10 1 4 Wildlife: Smuggling To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade coming through Scottish ports and airports. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs John Lamont 2019-05-14T16:43:53.16Z Suffolk Coastal Dr Thérèse Coffey false 2019-05-14 Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey <p>The UK is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which regulates the wildlife trade and protects endangered wildlife from unsustainable trade. These obligations are effected in the UK through the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. The issuance of CITES import, export and re-export permits is administered in the UK by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Compliance with the regulations and licensing requirements is enforced across all UK borders.</p> House of Commons Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk false 2019-05-07 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 251333 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1 13 Biography information for John Lamont John Lamont To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what international representations are being made to reduce waste in the oceans in international waters and the Polar Regions. Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk 2019-01-31T13:19:59.743Z Suffolk Coastal Dr Thérèse Coffey false 2019-01-31 <p>The UK is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 – preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds. Marine litter is a global issue affecting every region of the world’s oceans and therefore needs global action. To achieve this goal we are working through a number of organisations and multilateral organisations.</p><p>We played a leading role within the G7 to drive ambitious action under the Ocean Plastics Charter in 2018 which has secured support from 16 governments and 20 businesses and organisations.</p><p>In April 2018 the Prime Minister launched the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, an action group under the Commonwealth Blue Charter that takes action on marine plastic pollution. Led by the UK and Vanuatu, 24 Commonwealth country members of the CCOA have pledged ambitious action to tackle plastic pollution. The CCOA is supported by a package of UK aid of up to £66.4m, which will provide technical assistance and boost much needed research and innovation to stop plastic entering the marine environment in the first place.</p><p>In the Polar Regions, the UK has maintained strong involvement in finalising the environmental aspects of the Polar Code, through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Protection of the Marine Environment Working Group (PAME). The Polar Code includes mandatory measures covering pollution prevention from various wastes. The dumping of plastic waste in Antarctica is prohibited and UK fishing operators are leading action to reduce plastic pollution released into Antarctic waters.</p> Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2019-01-25 1 false 212433 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Polar Regions and Seas and Oceans: Waste 13 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2019-01-09 13 1 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2019-01-17T17:20:45.17Z Suffolk Coastal Dr Thérèse Coffey false 2019-01-17 <p>This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England, indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they feel they often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with 6%). In addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they belong to their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas (61%).</p><p> </p><p>The cross-Government team on tackling loneliness is working with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and to share insights and learn from one another.</p><p> </p><p>Defra publishes the Statistical Digest of Rural England, a collection of statistics on a range of social and economic themes including poverty and well-being. The Digest allows for comparisons between rural and urban areas and is updated throughout the year. The Digest is available on gov.uk at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-digest-of-rural-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-digest-of-rural-england</a> <strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act in May 2018, the Government reiterated its commitment to rural proofing all policies from the earliest stages so that they take account of the needs and circumstances of rural areas. Defra supports this through the provision of guidance and statistical information.</p> John Lamont To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Disadvantaged 206844 Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk false Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2018-01-16T18:50:32.613Z Suffolk Coastal Dr Thérèse Coffey false 2018-01-16 <p>Microbeads, like other microplastics, do not biodegrade and therefore accumulate in the environment and can cause serious harm to marine life. There are also suitable, less harmful alternatives.</p><p> </p><p>While some countries have opted to ban only those plastic particles added for exfoliating and cleansing purposes, our ban covers all microplastic particles in rinse-off personal care products. It is one of the toughest bans in the world.</p><p> </p><p><strong><br> </strong></p> Microplastics: Marine Environment 1 To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the marine environment of banning microbeads in cosmetic products. 13 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs John Lamont Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2018-01-10 121997 false 0