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1183254

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Pesticides
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 is taking to end the use of synthetic pesticides.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	26165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>The sale and use of pesticides are strictly regulated and are only permitted where a rigorous scientific risk assessment determines that the proposed use will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment.</p><p>The Government is clear that it is right to minimise the use of pesticides, and to make the greatest possible use of alternative pest and disease control methods in support of sustainable farming and land management. To this end, as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Government is developing its approach to pesticides, putting Integrated Pest Management at its heart. This will enable us to continue to reduce the impacts of pesticide use and will be set out in our forthcoming National Action Plan for Pesticides.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 12/03/2020 16:40:37 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1183255

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Bees
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 he has made of the bee population in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	26166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>Each year, the Government publishes an indicator of trends in populations of wild bees and other pollinators in the UK, measuring changes in the distribution of almost 400 pollinating insect species since 1980, including 137 species of bees. The indicator shows an overall long term decline since 1980. However, from 2013 onwards, there is evidence of an overall increase in the distribution of bee species, although other insect pollinators have continued to decline.</p><p>The National Bee Unit at Defra also maintains a registration system for honey bees and beekeeping in the UK on its ‘BeeBase’ website. Registration is voluntary so it is difficult to provide exact figures on honey bee populations, but it suggests that activity in the beekeeping sector and consequently honey bee numbers are increasing. Colonies recorded on BeeBase increased from 108,649 in 2009 to 212,054 in 2019.</p><p>Since 2014 we have been working with a range of partners to implement a National Pollinator Strategy to address declines in wild pollinators and concerns about bee health. This has included establishing a UK-wide pollinator monitoring and research partnership in collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations to gather further data on the status of UK pollinators.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 12/03/2020 14:08:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1183273

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Seabed: Bomb 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, what guidance his Department has issued to the Marine Management Organisation on removal of unexploded ordnance from the seabed using low order disposal technology; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
tabling member printed	Sir Edward Davey
uin	26129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from ordnance clearance and other activities can have on vulnerable marine species. We are working closely with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), other Government departments including the Ministry of Defence, statutory nature conservation bodies and marine industries to manage and reduce underwater noise.</p><p> </p><p>The underwater noise impact of using low order deflagration techniques for unexploded ordnance detonations is currently being researched by Hartley Anderson on behalf of the <ins class="ministerial">Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy</ins><del class="ministerial">Defra Group</del>. The MMO is an active member of the Steering Group which is helping to progress this research. Closed water trials took place in 2019 and sea trials of the technology are planned for 2020. Defra does not expect to issue formal guidance on the use of low-order deflagration techniques until this research has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 13/03/2020 11:41:01 question first ministerially corrected 16/07/2020 10:23:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow previous answer version 12321 answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1183274

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Seabed: Bomb 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, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of (a) high and (b) low order unexploded ordnance disposal on marine wildlife; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
tabling member printed	Sir Edward Davey
uin	26130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from ordnance clearance and other activities can have on vulnerable marine species. We are working closely with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), other Government departments including the Ministry of Defence, statutory nature conservation bodies and marine industries to manage and reduce underwater noise.</p><p> </p><p>The underwater noise impact of using low order deflagration techniques for unexploded ordnance detonations is currently being researched by Hartley Anderson on behalf of the Defra Group. The MMO is an active member of the Steering Group which is helping to progress this research. Closed water trials took place in 2019 and sea trials of the technology are planned for 2020. Defra does not expect to issue formal guidance on the use of low-order deflagration techniques until this research has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 26129 26131 question first answered 13/03/2020 11:41:01 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1183275

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Seabed: Bomb 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, what steps his Department has taken in response to the recommendations of the SRUC Wildlife Unit's report of the Investigation into long-finned pilot whale mass stranding event, Kyle of Durness, 22 July 2011, published in 2015, on unexploded ordnance disposal; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
tabling member printed	Sir Edward Davey
uin	26131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from ordnance clearance and other activities can have on vulnerable marine species. We are working closely with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), other Government departments including the Ministry of Defence, statutory nature conservation bodies and marine industries to manage and reduce underwater noise.</p><p> </p><p>The underwater noise impact of using low order deflagration techniques for unexploded ordnance detonations is currently being researched by Hartley Anderson on behalf of the Defra Group. The MMO is an active member of the Steering Group which is helping to progress this research. Closed water trials took place in 2019 and sea trials of the technology are planned for 2020. Defra does not expect to issue formal guidance on the use of low-order deflagration techniques until this research has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 26129 26130 question first answered 13/03/2020 11:41:01 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1183305

registered interest
date	06/03/2020
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	Electronic Training Aids: Animal Welfare
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 he has made an assessment of the effect of (a) shock collars and (b) other aversive training devices on animals' long-term health and wellbeing; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	26145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to banning the use of remote controlled hand-held electronic training collars (e-collars) for dogs and cats in England. This is based on Defra funded research carried out between 2007 and 2010 which showed that e-collars compromise the welfare of some dogs. Anyone causing unnecessary suffering to a dog through the misuse or otherwise of a training device would be in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and subject to a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The Government is committed to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for this offence to five years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 11/03/2020 10:44:23 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

1183016

registered interest
date	05/03/2020
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	Fishing Catches
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 publish information his Department has commissioned on estimating fish weights when compiling fishing vessel logbooks or catch returns.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	25733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has not commissioned any formal assessment on estimating fish weights when compiling fishing vessel logbooks or catch returns. We know most fishers operate in good faith and will make efforts to report their catches accurately. For those fishers that want to be more precise the use of a set of scales gives them that accuracy.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 13/03/2020 07:45:38 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1183041

registered interest
date	05/03/2020
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 Welfare: 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, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing regulations on animal welfare standards for (a) animal sanctuaries and (b) re-homing organisations; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	25618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government greatly appreciates the valuable work that responsible animal sanctuaries and rehoming organisations do in caring for animals. Evidence provided by respondents to the consultation on banning commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens, reflected concerns about profit-driven activity and variations in welfare standards across the sector. The Government is committed to fully understanding the views of rescue and rehoming organisations themselves, and the possible impacts of introducing regulations to the sector and is currently engaging with the sector on assessing these issues. Any proposals to bring forward regulations on animal welfare standards for the sector will be subject to full public consultation.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/03/2020 17:05:01 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1183057

registered interest
date	05/03/2020
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 Welfare: Tour Operators
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 he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the animal welfare guidelines for tour operators published by ABTA in December 2019.
tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
uin	25653
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2020 answer text <p>British Travel Agents (ABTA) for tour operators. I particularly welcome the guide on elephant experiences which sets out clearly what practices are acceptable and what are unacceptable. Whilst Defra has not assessed their effectiveness specifically, I am encouraged that the British travel industry recognise the importance of protecting animal welfare and of providing advice to travel providers for their suppliers and destination tourist boards.</p><p> </p><p>Tourists are becoming more aware of the impact tourism can have on both the environment and on animal welfare and can expect to question whether a particular animal-related experience is both animal welfare friendly and sustainable.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/03/2020 17:00:29 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1183059

registered interest
date	05/03/2020
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff
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 officials in his Department with responsibility for adaptation to climate change including flooding have been in post in each financial year from 2010-11 to present; and for what reasons there have been changes in the numbers of those positions each year.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	25641
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s commitment to addressing the risks from climate change is as strong as ever. The Prime Minister’s climate change committee will drive further action across Government and we recognise the benefits of taking early actions. The United Kingdom has been a leader in this area for more than a decade; while continuing to reduce our contribution to climate change, we are also taking robust action to improve the resilience of our people, economy and environment.</p><p> </p><p>In line with our 25 Year Environment Plan, the second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) sets out an ambitious range of actions that the Government will implement in the following five years.</p><p> </p><p>The second NAP is informed by the second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) which was published in 2017 and highlights priority risk areas such as flooding and coastal change risks to communities and infrastructure; risks to health and wellbeing from high temperatures; and risks to natural capital (including terrestrial, coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems).</p><p> </p><p>Adaptation is rightly integrated throughout the policies and programmes of Government. The NAP is a cross-department collaboration, bringing together Government’s policies on managing climate risks in one place.</p><p> </p><p>This means that teams across Government are involved in a wide range of adaptation activity. Within Defra, this includes embedding adaptation into biodiversity, agriculture, peat, water, and floods’ policies and programmes, amongst others. Beyond Defra, adaptation is mainstreamed into areas such as housing, infrastructure and health. The mainstreaming of adaptation across Government makes it difficult to ascertain exact numbers on staffing who have responsibility for adaptation embedded into their roles.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is the overall lead Department for climate adaptation, though responsibility for ensuring that policies and programmes are climate resilient lies across Departments and policy leads. Our support to the updated UK climate projections (UKCP18), published in 2018, provides an additional tool to help everyone better understand the changes to climate and its risks and make decisions on that basis. This will make an important contribution to building resilience throughout the UK.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 13/03/2020 11:12:42 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas