We are the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Jun. 25 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| May. 22 | Urgent Questions | Transport Emissions: Urban Areas |
| Mar. 16 | Westminster Hall | Sentience and Welfare of Animals |
| Jun. 24 | Adjournment Debate | Protection of UK Food Standards |
| Title | Last Event | Next Event Date | Last Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 | Royal Assent (Minutes of Proceedings) 30 January, 2020 | 31 Jan 2020, 9:30 a.m. | ||
| To make provision for the incorporation of the Direct Payments Regulation into domestic law; for enabling an increase in the total maximum amount of direct payments under that Regulation; and for connected purposes. | ||||
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
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Laid 21 Jul 2020 In Force Not stated |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Plant Breeders' Rights (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1) to give effect to separation provisions regarding Community plant variety rights in Part 3 (Title IV on Intellectual Property) of the withdrawal agreement(5), in particular Articles 54(1), (3), and (6), 55(2), 59(2) and 61. | |||
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Laid 21 Jul 2020 In Force Not stated |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Draft affirmative procedure |
| These Regulations are made under section 87 of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25). They make provision restricting the sale of certain solid fuels, and provide for the enforcement of breaches of these Regulations by a local authority. | |||
| Current Signatures | Final Signatures | Title | Petition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
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247,048 Petition Closed |
Ban the use of all non-recyclable and unsustainable food packaging Gov Responded - 18 Jun 2019 Debated on - 24 Jun 2019 |
5 Jun 2019 closed 1 year, 2 months ago |
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Today the Earth is at a crisis point due to our plastic consumption, and as a result, people in the UK are more willing than ever to engage in recycling. Yet so much food packaging remains completely, frustratingly unrecyclable. Let's aim for the UK to lead the world with a 100% recycling rate. |
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186,226 Petition Closed |
Reject calls to add Staffordshire Bull Terriers to the Dangerous Dogs Act Gov Responded - 5 Jul 2018 Debated on - 16 Jul 2018 |
22 Dec 2018 closed 1 year, 7 months ago |
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PETA, an organisation that is meant to be dedicated to protecting animals, has proposed to the UK government that it should add Staffordshire Bull Terriers to the dangerous dogs act, effectively banning them outright. Breed Specific Legislation is not the solution to the problem of dog attacks. |
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148,248 Petition Closed |
Ban the sale of puppies by pet shops & all commercial 3rd party dealers. Gov Responded - 20 Mar 2018 Debated on - 21 May 2018 |
1 Sep 2018 closed 1 year, 11 months ago |
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Removing puppies for sale from litter & mum often creates sick, traumatised, dysfunctional dogs. Puppies should be seen with their mum & transporting them to a different place for sale harms welfare. Regulating commercial 3rd party sales is ineffective to prevent harm & a ban is therefore necessary. |
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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Home Page
Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries, and the Select Committee will occasionally publish formal reports of their findings.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 04 | Oil storage regulations for businesses | Guidance and Regulation |
| Aug. 03 | Coronavirus: £100m Zoo Animals Fund opens for applications | News and Communications |
| Aug. 03 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commercial pipeline data: 2020 | Transparency |
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2020, 12:41 p.m. | River Wharfe: Swimming | Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle |
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Question To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to be able to respond to the application by river users and residents to turn part of the River Wharfe in Ilkley into a bathing water area; and by what process they are considering that application. Answer (Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park) We received an application from the Ilkley Clean River Group in October 2019 for a stretch of the River Wharfe to be designated as a bathing water area. After reviewing further evidence, we are now preparing to proceed to a public consultation. Given the ongoing situation with Covid-19, we will schedule a date to begin the consultation as soon as it is appropriate to do so. This was confirmed by Minister Pow in a letter to the Ilkley Clean River Group on 13 May, following a meeting with Robbie Moore MP to discuss the application.
We have considered the application in line with our usual process for applications for bathing water designation, the details of which are available on the GOV.UK website. |
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