Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fledged hen harriers there were in 2018; how many of these birds were successfully fitted with tracking devices; and what estimate he has made of the number of birds still being tracked by satellite.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
During 2018 an estimated 34 hen harriers fledged in England. Natural England fixed satellite tags to five of these birds, of which two were still transmitting at the end of January 2019. Including birds tagged in previous years, Natural England is currently tracking four birds.
The RSPB fitted tags to approximately 30 hen harriers across the UK during 2018. As of November 2018, over two thirds of these tags were transmitting.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to replace (a) EU LIFE funding and (b) EU BEST funding for programmes after 2020.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran, on 1 February 2019, PQ UIN 213461.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to respond to the European Commission’s infraction procedure on the protection of European blanket bogs from burning in northern England; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The UK has responded to the European Commission’s reasoned opinion of April 2017. A short press release on the reasoned opinion is available on the Commission website.
We do not comment on on-going infraction procedures and as such are unable to provide further detail at this time.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on game meat producers of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government aims to secure a deep and comprehensive free trade deal with the EU that continues to provide for frictionless, tariff-free trade, supporting the continued success of our agricultural sectors. Our departure from the EU also provides an opportunity for the UK to have an independent trade policy and a new agriculture policy which enables game producers and other sectors to improve their productivity and competitiveness outside of the EU, while also improving our environment. We remain confident in the resilience of our agricultural sectors and their ability to thrive outside of the EU.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to introduce graphic warnings on fireworks packaging.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government promotes the safe and responsible use of fireworks by consumers and there is strict legislation in place which regulates their supply and use. The Government is currently working with a range of stakeholders to raise consumer awareness on firework safety.
Under current UK legislation, there are clear requirements on manufacturers to categorise and label fireworks according to their explosive content, safety distances, noise level, or similar. The label must include instructions on safety distances and means of ignition and safety messages.
The Government has no plans to amend legislation on firework packaging.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure young children are protected from firework-related injuries.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government promotes the safe and responsible use of fireworks by consumers and there is strict legislation in place which regulates their supply and use.
There are age restrictions in place which prevent the sale of fireworks to those under the age of 16 or 18 dependent on the classification of firework. The law also prohibits those under 18 possessing any category F2 or F3 fireworks in a public place subject to very limited exceptions.
The Government is currently working with industry, retailers, charities and others such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Netmums to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks and to raise consumer awareness on firework safety.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of year-round labour the food and farming sector will require to remain productive and profitable after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is considering the latest data, and working with industry to understand labour demand and supply, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements.
It is a key priority of this Government to enable an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain, which invests in its people and skills.
We have announced that the Government will introduce a new pilot scheme for 2019 and 2020 enabling up to 2500 non-EEA migrant workers to come to the UK to undertake seasonal employment in the edible Horticultural sector.
As the UK prepares to leave the EU, Defra is working closely with the Home Office on the UK’s future immigration policy framework. Defra is also working with industry to raise awareness of the career opportunities within the agriculture and food industry to attract domestic workers, and is exploring the potential for innovation and automation in meeting future food and farming labour demands.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted under the (a) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (b) Deer Act 1991 and (c) Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 in 2017; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The number of people prosecuted and convicted for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Deer Act 1991, Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and Hunting Act 2004 in 2017 can be found in published ‘Experimental statistics: Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence code data tool’ available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx
The specific offences to search for are:
Where there are no codes available for the year 2017 (or other years), this means that there have been no prosecutions or convictions under that offence code in that year.
[1] Offences under both the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Protection of Badgers Act 1992 should not be included as it is not possible to identify whether all of the individual offences within this offence group are related to badgers.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were found guilty of offences under the (a) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (b) Deer Act 1991, (c) Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and (d) Hunting Act 2004 in 2017; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The number of people prosecuted and convicted for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Deer Act 1991, Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and Hunting Act 2004 in 2017 can be found in published ‘Experimental statistics: Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence code data tool’ available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx
The specific offences to search for are:
Where there are no codes available for the year 2017 (or other years), this means that there have been no prosecutions or convictions under that offence code in that year.
[1] Offences under both the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Protection of Badgers Act 1992 should not be included as it is not possible to identify whether all of the individual offences within this offence group are related to badgers.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Pet Travel Scheme, when his Department last reviewed the effectiveness of the Animal and Plant Health Agency's Required Method of Operation process with Eurotunnel, P&O, DFDS and other carriers.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Each carrier is subject to an annual liaison visit and a minimum of one additional audit visit to ensure compliance with the agreed procedures set out in the RMOP. Every 2 years the RMOP is formally reviewed and re-approved. It was last reviewed in July 2017.