Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
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 has made an assessment of the effect on the bee population of using Sulfoxaflor and Flupyradifurone as alternatives to Neonicotinoids.
Answered by George Eustice
Insecticides are only permitted for use if scientific risk assessments find no harmful effect on people and no unacceptable effects on the environment. Assessment and decision making for active substances takes place at EU level and sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone were approved in 2015. Products containing approved active substances can only be used if authorised by the UK. No authorisation has been given to date for any product containing sulfoxaflor or flupyradifurone. The assessment of any application for such a product would include full consideration of the potential effects on bees.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers local authorities have to tackle air pollution caused by idling cars near schools and other public areas.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002 enable local authorities to issue £20 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to drivers leaving engines running unnecessarily after being asked to turn off the engine. The decision to issue FPNs is at the discretion of local authorities, which may authorise any officer of the authority or any other person, to undertake this function.
Local authorities also have a statutory duty to publish air quality plans to demonstrate their efforts towards reducing local air pollution, including that caused by unnecessary engine idling.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will extend the licence for production of oxalic acid api-bioxal in a manner that would encourage a wider variety of affordable anti-Varroa treatments in the beekeeping community.
Answered by George Eustice
There are two medicines authorised for use in the UK containing oxalic acid for treating Varroa in bees.
The decision on whether to develop and market a veterinary medicine is a commercial one for those pharmaceutical companies wishing to invest the necessary capital.
In order to extend or change a licence for a medicine, the pharmaceutical company marketing it must provide sufficient data in support of the change to demonstrate that the product will remain safe and effective.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the efficiency of the reporting protocols for non-statutory notifiable pests in alerting beekeepers to their presence.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Our efforts are currently focused on the reporting of statutory bee pests and diseases such as the small hive beetle and European and American foulbrood. Details of outbreaks are provided on our online advice portal BeeBase, available for all registered beekeepers to see. Beekeepers within 3km of an outbreak are notified by email. Current levels of foulbrood across the country are at very low levels testifying to the success of this approach.
We support beekeepers against non-notiable pests and diseases such as Varroa through our extensive training and inspection programme and through BeeBase. Guidance is provided on how to identify and manage their impacts ensuring healthier and more productive colonies. We do not currently notify beekeepers of local findings of these pests.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of monitoring the certification regarding the use, storage and disposal of plant protection products.
Answered by George Eustice
Pesticides are tightly regulated in the UK and plant protection products can only be sold or used after they have been authorised. Authorised products are often subject to restrictions on the ways in which they are used, so as to ensure protection of human health and the environment. These restrictions can include application rates, timings and specific risk mitigation measures. There is also guidance for professional pesticide users which includes information on correct use, storage and disposal of plant protection products. Several schemes, such as cross-compliance requirements for rural payments and various farm assurance schemes, include inspections covering pesticide storage facilities, record-keeping and practices.
The UK has a National Action Plan which includes a range of measures to ensure the sustainable use of pesticides. The Government is advised on the progress with this Plan by a stakeholder group, the Pesticides Forum. The Forum considers a range of information, including the results of relevant Government monitoring schemes. Its latest Annual Report states that the UK's range of controls is effective and is ensuring that pesticides are being used in a more sustainable fashion.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to use revenues from clean air zones to promote cycling and walking and other healthy sustainable transport alternatives.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
It is already a requirement under the Transport Act 2000 that the net proceeds of any charging schemes made under the Act are only available to the local authority for the purpose of facilitating the achievement of its local transport policies. This can include the promotion of cycling and walking and other sustainable transport alternatives.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to tackle selective breeding of dogs for aesthetic reasons which cause health defects.
Answered by George Eustice
We have consulted on proposals to modernise dog breeding licensing legislation, including helping promote schemes which are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service. One scheme is the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme which involves the Kennel Club working with breed societies in the development and application of tests to identify dogs that have genetic defects that can cause health problems.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the invasion of fungi and insects into the UK which can threaten British trees; and what assistance is available to landowners to tackle such diseases locally.
Answered by George Eustice
Upholding plant biosecurity is a key priority for my department and we have taken a number of measures to reduce the risk of introduction of pests and diseases.
We have invested over £26 million into tree health research. Our long-term national strategy to tackle tree and plant disease is based on science, international best practice and advice of the UK Chief Plant Health Officer. We have also invested more than any other country in research on Ash Dieback and are conducting the world’s largest screening trials to identify a disease-tolerant tree.
We are promoting biosecurity internationally, at UK borders, and inland targeted inspections at the border to intercept high risk trades.
There are regulations on importing plants and products from outside the UK where it is known that certain pests or pathogens are present. These are updated regularly, in response to new evidence. We are working collaboratively with the international community, industry, NGOs, landowners and the public to reduce the risks of pests and diseases entering the country, and mitigate the impact of newly established pests.
Our approach to tackling plant and tree pests and diseases also includes:
The Forestry Commission provides advice to woodland managers about how best to manage and adapt to tree pests and diseases. The Animal and Plant Health Agency provide similar advice for the nursery sector, including how to build resilience to pests and diseases.
Support is available for some landowners on specific tree diseases through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, subject to grant conditions.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of removing the protected status of seagulls in urban areas on local authorities' ability to manage seagull populations more effectively.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Defra has not undertaken such an assessment. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already allows for the control of gulls, under licence from Natural England, in the interest of public health and safety or to prevent disease. Local authorities, businesses and individuals are also able to take action to manage urban gull populations e.g. using bins with secured lids, ensuring domestic animals are not fed outside and that streets are clear of litter.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support tree planting in towns.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Government recognises the social and environmental benefits of urban trees. We will champion the Vision for a Resilient Urban Forest, developed by the Urban Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committee Network. This Vision sets the direction and challenges local decision makers and communities to consider how they can better value, manage and expand the urban forest in their areas.
Millions of schoolchildren across England, mostly in urban areas, will have the chance to plant trees in their communities as part of a Government-backed scheme to give free trees to schools in partnership with the Woodland Trust.