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1518479

registered interest
date	26/09/2022
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress the Animal and Plant Health Agency has made in its investigation into the deaths of millions of factory farm chickens during heatwaves in summer 2022; when the results of the investigation are expected to be published; and what plans they have to prevent future such events.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2022 answer text <p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency is supporting local authorities in investigating what took place on individual poultry units. Ongoing investigations are confidential as any information released may prejudice any potential legal action in the future.</p><p>HM Government takes breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously. Prior to and during this summer's heatwaves, we reiterated advice to livestock keepers to ensure their contingency plans took full account of the need to protect health and welfare during hot weather. We are very concerned about the significant mortalities in broiler chickens that occurred. We are discussing what happened with the poultry sector and looking carefully at what measures could be put in place in future to help prevent a recurrence of mass mortalities and improve broiler chicken welfare.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 10/10/2022 16:36:16 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1518481

registered interest
date	26/09/2022
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	Marine Environment: North of England
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 22 February (HL6071), what further information they have gathered in relation to ecological problems off the coasts of Yorkshire and North-East England; and what plans they have for further studies and actions relating to any such problems.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2323
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2022 answer text <p>We are aware there have been some localised reductions in catch rates and we are continuing to monitor shellfish populations in the area. This is a complex scientific issue, which is why we took a thorough, evidence-based approach. We will continue to work with academic researchers.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 10/10/2022 16:35:34 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1518526

registered interest
date	26/09/2022
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	Anaerobic Digestion: Drug Resistance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of anaerobic digestion facilities increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government has not conducted specific research into the risks of anaerobic digestion facilities increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance, but it does consider that anaerobic digestion is an effective method for the disposal of animal by-products as the process destroys bacteria and is considered to be the best approach for reducing spread of bacteria to the environment. Guidance on the handling of manure and slurry to reduce antibiotic resistance can be found at <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fhandling-of-manure-and-slurry-to-reduce-antibiotic-resistance&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C3f782bd990fe48fbbd4b08daaad941b3%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638010147333206588%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uKlkVpil6hONji3GDHnIc0wwFq%2Bp4%2Bi8t9ENWmzt9wc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Handling of manure and slurry to reduce antibiotic resistance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 10/10/2022 16:36:46 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1518527

registered interest
date	26/09/2022
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	Cosmetics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of production and release of (1) petrochemical, and (2) mineral UV-filters, currently approved as active ingredients in cosmetics.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2326
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2022 answer text <p>(1) The Environment Agency (EA) cannot assess the impact on the environment from petrochemical ingredients in cosmetics. Petrochemicals are used in a large range of manufacturing processes and the EA cannot, with confidence, trace petrochemicals in the environment specifically back to the widespread use of cosmetics.</p><p> </p><p>(2) The EA Chemical Assessment Unit published a review of organic UV filters in cosmetics prior to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations coming into force (<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F291007%2Fscho1008bpay-e-e.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMatt.Womersley%40environment-agency.gov.uk%7Cb317fb6028fb482aaf1008daa0982a56%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637998873520894768%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kmZ5qJPU49MG52xtNXPJmILrAtiHN%2B8wqZmYCLn9JFE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a> and copy attached). They have a project this year to update it, which will complete by March 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) for chemicals of emerging concern to ensure consideration of the potential risks of emerging chemicals including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater and soils. The system allows the EA to sift and to screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has considered some mineral UV-filters as part of PEWS: zinc oxide in its nanoform; and titanium dioxide in its nanoform. However, both substances have a much broader range of uses beyond cosmetics, so it is not possible to isolate the impact of release from cosmetic use alone. Both substances flagged as low risk in PEWS, but the EA stresses it has low certainty over this outcome, due to a lack of available data.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 10/10/2022 16:35:14 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name UV filters review EA.pdf title UV filters review - Environment Agency
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1489774

registered interest
date	15/07/2022
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	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase monitoring of wild bird populations in light of the influx of H5N1 avian flu infections; and what steps they are taking to protect (1) vulnerable, and (2) threatened, populations.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1786
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2022 answer text <p>Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of avian influenza on wild birds. This includes providing advice on mitigation measures that can be put in place to both protect public health and the impact on wild birds where possible. However, avian influenza is a natural transmission process in wild birds and there is limited evidence that mitigation measures are effective at reducing transmission of avian influenza between wild birds.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the existing avian influenza biosecurity stakeholder meetings that have been running since 2020 and have included ornithological NGO participation, Defra will convene a stakeholder working group to consider additional actions that can be taken to support the recovery of wild bird populations that have been significantly impacted by the disease. Defra is also engaging with OSPAR Heads of Delegation to share best practice, mitigation measures and lessons learnt from current and previous outbreaks.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operates a robust programme of wild bird surveillance across Great Britain and engages in year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols. Between 25 October 2021 and 8 July 2022, over 3,000 wild birds have been tested. Of these, 1422 have tested positive for H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). There have been findings in 343 different locations in 61 different species in 78 different counties. A report (updated weekly) of findings of HPAI in wild birds is published on GOV.UK together with <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Favian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRichard.Pullen%40defra.gov.uk%7C481955d105ad4ae6bea208da6f110dfc%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637944416295240616%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=z%2FrMkDnNu9VQaH17PVjfy1X52a2QbrL%2BnnRFpLPgV8Q%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outbreak and risk assessments</a>. A copy of the 18 July assessment is attached to this answer.</p><p> </p><p>Last month a new consortium was launched, led by Defra and APHA, to fund research to look into how avian influenza viruses are emerging in wild populations and help us understand the risk posed to both domestic and wild birds.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, Defra has commissioned Natural England to assess the vulnerability of seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing, including avian influenza, and propose actions to address them.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 28/07/2022 13:37:00 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Updated Outbreak Assessment #30 HPAI in the UK and Europe 18 July 2022.pdf title HPAI outbreak assessment 18 July 2022
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1487764

registered interest
date	11/07/2022
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 Data Transparency Partnership
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the (1) work, and (2) membership, of the Food Data Transparency Panel; and whether they will invite the Consortium for Labelling for the Environment, Animal Welfare and Regenerative Farming (CLEAR) to join that panel.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1621
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>To drive positive change through better information, transparency, and accountability, we are launching a transformational Food Data Transparency Partnership. The partnership will provide consumers with the information they need to make more sustainable, ethical, and healthier food choices and incentivise industry to produce healthier and more ethical and sustainable food.</p><p> </p><p>Improving food system data and information is a shared challenge. The partnership will provide a framework to bring together the UK government, including the Department for Health and Social Care, Defra and the Food Standards Agency, Devolved Administrations and representatives from across the whole food supply chain and civil society.</p><p> </p><p>We want to design stakeholders, including industry and civil society, into the fabric of how the programme is run and into how its outputs are developed. The governance structure and process for involvement is being developed and will be announced in the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>Initially, the partnership will develop consistent and defined metrics to measure the health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare impacts of food. By the end of 2023, in England, we will streamline reporting requirements relating to the production and sale of food and drink. We will consult on implementing mandatory public reporting against a set of health metrics and explore a similar approach to sustainability and animal welfare. We will fully consult on any mandatory measures before they are introduced.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 21/07/2022 15:24:02 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1471556

registered interest
date	20/06/2022
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	Bread and Flour: Regulation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which of the issues raised by the Real Bread Campaign in their submission to DEFRA, published in September 2021, ahead of the first meeting of the Bread and Flour Technical Working Group, will be included in the forthcoming public consultation and review of the Bread and Flour Regulations.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>Defra, alongside the Department of Health and Social Care, the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland and Wales, Food Standards Scotland and the Scottish and Welsh Governments, have been conducting jointly a review of The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and The Bread and Flour (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1998 to ensure the regulations are fit for purpose and support UK industry while protecting consumers. To assist the review, Defra convened a technical working group made up of a wide range of relevant stakeholders including the Real Bread Campaign, to help identify and explore the issues around the regulations which cover the compositional requirements of bread and flour. We are now preparing to consult jointly on proposals to update the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998. The consultation is subject to a cross-government agreement process in England and ministerial agreement in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is therefore not possible to say definitively what will be included in the consultation, but we hope to be able to publish proposals shortly.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 04/07/2022 16:50:19 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1466546

registered interest
date	26/05/2022
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: Pesticides
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) reduce, or (2) end, the exposure of UK consumers to pesticides in food.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a world leader in developing greener farming practices and upholds the highest standards of environmental and health protection. Our pesticides regulations set strict controls on the amounts of pesticide residues that are permitted in food to ensure the safety of consumers.</p><p><br> In Great Britain, regulations require the setting of a maximum residue level (MRL), which is the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue in or on food or feed that is legally tolerated. We have an ongoing monitoring programme to ensure that food complies with the statutory MRLs allowed. MRLs are always set below, and usually well below, the level considered to be safe for consumers.</p><p> </p><p>Defra’s National Action Plan for Sustainable Use of Pesticides, due to be published later this year, will set out proposals to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment. In parallel, we are progressing existing policies and work areas to reduce pesticide use, such as our plan for the introduction of the Integrated Pest Management standard into the Sustainable Farming Incentives scheme in 2023.</p><p><br></p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 20/06/2022 11:47:56 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1466547

registered interest
date	26/05/2022
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	Bread: Food Composition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the survey by Opinium, conducted on 13–17 May, which found that 61 per cent of respondents said they were "not totally confident of what goes into most supermarket loaves"; what steps they intend to take in response; and what plans they have to improve the health benefits of bread.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2022 answer text <p>It is essential that consumers have trust in the food they eat, and we recognise the importance of accurate labelling and quality standards for foods, including bread.</p><p> </p><p>The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. Existing food labelling rules and other requirements on the control of additives in food production ensure that food is produced safely and labelled effectively to enable consumers to make informed choices on the food they buy and consume. The Government is committed to optimising the information that is available to consumers, and the Food Strategy White Paper, which we expect to publish soon, will set out work that we will be taking forward on consumer information and transparency</p><p> </p><p>Bread sold on the domestic market must also comply with The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 which sets out specific composition and labelling requirements. There is an ongoing review of The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 which will include a public consultation on policy proposals where members of the public will be able to express their views. Part of the consultation will look at the implementation of government plans to introduce folic acid fortification to flour. This policy aims to improve public health benefits of bread and other flour containing products by helping to reduce the number of cases of Neural Tube Defects in foetuses.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 14/06/2022 11:11:47 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1462703

registered interest
date	12/05/2022
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: Environmental Impact Assessment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications have been made under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) in each year since the enactment of the regulation; how many breaches of the regulations have been identified and prosecuted; and what assessment has been made of the area of land where changes have been made to land use without permission.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL188
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2022 answer text <p>Screening applications received 2006–2021 = 3227</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Applications Received</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>133</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>132</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>101</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>87</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>271</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>301</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>324</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>365</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>347</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>193</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>168</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>116</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>111</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Screening applications rejected 2006–2021 = 251</p><p>Screening applications withdrawn 2006–2021 = 77</p><p>Screening application decisions issued 2006-2021 = 2899</p><p> </p><p>Consent applications received 2006–2021 = 13</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Consent Applications</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Breaches of the regulations 2006–2021 = 63</p><p>During the period 2006–2021 in total there were 63 enforcement cases, covering over 362 hectares of land. Natural England (NE) has issued 17 restoration notices and accepted 32 voluntary enforcement undertakings to remediate and make good the environmental damage caused to over 270 hectares of land by breach of the Regulations. Warning letters highlighting technical or minor breaches, when serving civil sanctions would be disproportionate, were issued to offenders for breaches to raise awareness of the legislation and achieve future compliance.</p><p>Two prosecutions relating to breaches of the regulations have been successfully brought:</p><ul><li>Devon (June 2021) – relating to damage to Mesolithic and Neolithic historic environment features. The land manager was successfully prosecuted for failing to comply with a Stop Notice requiring the cessation of damaging works and was fined £7,500 and costs of £24,000.</li></ul><ul><li>Cumbria (March 2014) - relating to damage to semi-natural lowland grassland. The landowner was successfully prosecuted for failing to comply with remediation notice to remove artificial drainage pipes and was fined £2,500 and costs of £10,000 plus £250 victim surcharge.</li></ul><p>No assessment has been made, by NE, of the area of land where changes have been made to land use without permission.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 06/06/2022 13:06:09 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle