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1179713

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
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 prevent tomato brown rugose fruit virus spreading to the UK.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	19872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a virus which infects tomato and pepper crops. It was first described infecting tomato crops in Israel in 2014, but subsequently it has spread to other tomato growing regions around the world. ToBRFV is readily spread from plants to plants by handling of plants and tools used in crop management and is also seed transmissible. The virus has also been shown to be transmitted by bumblebees during pollination. The ToBRFV virus is harmless to humans and animals but can cause serious damage to crops.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2019 EU emergency legislation was introduced to prevent the spread of ToBRFV, which applies in the UK during the transition period. The UK was instrumental in ensuring that the introduction of this legislation was prioritised and based on the most up to date technical evidence. This legislation requires that plants, including seed, of tomatoes and peppers being imported or moved meets prescribed requirements to confirm they are free from the virus.</p><p> </p><p>In the UK there has been an extensive programme of testing of tomato and pepper seed which had been moved into the UK prior to the introduction of the EU legislation. Where infected stocks have been identified these have been destroyed. Surveillance of growing crops will be carried out by the Animal and Plant Health Agency throughout this growing season and plans to manage outbreaks are in place should infected crops be identified.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and Fera Science Ltd are working closely with the industry to raise awareness of ToBRFV and to encourage good practice in the industry to minimise the risk. Industry initiatives are supporting these official activities, including research funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/03/2020 12:27:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1179723

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	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 the Government's 2010 consultation on peat, whether it is his policy that the use of peat in amateur horticulture will end and more sustainable peat-free alternatives commence in 2020.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	19882
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to phasing out the use of peat in horticulture in England by 2030. In 2011 we introduced a voluntary target for amateur gardeners to phase out the use of peat by 2020 and a final voluntary phase-out target of 2030 for professional growers of fruit, vegetables and plants. While some progress has been made, we stated in the 25 Year Environment Plan that we would consider implementing further measures if there is insufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020. We will set out our plans around the use of peat in horticulture in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with the industry to make the transition to peat alternatives and to overcome barriers to their use. This includes, for example, jointly funding research with the industry on peat replacements in professional horticulture.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 19780 question first answered 03/03/2020 16:22:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

1179783

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Rural 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, how his Department defines rurality.
tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
uin	19929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>There is an official statistical rural urban classification, based on the 2011 Census, which determines settlements with populations of 10,000 or more as urban. Rural areas are defined as everywhere else and the classification determines rural towns (below 10,000 population); villages; and hamlets and isolated dwellings. The classification also distinguishes settlements in a sparse setting – where the surrounding area is sparsely populated.</p><p> </p><p>A classification of local authority districts and other larger geographies also takes account of rural hub towns – towns with populations of 10,000 to 30,000 that are likely to provide important hub functions for the rural areas surrounding them.</p><p> </p><p>Further details of the rural urban classification can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/rural-urban-classification" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/rural-urban-classification</a></p><p> </p><p>The rural urban classification is intended to support statistical analysis. Other definitions of rural could be more appropriate in some policy or analytical contexts.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/02/2020 17:57:16 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris

1179825

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Chemicals: Pollution 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, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of restricting chemical substances that are persistent and mobile but do not meet all criteria for classification as persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm convention.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	19779
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>Chemicals with persistent and mobile properties, such as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), are widely used in consumer and industrial products. Restrictions of these substances should be based on clearly established and agreed criteria.</p><p> </p><p>My department is working with regulators to improve the understanding of the emissions and risks of persistent and mobile chemicals, and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/02/2020 17:56:12 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1179828

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	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 page 45 of the 25 Year Environment Plan, what further measures he plans to bring forward to (a) phase out the use of peat in gardening composts and (b) ensure that the target to phase out the sale of retail peat by 2020 is met.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	19780
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to phasing out the use of peat in horticulture in England by 2030. In 2011 we introduced a voluntary target for amateur gardeners to phase out the use of peat by 2020 and a final voluntary phase-out target of 2030 for professional growers of fruit, vegetables and plants. While some progress has been made, we stated in the 25 Year Environment Plan that we would consider implementing further measures if there is insufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020. We will set out our plans around the use of peat in horticulture in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with the industry to make the transition to peat alternatives and to overcome barriers to their use. This includes, for example, jointly funding research with the industry on peat replacements in professional horticulture.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 19882 question first answered 03/03/2020 16:22:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1179870

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Rights of Way: Registration
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any decisions about extending the 2026 deadline for registering historic rights of way; and if not, when they expect to make such a decision.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL1735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the need for sufficient time to register public rights of way before the cut-off date. Stakeholder views on whether there is a need to extend the deadline are mixed and will be taken into account, although no decision has yet been taken. We intend to consult the Stakeholder Working Group on rights of way reform before we make a decision.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/03/2020 13:52:51 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1179884

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to make an announcement in relation to the introduction of a plastic bag charge for small and medium-sized retailers.
tabling member printed	Lord Hayward
uin	HL1745
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The 5p charge has been highly successful at reducing the use of single-use plastic carrier bags, doing so by over 90% in the main retailers since its introduction in 2015.</p><p> </p><p>To build on this success and encourage further behaviour change, last year the Government consulted on increasing the charge to a minimum 10p and extending it to all retailers. Our initial assessment indicates that a 10p charge would bring a further 90% reduction at supermarkets and 80% reduction at high street retailers in year one. This would be followed by a 90% reduction at small retailers by year three. Changes such as these are complex and will take time, and we will publish the summary of responses and a Government response setting out next steps in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Upon review, the Regulatory Policy Committee, an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy, have agreed to the revised impact assessment and given it a positive ‘green’ rating. More information will be published along with the Government response in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL1746 question first answered 06/03/2020 12:01:54 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	863 label Biography information for Lord Hayward

1179885

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have changed their analysis of the impact of the introduction of a plastic bag charge for small and medium-sized retailers since July 2019.
tabling member printed	Lord Hayward
uin	HL1746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The 5p charge has been highly successful at reducing the use of single-use plastic carrier bags, doing so by over 90% in the main retailers since its introduction in 2015.</p><p> </p><p>To build on this success and encourage further behaviour change, last year the Government consulted on increasing the charge to a minimum 10p and extending it to all retailers. Our initial assessment indicates that a 10p charge would bring a further 90% reduction at supermarkets and 80% reduction at high street retailers in year one. This would be followed by a 90% reduction at small retailers by year three. Changes such as these are complex and will take time, and we will publish the summary of responses and a Government response setting out next steps in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Upon review, the Regulatory Policy Committee, an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy, have agreed to the revised impact assessment and given it a positive ‘green’ rating. More information will be published along with the Government response in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park grouped question UIN HL1745 question first answered 06/03/2020 12:01:54 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	863 label Biography information for Lord Hayward

1179911

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) protect, and (2) enhance, the tranquility of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
uin	HL1763
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan has set out our comprehensive and long-term approach to protecting and enhancing the environment in England. The importance of designated landscapes, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is made clear in the plan.</p><p> </p><p>Tranquillity is a key component of AONB purpose. To reflect this it is included in the special qualities of why many of these sites have been designated to be protected as AONBs.</p><p> </p><p>AONBs are some of our most treasured landscapes. Funding for these landscapes has been protected in real terms since 2015. We recognise their value and are committed to help them thrive. The AONBs received over £6.5 million during 19/20 of core grant funding from Defra to deliver their statutory purpose.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively in order to promote good health and quality of life. We have protections in place to avoid significant adverse noise impacts for example through our planning system, our environmental permitting systems, in vehicle and product standards, and noise abatement legislation.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 26/02/2020 17:37:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1179918

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Horses: Animal Welfare
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 discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of equines moving between the UK and the EU in a future trade deal with the EU.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	19973
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State meets regularly with his Cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of topics, including the future trade deal with the EU. As the PM has made clear in his speech of 3 February, animal welfare is a priority for the UK in trade negotiations. The UK is proud of its world-leading food, health and animal welfare standards. We will not lower our standards as we negotiate the new trade deal.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/03/2020 12:40:58 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron