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828328

registered interest
date	23/01/2018
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	Fly-tipping
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to reduce rates of fly-tipping.
tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
uin	903551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2018 answer text <p>The penalties for fly-tipping are on summary conviction: imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine or both; and on conviction on Indictment: imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine or both. The removal in 2015 of the £5,000 cap for maximum fines that magistrate’s courts can impose, means that magistrates can hand down a potentially unlimited fine for a fly-tipping summary offence. In May 2016 we introduced fixed penalty notices of up to £400 for small-scale fly-tipping. This provides local authorities with an alternative to prosecutions and take a more proportionate enforcement response.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014 the Sentencing Council introduced new sentencing guidelines for environmental crimes, including fly-tipping. The guidelines were published to ensure a consistent approach to these offences is taken by courts in England and Wales. Requests for further guidance were received by the Sentencing Council from the National Fly Tipping Prevention Group, chaired by Defra, and the Environment Agency. This was due to concerns that the fines were not high enough to reflect the seriousness of the offences committed or to have a deterrent effect, and that there was an inconsistency in fine levels across the country. The guidelines encourage magistrates to make more use of the highest levels of fines for some of the more serious offences that come before the courts. It also helps sentencers more easily pitch a fine that is proportionate to the means of the offender.</p><p> </p><p>The Sentencing Council reviewed the effectiveness of the guidelines in 2016. The assessment showed that the level of fines for organisations has risen, but fines for individuals have not seen the same increase. We are looking into this and intend to work with the appropriate people in the court system for a consistent application of the guidelines.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 26/01/2018 14:49:52 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

827885

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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: Staff
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current permanent establishment of staff in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and what was the previous establishment for each of the last five years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL4935
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2018 answer text <p>The headcount and FTE breakdown as at 31 December for each year is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>FTE</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p>3535</p></td><td><p>3384</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p>1808</p></td><td><p>1737</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p>1906</p></td><td><p>1828</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p>2127</p></td><td><p>2047</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p>2247</p></td><td><p>2158</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This answer covers core Defra only. The figures in the table are not comparable year to year, as they reflect the movement of staff into core Defra from other organisations in the Defra group. For example, as part of the corporate services transformation project around 1000 staff have joined core Defra from other organisations in the Defra group in the last 12 months. Changes from year to year therefore cannot be taken as net changes to staff numbers overall.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep our resourcing plans under review, focusing both on recruitment and increasing the capability of new and existing staff.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/02/2018 17:59:13 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

827886

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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: Statutory Instruments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many statutory instruments are being prepared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) but have not yet been laid before either House of Parliament; and of those, how many DEFRA started to prepare (1) within the last six months, (2) within the last seven to 12 months, (3) within the last 13 to 24 months, and (4) over 24 months ago.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL4936
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2018 answer text <p>In the next 14 months we currently expect to lay around 95 SIs, which will be required to convert over 850 individual pieces of EU related legislation into domestic law by 29 March 2019. We will also continue our programme of business as usual SIs, of which around 75-80 are laid in any one year. Ministers keep the policy priorities to be taken forward under constant review, and this will be particularly important as we manage the legislation introduced before Parliament in the period before we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>We do not hold information on the date on which individual policies are initiated and which may subsequently result in regulatory proposals.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/02/2018 12:08:01 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

827887

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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: Statutory Instruments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many consultations have been held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in each of the last ten years on proposals for statutory instruments that have not yet been laid before either House of Parliament; and of those consultations, how many were held (1) within the last six months, (2) within the last seven to 12 months, (3) within the last 13 to 24 months, and (4) over 24 months ago.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL4937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2018 answer text <p>In the past two years Defra has undertaken 27 formal consultations related to proposals for secondary legislation. A breakdown of those which have led to an SI being laid is provided below. Not all consultations will necessarily result in legislation as alternative policies are sometimes pursued.</p><p> </p><p>Where consultations held more than 12 months ago did not result in an SI this was in response to stakeholder responses to the consultation. In more recent cases there has not yet been enough time to lay legislation resulting from these consultations.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Period</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Consulted</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Laid</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>0-6 months</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>7-12 months</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>13-24 months</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/02/2018 12:21:54 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

827919

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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: Public Expenditure
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' budget, if any, originated from the Department for International Development.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL4969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2018 answer text <p>During the current spending review period, £5.159m of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs budget has been transferred from the Department for International Development.</p><p> </p><p>This budget relates to the current financial year and is part of the Conflict, Stability &amp; Security Fund (CSSF).</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/02/2018 12:32:36 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

827921

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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	Health Services: Developing Countries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' budget is spent on (1) family planning, (2) sexual and reproductive health and rights, and (3) population issues, in the developing world.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL4971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2018 answer text <p>Responsibility for spending on family planning, sexual and reproductive health and rights and population issues in the developing world is outside of Defra’s remit. Defra has no projects that cover these topics and it is highly unlikely that any proportion of the budget is spent on them. Checking every transaction in a financial year would provide a definitive response but this could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 02/02/2018 12:23:03 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

827974

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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: Waste
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 he has plans to reduce the level of food waste in the commercial sector; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	123934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2018 answer text <p>The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which receives funding from Defra, launched the Courtauld Commitment 2025 in March 2016. This is an ambitious ten-year voluntary agreement that brings together organisations across the food system to identify priorities, develop solutions and implement changes at scale, both within signatory organisations and by spreading new best practice across the UK. The commitment goes further than ever before with ambitious industry targets to be reached by 2025. One of these is a 20% per capita reduction in food and drink waste arising in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are also taking action to support the redistribution of unsold edible and nutritious surplus stock food from businesses to individuals in need. WRAP announced, at the end of last year, a new £0.5 million fund for charities who redistribute surplus food from food businesses to those in need.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 26/01/2018 16:37:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

827993

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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	Ritual Slaughter
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 regulate the non-stun slaughter of animals.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	123953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2018 answer text <p>The Government encourages the highest standards of welfare at slaughter. The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but respects the right of the Jewish and Muslim communities to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.</p><p>We have stricter national rules aimed at reducing stress and providing protection for animals slaughtered in accordance with religious rites. These national rules include requirements for sheep, goats and bovines to be slaughtered immediately that they are restrained and not to be released from restraint until they are unconscious and at least 20 seconds have elapsed, in the case of sheep and goats, and at least 30 seconds have elapsed in the case of bovines.</p><p>This year the Government is introducing mandatory CCTV recording in slaughterhouses. This will further enable official veterinarians to monitor and verify animal welfare standards in the slaughterhouse and ensure strict adherence to stand still time rules.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 123954 question first answered 30/01/2018 17:48:15 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley

827994

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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	Ritual Slaughter
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 bring forward legislative proposals on banning the slaughter of non-stunned animals.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	123954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2018 answer text <p>The Government encourages the highest standards of welfare at slaughter. The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but respects the right of the Jewish and Muslim communities to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.</p><p>We have stricter national rules aimed at reducing stress and providing protection for animals slaughtered in accordance with religious rites. These national rules include requirements for sheep, goats and bovines to be slaughtered immediately that they are restrained and not to be released from restraint until they are unconscious and at least 20 seconds have elapsed, in the case of sheep and goats, and at least 30 seconds have elapsed in the case of bovines.</p><p>This year the Government is introducing mandatory CCTV recording in slaughterhouses. This will further enable official veterinarians to monitor and verify animal welfare standards in the slaughterhouse and ensure strict adherence to stand still time rules.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 123953 question first answered 30/01/2018 17:48:15 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley

827995

registered interest
date	22/01/2018
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	Poultry: 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, if he will bring forward legislative proposals on banning the use of caged hens in egg production.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	123955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2018 answer text <p>The conventional ‘battery’ cage for laying hens was banned in 2012. The current enriched ‘colony’ cages provide more space for the hen, a nest area, litter, perches and claw shortening devices. All permitted housing production systems for laying hens have their strengths and weaknesses, or offer some compromise on the different key elements of animal welfare. We have no plans to ban the use of enriched ‘colony’ systems in egg production.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 30/01/2018 16:15:28 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley