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1640668

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2023
	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: Production
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) maximise food production in the UK, and (2) enhance food security.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption.</p><p> </p><p>Our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. We produce 61% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 20 years.</p><p> </p><p>The Government committed to broadly maintain current levels of domestic food production in its Food Strategy, which also set out what we will do to create a more prosperous agri-food sector.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken several steps to support the long-term resilience and profitability of the agricultural sector. For example, we are making Direct Payments in England in two instalments each year for the remainder of the agricultural transition period, to help farmers with their cashflow; we are committed to spend around £600 million on grants and other support for farmers to invest in productivity, animal health and welfare, innovation over three years; and we have provided 10,000 farmers with help and advice through the Future Farming Resilience Fund, which provides farmers with free advice to help farmers work out what to do for their business.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. It recognises the contribution made by British farmers to our resilience and considers the UK's food supply sources overall, noting that domestic production and diversity of supply are both important to our food security. The next Food Security Report will be published in 2024.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 13:06:40 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1640684

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2023
	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	Nature Conservation: EU Law
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what are their current plans for exercising powers to be granted to them under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Repeal) Bill in relation to the Habitats Directive.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8165
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>Defra has been clear in its commitments to uphold and not weaken environmental protections. That is why our approach has always been to keep REUL, unless there is a good reason to either remove it from the statute book or reform it. That approach is now also reflected in the legislation, as the recently tabled Government amendment will mean that REUL is retained unless it is specifically cited in the revocation schedule. The Habitats Regulations are not on the schedule and therefore will not be revoked by the Bill. Defra is carefully considering the use of REUL Bill powers in the context of the Habitats Regulations.</p><p>We remain committed to our ambitious plans of the Net Zero Strategy and the Environment Improvement Plan 2023. We are clear that any REUL reform must be consistent with international obligations, including the various Multilateral Environment Agreements we are signatory to, such as the Bern Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 12:53:06 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1640193

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2023
	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	Ash Dieback Disease
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of spread of ash dieback; and what preventative measures are being put in place to minimise the impact.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Exeter
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8081
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The fungus responsible for ash dieback disease can spread up to 75km via air borne spores. It is not possible to limit the spread of the disease at a national level, and it is now present in all counties, moving across the country at the expected rate from modelling by Cambridge University. There are an estimated 125 million ash trees in UK woodlands and up to 60 million ash trees outside of woodlands. From observations in Europe and the UK, we expect 1-5% of these trees to be naturally resistant to the disease.</p><p>The disease progresses quickly in young trees, trees growing in stressed conditions and ash dominated woodlands with higher levels of leaf litter and spore loads. Removal of leaf litter may be an effective way to limit the spread in certain conditions, for example around high value trees in urban environments.</p><p>The Government has published guidance for landowners on managing diseased ash, including a toolkit for Local Authorities, which has been downloaded nearly 20,000 times. Through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund, Defra funds treescape restoration with alternative species. Since 2021, over £15 million has been awarded through this fund. Countryside Stewardship tree health woodland grants also provide funds for private landowners to restock after felling due to ash dieback, and we are piloting grants that provide financial support for ecological surveys and road closures.</p><p>The Government has invested more than £8 million into ash dieback research, including the world’s largest screening trials for resistant trees. 1000 genotypes drawn from a wide geographic spread and genetic diversity are being tested for resistance to facilitate the possibility of a future breeding programme of resilient ash.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 12:52:18 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4929 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Exeter

1640201

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2023
	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	Highly Protected Marine Areas
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the number of Highly Protected Marine Areas; and what is their timetable for the associated consultation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8089
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>In February 2023 the Government announced it would designate three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English Waters before 6th July 2023. The Government will begin exploring additional HPMAs this year. Any future sites would be subject to consultation as required by the Marine and Coastal Access Act.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 12:50:53 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1640223

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2023
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen the long-term (1) resilience, and (2) sustainability, of the agricultural sector in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8112
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>As agriculture is a devolved matter, the resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are matters for their respective devolved administrations.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government has taken a number of steps to strengthen the long-term resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector. We are offering ongoing payments and one-off grants to improve farm productivity, benefit the environment and support sustainable food production. We have already seen the number of agreements in Countryside Stewardship increase by 94 per cent since 2020 and now almost one third of farm holdings are in an agri-environmental scheme. Landscape Recovery was also hugely oversubscribed, with all projects involving farmers including tenants, and we opened applications to the next round of farmers and land managers on 18 May 2023. The Sustainable Farming Incentive will open with a new and improved, expanded offer later in summer 2023. Many farmers have also already applied for £168 million of grant funding available this year to support investments in productivity, animal health and welfare and the environment. Farmers affected by the phasing out of Direct Payments can also receive free business advice and support through the Future Farming Resilience Fund.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, at our recent UK Farm to Fork Summit we announced:</p><p> </p><p>A further £12.5 million is being made available in May to support research projects that will support environmental sustainability and resilience on farms</p><p>Additional investment of up to around £30 million to unlock the potential of precision breeding</p><p>A working group to bring plant breeders, food manufacturers and retailers together to agree an approach that enables these products to reach our shelves.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond this, we have invested £8 million in research through our crop Genetic Improvement Networks over the last five years to improve UK food security and environmental outcomes. We will build upon this through substantial additional investment to unlock the potential of precision breeding, following royal assent for the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act.</p><p>We have also launched three farming innovation competitions since January this year, providing a total of £21.5 million of funding. These measures will enable our future food and farming sector to be more productive and resilient thanks to British science and innovation.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to work closely with the Food and Drink Sector Council, which brings together leaders across the whole of the agri-food chain and across government, on the issues that it plans to focus on for the next year including: the future of food; sustainability; workforce challenges; and supply resilience.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 12:50:24 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1640228

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2023
	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	Ivory Act 2018: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether the extension of provisions of protection of five additional species under the Ivory Act 2018 will extend to Northern Ireland.
	tabling member printed	Lord Weir of Ballyholme
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL8117
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The Ivory Act 2018 applies to the United Kingdom. When the Act is extended to cover the five additional ivory-bearing species, it will apply to Northern Ireland.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 31/05/2023 12:31:06 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4970 label Biography information for Lord Weir of Ballyholme

1639572

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Convictions and Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of reports of rape resulted in a (a) charge and (b) conviction in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	186345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office collects and publishes official statistics on the investigative outcomes, including charges, of rape offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, on a quarterly basis.</p><p>These can be accessed here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables</a></p><p>The Ministry of Justice collects and publishes information on outcomes (including convictions) by offence, which can be accessed here:</p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fcriminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2022&amp;data=05%7C01%7CChristopher.Linehan%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C1e40732191f444aec7d308db5c390f7e%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638205172361328991%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kpDqFqeKArZDS2zpuaOrjOWZFkC2UYI4uqyoHCcQv8M%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2022</a></p><p>The number of charged/summonsed, and as % of the total number of outcomes, for rape offences recorded in the period by the police in England and Wales, 2019/20 to year ending December 2022 (excluding GMP and Devon and Cornwall police), source: Home Office, Police recorded crime:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Charged</p></td><td><p>Proportion (%) of investigative outcomes which result in charged/summonsed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>2,330</p></td><td><p>4.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/21</p></td><td><p>2,904</p></td><td><p>5.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/22</p></td><td><p>2,911</p></td><td><p>5.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>YE Dec 2021</p></td><td><p>2,840</p></td><td><p>5.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>YE Dec 2022</p></td><td><p>3,446</p></td><td><p>5.8</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Derbyshire Dales answering member printed Miss Sarah Dines question first answered 01/06/2023 14:11:21 answering member 4816 label Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1639573

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Department for Business and Trade
	answering dept id	214
	answering dept short name	Business and Trade
	answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
	hansard heading	Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on levels of trade for UK businesses in each of the next five years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	186346
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2023 answer text <p>Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could boost the UK economy by £1.8 billion each year and increase UK exports to CPTPP by £1.7 billion in the long run according to our published scoping assessment.</p><p>When the UK’s accession enters into force, UK businesses will be able to trade with all CPTPP members on preferential terms and the Government will support British businesses in seizing the opportunities created by our membership of CPTPP.</p><p>Accession could enhance the already strong trade links between Northern Ireland and CPTPP members, which for Northern Ireland goods exports alone was worth over £900 million in 2022.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 01/06/2023 16:09:30 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1639574

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Large Goods Vehicles: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had recent discussions with hauliers in Northern Ireland on the impact of the Windsor Framework on that industry.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	186347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2023 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland meets regularly with Northern Ireland stakeholders, including representatives of the road haulage industry to discuss a range of relevant issues, such as the Windsor Framework.</p><p> </p><p>The Windsor Framework restores the free flow of trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, with a first-of-its-kind green lane that will enable goods destined for Northern Ireland to move easily without burdensome customs bureaucracy.</p><p> </p><p>Customs paperwork will be scrapped and replaced with data sharing of ordinary, existing commercial information. This information will be provided from sales invoices and transport contracts – information that businesses will already hold and use for the movement of goods.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 01/06/2023 09:37:28 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1639576

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Personal Savings: Inflation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of inflation on the assets of long-term savers.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	186349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2023 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of getting inflation down, and there are three key things the government is doing to deliver on the plan to halve inflation.</p><p> </p><p>Firstly, remaining steadfast in our support for the independent MPC at the Bank of England, as they take action to return inflation to target. Secondly, making difficult but responsible decisions on tax and spending so we are not adding fuel to the fire. Third, tackling high energy prices by holding down energy bills for households and businesses, alongside investing in long-term energy security.</p><p> </p><p>Both the Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast that inflation will fall notably this year. The government recognises the challenges faced by households due to elevated cost of living and has provided support worth £3,300 per household on average, across 2022-23 and 2023-24.</p><p>In addition, the Government has a number of savings tax reliefs to support to support savers.</p><p> </p><p>Individuals can save up to £20,000 into their ISA each year and coupled with the Personal Savings Allowance of up to £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers and up to £500 for higher rate taxpayers, around 95% of people with savings income pay no tax on that income. ISAs have been a well-regarded and highly utilised investment and savings vehicle for many. Around £72 billion was subscribed to Adult ISAs in 2020 to 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The government keeps ISA policy under review to ensure it remains and appropriate vehicle for savers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith question first answered 01/06/2023 11:00:43 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon