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1302432

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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: 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, with reference to his Department's response to the consultation on ending live animal exports for slaughter, what assessment his Department has made of the requirements and needs of agri-food businesses whose export times necessarily exceed 24 hours.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Dave Doogan
uin	169038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>The public consultation ended on 25 February and we are currently analysing all the responses we received; we will be publishing the Government response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2021 15:53:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4736 label Biography information for Dave Doogan

1302433

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Agricultural Products: UK Trade with EU
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 his counterparts in (a) France, (b) the Netherlands and (c) the EU to develop mutual understanding on the checks required on agri-food goods moving between the UK and the EU.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Dave Doogan
uin	169039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>There is a constant engagement between Defra officials and our counterparts in the EU to discuss issues regarding agri-food goods at the borders as they are reported. Through these channels, and through our regular meetings with industry representatives, we’re closely monitoring live issues and working to resolve them. Officials also hold regular technical meetings with experts from the UK and Member States to ensure that border issues are quickly resolved, including multiple engagements between the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer and their counterparts in EU Member States to further develop mutual understanding on controls and checks that are necessary at borders. The Secretary of State will also continue to engage directly with his counterparts in the EU and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/03/2021 16:29:56 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4736 label Biography information for Dave Doogan

1302441

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Aquaculture: Finance
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 support his Department is providing to (a) tilapia farmers and (b) other aquaculture businesses.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	168849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>In England funding is available through the Maritime and Fisheries Fund for applications from aquaculture businesses, including those that farm tilapia, looking to make the fisheries and aquaculture sectors more sustainable or to conserve the marine environment, as well as those seeking to adapt their seafood businesses to new trading requirements following EU exit. This funding is delivered by the Marine Management Organisation. Seafood businesses in the rest of the UK should contact their fisheries administrations to see what development support may be available to them.</p><p>In addition to this funding, on 9 March the Government opened the Seafood Response Fund which provides a one off grant payment to help businesses cover up to three months of average fixed costs between January and March 2021. This emergency scheme is targeted at catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses. All eligible business will be contacted and invited to apply by the Marine Management Organisation and we expect all payments to be made by 31 March.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2021 13:48:25 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1302466

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Public Footpaths: Motor Vehicles
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 his Department is able to take steps to prevent off-road vehicles causing damage and disruption to footpaths in rural villages.
tabling member constituency	Grantham and Stamford
tabling member printed	Gareth Davies
uin	169106
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>Driving a motorised vehicle on a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway without the landowner’s consent is a criminal offence and enforcement is a matter for the police.</p><p>An offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 may have been committed if damage is caused.</p><p>The maintenance of public rights of way is a local issue. Local highway authorities have statutory duties to record and keep public rights of way open and it is the authority’s responsibility to prevent the stopping-up or obstruction of public rights of way.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/03/2021 17:26:24 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4850 label Biography information for Gareth Davies

1302479

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Coastal Areas and Rivers: Sewage
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 progress he has made on reducing the harm caused by sewage spilling into rivers and offshore water bodies; and on how many occasions he has met with the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee to progress that work since 22 January 2021.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	169019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>Tackling the harm caused by sewer overflows is a top priority for this Department.</p><p> </p><p>Since the privatisation of water companies, around £25 billion has been invested to reduce pollution from sewage, covering improvements in sewage treatment and in sewer overflows.</p><p> </p><p>During periods of significant rainfall untreated sewage diluted by rainwater will discharge through storm overflows to avoid streets, premises and sewage treatment plants from being flooded. Water companies are committed in the 5-year business planning period (2020-2025) to a significant programme of improvements to the monitoring and management of storm overflows at a cost of around £1.1 billion. This investment includes undertaking 800 investigations and 798 improvement schemes to provide environmental improvements by reducing spills from frequently spilling overflows.</p><p> </p><p>There is more to do to manage sewage pollution. To achieve this, we have set up a new Taskforce - bringing together Government, the water industry, regulators and environmental NGOs - which has agreed to set a long-term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows. The Taskforce is now working on plans to start making progress towards that goal, and they have commissioned research to gather evidence on the costs, benefits and feasibility of different options.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are currently producing comprehensive Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans to assess the capacity of their wastewater networks. We are also taking steps through the Environment Bill to require water companies to produce such Plans on a statutory basis. These plans will be another tool to help address the risks that storm overflows pose to the environment.</p><p>I met the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee on the date of the latest Storm Overflows Taskforce announcement on 22 January 2021 and have had subsequent conversations with him on this issue. Officials are working with the Chair on how we can accelerate progress in reducing the frequency and harm caused by sewage discharges from storm overflows.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/03/2021 15:04:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1302481

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Bivalve Molluscs: UK Trade with EU
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 merits of granting equivalence with the EU regulations for bivalve molluscs; and what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on supporting bivalve mollusc exporters in (a) Ynys Môn constituency and (b) the UK.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	169108
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>There is no scientific or technical justification for the European Commission banning this trade in live bivalve molluscs from GB from Class B waters. Our exports remain of high quality. We are continuing to apply the same rules that we did before EU Exit, exactly reflecting those of the EU. We are willing to provide additional reassurances to demonstrate shellfish health within reason, but this must recognise the existing high standards and history of trade between us.</p><p> </p><p>We know this is an important trade for shellfish exporters in Great Britain and the EU ban has had a significant impact on the businesses. This includes those in Ynys Môn and I have met representatives from the area. We are working with the Food Standards Agency, Cefas and others to look at grading of the waters as this may provide some help to the businesses.</p><p> </p><p>The current restrictions are affecting businesses on each side of the channel and we are talking to Member States in the EU whose businesses are also damaged by the ban.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2021 17:05:09 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1302495

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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	Avian Influenza: Disease 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 steps he is taking to ensure the continued enforcement of restrictions on chickens and other birds in response to avian flu concerns.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	169035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2021 answer text <p>Effective animal disease control is one of Defra's key priorities.</p><p>In response to the increasing risk of avian influenza incursion into poultry and other captive birds in GB, Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) were put in place in each of the GB administrations on the 11 November 2020. These require people who keep birds to ensure they have enhanced biosecurity measures in place. In response to a further increase in the risk additional measures requiring all the birds to be housed indoors came into force across GB on the 14 December 2020. Following a reduction in the risk of avian influenza incursion in both wild and kept birds to medium, the 31 March 2021 will be the last day birds in GB will be required to be housed as part of the AIPZ, however the AIPZs will remain in force across GB and all other biosecurity measures set out in the AIPZs will remain a legal requirement until further notice. Biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklist to assist all bird keepers in complying with the new rules are available on GOV.UK at: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Favian-influenza-bird-flu&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca9e32735c229441045cf08d8eb0e98ae%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637517795210080766%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=fb4uOPgeBhkpdzmKwom6jY0MM4DKv7oAz774LQW6p%2F8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu</a>.</p><p>Local Authorities have the responsibility to ensure compliance with the AIPZ and other avian influenza controls. We have established an enforcement working group with representatives from local authorities, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and GB policy leads. This Group has met regularly throughout the current avian influenza outbreak to share knowledge and expertise.</p><p>Defra Ministers and officials talk regularly to representative organisations. We post the latest advice, key messages and situational updates on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Favian-influenza-bird-flu&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca9e32735c229441045cf08d8eb0e98ae%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637517795210090761%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=3y%2FsT4bKZMcsQLM3AayqIF2kfBbutNw8kWzo0h%2BXi8w%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">our gov.uk guidance page</a>, social media channels, issue national, local and trade press releases and have <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fnews%2Favian-influenza-bird-flu-national-prevention-zone-declared&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca9e32735c229441045cf08d8eb0e98ae%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637517795210090761%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=52swmtyewRbJlHS%2FaXDLeywpUHUXAaryOkJ7Nram1fU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">a rolling gov.uk news story</a>. The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer and others have given media interviews to raise awareness of the disease control measures that have come into force.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 24/03/2021 16:15:13 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1302515

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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: Broadband
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 work with broadband providers to ensure that farmers have access to adequate broadband to support the planning, monitoring and delivery of their farming operations.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	168894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government is working with industry to target a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage by 2025 but will seek to accelerate rollout further to get as close to 100% as possible. We are committed to investing £5 billion in bringing gigabit coverage to the hardest to reach areas, including areas with farm businesses, and will continue to work with suppliers to accelerate this investment.</p><p>On 19 March we announced the launch of the new gigabit broadband voucher scheme which forms part of the £5 billion programme and will go live on 8 April 2021. We will work closely with agricultural organisations, including the National Farmers Union, to promote the scheme with their members. The voucher will help to improve access to broadband in rural areas for all types of businesses, including farm businesses.</p><p>On 19 March, we also published a call for evidence on improving connectivity for very hard to reach premises. The call for evidence will help the Government explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity in remote and very hard to reach areas of the UK, including farm businesses in these areas.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/03/2021 14:00:55 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1302516

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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: Broadband
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 poor broadband speeds and connectivity on the agriculture and horticulture industry.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	168895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government has delivered superfast broadband to over five million premises, mainly in rural areas, which means that 97% of UK premises have access to superfast speeds and the UK has one of the highest rates of rural superfast coverage in Europe.</p><p>However, the Government recognises that further investment in rural broadband is needed. That is why the Government is investing an unprecedented £5 billion to further subsidise deployment of gigabit broadband in the hardest to reach 20% of the country. The majority of this funding will be deployed in rural areas, and this approach will help to directly connect farms in these areas, or bring connectivity much closer to them, opening the possibilities of other technical solutions<em>.</em> The £5 billion investment will prioritise deployment to premises without access to superfast broadband, where possible.</p><p>The Government also recognises more information is needed on how to reach the remotest areas and published a call for evidence on improving connectivity for very hard to reach premises on 19 March. We are exploring effective approaches to how the Government and broadband providers can deliver improved broadband connectivity to businesses in remote and very hard to reach areas of the UK, including farm businesses in these areas.</p><p>For mobile broadband coverage, the Shared Rural Network programme, launched in March 2020, will also help to improve coverage in rural areas. The Government and industry will jointly invest over £1 billion to increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK to 95% geographic coverage by the end of the programme.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/03/2021 14:08:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1302520

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
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: 4G
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the findings of the National Farmers Union's Digital Technology Survey, published in January 2021, if he will take steps to improve access for farmers to the 4G mobile network.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	168897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government recognises that businesses and communities in rural areas need improved access to 4G mobile connectivity. The Shared Rural Network programme, launched in March 2020, is targeted at improving mobile coverage in rural areas. The Government and industry will jointly invest over £1 billion to increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK to 95% geographic coverage by the end of the programme, underpinned by legally binding coverage commitments. With funding now available, the Government and the operators remain confident that combined coverage will be delivered to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025, with areas around the UK starting to see improvements to 4G coverage long before completion. There have already been over 700 sites announced by the operators so far this year to help close not-spots across the UK. This will benefit consumers and businesses, including farm businesses.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 23/03/2021 14:03:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey