Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1218705

registered interest
date	29/06/2020
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: Microplastics
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 current levels of micro plastics in food destined for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	65942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2020 answer text <p>Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. The UK is a world leader in tackling plastic pollution, including microplastics.</p><p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On the basis of current evidence, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of microplastics particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food, especially seafood, would cause harm to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food including further consideration of this issue by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Despite research findings that show the presence of low levels of microplastics in a few types of food or drink, microplastics analysis is very challenging and there are still no practical fully validated methods that would allow reliable routine analysis for microplastics in food and therefore to assess trends.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place. The Government’s landmark Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 65943 question first answered 02/07/2020 14:57:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1218706

registered interest
date	29/06/2020
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: Microplastics
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 (a) undertake research into current micro plastic levels in food destined for human consumption and (b) make an assessment of the trend in those levels; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	65943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2020 answer text <p>Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. The UK is a world leader in tackling plastic pollution, including microplastics.</p><p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On the basis of current evidence, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of microplastics particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food, especially seafood, would cause harm to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food including further consideration of this issue by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Despite research findings that show the presence of low levels of microplastics in a few types of food or drink, microplastics analysis is very challenging and there are still no practical fully validated methods that would allow reliable routine analysis for microplastics in food and therefore to assess trends.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place. The Government’s landmark Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 65942 question first answered 02/07/2020 14:57:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1218765

registered interest
date	29/06/2020
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	Furs: Sales
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 plan for a review of the ban on the sale of animal fur after the end of the transition period.
tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
uin	65966
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Totnes on 30 June 2020, PQ UIN 62631.</p><p> </p><p>[<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-22/62631" target="_blank">www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-22/62631</a>]</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/07/2020 12:00:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

1218795

registered interest
date	29/06/2020
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	United Utilities: Japanese Knotweed
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 discussions he has had with United Utilities on the control and eradication of Japanese knotweed on land owned by that company.
tabling member constituency	Halton
tabling member printed	Derek Twigg
uin	65941
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with United Utilities about Japanese knotweed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 02/07/2020 15:00:54 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	429 label Biography information for Derek Twigg

1217859

registered interest
date	26/06/2020
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	Clean Air Zones: 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, if his Department will provide updated guidance and advice to local authorities on how Clean Air Zone programmes are affected by the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	64953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>We are in active dialogue with all local authorities with nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) exceedances, including those planning Clean Air Zones (CAZs), and are continuing to provide them with specific support and guidance. We are clear that even in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering compliance with NO<sub>2</sub> limits in the shortest possible time and that NO<sub>2</sub> reduction measures, including CAZs, are still needed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/06/2020 13:34:17 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1217811

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	Whether he plans to maintain food and drink standards after the transition period.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
uin	903816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards as we leave the EU. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing food safety provisions, including existing import requirements, onto the UK statute book after the Transition Period. These requirements include a ban on using artificial growth hormones in domestic and imported products, and set out that no products, other than potable water, are approved to decontaminate poultry carcasses.</p><p> </p><p>Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.</p><p> </p><p>We are already engaging with the agricultural sector as part of our trade discussions and we will continue to work closely with the National Farmers’ Union and other relevant stakeholders across the food chain to understand the concerns about the impact of new trade deals, as well as the opportunities. The Government has in place a range of stakeholder groups to feed into our policy development on trade. These include the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the Agri-Food Expert Trade Advisory Group and various supply chain groups.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 903821 question first answered 25/06/2020 17:06:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1217812

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	Whether he plans to maintain food and drink standards after the transition period.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	903821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards as we leave the EU. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing food safety provisions, including existing import requirements, onto the UK statute book after the Transition Period. These requirements include a ban on using artificial growth hormones in domestic and imported products, and set out that no products, other than potable water, are approved to decontaminate poultry carcasses.</p><p> </p><p>Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.</p><p> </p><p>We are already engaging with the agricultural sector as part of our trade discussions and we will continue to work closely with the National Farmers’ Union and other relevant stakeholders across the food chain to understand the concerns about the impact of new trade deals, as well as the opportunities. The Government has in place a range of stakeholder groups to feed into our policy development on trade. These include the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the Agri-Food Expert Trade Advisory Group and various supply chain groups.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 903816 question first answered 25/06/2020 17:06:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1217922

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes: 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, with reference to the £63m local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020, what steps he is taking to ensure that the funding is spent by local authorities on local welfare assistance; and what processes his Department plan to use to monitor the effect of that funding on local welfare assistance.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	64933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>We will issue guidance to local authorities to make clear that this additional funding is to be spent on local welfare assistance. This guidance will be available imminently, and details of a proportionate approach to monitoring will be outlined within this. The strategic objective of this funding is to support individuals and families who are unable to afford food and other essential items during the Covid-19 pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 30/06/2020 16:25:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1217923

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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	Nature Conservation: Maps
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 he plans to ensure that the national habitat map for England is (a) accurate and (b) comprehensive.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	64896
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>My officials are currently planning for how to deliver this new duty. We wish to make the best use of recent advances in satellite imagery, increased computational power and ground survey including using citizen scientists, to deliver a good standard of National Habitat Map (NHM).</p><p> </p><p>We intend to bid for further resources to deliver the NHM as part of an extensive science assessment programme in the planning round for next year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/06/2020 13:24:16 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1217924

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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	Nature 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 plans he has to publish a strategy that will set out how a national nature recovery network is to be established.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	64897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Our 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step-change in ambitions for wildlife and the natural environment. It committed the Government to establishing a nature recovery network in England and developing a new strategy for nature, setting out how we will implement our international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).</p><p>The coronavirus outbreak has impacted on our plans. Key international meetings to develop global biodiversity targets, including the CBD Conference in China (originally planned for the end of 2020), have been postponed. At the same time, many of our stakeholders no longer have the capacity to engage on the strategy at the moment.</p><p>This means that we have slowed the process of drafting the strategy so that we have extra time to engage with stakeholders, and properly reflect on the emerging international framework. We expect the main CBD Conference of the Parties to be rescheduled for some time in 2021 and will update our domestic plans once this is finalised.</p><p>Although work on the strategy has been delayed, we are bringing forward policies and funding now that will deliver real change for nature and to establish a Nature Recovery Network (NRN).</p><p>Our Environment Bill lays the foundation for the NRN. It sets the framework for at least one legally binding biodiversity target. It establishes spatial mapping and planning tools to inform nature recovery. It also creates duties and incentives, such as biodiversity net gain, to drive change on the ground.</p><p>These measures will complement our plans for new funding for nature announced in March this year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/06/2020 13:47:22 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood