Since 2010, there have been eleven international visits to promote Scottish exports by respective Secretary of States for Scotland. Each of these visits has promoted Scotland\u2019s businesses and exporters to overseas stakeholders. For example this year I have visited a range of countries promoting Scottish and UK trade and investment. These visits have included ministerial-level meetings, as well as engagements with Scottish and UK companies in country and companies interested in investing in Scotland and the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1512", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Mundell"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Mundell"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-03T09:52:17.817Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Exports: Scotland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what overseas visits he and his predecessors have made to promote Scottish exports since 2010, and what the outcome was of those visits.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"} ], "uin" : "195053"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013125", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013125/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Soybean meal (SBM) is commonly used in animal feed, including for pigs, to produce high protein feed with favourable attributes, including suitable amino acid profile. In considering alternatives, it is important to have regard to the feed quality profile, as well as cost and availability. We want to ensure our farming industry is competitive, productive and profitable and that our environment is improved for future generations.<\/p>
<\/p>
Defra has co-funded research with industry to examine UK grown alternatives to SBM in livestock diets. The Green Pig project investigated sustainable alternatives for SBM and looked at environmental consequences of using home-grown legumes as a protein source in pig diets. The project concluded that whilst peas and beans are viable home-grown alternatives to SBM in nutritionally balanced grower and finisher pig diets, costs and other supply chain issues present barriers for wider use.<\/p>
<\/p>
Defra is continuing to invest in research to improve the productivity, sustainability, resilience and quality of UK grown peas and beans for livestock and human consumption. The Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network (PCGIN) provides a platform for the genetic improvement of legume crops in the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camborne and Redruth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Eustice"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-03T12:25:45.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pigs: Animal Feed"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the use of soy in pig food to help combat climate change.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"} ], "uin" : "195107"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013126", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013126/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are five neonicotinoid pesticides approved for use in the EU. From December 2013, three of the five cannot be used on crops considered attractive to bees. From December 2018, the same three can only be used in greenhouses.<\/p>
<\/p>
Emergency authorisations can be issued in prescribed circumstances even where the use of the product is not normally permitted.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the last four years, there have been a total of thirteen applications for emergency authorisation of neonicotinoids. Nine of these have been for uses covered by the restrictions:<\/p>
<\/p>
2015: applications for two products were authorised for use of neonicotinoids on 5% of the English oilseed rape crop.<\/p>
<\/p>
2016: applications for two products were refused.<\/p>
<\/p>
2017: applications for two products were refused.<\/p>
<\/p>
2018: applications for three products. Two have been refused, the third is being assessed.<\/p>
<\/p>
All four applications for uses not covered by the restrictions have been authorised. Three were in 2015 and one in 2016.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camborne and Redruth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Eustice"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-03T13:05:38.003Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Neonicotinoids"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many emergency authorisation applications to use neonicotinoid pesticides his Department (a) received and (b) approved in each of the last four years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"} ], "uin" : "195108"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013127", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013127/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Food prices depend on a range of factors, including commodity prices, currency exchange rates, and oil prices. This will continue to be the case when we leave the EU.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Whilst the Government does not directly control these factors, we work closely with industry to provide transparency for consumers, and play an important role internationally in promoting open global markets. This includes participation in the G20 initiated Agricultural Markets Information System (AMIS) which helps to enhance food market transparency and encourages international policy coordination This all helps to create a competitive domestic market so that producers and retailers can offer the best prices.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4033", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Rutley"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Macclesfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Rutley"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-28T17:34:16.513Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Prices"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the potential change in retail food prices as a result of the UK leaving the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"} ], "uin" : "195109"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013129", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013129/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since 8 May 2015 there have been:<\/p>
Four incidents in which Official papers were recorded as lost.<\/p><\/li>
Six incidents in which Official-Sensitive papers were recorded as lost.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camborne and Redruth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Eustice"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-03T16:24:29.19Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Data Protection"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) official and (b) official sensitive documents have been recorded as lost by her Department since 8 May 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"} ], "uin" : "195110"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013130", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013130/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK\u2019s current production to supply ratio is 60% for all food and 75% for indigenous-type foods. This has remained steady over the last decade and is not low in the context of the past 150 years. For example, in the 1930s the overall rate was between 30% and 40%, while in the late 1950s this had risen to just over 50%. Below is an outline of the production to supply ratio over the last five years. The data is published and available on the gov.uk website:<\/p>
<\/p>