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1438560

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
answering body	Scotland Office
answering dept id	2
answering dept short name	Scotland
answering dept sort name	Scotland
hansard heading	Fisheries: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for sustainable fishing and fisheries science in Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135468
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>My office engages regularly with other Government Departments at official and Ministerial level.</p><p>Through the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group, Ministers discuss a wide range of issues that are of interest to the fishing industry, with the Industry itself.</p><p>Sustainable fishing underpins our approach to managing our fish stocks, the advice we get from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has guided our decisions on Total Allowable Catch during the recent fisheries negotiations.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 14/03/2022 14:22:28 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1438575

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
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	Zoonoses: Research
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 make it his policy to increase research opportunities for the identification and management of zoonotic diseases.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135469
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>Science-based evidence is at the heart of our policy making in Defra. Zoonotic infections threaten both human and animal health and we have systems in place to detect and manage outbreaks, for both endemic (those that are already found in the UK) and exotic infections. We collaborate closely with the public health agencies, as outlined in our contingency plan on how we would work with other Government agencies and departments to control zoonotic diseases as well as those only affecting livestock. This is being put to use at the moment, through our response to avian influenza outbreaks. These plans rely heavily on the most up-to-date evidence base, whether considering new diagnostic technology, delivery of control measures, surveillance, tracing or prevention with vaccination.</p><p>To this end, we have allocated £200 million to the Animal and Plant Health Agency science campus at Weybridge. This substantial investment recognises the essential role of this Government capability, as the first stage of a long-term programme of work to safeguard and enhance facilities. This will enable its world-leading scientists to continue at the forefront of research and policy to protect people, the environment and the economy, by boosting our resilience and strengthening our understanding of health risks to, and from, animals and plants.</p><p>In addition, in the latest Spending Review, Defra received an uplift to their capital DEL for evidence R&amp;D to support science programme spend for three years. This includes programmes for endemic and exotic diseases, for new emerging diseases and for zoonotic disease programmes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 14/03/2022 15:12:11 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1438581

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
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	Plants: Genetically Modified Organisms
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 his policy is on enabling gene editing in plant breeding.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135470
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2022 answer text <p>We are taking a cautious and proportionate stepwise approach, based on science, to enable gene editing in plant breeding. On 20 January 2022 Defra laid a Statutory Instrument to simplify the process for plant research in England using new genetic technologies if the resulting plants could have occurred naturally or been produced through traditional breeding methods. This first step in our approach aims to help to free up plant research to enable scientists to develop the knowledge base and drive innovation in farming. As part of our next step we will consider the appropriate measures needed to enable gene edited plants and plant products to be brought to market.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 15/03/2022 14:03:01 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1438590

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
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: Fertilisers
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 support food producers with the affordability of fertilisers.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135471
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>Due to the increase in cost of natural gas across the globe, a key feedstock for the production of nitrogen-based fertiliser products including ammonium nitrate, the cost of production of these fertiliser types has increased significantly. It has also affected Europe and the global market with some fertiliser companies halting or reducing production due to high input costs, leading to some countries such as China reducing the export of some fertiliser products to protect their domestic demands.</p><p>The UK sources fertiliser from a wide range of countries and also produces fertiliser domestically, such as ammonium nitrate. Russia and Belarus account for only c. 10% of our direct fertiliser imports by value.</p><p>The situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current high fertiliser prices, are being monitored closely. We will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks. We understand from industry intelligence that the vast majority of fertiliser needs for this planting season have been met.</p><p>There are nutrient management techniques and technologies that can be used alongside fertiliser products that help the efficacy of fertilisers and help maintain high yield and good quality produce. Support in the form of guidance from fertiliser suppliers and agricultural organisations such as National Farmers Union (NFU) can be found from various public sources. Defra is aware that the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board have published many helpful public pieces of guidance, advice and webinar recordings on mitigating high fertiliser prices.</p><p>Defra is in regular contact with key industry figures including the NFU, fertiliser producers and importers, and the key sector representative body for fertilisers, the Agricultural Industries Confederation. We are continuing to monitor the security and stability of fertiliser and other supply chains, and working closely with colleagues across Government and devolved administrations as well as industry figures to share knowledge and discuss all options available to tackle these issues. This will help inform how Defra and other industry bodies can best support farmers.</p><p>Defra is committed to promoting the use of less environmentally damaging fertilisers and better nutrient use efficiency. The current shortage of inorganic fertilisers provides an opportunity for farmers to continue exploring increasing their use of environmentally sustainable products and more efficient nutrient management methods.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 135704 question first answered 14/03/2022 15:23:44 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1438599

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
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	Security: EU Countries
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 she has had with her G7 counterparts on strengthening European security.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135472
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>The Secretary of State joined his counterparts from the G7 nations on 11 March to hear from the Ukrainian Agriculture Minister and to express their solidarity with Ukraine. They also committed to work closely together to mitigate any impacts on global food security in light of Russia's invasion.</p><p> </p><p>Following the virtual meeting, the G7 agricultural ministers published a joint statement condemning the large-scale aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers agreed to work together to help ensure that sufficient, safe, affordable, and nutritious food continues to be available and accessible to all people, including the poorest, the most vulnerable, and displaced people in a timely, safe, and organised manner. The G7 called on all countries to keep their markets open and guard against unjustified restrictive measures on their exports.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to work with international partners to help facilitate harvests in Ukraine and ensure the ability of Ukrainian farmers to feed their population, addressing logistical challenges for food exports to contribute to global food security.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 24/03/2022 15:46:44 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1438603

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Metropolitan Police Service: Vetting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve the vetting process of police officer applicants in the Metropolitan Police Service.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	135473
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2022 answer text <p>Police vetting is carried out independently by forces who are required to follow the statutory code of practice on vetting issued by the College of Policing. This is further supported by the College’s vetting authorised professional practice (APP) guidance, which is reviewed regularly.</p><p>The Government does recognise public concern around police vetting which is why the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire &amp; Rescue Service (HMICFRS) to carry out an urgent thematic inspection of vetting and counter-corruption procedures in policing across England and Wales. Separately, the Inspectorate were also commissioned to carry out a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) specific inspection following the findings from the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) report.</p><p>The Home Secretary also announced a two-part inquiry, to be chaired by Dame Elish Angiolini, which will be able to look at the conduct and career of the officer who murdered Sarah Everard as well as any wider issues across policing, including workplace behaviour and culture.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 15/03/2022 14:27:41 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord