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1228683

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Animal Products: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2020 to Question 72166 on Animal Products: Imports, what steps he is taking to include lions in the definition of endangered species.
tabling member constituency	Sutton Coldfield
tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Mitchell
uin	81586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously and is committed to doing all we can to support wildlife and the environment, both in the UK and internationally.</p><p> </p><p>The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is internationally recognised for its work in identifying the conservation status of species, known as the “Red List”. The IUCN currently classifies lions as ‘Vulnerable’. For the extinction risk of lions to be increased to ‘Endangered’ the species must meet several additional classification criteria.</p><p> </p><p>The Government works with other countries, and through international conventions, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to further the conservation of vulnerable species such as lions based on the latest available evidence.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also supported the establishment of the Big Cats Task Force at the 18<sup>th</sup> CITES Conference of the Parties last year, which aims to bolster international cooperation against illegal trade in big cat specimens.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/09/2020 15:41:37 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell

1228739

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Members: Correspondence
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 he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Basildon an Billericay of 24 April 2020 and follow up correspondence of 29 May 2020,18 June 2020 and 16 July 2020 regarding constituent Ms Greene.
tabling member constituency	Basildon and Billericay
tabling member printed	Mr John Baron
uin	81588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2020 answer text <p>I apologise for the delay in responding to my Hon Friend. A reply to my Hon Friend’s correspondence will be sent out very shortly.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 03/09/2020 14:52:32 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1390 label Biography information for Mr John Baron

1228768

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what circumstances he would use the powers set out in Clause 81 of the Environment Bill to weaken existing targets for the chemical status of water in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
uin	82611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2020 answer text <p>Clause 81 is a narrow power which will enable updates to the list of priority substances and their environmental quality standards for surface and ground waters after the end of the transition period. This will ensure that the list of substances used to assess the chemical status of water bodies does not become “frozen” when section 2(2) European Communities Act 1972 powers are no longer available.</p><p> </p><p>Updates to the list of priority substances will be informed by the latest scientific and technical knowledge. Any proposed changes will be subject to statutory consultation requirements which include the Environment Agency and any persons or bodies likely to be affected by the regulations, as well as parliamentary and public scrutiny during the secondary legislation process.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 03/09/2020 12:43:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1228769

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Special Areas of 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 he will take to integrate areas that are designated as special areas of conservation into the regulatory framework set out in the Environment Bill 2020.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
uin	82612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2020 answer text <p>Special areas of conservation (SACs), along with special protection areas (SPAs), are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. These sites are included within the definition of ‘national conservation sites’ as set out in the Environment Bill. National conservation sites are to be included within ‘habitat maps’, which will be part of local nature recovery strategies.</p><p> </p><p>More generally, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), established under the Environment Bill, will have a broad environmental remit. It includes environmental law which is defined as including all domestic legislation (other than devolved provisions, or those concerned with a specifically excluded matter), to the extent that they are concerned with one or more of a set of environmental protections.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 03/09/2020 11:10:51 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1228785

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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: Waste Disposal
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 increase funding to local authorities to help support the provision of food waste bins.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	82519
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Following support at consultation, we will introduce a statutory duty for waste collection authorities to arrange for the separate collection of food waste from households, at least once a week. We are legislating for this through the Environment Bill.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to covering the costs of any additional burdens that local authorities face as a result of new statutory duties requiring them to collect food waste separately for recycling. This is in keeping with the New Burdens Doctrine which requires new burdens on local authorities to be properly assessed and fully funded, so that there will be no increase in council tax as a result of the policy<strong>.</strong></p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/09/2020 16:25:02 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1228811

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Pets: Coronavirus
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 he has had with animal welfare charities on the effect of lifestyle changes in response to the covid-19 outbreak on trends in the level of unwanted pets.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	82481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Defra’s animal welfare team has been in regular contact with the sector to understand the impacts and what is needed from government. I am grateful for the work done by animal welfare charities to promote advice for pet owners and look after animals during this difficult time.</p><p> </p><p>The Association of Dogs &amp; Cats Homes and the National Equine Welfare Council undertook surveys in May 2020 of their members and wider rescue and rehoming organisations to establish the extent of the impact of Covid-19 on the sector. The surveys were carried out when many restrictions were still in place, many of which have now been lifted. In relation to unwanted pets, findings showed that:</p><p> </p><ul><li>30% of equine organisations reported that more horses were being abandoned compared to 5% reporting less.</li><li>15% of rescues reported that more cats are being abandoned. Only 15% of rescue organisations reported an increase in dogs being abandoned with 22% reporting fewer dogs being abandoned than normal. 20% of members reported taking in less strays. Only 22% reported that more people wish to hand over their dogs.</li><li>68% of rescues reported more people wish to foster equines, dogs or cats and 58% wish to rehome an equine, dog or cat.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We shall continue to engage with the sector to keep monitoring trends in the level of unwanted pets.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/09/2020 16:20:00 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1228870

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Tree Preservation Orders
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 plans he has, as part of the England Tree Strategy, to amend guidance on granting Tree Preservation Orders to afford greater priority to the environmental benefits of those Orders.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	82357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The England Tree Strategy will aim to maximise environmental benefits that afforestation and management of existing trees can deliver by supporting our commitment to deliver 30,000 hectares of planting a year by 2025.</p><p>We are currently consulting on the strategy, and this includes inviting views on refining the process of making Tree Preservation Orders and clarifying the criteria to improve consistency in application of the policy across local authorities. The consultation closes on 11 September, with publication of the Strategy to follow early in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/09/2020 17:00:45 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1228881

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Flood Control
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 resources his Department is providing to local authorities to help them (a) manage flood risk and (b) improve their flood mitigation measures.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	82008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government provides funding to local government to carry out functions including managing flood risk and coastal erosion, through the local government finance settlement. The Government is committed to reforming the funding framework for local government funding so that it is simpler, more up to date, and more transparent. This will include a review of local government funding for statutory flood and coastal erosion risk management functions, including the way in which it is allocated, to ensure it is fair and matches the needs and resources of local areas – recognising that some places face different risks.</p><p> </p><p>In March of this year the Government committed to a record £5.2 billion to better protect a further 336,000 properties across all areas of England, and in July 2020, the government published a long-term Policy Statement which sets out our ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. The Policy Statement outlines five ambitious policies and over 40 supporting actions which will accelerate progress to better protect and better prepare the country against flooding and coastal erosion.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government has committed to invest £200 million to deliver innovative actions which will test new ways to improve resilience to flooding and coastal erosion. 25 areas will benefit from this funding in addition to the four areas we announced in July which will trial and develop ways of planning ahead and making wise investment choices for the decades to come in the face of the long-term uncertainties brought by climate change. The Environment Agency will invite Lead Local Flood Authorities and Coast Protection Authorities to work with local partners on expressions of interest later this year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also investing a further £2.9 million which is supporting three regional property flood resilience pathfinder projects to create demonstration centres, engage with businesses, and advice portals, to help people to learn about the benefits of installing resilience measures in their homes.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 03/09/2020 12:41:07 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1228966

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Cane Sugar: Import Duties
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 he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the (a) decision to include a 260,000 tonnes Autonomous Tariff Quota for raw cane sugar in the Government's UK Global Tariff scheme and (b) effect of that decision on (i) the UK sugar beet industry, (ii) Tate & Lyle Sugars and (iii) the protection of UK food production standards in trade policy.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	81976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State and his counterpart at the Department for International Trade regularly consulted one another throughout the development of the UK Global Tariff (UKGT)</p><p><br> The Government has sought a balance between the interests of domestic production, processing and developing country preferences. To achieve this balance, the UKGT retains tariffs on sugar products, while opening a new Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) of 260,000 tonnes that will apply from 1 January 2021, for 12 months, with an in-quota rate of 0.00%.We are proud of the high food safety and production standards that underpin our high-quality Great British produce. We have no intention of undermining our own reputation for quality by lowering our food and animal welfare standards. We have been clear that we will remain committed to high standards. We always committed to reviewing this ATQ and will write to you in due course.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/09/2020 16:24:14 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1229019

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
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	Hare Coursing: Fines
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will increase the fines permissible within Section 30 of the Game Act 1831 for hare coursing offences.
tabling member constituency	South Cambridgeshire
tabling member printed	Anthony Browne
uin	82534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2020 answer text <p>There are no current plans to amend the penalties in the Game Act 1831 for hare coursing offences.</p><p> </p><p>The Government takes wildlife crime seriously and is committed to ensuring the protection this legislation offers wildlife is effectively enforced. It recognises the problems and distress which hare coursing causes for rural communities. Poaching (including hare coursing) is one of the UK’s six wildlife crime priorities, which are set by the UK Wildlife Crime Tasking and Co-ordination Group, supported by the Wildlife Crime Conservation Advisory Group, chaired by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The National Wildlife Crime Unit, funded partly by Defra and the Home Office, assists regional police forces in tackling these crimes by gathering and analysing intelligence, sharing this with the police and assisting police investigations.</p><p> </p><p>A hare coursing roundtable meeting was held on 3 September between Defra, Home Office, police, National Farmers Union and other rural organisations to bring parties together to establish a shared understanding of the barriers to tackling hare coursing effectively and identify potential ways forward.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 09/09/2020 13:01:26 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4801 label Biography information for Anthony Browne