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1189975

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Angling
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 publish the results of the survey conducted in 2016 by his Department and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science on the effect on the economy of recreational angling.
tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
tabling member printed	Scott Mann
uin	39546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 3 March, PQ UIN 22008. [<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-02-27/22008" target="_blank">www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-02-27/22008</a>]</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 14:34:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

1190036

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Agriculture: Coronavirus
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 support the Government is providing to farmers to ensure they are able to harvest their crops during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	39702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak have meant that there will be a shortfall in the numbers of workers who usually travel to the UK from Europe to work during the harvest season, with the demand for workers peaking from late May through the summer. We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people's plates over the summer months.</p><p> </p><p>Farming leaders have already kick-started a recruitment drive for work on farms. With many British workers furloughed from their jobs, and students having to put their summer plans on hold, the Government is supporting industry efforts to help farmers bring in this year’s harvest, working to build on these numbers.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of roles for the early part of the harvest season have already been filled. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will shortly be launching a public- facing campaign to highlight the roles available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply. The Government has confirmed that those who have been furloughed from their jobs due to coronavirus, and who are contractually allowed to work for another employer, can take on this seasonal work.</p><p>The Pick for Britain website is a recently launched joint Defra and industry initiative to support this effort. The website will act as a central hub to signpost people to the jobs available and to hold guidance and resources so growers, workers and industry can have a single place to go, available at <a href="https://pickforbritain.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://pickforbritain.org.uk/</a>. The website will also provide links to a wide range of recruitment campaigns organised by labour providers. The Pick for Britain website includes links to the Government's 'Find A Job' website, which will give access to a wide reach of potential applicants. The Find a Job website has more than 1.6 million registered users and is available here: <a href="https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Our farmers are doing a fantastic job of feeding the nation during this challenging time. To help our farmers, industry Best Practice Guidance for employers of seasonal agricultural workers to avoid the spread of coronavirus has also now been published, which has been endorsed by Public Health England: <a href="https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses" target="_blank">https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses</a>.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 16:12:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1190085

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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: Coronavirus
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 Government-supplied food parcels have been delivered (a) nationally (b) to City of York council in each week since 1 March 2020.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	39588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>(A) Nationally <strong>955,433</strong> food packs had been successfully delivered as of 30<sup>th</sup> April 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Breakdown by weeks is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Week Commencing</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Successful Deliveries</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>23<sup>rd</sup> March</p></td><td><p>4,334</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30<sup>th</sup> March</p></td><td><p>66,659</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>6<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>141,477</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>13<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>194,391</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>286,605</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>27<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>261,967</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>(B) In the City of York over <strong>5,231</strong> food packs had been successfully delivered as of the 24<sup>th</sup> April 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Breakdown by week is as follows:</p><p>.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Week Commencing</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Successful Deliveries</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>*6<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>1,266</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>13<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>1,777</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20<sup>th</sup> April</p></td><td><p>2,188</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>*Different category codes were used for deliveries made prior to 6<sup>th</sup> April, so they have been excluded from the figures above.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 16:55:21 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1190255

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Agriculture: Coronavirus
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 provide to support the people in the agricultural sector affected by market disruption during the covid-19 outbreak through a mechanism similar to the retail and hospitality grant scheme.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	39794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is a specific fund that is run by local authorities and linked to business rates. Most farmers are exempt from business rates so the rationale and operation of this scheme is unsuitable for the farming sector.</p><p> </p><p>The department has been in close discussion with banks to ensure the farming sector has access to financial support to ease cashflow problems during this period, including through the HMG backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CBIL), and the Bounce Back Loan scheme, which was announced on 27 April, and is the latest step in a package of support measures announced by the Chancellor. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support small businesses. These loans will be from £2,000 up to £50,000, capped at 25% of firms’ turnover, and the Government will cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender. Almost all UK businesses will be eligible to apply for a loan under the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we have temporarily relaxed certain elements of competition law to support the farming sector during this period. Legislation will be laid shortly to enable collaboration between dairy farmers and producers, supporting them to adapt to changes in the supply chain including decreased demand from the hospitality sector. The legislation will have retrospective effect.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 16:15:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1190256

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Milk: Coronavirus
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 hold urgent discussions with with key stakeholders in the diary industry on managing the milk supply chain.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	39795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra is working very closely with both farmer and processor representatives through this period of disruption to manage the impact on the dairy supply chain of Covid-19 including holding a number of roundtable discussions with the sector. Farmers supplying milk to processors that sell into the food service sector have seen a significant reduction in demand and we have taken several steps to support those affected.</p><p>In order to support affected farmers, we have eased some elements of competition law to make it easier for processors to come together to maximise production and processing and storage efficiency until shops, restaurants and pubs are able to open again. This SI was laid before Parliament on 1 May and applies retrospectively from 1 April 2020. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Dairy UK have agreed to work with farmers and processors to help industry take advantage of these easements. The SI is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/481/contents/made" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/481/contents/made</a></p><p>The Government's Covid-19 Business Interruption Loans scheme is available to the dairy industry and where this is appropriate for this business, I urge farm businesses to access the loans that are available to support them in this difficult period. Defra has held urgent discussions with the major banks to ensure they understand that farmers, milk buyers and milk processors are eligible for this scheme and we are working to increase awareness across the dairy industry. HMT have also now announced the new Bounce Back Loan scheme which will apply to businesses operating in agriculture. This will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.</p><p>The Government also took a number of early emergency steps to support dairy farmers and the wider sector. These included designating employees in the food sector as key workers and temporarily relaxing the normal rules on drivers' hours, enabling the sector to keep supply chains running, including deliveries from farm gate to processors.</p><p>The existing public intervention scheme for skimmed milk powder and butter continues to be available. This provides a floor price for dairy products, supporting the dairy industry to sell skimmed milk powder and butter into public intervention when the price they would receive on the open market falls below the intervention price. The European Commission has this week approved the opening of additional measures for private storage aid which UK processors will be able to access should they chose to.</p><p>We will continue to engage closely with farmer and processor representatives to ensure that we support them throughout this challenging period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 05/05/2020 16:40:22 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1190316

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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 Poverty: Coronavirus
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 ability of charity sector to meet the needs of people in food (a) poverty and (b) insecurity during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	39677
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>There are large numbers of charities across the country who are supporting vulnerable people, including those who cannot afford food as a consequence of Covid-19. Defra is working closely with these charities to estimate the supply of food to charities and demand for food from users of those charities.</p><p> </p><p>The food industry has pledged food and financial donations for charities to support vulnerable people's access to food by helping to fill the gap between supply and demand.</p><p> </p><p>On 3 April Defra launched a £3.25 million grant opportunity to help surplus food redistributors with infrastructure and associated support to help get more food to charities working on the front line in supporting vulnerable people in need. Wrap are delivering the grant opportunity for Defra and report as of 30 April £402,000 has been awarded to 46 charities pending final compliance checks, with further applications being assessed.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is working through our stakeholder forum of 43 charities, who provide services to vulnerable people, to identify what more needs to be done to ensure that people who are vulnerable have access to food during Covid-19.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 17:29:43 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1190196

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Veterinary Services: Coronavirus
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 (a) small and (b) independent veterinary practices during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	39767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The veterinary profession is vital in maintaining high standards of animal health and welfare in UK, particularly at this very challenging time.</p><p> </p><p>Working alongside HM Treasury, Defra is in regular contact with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other key stakeholders to ensure we understand the economic impacts to small independent veterinary practices and the wider industry over the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Prime Minister’s statement of 23 March bringing in the lockdown measures, the veterinary professional bodies produced guidance focussing on the provision of essential services only. This was updated from 13 April, reducing the restrictions. Under this guidance it is for individual vets to make decisions about what work can and should be undertaken and how to do this in line with social distancing guidelines including remote consultations, if practical.</p><p> </p><p>Veterinary practices should be able to access Bounce Back loans, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) or the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), subject to eligibility criteria for each scheme. Many vets and locums are self-employed and there is also a range of support available where they can demonstrate the financial impact of the Coronavirus outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 38666 question first answered 05/05/2020 15:41:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel