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93181

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Agriculture: 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, what estimate she has made of the financial return from her Department's investment in agricultural research and development since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Williams
uin	210429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>Defra has not made any assessment of the financial returns on investment in agricultural research since 2010 as this is considered too short a time frame to fully evaluate the impact of research and development. However, research used for the ex-ante evaluation of the £160 million UK Agri-tech strategy suggests strong returns to UK public research of the order of 17-60% per year (internal rate of return) for a period of 25 years¹.</p><p>An ex-post evaluation design and baseline study for the Agri-tech strategy is currently being developed by Defra, BIS and DfID in conjunction with evaluation experts SQW. We are also developing a framework for estimating the value for money of new Defra research and development activities.</p><p>¹ Thirtle and Holding (2003) <em>“Productivity of UK Agriculture: Causes and Constraints”</em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/10/2014 11:21:30 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1498 label Biography information for Mr Mark Williams

93182

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Livestock: Transport
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 is taking to improve the welfare of animals during transportation.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	210401
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government continues to work with the EU Commission and other Member States to ensure better enforcement of the rules on the welfare of animals during transport.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/10/2014 11:52:26 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

93183

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Sewage: Water Treatment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2014 to Question 208678, what guidance her Department issues on the meaning of Best Available Technology to remove phosphates from water.
tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
tabling member printed	Maria Miller
uin	210491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Neither Defra nor the Environment Agency has issued guidance on the meaning of Best Available Technology to remove phosphates from sewage.</p><p> </p><p>In order to meet the Environmental Quality Standards required by the Water Framework Directive, the Environment Agency sets permit limits for sewage discharge works. The appropriate technology employed to achieve those permit limits is a matter for the operator and is not specified by the Environment Agency.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 20/10/2014 16:35:11 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

93188

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Water Supply
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 her policy is on reduction of the virtual footprint of UK water usage.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	210586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government recognises we must ensure a sustainable and secure water supply for the future. Defra encourages businesses to become more water efficient by, for example, incentivising the purchase of water efficient technology and providing business tools to manage their water use so as to save water and money.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Defra supports sector-led action to understand and reduce the environmental impacts of products sold in the UK. In some cases, this includes looking at their water footprint. For example, signatories of the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan have committed to a 15% reduction in water use per tonne of clothing by 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of its wider work to ensure the UK has a secure, environmentally sustainable and affordable supply of food, the UK government is encouraging the UK food and drink industry to use resources more sustainably. Lead trade associations and major businesses have developed sustainability strategies, which include targets to measure and reduce water use. For example, the Federation House Commitment aims to help reduce overall water usage across the food and drink sector by 20% by 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also looking to improve water efficiency internationally through ongoing negotiations on the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/10/2014 13:55:27 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

93191

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Agriculture: Carbon Emissions
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 has taken to reduce carbon dioxide release from agricultural practices while maintaining and increasing crop yields.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	210588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>Carbon dioxide emissions make up 7% of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions based on the UK National Inventory of Greenhouse Gases. Government and industry efforts have therefore been focused to date on the challenge of supporting crop yields while reducing nitrous oxide (53%) and methane (39%) emissions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra research indicates that the major sources of carbon dioxide emissions on farm are field operations, heating of greenhouses and livestock buildings, and grain drying.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since 2010 Defra has actively engaged with industry to develop a greenhouse gas (GHG) Action Plan which they are now taking forward. The action plan includes implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy generation on farms. The major cost effective energy related emissions savings are supported by DECC’s wider energy efficiency initiatives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/10/2014 14:00:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

93192

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Timber: Imports
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 she will make it her policy to reduce the import of any hardwood timber from tropical forests.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	210589
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>The import of hardwood timber from tropical forests is governed by a robust regulatory framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The EU Timber Regulation prevents the import of illegally-harvested timber into the EU by laying down obligations on operators who place timber and timber products on the market and those who subsequently trade in them. It was implemented in the UK by the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations in March 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK supports the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) process between the EU and timber producing countries, many of which contain tropical forests, under the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. The VPA process helps timber producing countries to stop illegal logging by driving improvements in the regulation and governance of the forest sector. Once in operation, VPAs will ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU come from legal sources.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, the import of a number of endangered hardwood species into the UK is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) licensing system. The system aims to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of endangered species and is implemented in the EU by the Wildlife Trade Regulations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/10/2014 13:56:53 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

92940

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Crabs: 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, how many incidents there have been of intrusion in UK waters of Chinese mitten crabs in the last ten years; and what steps she is taking to protect the UK against this species.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	210257
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>There have been at least 311 reported sightings of the Chinese Mitten Crab since 2004.</p><p>There are no control methods known to be effective in reducing Chinese mitten crab populations. Therefore, the Government’s focus is to minimise the risk of spread through good biosecurity. Defra is working with a broad range of organisations to promote the Check, Clean, Dry campaign to promote behaviours which reduce the risk of spread of aquatic invasive non-native species such as the Chinese mitten crab.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 20/10/2014 16:14:17 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

92941

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	White Fish: 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 is taking to help bass recovery through (a) bass nursery areas, (b) a minimum landing size for bass, (c) evidence-based policies and (d) other measures.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	210255
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>As a result of discussions facilitated by the European Commission, there is now a consensus amongst interested Member States to significantly reduce targeting of bass across all sectors exploiting that stock. The Commission has also requested advice from the North Sea, North Western Waters and South West Waters Advisory Councils on the appropriate short term measures to apply in 2015, and the development of a long term management plan. We expect EU bass management proposals to be published before the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK Government will continue to push for effective EU-wide conservation measures that will ensure the stock recovers and becomes sustainable by working with the Commission and interested Member States. We will consider the need for any further domestic management of bass in the light of these European discussions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/10/2014 11:47:48 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

92942

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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: EU Law
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 discussions she has had with (a) the EU and (b) UK bodies on reform of the Birds and Habitats Directive.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	210238
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has had no discussions with EU or UK bodies on reform of the Habitats or Wild Birds Directives since her recent appointment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 20/10/2014 16:09:11 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

92986

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Floods: Stafford
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 flood prevention measures have been undertaken in Stafford constituency in the last three years; and how many staff of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency were employed on those measures.
tabling member constituency	Stafford
tabling member printed	Jeremy Lefroy
uin	210220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Defra staff work on flood prevention at a strategic level across England rather than being allocated to specific locations such as Stafford.</p><p>The Environment Agency carries out various tasks to reduce flood risk from main rivers through Stafford. It has a field team of four people based at Uttoxeter, who carry out all routine maintenance and provide an incident response capability for Staffordshire, which includes Stafford.</p><p>In the past three years (2011 onwards) the Environment Agency has carried out the following works:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Location</p></td><td><p>Work</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sandyford Brook</p><p> </p></td><td><p>Yearly routine maintenance programme which includes clearing and maintaining flood risk management structures along the watercourse.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>River Sow</p><p> </p></td><td><p>1. Routine inspection of the flood risk management structures and removal of objects such as trees that pose a flood risk.</p><p>2. Old timber capping boards replaced.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rising Brook and Kingston Brook</p><p> </p></td><td><p>Routine inspection of the flood risk management structures and removal of objects such as trees that pose a flood risk.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Stafford flood scheme</p></td><td><p>Yearly routine maintenance programme which includes clearing and maintaining flood management assets along the watercourse.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><br><br></p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 20/10/2014 16:31:07 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4109 label Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy