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166733

registered interest
date	28/11/2014
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	Bivalve Molluscs: Non-native Species
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Contingency Invasive Species Action Plan for the Quagga mussel will be published and considered for implementation.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216378
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p>A Contingency Invasive Species Action Plan was being developed prior to the arrival of the quagga mussel in Great Britain. However, once the mussel was detected, immediate contingency measures were considered and put in place. These included communicating its presence to water sport users and Thames Water to help prevent further spread of the species via the ‘Check, Clean, Dry ‘campaign. All involved have been working constructively together. The Environment Agency continues to monitor for further quagga mussel populations. The development of an Invasive Species Action Plan to manage this and other similar species will now be considered for development.</p><p><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 04/12/2014 11:01:50 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166304

registered interest
date	26/11/2014
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	Bivalve Molluscs: Non-native Species
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 she has made of the risks to native wildlife and habitats from the arrival in the UK of Quagga mussels; and how that assessment was carried out.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2014 answer text <p>The likelihood of the arrival of the quagga mussel was identified by informal horizon scanning. In response, we commissioned a thorough risk assessment which was reviewed in accordance with the standard procedures established by the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat. The risk assessment was completed before the quagga mussel was first detected in England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 03/12/2014 14:53:51 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166308

registered interest
date	26/11/2014
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	Crayfish
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 she has made of the level of risk arising from the arrival of the red swamp crayfish to the wildlife and environment in England; and what steps the Government will take in response to its arrival.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216205
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2014 answer text <p>Defra carried out a thorough risk assessment of the potential impact of red swamp crayfish in 2011. The risk assessment concluded that this species would be likely to have major environmental impacts if established. In response to these findings, Defra developed an action plan to tackle the threats posed by this species and other invasive non-native crayfish. This can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=1120" target="_blank">www.nonnativespecies.org//downloadDocument.cfm?id=1120</a></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 03/12/2014 14:53:13 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

78459

registered interest
date	16/07/2014
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	Turtles: Cayman Islands
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 the CITES Management Authority has declared that the Cayman Turtle Farm is a humane facility.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	206288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The elected government of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, has devolved constitutional responsibility for animal welfare and conservation including for legislation and policies governing the Cayman Turtle Farm.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>An independent investigation in 2002, carried out in support of an application to register the Cayman Turtle Farm as a captive-breeding operation under CITES, a Convention for which Defra is responsible, concluded that the standards of care at the Cayman Turtle Farm were humane.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has been in contact with the Cayman Islands Government more recently, expressing the UK’s commitment to raising animal welfare standards and requesting an assurance that the Cayman Islands Government takes the findings of a report by the then World Society for the Protection of Animals seriously and be committed to making appropriate improvements. I am pleased to say that the Deputy Premier of the Cayman Islands, Mr Kirkconnell, gave that assurance in a response to the Secretary of State on 24 October 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK CITES Management Authority has not made a recent assessment of whether the Cayman Turtle Farm is a humane facility.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 22/07/2014 12:15:30 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

77955

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
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	Regulation
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 her Department is taking to simplify existing environmental, marine and agricultural regulations.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	205985
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>By contributing to Red Tape Challenge, Defra has reviewed over 1200 of its regulations. As a result of these reviews Defra has made commitments to revoke or improve nearly 800 regulations and as well as a number of significant non-regulatory changes that will directly benefit business and the wider public. These include the reform of all regulatory guidance produced by Defra and its agencies by spring 2015, so that users can quickly access clear information on what they need; changes to data reporting obligations, to remove any duplicate and unnecessary requests for information; and plans to explore opportunities to simplify and reduce the number of compliance inspections on farms.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>These reforms are being made without reducing existing protection of the environment or animal and plant health and are detailed in a report entitled “Defra <em>better</em> for Business: A Strategic Reform Plan for Defra Regulations” which was published on 9 April 2014[1]. Defra is working to deliver the vast majority of these proposals by April 2015 so that benefits can be felt quickly. Current estimates suggest that business could by then be saving £300million per year as a result of these reforms.</p><p> </p><br /><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/302112/pb14166-defra-better-for-business.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/302112/pb14166-defra-better-for-business.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 21/07/2014 14:05:53 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

77960

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
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	Landfill
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 her Department has made of the success of steps taken to meet the 2013 and 2020 EU Landfill Directive.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	205986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We are confident that we will have met the 2013 landfill diversion target and will meet the 2020 target set out in the EU Landfill Directive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In October 2013 we published an analysis of progress against the 2020 target, which can be found on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forecasting-2020-waste-arisings-and-treatment-capacity-norfolk-county-council-residual-waste-treatment-project" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forecasting-2020-waste-arisings-and-treatment-capacity-norfolk-county-council-residual-waste-treatment-project</a> . The analysis concludes that there is a high likelihood of meeting or exceeding the 2020 target.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Landfill tax is a key instrument to meeting the landfill diversion targets along with our policies and initiatives such as support of infrastructure to divert waste from landfill through the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 21/07/2014 15:35:12 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

77961

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
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	Peatlands
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 her Department is taking to restore upland peat sites.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	205987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Defra has a range of measures in place to support the restoration of upland peat sites. These include protection through statutory area designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). In addition there are specific incentives for peatland restoration in agri-environment schemes. In 2013 we committed £31.2 million through Environmental Stewardship (covering around 98,000ha) to management options for the maintenance and restoration of moorland habitats. A further £4.1million was committed in capital grants for grip blocking. These are the key options in Environmental Stewardship that contribute to the management of upland peat. This support will continue to be provided under the new environmental land management scheme.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Dark Peak Nature Improvement Area (NIA) in the Peak District, one of the twelve NIAs announced in 2012, is focused on improving upland peatland habitats across an area of 25,000ha.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>In September 2013 we launched the pilot UK Peatland Code which provides a basis for business sponsorship of peatland restoration. An initial suite of restoration projects from across the UK have been identified covering over 25,000 ha of mainly blanket bog.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Upland peat restoration is also being addressed through Defra’s Research and Development Programme, with over £1 million committed between 2010 and 2015 to identify restoration techniques with the best environmental outcomes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 22/07/2014 10:55:59 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

77973

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
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
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 she has taken to implement the commitments contained in the white paper, The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature published in 2011.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	206012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We have made good progress on implementing the ambitious programme of policies set out in the White Paper. Of the 92 commitments made in the White Paper, over three quarters are now assessed as “completed” and action is ongoing to deliver the remaining commitments.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have published a series of implementation updates on the GOV.UK website, setting out the progress that has been made towards the White Paper’s commitments, most recently in February 2014. This information can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-environment-white-paper-implementation-updates" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-environment-white-paper-implementation-updates</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 22/07/2014 10:39:47 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

44375

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
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
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 the objectives of the Green economy projects implemented in the Overseas Territories are.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	193142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Overseas Territories are highly dependent on the assets provided by their natural environment – their terrestrial and marine ecosystems – for their economic wellbeing. The long-term management of these assets is essential for the development of sustainable (‘green') economies in the Territories.</p><p>The objective of the environmental mainstreaming initiative is to assist individual Territories to identify the key issues that need to be addressed to ensure the environment is properly taken into account in all aspects of economic and infrastructure planning. Key issues include proper provision for waste management and the need to better understand the value of the environment to local economies and communities.</p><p>To date, three environmental mainstreaming projects have been managed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the FCO and Defra, in the Falkland Islands, British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.</p><p>In addition, we have also funded projects in Anguilla through our Darwin Initiative Challenge Fund in 2012 and they are now developing a National Ecosystem Assessment using Darwin Plus funding. The purpose of this is to move towards a green economy by strengthening environmental management and sustainable growth, raising awareness of the value of ecosystems to the economy and providing evidence-based implementation of green policies.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

44036

registered interest
date	19/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons his Department supported an officer in the Falkland Islands responsible for implementing the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels on behalf of the Overseas Territories.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	192763
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Joint UK and South Atlantic Overseas Territories funding has supported a co-ordinating post based in the Falkland Islands since 2008 to, among other things, help meet obligations arising from the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), a daughter agreement to the Convention on Migratory Species. ACAP has been extended to the UK's South Atlantic Territories. Defra currently contributes £20,000 per year.</p><p>ACAP seeks to conserve albatrosses and petrels by co-ordinating international activity to mitigate known threats. Collectively, the UK's South Atlantic Overseas Territories are breeding range states for 12 of the 30 species currently listed by the Agreement. The ACAP co-ordination project was established to ensure coherence of action between the Territories, assist with the planning and implementation of albatross and petrel conservation work, take responsibility for the reporting requirements and lead on critical seabird by-catch mitigation work in international fisheries fora.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 01/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord