way as to provide time limited exemptions for the professional horticulture sector, in order to allow time to overcome these barriers. Officials are currently consulting with horticultural industry representatives to inform our detailed proposals.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 51838 question first answered 30/11/2022 09:50:26 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506860

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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	Compost: Peat
	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 his Department's press release entitled Sale of horticultural peat to be banned in move to protect England’s precious peatlands, published on 27 August 2022, what assessment he has made of (a) the time that will be required for the horticultural industry to complete its transition to peat-free products and (b) whether any exemptions will be required within the sector.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	51838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>Ministers are aware that the horticulture industry has already made significant progress in terms of developing peat free alternatives and sourcing suitable material but recognise that certain sectors face particular technical obstacles and will need longer to make the transition to peat free.</p><p>The proposed ban will be framed in such a way as to provide time limited exemptions for the professional horticulture sector, in order to allow time to overcome these barriers. Officials are currently consulting with horticultural industry representatives to inform our detailed proposals.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 51837 question first answered 30/11/2022 09:50:26 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506873

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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	Horticulture: Seasonal Workers
	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 the independent report entitled Automation in Horticultural Review, published in July 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that report's recommendation on establishing a long-term seasonal workers' scheme to stabilise workforce pressures in the sector, help growers evaluate their labour needs, and incentivise long-term capital investments in automation technology.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	51839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of a reliable source of seasonal labour for horticulture and the poultry sector and the role of automation in the food supply chain.</p><p>The Government’s forthcoming response to the review of automation in horticulture will therefore outline actions to complement the immediate need for seasonal workers and help attract more residents of the United Kingdom into agricultural work – the overall aim of both being to, over time, reduce the sector’s dependency on seasonal migrant labour.</p><p> </p><p>Following an announcement in the Government Food Strategy, an extra 10,000 visas have been released for the Seasonal Worker visa route - bringing the total for this year to 40,000 visas.</p><p> </p><p>Under current agreement with the Home Office a similar number will be rolled forward for 2023. Defra are discussing with them precisely what the number will be, using evidence from the NFU and other stakeholders provided in 2022 and having regard to the Prime Minister’s stated support for a short term expansion of the visa route.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the Government Food Strategy in June, the Government has now commissioned an independent labour review which will consider how automation, domestic labour and migrant labour can contribute to tackling labour shortages in the food supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The review will focus on farming, processing, and food and non-alcoholic drink manufacturing as sectors which are critical for food production and food security. The review is being chaired by John Shropshire, an industry veteran who stepped down from his role as CEO of major horticulture producer G’s Group last year. He will be supported by an expert panel drawing in expertise from across the sectors covered by the review.</p><p>Defra continues to speak regularly with the agriculture sector and other government departments to understand labour supply and demand, including for both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the farming workforce. Defra is also working closely with the Home Office to ensure that the requirements for these sectors are understood across Government.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 15:32:35 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506874

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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	Recreation Spaces: Urban 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, what steps he is taking to help ensure that local tree and plant growers are utilised in outdoor public projects in urban areas to help improve air quality.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	51840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>We know that trees outside woodlands, including trees in urban areas, parks, and along roads and footpaths can provide many environmental benefits for people<del class="ministerial">, including improved air quality</del>.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">There is strong evidence that healthy, well-chosen and well placed urban trees can provide a large range of benefits valuable to the economy and to people. This includes a relatively small but beneficial impact on urban air quality. However, current evidence suggests that trees would not be enough to solve the air quality problems at a city scale. </ins></p><p>Through the Nature for Climate Fund we are boosting the numbers of trees near to where people live<ins class="ministerial">, investing millions of pounds in tree planting and in the skills to incorporate trees in the right places to generate maximum benefits.</ins> <del class="ministerial">including:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· up to £4.4 million available to local communities through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund to plant and establish new trees;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· providing almost £8 million of financial support to local authorities to increase their capacity and specialist skills to plant and manage trees, through the ground-breaking Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· planting up to 150,000 large trees in towns and cities across England using the £6 million Urban Tree Challenge Fund;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· contributing to the £9 million Levelling Up Parks Fund, which will create over 100 new parks to increase access to green space in urban areas.</del></p><p>Additional funding is being provided to support tree growers and seed suppliers across England, to help meet the growing demand for trees. We have developed capital and innovation grants for the sector that will encourage the adoption of mechanisation and automation, and help enhance the quantity, quality, diversity and biosecurity of domestic tree production.</p><p>Alongside this, Defra has been working closely with the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group who have published an action plan 'Unlocking green growth: A plan from the ornamental horticulture &amp; landscaping industry'. This sets out the industry's potential contributions to tackling some of the environmental challenges facing the UK, including through the use of a greater proportion of British-produced plants and trees in public sector projects, and the incorporation of more community green spaces within the urban planning process. Where Government can help, we will work with the sector to help it take advantage of the opportunities outlined in the action plan.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 28/09/2022 11:45:29 question first ministerially corrected 10/10/2022 12:52:35 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison previous answer version 20966 answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1507011

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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	Marine Protected Areas: Fisheries
	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 assessed the potential merits of introducing amendments to fishing licenses to prohibit all types of destructive fishing in Marine Protected Areas.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	51844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2022 answer text <p>Marine conservation is a devolved competence and the following information on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Fisheries Act 2020 requires that all vessels fishing commercially in UK waters must have a licence to do so. All licences have a set of conditions which specify the area in which fishing is authorised, the time period permitted for fishing, the quantities and description of which species may be caught and the permitted fishing method. These conditions are subject to periodic review and are based on scientific evidence.</p><p> </p><p>98 MPAs in English inshore waters already have byelaws in place to protect sensitive features from damaging fishing activities and the first four offshore byelaws have now been established. The Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and Marine Management Organisation continue to assess and implement measures to manage damaging fishing within MPAs. We are aiming to have all MPAs in English waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 51857 52063 question first answered 23/09/2022 13:46:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1506391

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2022
	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	Pigmeat: Preservatives
	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 his Department is taking to support the production of nitrite-free (a) bacon and (b) ham in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	49736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>Nitrites are an approved food additive for use in bacon and ham products. The HM Government considers that existing levels of nitrites and nitrates in food products are sufficiently protective of consumers. Where individual companies decide to use authorised alternatives to nitrites, this is ultimately a commercial decision as to what products they bring to market.</p><p> </p><p>Existing requirements on the control of additives in food production ensure that food is produced safely and is labelled to enable consumers to make informed choices on the food they buy and consume. The HM Government is always looking for ways to support innovation in the food industry but takes the position that intervention should be restricted only to areas where there are food safety or health concerns based on available evidence.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 28/09/2022 16:52:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1489370

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2022
	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	Agriculture: Costs
	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 had recent discussions with representatives of the agricultural industry on the impact of the rising cost of (a) fuel, (b) grains and (c) fertiliser on that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	36828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2022 answer text <p>The UK's food supply is highly resilient. Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.</p><p>Agricultural commodity prices are closely linked to global gas prices. Farmers are facing increased input costs including for fertiliser, feed and fuel. We are working closely with the industry to identify where further mitigations are available to tackle the challenges they face.</p><p>The Secretary of State recently announced a range of measures in support of the current situation, such as delaying changes to the use of urea fertiliser to help farmers manage their costs and improving statutory guidance for use of slurry. There have been three meetings of the Fertiliser Taskforce (the latest of which was on 21 July) with key industry bodies to discuss potential mitigations to the challenges which global supply pressures are causing. Ministers will continue to meet with key industry bodies for further Fertiliser Taskforce sessions in the coming months, to help identify and mitigate potential risks.</p><p>In addition, the 2022 Basic Payment Scheme payment will be made in two instalments to give farmers an advance injection of cash. Farmers with eligible applications will receive half of their payment from the end of July, and the rest from December. By doing this, the Government intends to inject cash into farm businesses, helping them to make business decisions sooner, with more confidence.</p><p>We continue to keep the market situation under review through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, which monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/08/2022 08:47:15 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1485051

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2022
	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	Asulam
	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 use of Asulox on bracken control.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	28455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2022 answer text <p>Bracken control is important to protect grazing land and sensitive habitats. Physical methods, for example crushing, are often used but are impractical or less effective in some situations. The Health and Safety Executive has granted an emergency authorisation for the limited and controlled use of Asulox to control bracken between 1 July and 12 September. This decision was taken in accordance with the requirements set out in pesticide legislation and took account of an assessment of potential risks to human health and the environment.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/07/2022 13:23:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1462968

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2022
	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	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, for what reason the Animals Abroad Bill was not announced in the Queen’s Speech; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals on (a) hunting animals for trophies and (b) attractions, activities or experiences that lead to the neglect of elephants and other animals.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	2327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 May 2022 to the hon. Member for Rotherham, <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-05-13/1511" target="_blank">PQ 1511</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 2524 question first answered 23/05/2022 15:16:17 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1461264

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	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	Furs: 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, when he plans to publish the findings of The Fur Market in Great Britain call for evidence.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2022 answer text <p>The Government made a commitment to explore potential action in relation to animal fur, as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. We continue to gather information and speak to a range of interested parties about the issues involved.</p><p> </p><p>We are reviewing the evidence gathered both from our Call for Evidence and wider engagement with the fur trade and stakeholders, and a summary of responses will be published soon.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 18/05/2022 15:34:49 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1452959

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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: Packaging
	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 his Department is taking to help ensure people with sight loss have greater access to accessible packaging when shopping.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	143757
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>The availability and accessibility of essential food information to all consumers is vitally important. It is already a requirement that food information must be easily visible and clearly legible. Information shall not in any way be obscured and depending on the package size, there is a minimum font size.</p><p> </p><p>That said, we welcome work by industry, especially companies developing new digital technologies like NaviLens with the potential to provide the means for people with visual impairment to access food information. As part of the upcoming Food Strategy White Paper, we will look at optimising food information, including labelling, so all consumers, are better able to make informed choices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 143701 143758 143759 question first answered 24/03/2022 16:03:35 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1452965

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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: Packaging
	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 work with companies to help improve the accessibility of packaging for people with sight loss.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	143758
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>The availability and accessibility of essential food information to all consumers is vitally important. It is already a requirement that food information must be easily visible and clearly legible. Information shall not in any way be obscured and depending on the package size, there is a minimum font size.</p><p> </p><p>That said, we welcome work by industry, especially companies developing new digital technologies like NaviLens with the potential to provide the means for people with visual impairment to access food information. As part of the upcoming Food Strategy White Paper, we will look at optimising food information, including labelling, so all consumers, are better able to make informed choices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 143701 143757 143759 question first answered 24/03/2022 16:03:35 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1452967

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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: Packaging
	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 his plans his Department has to encourage the food processing and production industry to make food and drink packaging more accessible to people with sight loss.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	143759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>The availability and accessibility of essential food information to all consumers is vitally important. It is already a requirement that food information must be easily visible and clearly legible. Information shall not in any way be obscured and depending on the package size, there is a minimum font size.</p><p> </p><p>That said, we welcome work by industry, especially companies developing new digital technologies like NaviLens with the potential to provide the means for people with visual impairment to access food information. As part of the upcoming Food Strategy White Paper, we will look at optimising food information, including labelling, so all consumers, are better able to make informed choices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 143701 143757 143758 question first answered 24/03/2022 16:03:35 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1417402

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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
	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 potential merits of public-private partnership to increase fibre intake ss part of his Department’s forthcoming food strategy White Paper.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	113190
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2022 answer text <p>The forthcoming Government Food Strategy is a once in a generation opportunity to create a food system that feeds our nation today and protects it for tomorrow. It will build on existing work across Government and identify new opportunities to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to shift towards a greener and more sustainable lifestyle, whilst maintaining people's freedom of choice, including on their diet.</p><p> </p><p>The Government's advice in the Eatwell Guide, which provides advice on how to have a healthier and more sustainable diet, recommends food that is high in fibre, fruit, and vegetables. Defra is committed to listening to opinions from stakeholders across the entirety of the food system. We actively encourage dialogues with a wide range of stakeholders to identify options to transform the food system and are keen to work closely with industry to deliver lasting change.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/02/2022 13:41:43 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1417404

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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
	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 his Department plans to take to increase the intake of fibre in people's diet.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	113191
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>In the United Kingdom, the national food model, the Eatwell Guide, provides a visual representation of Government’s evidence-based recommendations for a healthy balanced diet. The guide depicts a healthy, balanced diet based on fruit and vegetables and higher fibre starchy carbohydrates.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 07/02/2022 11:35:28 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1354959

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	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	Agriculture: Carbon Emissions
	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 his Department will make an assessment of the potential contribution to UK net zero targets from the introduction of financial assistance to enable and support farmers willing to change from livestock farming to plant-based protein production methods.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	48302
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>We are developing a range of measures through the Agriculture Act, our future farming policy, our forthcoming Food Strategy White Paper and the 25 Year Environment Plan, all with the aim of enabling farmers to optimise sustainable food production and reduce emissions from agriculture. These are important steps towards achieving our 25 Year Environment Plan ambitions and our carbon net zero goals.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions made by the livestock and dairy sectors. However, while food choices can have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions, well managed livestock also provide environmental benefits such as supporting biodiversity, protecting the character of the countryside and generating important income for rural communities.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/09/2021 13:06:23 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1343903

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2021
	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	Cereals
	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 make it his policy to (a) regulate the use of the term wholegrain food in food labelling and (b) incorporate whole grains or fibre into front of pack labelling.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	27242
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2021 answer text <p>The rules on the provision of food information to consumers, taken together with other requirements in food production, ensure that food is produced safely and labelled effectively in order for consumers to make informed choices on the food they buy and consume. Food information may not be misleading to consumers and where terms such as “wholegrain” are used, this must be justified by the choice of ingredients used and indicated on the ingredients list.</p><p> </p><p>There may be an opportunity for use of the term “wholegrain” to be considered as part of a planned review of the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998. As part of the review, we will hold a public consultation and since many of the issues raised by stakeholders to date are technically complex we expect this review will need sufficient time to consider responses and agree the best way forward.</p><p> </p><p>Between 30 July and 21 October 2020, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) held a four-nation consultation on front of pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL). As part of this consultation, DHSC invited views and evidence on whether updated dietary advice on fibre should be reflected on FOPNL.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will publish a consultation response as soon as possible. If any changes are required, we will consult again on policy options.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 14/07/2021 13:02:13 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1327524

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2021
	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	Catering: 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, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2021 to Question 179265 on Catering: Regulation, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals on allergen labelling in restaurant menus, similar to regulations on pre-packaged food under Natasha's law.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	6370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2021 answer text <p>The Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 No 1218 (known as ‘Natasha’s Law’) comes into force on 1 October this year.</p><p> </p><p>These Regulations were consulted on widely and a range of options considered. The option that was decided upon provides a higher level of protection for people living with food hypersensitivity. The amendment Regulations mean that food known as ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food must be labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergens emphasised, from 1 October 2021.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has no plans at present to extend these regulations to cover mandatory ingredient labelling on restaurant menus. The Food Standards Agency, which leads on policy on food safety including food allergies, is open to understanding what is possible and practical in this area although any proposed changes will need to be evidence driven.</p><p> </p><p>All businesses supplying food, whether prepacked, prepacked for direct sale or sold loose, must be able to provide accurate information on allergens to customers.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to review food labelling. This will include careful consideration of how food labelling might contribute to the outcomes of the National Food Strategy, which is looking in detail at creating a better food system.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/06/2021 15:26:05 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1307321

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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	Catering: 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 his Department plans to extend the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations to cover all food prepared by food businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	179265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has no plans at present to extend the Food Information (Amendment)(England) Regulations 2019 to cover all food prepared by business. The Regulations were consulted on widely and a range of options considered. The option that was decided upon provides a higher level of protection for people living with food hypersensitivity. The amendment Regulations mean that food known as ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food must be labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergens emphasised, from 1 October 2021.</p><p> </p><p>All businesses supplying food, whether prepacked, prepacked for direct sale or sold loose, must be able to provide accurate information on allergens to customers<em>.</em></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 20/04/2021 13:11:30 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1284848

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2021
	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	Water: Meters
	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 mandate the universal rollout of smart water meters.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	150868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2021 answer text <p>The Department will set out its policy in relation to smart meters in the Government’s response to the 2019 consultation on measures to reduce personal water consumption, which we intend to publish in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 150869 150870 150871 question first answered 16/02/2021 16:06:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1284849

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2021
	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	Water: Meters
	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 his Department is taking to ensure that (a) there are sufficient incentives supporting the Water Industry to install smart water metering technology and (b) barriers to rollout of that technology are removed.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	150869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2021 answer text <p>The Department will set out its policy in relation to smart meters in the Government’s response to the 2019 consultation on measures to reduce personal water consumption, which we intend to publish in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 150868 150870 150871 question first answered 16/02/2021 16:06:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1284850

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2021
	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	Water: Meters
	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 role of smart water meters in (a) protecting the sustainability of the UK’s water supply and (b) reducing carbon emissions.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	150870
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2021 answer text <p>The Department will set out its policy in relation to smart meters in the Government’s response to the 2019 consultation on measures to reduce personal water consumption, which we intend to publish in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 150868 150869 150871 question first answered 16/02/2021 16:06:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1284851

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2021
	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	Water: Meters
	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 his Department is taking to co-ordinate its work with regulatory bodies on supporting the water industry in the roll-out of smart water meters to protect the sustainability of the UK’s water supply and reduce carbon emissions.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	150871
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2021 answer text <p>The Department will set out its policy in relation to smart meters in the Government’s response to the 2019 consultation on measures to reduce personal water consumption, which we intend to publish in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 150868 150869 150870 question first answered 16/02/2021 16:06:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1246552

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2020
	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	Cannabidiol
	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 his Department has taken to review the safety of cannabidiol-containing products sold to consumers.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	108270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>Any food product containing Cannabidiol (CBD) is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. To bring industry into compliance with the Novel Foods Regulations, in February 2020 the Food Standards Agency announced a deadline of the end of March 2021 for businesses to have validated applications which will be submitted for risk assessment and any subsequent risk management considerations. This process will involve approval based upon dossiers (including safety data), submitted to and reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Novel Food Products.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the Committee on Toxicology has reviewed the available evidence on the safety on CBD in food. Its independent, expert advice was used to help set the current recommendations and consumption limits.</p><p> </p><p>After the deadline any products not linked to a validated application will no longer be allowed to remain on the market and no new products have been allowed on the market since February 2020 without pre-market authorisation. CBD-containing food products are no different to other foods in that they are also subject to all other relevant food laws.</p><p> </p><p>In Scotland, Food Standards Scotland has regulatory responsibility for CBD used in food products. Food Standards Scotland is working with local authorities and other partners to keep the safety of CBD food products currently on the market under review, and to ensure that products stating they contain this ingredient do so.</p><p> </p><p>Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPM) are not consumer products and are regulated separately. CBPMs must comply with the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and Humans Medicines Regulations 2012.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 06/11/2020 14:50:04 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1243074

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2020
	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	Dogs: Electronic Training Aids
	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 much money his Department has spent on researching the effect of electric shock collars on dog welfare in each year for which information is available.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	102875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>Between 2007 and 2010 Defra spent £469,000 researching the effects of electric shock collars on dogs, conducting studies to assess the effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs. Between 2010 and 2011 the department spent a further £69,925 on the research, totalling £538,925. No other research on e-collars has been funded before or since the aforementioned years.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/10/2020 13:29:59 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1243076

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2020
	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	Dogs: Electronic Training Aids
	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 estimate his Department has made of the number of dogs that have been trained with an electric shock collar in the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	102876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>The department does not keep this information.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/10/2020 13:31:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1243077

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2020
	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	Electronic Training Aids
	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 animal welfare organisations have made representations to his Department supporting a ban on electric shock collars in each year for which information is available.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	102877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>The department does not keep this information. However I can state that in 2017 over 140 animal welfare organisations responded to our public consultation on the proposed ban for electronic training collars for cats and dogs in England.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/10/2020 13:32:20 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1235518

	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	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, what assessment he has made of the resilience of the food supply chain after the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	91672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. We work closely with food retailers and the food industry to ensure that it is prepared for a range of scenarios. Our thorough preparations for leaving the EU in 2019, alongside the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 response provide a robust foundation for end of Transition Period planning on food supply.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working alongside industry and across Government, including with the Devolved Administrations, to plan for the end of this year. This includes responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, associated increases in absenteeism and preparations for the end of the Transition Period. The Government remains committed to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, but if the transition period ends without a trade agreement in place, there will not be a shortage of food in the UK. Consumers will continue to have access to a wide range of food products.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 91674 91676 question first answered 24/09/2020 15:43:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1235519

	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	Food Supply: Social Services
	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 effect on the food supply to the public and private care sectors of a free trade agreement not being reached with the EU before the end of the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	91673
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Our thorough preparations for leaving the EU alongside the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 response provide a robust foundation for end of transition period planning on food supply. We are currently working alongside industry and across Government including with the devolved administrations to plan for the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains committed to negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU, but if the transition period ends without a trade agreement in place, there will not be a shortage of food in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>My department is working closely with officials in DHSC, as the lead department for public sector food provision for the care sector, providing advice and supporting their engagement with their food suppliers. NHS England and DHSC are engaging with the supply chain for the care sector to ensure their suppliers are fully prepared for the end of the year.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 24/09/2020 15:40:44 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1235520

	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	Food Supply: UK Trade with EU
	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 ensure food supply is maintained in the event of a free trade agreement not being reached with the EU before the end of the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	91674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. We work closely with food retailers and the food industry to ensure that it is prepared for a range of scenarios. Our thorough preparations for leaving the EU in 2019, alongside the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 response provide a robust foundation for end of Transition Period planning on food supply.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working alongside industry and across Government, including with the Devolved Administrations, to plan for the end of this year. This includes responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, associated increases in absenteeism and preparations for the end of the Transition Period. The Government remains committed to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, but if the transition period ends without a trade agreement in place, there will not be a shortage of food in the UK. Consumers will continue to have access to a wide range of food products.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 91672 91676 question first answered 24/09/2020 15:43:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1235522

	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	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, if he will provide financial support to wholesalers to ensure the security of the food supply after the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	91675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>Our thorough preparations for leaving the EU alongside the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 response provide a robust foundation for end of transition period planning on food supply. We are currently working alongside industry and across Government including with the Devolved Administrations to plan for the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government introduced an unprecedented package of support for sectors and businesses in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes, but is not limited to, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Bounce Back Loan scheme for SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to assess the support needs of the food industry to inform policy both in response to Covid-19 and the end of the transition period as we enter a new trading relationship with the EU.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 25/09/2020 11:08:52 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1235523

	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	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, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of (a) the end of the transition period, (b) the covid-19 outbreak and (c) winter-related absenteeism on the food supply in the UK in winter 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	91676
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. We work closely with food retailers and the food industry to ensure that it is prepared for a range of scenarios. Our thorough preparations for leaving the EU in 2019, alongside the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 response provide a robust foundation for end of Transition Period planning on food supply.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working alongside industry and across Government, including with the Devolved Administrations, to plan for the end of this year. This includes responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, associated increases in absenteeism and preparations for the end of the Transition Period. The Government remains committed to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, but if the transition period ends without a trade agreement in place, there will not be a shortage of food in the UK. Consumers will continue to have access to a wide range of food products.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 91672 91674 question first answered 24/09/2020 15:43:46 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1234378

	registered interest
	date	15/09/2020
	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	Sewage: 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 his Department has made of the accuracy of reports in the Guardian newspaper in its article entitled Nearly 30,000 tonnes of sewage sludge containing human waste to enter UK, published on 2 September 2020; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	90188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2020 answer text <p>The Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations provides controls that protect the environment and human health when these organic materials are spread to land.</p><p>The use of sewage sludge in agriculture is regulated by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency has reviewed the risks and limitations of the regulatory framework and issued a bespoke landspreading mobile plant permit to handle sludge from the Netherlands.</p><p>Provided the use of sewage sludge is carried out in accordance with the relevant regulatory controls and good practice guidance is followed, the recycling of sewage sludge to land remains a safe activity.</p><p>We are working to implement the Environment Agency’s Sludge Strategy to bring sludge and septic tank sludge into the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations, by 2023. This will enable better management of the environmental impacts of landspreading sludge, and modernise the regulatory framework surrounding the treatment, storage and safe use of sludge.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/09/2020 14:41:05 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1229700

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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	Plastics: Recycling
	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 recycling plants in the UK accept and process (a) polycarbonate, (b) polyethylene, (c) polyethylene terephthalate and (d) bisphenol A; and where are they located.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	82161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Defra does not hold information on the number and location of recycling plants in the UK that process these materials. The Environment Agency maintains a list of accredited recycling plants in England and of these 64 are listed as accepting plastic waste to be sorted or recycled. Regulators in the devolved administrations maintain registers of plants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>For food contact purposes only polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are recycled in the UK. There are currently eight sites in England and one in Scotland that have applied for authorisation to recycle PET for use in food contact. There are a further two sites in England that have applied to recycle HDPE for this purpose.</p><p> </p><p>Some plastics reprocessing sites are regulated at local authority level and information is not held centrally on these.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/09/2020 15:38:02 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1229701

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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	Microplastics: Health Hazards
	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 has taken to ensure that (a) micro- and (b) nano-plastics used in products, such as (i) food packaging and (ii) mobile phones, are not harmful to human health.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	82162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place, be that the freshwater, marine or terrestrial environment. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. This encompasses all types of plastic, including microplastics, and we are already taking action. We have banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and we will continue to invest in water purification.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has not made an estimate of the amount of micro- and nano-plastics in food packaging in the UK. It is difficult to do so, as this amount will vary based on the use and subsequent treatment of the plastic. According to the latest industry data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme, 2.36Mt of plastic packaging was placed on the market in 2017, of which 1.53Mt came from the consumer sector.</p><p> </p><p>Legislation on plastics in contact with food or drink requires that they are produced under the provisions for Good Manufacturing Practice, so that any adverse interactions with food are minimised. This legislation is regularly updated to ensure the plastics that are authorised for such use are safe.</p><p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On the basis of current evidence, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of microplastic particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food would cause harm to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food, including further consideration of this issue by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment later this year.</p><p> </p><p>We support Operation Clean Sweep, an international initiative coordinated in the UK by the British Plastics Federation which aims to reduce plastic pellet loss in the environment. In 2019, the British Irish Council of Ministers recognised the need to address this source of microplastics and committed to learn from a supply-chain approach in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Global solutions are needed to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, which is why the UK has stepped up to this challenge and is leading the way to end the scourge of plastic pollution that enters our waterways, rivers and, ultimately, our ocean. The UK has committed to the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter, which aims to move towards a more resource-efficient and sustainable approach to the management of plastics. Having left the EU, the UK now has the opportunity to reprioritise and refresh our environmental policy and can now focus on implementing measures which work best for the UK.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 82163 82164 82165 question first answered 08/09/2020 16:10:00 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1229702

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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: Packaging
	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 an estimate has been made of the amount of (a) micro- and (b) nano-plastics contained in food packaging in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	82163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place, be that the freshwater, marine or terrestrial environment. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. This encompasses all types of plastic, including microplastics, and we are already taking action. We have banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and we will continue to invest in water purification.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has not made an estimate of the amount of micro- and nano-plastics in food packaging in the UK. It is difficult to do so, as this amount will vary based on the use and subsequent treatment of the plastic. According to the latest industry data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme, 2.36Mt of plastic packaging was placed on the market in 2017, of which 1.53Mt came from the consumer sector.</p><p> </p><p>Legislation on plastics in contact with food or drink requires that they are produced under the provisions for Good Manufacturing Practice, so that any adverse interactions with food are minimised. This legislation is regularly updated to ensure the plastics that are authorised for such use are safe.</p><p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On the basis of current evidence, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of microplastic particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food would cause harm to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food, including further consideration of this issue by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment later this year.</p><p> </p><p>We support Operation Clean Sweep, an international initiative coordinated in the UK by the British Plastics Federation which aims to reduce plastic pellet loss in the environment. In 2019, the British Irish Council of Ministers recognised the need to address this source of microplastics and committed to learn from a supply-chain approach in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Global solutions are needed to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, which is why the UK has stepped up to this challenge and is leading the way to end the scourge of plastic pollution that enters our waterways, rivers and, ultimately, our ocean. The UK has committed to the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter, which aims to move towards a more resource-efficient and sustainable approach to the management of plastics. Having left the EU, the UK now has the opportunity to reprioritise and refresh our environmental policy and can now focus on implementing measures which work best for the UK.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 82162 82164 82165 question first answered 08/09/2020 16:10:00 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day