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1645061

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2023
	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	Animal and Plant Health Agency
	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 made of the adequacy of Animal Plant and Health Agency veterinary resources; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	189875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>APHA has approximately 430 veterinary posts and at the end of May 2023, 60 of these were vacant. Recruitment is underway and locum vets are being used while vacancies are being filled. Because of the nature of APHA work, veterinary resource needs can change rapidly. This was seen during last winter and the large avian influenza outbreak that required a prioritising resource allocation and the temporary expansion of the Agency’s workforce.</p><p> </p><p>APHA has contracts in place to enable it to bring in more veterinary resource from private veterinary practices at times of peak demand and this was heavily used during the outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>APHA also was also able to draw on veterinary resource from core Defra. There are other potential changes to APHA’s responsibilities which will require more veterinary resource. These changes are individually impact assessed to identify resource requirements. One such example is the new Border Operating Model where APHA is likely to need significant extra veterinary resource to check imported live animals. Defra provides APHA with additional funding to expand veterinary resource where needed.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/06/2023 10:12:58 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1645064

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Business and Trade
	answering dept id	214
	answering dept short name	Business and Trade
	answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
	hansard heading	Exports: Notifiable Diseases
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of notifiable disease outbreaks on exports.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	189877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Business and Trade maintains regular dialogue with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a wide range of issues relating to agriculture and trade. The government will continue to prioritise trade facilitation in our FTAs to benefit UK exports.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 23/06/2023 13:15:55 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1645071

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2023
	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	Animal and Plant Health Agency: 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, how much funding she plans to allocate to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in each of the next five financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	189884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Defra funding for financial year 2023-24 is £185.2 million RDEL (Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit) and £15.7 million CDEL (Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit). Indicative funding for 2024-25 has been set but is not yet confirmed and is expected to be agreed by January 2024. Future year funding beyond this is subject to the Government-wide spending review process which will determine the overall funding for Defra and APHA.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/06/2023 10:05:22 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1645072

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2023
	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	Birds: Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps to (a) review and (b) update the notifiable avian disease control strategy, published on 30 August 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	189885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>Current avian influenza disease control policy considers the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice, reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. Defra’s approach to avian influenza is set out in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnotifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy-2015&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEDC.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C66d08106fb534d86977008db6e56be2c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638225091055673566%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=B8v8nGXcZRImr36W5Oecl5q5UFJjuSzn38Gdmm5oTbE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>, published in September 2019. This document is currently under review and is being updated to reflect the recent legislative and policy changes that have already been implemented and an updated version will be published on gov.uk prior to the 2023/2024 high risk season. The Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain is supported by the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fmitigation-strategy-for-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-in-england-and-wales&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEDC.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C66d08106fb534d86977008db6e56be2c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638225091055673566%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=XeGc%2BnAP%2FT24UkTVHYQcz6SQGIA7qwBD2RlRBdjlLno%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales</a>, an updated version of which was published in March 2023.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/06/2023 15:36:07 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1645073

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2023
	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	Animals and Animal Products: France
	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 plans to take steps to suspend the import of (a) animals and (b) animal products from France after the commencement of its avian flu vaccination programme in autumn 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	189886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>It is important to note that, according to Great Britain's Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy, avian flu vaccination, barring those in licensed English zoos, is currently not permitted for poultry and captive birds. These steps represent our commitment to maintaining animal and public health.</p><p>In response to France's commitments on its autumn 2023 avian flu vaccination programme, my department has formed a task force to explore broader vaccination use as a preventive measure against avian influenza.</p><p>This group, consisting of Government and industry experts, will formulate potential domestic strategies, with considerations for trade impact and necessary mitigations to prevent trade barriers, potentially including suspension of import of animals and animal products from France. All proposed changes will be backed by robust risk assessments.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/06/2023 15:32:19 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1639404

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Israel: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to condemn Iran for its alleged support for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s recent attacks on Israel.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	186220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government regularly assesses the impact of Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to several militant and proscribed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and escalates already high tensions, with consequences for the international community. It is for this reason that we currently have over 350 sanctions in place against the Iranian regime. PIJ and other terrorist groups must cease their campaign of violence, for which there is no justification. As the Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement, we welcome the current Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and urge all sides to de-escalate tensions.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/05/2023 14:16:59 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1639405

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Gaza: Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international partners to help support Israel to tackle terrorist threats from the Gaza Strip.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	186221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary wrote to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on 10 May to express the UK's enduring support for Israel's right for self-defence. In his 14 May statement, the Foreign Secretary welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and militant factions in Gaza, brokered by Egypt. The ceasefire must now be honoured to prevent the loss of further civilian life. The UK will support all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards sustainable peace.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/05/2023 14:41:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1628065

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Military Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of providing basic training for Ukrainian pilots on the RAF pilot training programme.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	185336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>Elementary flying training for Ukrainian pilots is being planned in a manner which will not impact core Sovereign UK pilot training.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 24/05/2023 13:18:31 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1626987

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	A400M Aircraft: Procurement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) task lines the A400M fleet has been able to offer and (b) planned task line availability for each of the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	184703
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2023 answer text <p>Whilst the Hercules C-130J fleet will continue to drawdown, a number of the aircraft have sufficient remaining flying hours to enable an extended drawdown to 30 June 2023, maximising use of the fleet.</p><p> </p><p>Atlas availability is being actively managed. There has been a steady improvement in aircraft availability and fleet resilience. Following direct intervention and a determined improvement campaign, the daily aircraft availability is approximately 25% greater compared to 18-months ago. A number of Atlas airframes will complete upgrade before the summer, adding to the available fleet.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 184704 184706 question first answered 16/05/2023 12:55:02 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1626988

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Hercules Aircraft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) task lines the C130J fleet has been able to offer and (b) planned task line availability for each of the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	184704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2023 answer text <p>Whilst the Hercules C-130J fleet will continue to drawdown, a number of the aircraft have sufficient remaining flying hours to enable an extended drawdown to 30 June 2023, maximising use of the fleet.</p><p> </p><p>Atlas availability is being actively managed. There has been a steady improvement in aircraft availability and fleet resilience. Following direct intervention and a determined improvement campaign, the daily aircraft availability is approximately 25% greater compared to 18-months ago. A number of Atlas airframes will complete upgrade before the summer, adding to the available fleet.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 184703 184706 question first answered 16/05/2023 12:55:02 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts