Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects the storm overflow action plans produced by water companies to be published.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of our drive for better water quality, the Government has asked every water and sewerage company to present a clear assessment and action plan on every storm overflow they operate, prioritising those that are spilling into bathing waters and high-priority nature sites.
The action plans will be published in due course, subject to assurance of the data provided.
Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Order 2024 will be laid before the House of Commons.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 28 February 2024, Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority issued a month-long public consultation on the draft Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Order 2024.
The Order will be laid before Parliament in due course following consideration of the consultation responses.
Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
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 potential merits of reducing the minimum landing size for invasive species of clams which may not grow to the required size.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Marine Management Organisation and the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority are developing a research plan to assess the abundance and condition of non-native clams in the inshore and offshore area of the Thames Estuary. This will establish the potential commercial viability of the fishery. The minimum landing size regulation for clams protects the native clam stocks. Any actions to open-up the non-native clam fishery must also consider impacts on native stocks and on the marine environment.
Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
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 make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the exemption in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 that allows for the use of pig farrowing crates, in the context of the development of alternative systems.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Legislation sets minimum legal requirements and already allows for development and use of alternative farrowing systems. The UK has a significant outdoor pig sector with 40% of the national sow breeding herd farrowing freely on outdoor units with no option for confinement.
Defra’s 2018 statutory welfare code of practice for pigs confirms that ‘the aim is for farrowing crates to no longer be necessary and for any new system to protect the welfare of the sow, as well as her piglets’. Over the years the Government has funded research into farrowing systems which led to the website Freefarrowing.org. This site provides a variety of information and resources for pig farmers on the different farrowing options available and includes the latest research conducted on them.
We continue to work with the farming industry to maintain and enhance our high standards. The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, part of our new domestic agricultural policy, supports farmers to produce healthier, higher welfare animals. The Government’s welfare priorities for the Pathway include supporting producers to transition away from confinement systems.
Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to consult Parliament on the future direction of UK fisheries management before publishing the final Joint Fisheries Statement in November 2022.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Fisheries Act 2020 requires each fisheries policy authority to lay a copy of the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) consultation draft before the appropriate legislature. This requirement was met on 17 January 2022. In parallel, the JFS was published for public consultation on 18 January.
Both parliamentary scrutiny and the consultation process concluded on 12 April. However, owing to the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly, scrutiny in Northern Ireland concluded on 25 March. Between now and November, we will be amending the JFS draft. During this time, Ministers remain open to engaging with Parliamentarians in the process to finalise the JFS.
Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, following the consultation on the draft Joint Fisheries Statement, whether he has plans to consult Parliament on the future direction of UK fisheries management before publishing the final Joint Fisheries Statement in November 2022.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.