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1024690

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Animals: Exports
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 he has made of the potential effect on levels of safety of certifying non-qualified personnel to sign-off health certificates for animal exports which are currently drafted by veterinary surgeons.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	202057
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>There are no plans to certify non-qualified personnel to sign-off export health certificates.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of assurance of our exports is a high priority for the government and important for our trading partners. The use of Certification Support Officers will have no impact on this. As now Export Health Certificates will continue to be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) when that is required by the importing country. Certification Support Officers (CSOs) will be trained and authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency so they will have a suitable qualification. They must work under the direction of an OV and may carry out preparatory and administrative tasks, such as checking documents, identifying products or sealing containers. Ultimately, the official vet must be satisfied that the required conditions have been met before signing the certificate. CSOs are not authorised to assist with the certification of live animals.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 18/12/2018 12:36:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024706

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Toads: 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 assessment his Department has made of trends in biodiversity and habitat degradation in the habitat of the natterjack toad in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	202096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government reports on the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, including the conservation status of a number of key habitats and European Protected Species, of which natterjack toad is one. The latest report was published in 2013 and assessed a number of important factors including range, population trends, habitat and pressures on the species.</p><p> </p><p>In summary, this highlighted that natterjack toad distribution in England is well understood and that long term trends show that sites where they can be found, in England, have improved in habitat quantity and quality due to conservation interventions, particularly management funded by Wildlife Enhancement Schemes and Stewardship Schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The full report can be found at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/Article17Consult_20131010/S1202_ENGLAND.pdf" target="_blank">http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/Article17Consult_20131010/S1202_ENGLAND.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/12/2018 17:29:09 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1024853

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Hares
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 health of the hare population in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL12294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2018 answer text <p>The UK has brown hare and mountain hare populations. The 2018 Mammal Society report <em>A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals </em>includes estimates for the populations of both. It concluded that the brown hare population in Great Britain is stable, with an estimated population of around 579,000 animals, although acknowledged the population could be between 427,000–1,990,000 animals.</p><p> </p><p>The first National Brown Hare Survey estimated the hare population at around 817,000 in 1991-1993 and a second survey in 1997-1999 estimated the population to be around 750,000. These estimates are within the range of the 2018 estimate but given the different methodologies used it is not possible to make a direct comparison.</p><p> </p><p>In the same Mammal Society review, the mountain hare population in Great Britain was estimated to be around 135,000 animals, although the study acknowledges that the population could be between 81,000–526,000 animals.</p><p><br> Population estimates published in 1995 concluded that there were around 360,000 mountain hares in GB. This is within the range of the 2018 estimate.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL12296 question first answered 28/12/2018 13:11:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1024854

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Hares: Hunting
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce a closed season for the hunting of hares.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL12295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2018 answer text <p>Wildlife conservation is a devolved matter so this answer is for England only.</p><p> </p><p>The population of brown hares in England is believed to be stable. The majority of hare shooting occurs in regions where brown hares are locally abundant and leads to no long-term impact on hare populations. There is no evidence to suggest that a closed season would significantly benefit the conservation status of brown hares.</p><p> </p><p>An industry-led initiative resulted in the publication of a code of practice to protect hares in England. This provides for a voluntary close season covering the main breeding season, while allowing farmers to protect their crops from serious damage by hares.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 28/12/2018 13:12:13 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1024855

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Hares
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how the current hare population in the UK compares with the population of hares (1) 5, (2) 10, and (3) 25 years ago.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL12296
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2018 answer text <p>The UK has brown hare and mountain hare populations. The 2018 Mammal Society report <em>A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals </em>includes estimates for the populations of both. It concluded that the brown hare population in Great Britain is stable, with an estimated population of around 579,000 animals, although acknowledged the population could be between 427,000–1,990,000 animals.</p><p> </p><p>The first National Brown Hare Survey estimated the hare population at around 817,000 in 1991-1993 and a second survey in 1997-1999 estimated the population to be around 750,000. These estimates are within the range of the 2018 estimate but given the different methodologies used it is not possible to make a direct comparison.</p><p> </p><p>In the same Mammal Society review, the mountain hare population in Great Britain was estimated to be around 135,000 animals, although the study acknowledges that the population could be between 81,000–526,000 animals.</p><p><br> Population estimates published in 1995 concluded that there were around 360,000 mountain hares in GB. This is within the range of the 2018 estimate.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL12294 question first answered 28/12/2018 13:11:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1024856

registered interest
date	13/12/2018
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	Ritual Slaughter
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 12 December (HL Deb, cols 1337–1340), what is the average time it takes for unstunned (1) lambs, and (2) cattle to die after their throats have been cut under the Halal method of slaughter; and how many lambs and cattle are so slaughtered each year in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL12297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2018 answer text <p>Legislation on the welfare of animals at slaughter is based on scientific data for time to unconsciousness after the neck cut, rather than time to death, as the period between the neck cut and loss of consciousness has more welfare significance. The time to unconsciousness and time to death will vary amongst animals, influenced by a number of factors including the quality of the neck cut, restraint and occlusion of blood vessels. No data is collected on average time to death for animals subject to religious slaughter or to other slaughter methods, although various research projects have commented upon the time to unconsciousness, such as the EU Dialrel project.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold data on animals killed by Halal slaughter methods each year. The data we hold on this is based on surveys carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The latest FSA survey, carried out earlier this year over a one week period, indicates that 214 cattle and 60,748 sheep were subject to non-stun Halal slaughter that week.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 28/12/2018 13:18:32 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1023984

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
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	Seafood: Scotland
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 he has had made of the effect on the Scottish seafood industry in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
tabling member printed	Bill Grant
uin	201709
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>The government has published guidance for the whole UK seafood sector on what steps should be taken to prepare for no deal. This is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-fishing-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/commercial-fishing-if-theres-no-brexit-deal" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-fishing-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/commercial-fishing-if-theres-no-brexit-deal</a></p><p>As set out in the Fisheries White Paper, the Government is committed to seeking a deep and special partnership with the EU, encompassing the best possible deal for the seafood sector. This includes the shellfish, processing and aquaculture sectors, while ensuring that consumers continue to have a wide choice of high-quality food products at affordable prices.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 18/12/2018 12:02:25 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

1024010

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
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	Veterinary Medicine
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 his Department has made of the number of qualified veterinary surgeons that would be required to sign off export health certificates for the export of animals and animal products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	201659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>We have analysed expected demand for export health certificates (EHCs) if we leave the EU without a deal.</p><p> </p><p>We have looked at the capacity within the current veterinary market, and taken into consideration a number of factors that will impact on the amount of time required by official vets to sign EHCs for EU-bound products.</p><p> </p><p>We are also making it possible for the providers of certification services to employ new support officers to carry out certain administrative aspects of the EHC process, freeing up the time and capacity of official vets to provide the final assurances for the EHC.</p><p> </p><p>We expect demand for EHCs will be at the lower end of estimates and expect efficiencies to be made by the larger exporters.</p><p> </p><p>Therefore, we estimate the market will need increased capacity equivalent to about 50 full-time official vets and providers of certification services are confident they can meet the demand.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 20/12/2018 16:57:08 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024011

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
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	Veterinary Medicine
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 his Department plans to take to ensure the geographical distribution of veterinary surgeons required to monitor animal exports in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	201660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Official vets are located across the country to meet the demands from the market. Major providers of certification services are working to have a national-level provision for service users and they have provided assurances that they can meet anticipated levels of demand.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 20/12/2018 10:45:36 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024015

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
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	Chemicals: 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 guidance his Department has published on the steps that chemical manufacturers will be required to take to register their products with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	201663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2018 answer text <p>On 24 September we published the Regulating chemicals (REACH) if there’s no Brexit deal technical notice. This set out the Government’s contingency plans for regulation with the aim of minimising disruption at the point of exit, and provided information for businesses which need to prepare for a no-deal scenario. Building on this, we published UK REACH additional guidance if there is no Brexit deal on 4 December. This detailed guidance set out the actions businesses would need to take in a no-deal EU exit for a number of scenarios. Only ECHA can provide detailed guidance on registrations for access to the EU market on a no deal scenario but we ensured both the technical notice and additional guidance provided a clear link to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) ‘no-deal’ guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The current ECHA guidance outlines an intended mechanism by which UK companies can transfer their registrations to EU based entities in order to maintain uninterrupted EU market access. ECHA have said they will provide further detail in January 2019. We are continuing to encourage it to provide further clarity to enable UK companies to prepare.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/12/2018 13:01:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord