Asked by: Jonathan Brash (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to open an inquiry into crustacean die-offs on the North East coast.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department is aware of the conclusions of the independent review commissioned by the previous administration into the crustacean mass mortality event on the North East coast of England. Defra, supported by its public bodies and agencies, continues to work with researchers and the scientific community on coastal health, livelihoods, and environment.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of farrowing crates; and if he will commission a consultation on such a ban.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.
The use of farrowing crates for pigs is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans take to support (a) farmers and (b) the farming sector in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will deliver a resilient and healthy food system, with a new deal for farmers that works for farmers, food security and nature.
The only way to do this effectively is to listen to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside and nature. The Government is doing this and assessing data and information about what is working and what is not before setting out detailed plans. Ministers will confirm plans for further rollout of farming grants and schemes shortly.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the (a) number, (b) value and (c) repayment rate of invoices issued at each border control point for charges incurred since 30 April 2024.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
HM Government is responsible for setting charges on imports coming into GB to recover operating costs for the government-run BCP facilities serving the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel. Further detail on the Common User Charge including on invoicing and ongoing support will be published imminently.
The Common User Charge (CUC) rate will not apply at privately-run ports; it is up to individual commercial ports to determine their own charging structure and rates.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in which locations checks are carried out on goods transported between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such checks are commensurate with (a) relevant legislation and (b) the policy paper entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with UK rules for sanitary and phytosanitary matters, checks on goods are carried out throughout the entire supply chain. This government is committed to making this process as smooth as possible for UK businesses.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in his Department are responsible for managing the flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what the cost to the public purse was of these measures in the last 12 months.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not hold this specific information but further details of the department's overall expenditure can be found in the Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the ability of the UK’s fertiliser production capacity to meet domestic demand.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fertiliser is a global market. Ensuring a resilient supply chain involves maintaining diverse sources, domestically and through international imports. The UK sources fertiliser from a wide range of countries and both produces and imports ammonium nitrate to meet demand.
Defra actively monitors fertiliser prices and supply chains, including domestic production, through regular engagement with key manufacturers and wider stakeholders.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department (a) has deployed and (b) plans to deploy staff to specifically regulate the movement of plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and what will inform that decision.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
APHA oversees biosecurity measures and conducts in-season inspections, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) establishes plant health policy. Inspections specifically related to plant movements in Northern Ireland are carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) where they are required.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to operate regulations on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the context of the responsibilities of his Department (a) for the operation of those regulations and (b) under the terms of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra, in line with the regulations taken forward last year to implement the Windsor Framework, has introduced and implemented arrangements for the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme and Northern Ireland Plant Health Label.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether implementation of the (a) Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 and (b) Safeguarding the Union Command Paper will affect documentary checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are committed to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in taking forward all of our commitments under the Windsor Framework in this regard and will set out further detail on future operational arrangements in due course.