Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on an agreement with the EU on mutual recognition of geographical indication after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Government recognises the crucial role that Geographical Indication (GI) products play in protecting the provenance and heritage of some of Wales’ best-loved food and drink products, and the economic benefit they bring to many communities and the UK as a whole.
GIs represent about 25% of UK food and drink exports by value and play an important role as exemplars of our quality produce around the world. In 2018, GIs were worth over £5 billion in export value. Welsh beef and lamb contribute significantly to this value. Defra are currently undertaking research to obtain more robust data on the value of GIs to local economies across the UK and we will be happy to share relevant findings with the Devolved Administrations.
Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK commits to protecting all EU GIs until a subsequent agreement enters into force. This will help ensure a smooth transition to the future relationship.
We are committed to establishing UK GI schemes that ensure existing GIs such as Welsh Lamb Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Welsh Caerphilly PGI continue to receive protection from imitation and evocation in the UK after EU Exit.
In the event of a ‘no-deal’, the default position is that UK GIs will continue to be protected in the EU by virtue of being on the EU’s various GI registers. The current EU legislation means that EU GI protection is indefinite unless specific grounds for the cancellation of a GI are met. None of the grounds for cancellation relate to a change in status from Member State to Third Country. We therefore consider that under the current rules, the EU should not be able to remove the protection from UK GIs without reason.
Nevertheless, the UK must be prepared for all possible outcomes as we leave the EU. So it is right to advise UK GI holders to be prepared to apply as third country producers for recognition in the EU in the event that the EU does change its rules. This represents sensible contingency planning.
If the EU took steps to remove UK GIs from their registers, the UK Government would provide support and guidance to GI producers on this process as set out in our technical advice on GOV.UK.
I have discussed the GI scheme with Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Environment and Rural Affairs, at the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) EFRA meetings held on 5 July 2018 and 17 September 2018. The Minister of State also discussed the scheme at the IMG EFRA meeting on 24 June 2019. Defra officials meet regularly with Welsh Government officials to discuss GI policy development.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of value to the Welsh economy of the EU geographical indication scheme.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Government recognises the crucial role that Geographical Indication (GI) products play in protecting the provenance and heritage of some of Wales’ best-loved food and drink products, and the economic benefit they bring to many communities and the UK as a whole.
GIs represent about 25% of UK food and drink exports by value and play an important role as exemplars of our quality produce around the world. In 2018, GIs were worth over £5 billion in export value. Welsh beef and lamb contribute significantly to this value. Defra are currently undertaking research to obtain more robust data on the value of GIs to local economies across the UK and we will be happy to share relevant findings with the Devolved Administrations.
Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK commits to protecting all EU GIs until a subsequent agreement enters into force. This will help ensure a smooth transition to the future relationship.
We are committed to establishing UK GI schemes that ensure existing GIs such as Welsh Lamb Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Welsh Caerphilly PGI continue to receive protection from imitation and evocation in the UK after EU Exit.
In the event of a ‘no-deal’, the default position is that UK GIs will continue to be protected in the EU by virtue of being on the EU’s various GI registers. The current EU legislation means that EU GI protection is indefinite unless specific grounds for the cancellation of a GI are met. None of the grounds for cancellation relate to a change in status from Member State to Third Country. We therefore consider that under the current rules, the EU should not be able to remove the protection from UK GIs without reason.
Nevertheless, the UK must be prepared for all possible outcomes as we leave the EU. So it is right to advise UK GI holders to be prepared to apply as third country producers for recognition in the EU in the event that the EU does change its rules. This represents sensible contingency planning.
If the EU took steps to remove UK GIs from their registers, the UK Government would provide support and guidance to GI producers on this process as set out in our technical advice on GOV.UK.
I have discussed the GI scheme with Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Environment and Rural Affairs, at the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) EFRA meetings held on 5 July 2018 and 17 September 2018. The Minister of State also discussed the scheme at the IMG EFRA meeting on 24 June 2019. Defra officials meet regularly with Welsh Government officials to discuss GI policy development.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions has he had with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on the maintenance of the EU geographical indication scheme in Wales after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Government recognises the crucial role that Geographical Indication (GI) products play in protecting the provenance and heritage of some of Wales’ best-loved food and drink products, and the economic benefit they bring to many communities and the UK as a whole.
GIs represent about 25% of UK food and drink exports by value and play an important role as exemplars of our quality produce around the world. In 2018, GIs were worth over £5 billion in export value. Welsh beef and lamb contribute significantly to this value. Defra are currently undertaking research to obtain more robust data on the value of GIs to local economies across the UK and we will be happy to share relevant findings with the Devolved Administrations.
Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK commits to protecting all EU GIs until a subsequent agreement enters into force. This will help ensure a smooth transition to the future relationship.
We are committed to establishing UK GI schemes that ensure existing GIs such as Welsh Lamb Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Welsh Caerphilly PGI continue to receive protection from imitation and evocation in the UK after EU Exit.
In the event of a ‘no-deal’, the default position is that UK GIs will continue to be protected in the EU by virtue of being on the EU’s various GI registers. The current EU legislation means that EU GI protection is indefinite unless specific grounds for the cancellation of a GI are met. None of the grounds for cancellation relate to a change in status from Member State to Third Country. We therefore consider that under the current rules, the EU should not be able to remove the protection from UK GIs without reason.
Nevertheless, the UK must be prepared for all possible outcomes as we leave the EU. So it is right to advise UK GI holders to be prepared to apply as third country producers for recognition in the EU in the event that the EU does change its rules. This represents sensible contingency planning.
If the EU took steps to remove UK GIs from their registers, the UK Government would provide support and guidance to GI producers on this process as set out in our technical advice on GOV.UK.
I have discussed the GI scheme with Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Environment and Rural Affairs, at the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) EFRA meetings held on 5 July 2018 and 17 September 2018. The Minister of State also discussed the scheme at the IMG EFRA meeting on 24 June 2019. Defra officials meet regularly with Welsh Government officials to discuss GI policy development.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the powers provided for the Caravan and Motorhome Club under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government has not made any recent assessment of the adequacy of the powers under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, or of the merits of updating them. We are not undertaking any work to that effect.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 made an assessment of the potential merits of updating the powers of the Caravan and Motorhome Club under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government has not made any recent assessment of the adequacy of the powers under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, or of the merits of updating them. We are not undertaking any work to that effect.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he is making on banning the use of wild animals in circuses by 19 January 2020.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the honourable member to the answer given to the honourable member for Oxford West and Abingdon on 16 October 2018 to question 176633.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 165481, what the outcomes were of his recent meeting with the Nappy Alliance; and if he or other Ministers of his Department will meet with the Nappy Alliance again to learn more about reusable nappy products.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Reusable nappies make a valuable contribution to reducing residual waste that has to be disposed of to landfill or incineration. Officials from Defra’s waste and recycling team met representatives from the Nappy Alliance on 13 June. They discussed the benefits of reusable nappies in the context of single-use plastic and reducing waste. There are no plans for further meetings.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 it his policy to support the use of reusable nappies and their effect on removing plastics from the residual waste stream.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is determined to achieve zero avoidable plastic waste and will set out our policies and proposed actions in our Resources and Waste Strategy published later this year. To inform this, Defra officials have recently met the Nappy Alliance which supports the use of reusable nappies, and I have met with Proctor & Gamble to learn about their disposable nappy recycling technology.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 has taken to prepare for setting up a UK chemicals agency in the event that the UK cannot remain part of the European Chemicals Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
One of Defra’s 40 workstreams preparing for leaving the EU is developing, and includes a new system to enable registration and regulation of chemical substances placed on the UK market if access to the EU’s REACH system is not available.
The plans we are working on set out detailed delivery timelines for activities such as: recruiting and training new staff, designing and procuring IT systems and delivery of the necessary legislative and regulatory changes. These timelines are extensively reviewed to ensure we remain on track.
The Government’s priority is to maintain an effective regulatory system for managing and controlling chemicals to safeguard human health and the environment, responding to emerging risks and allowing trade with the EU that is as smooth as possible. The Withdrawal Bill will convert current EU law into domestic law wherever practical, giving consumers and businesses as much certainty as possible. This includes laws relating to chemicals.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 made an assessment of the effect of the ban on disposable plastic straws on disabled people.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A recent study indicated that up to 8.5 billion plastic straws are used and thrown away annually in the UK. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, the Prime Minister announced that subject to a consultation to be launched by Defra later this year, there will be a ban on the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. We will also propose excluding plastic straws for medical reasons. Policy proposals will be subject to an impact assessment.
Defra is in the process of developing the Consultation and as part of that, we are keen that we get the exemption and the overall approach absolutely right. We are aware that there are a number of vital uses for plastics straws for both elderly and disabled people, which is why we made clear the need for an exemption from the outset.
We are reaching out to all stakeholders in general, including Devolved Administrations but in particular, disability charities and other groups to talk through the policy implications and ensure their concerns are addressed.