Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government plans to provide for farmers to de-carbonise agricultural vehicles.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government is committed to take action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. We have committed significant funding for agri-tech innovation, including research and development to move us towards net zero farming systems. We will offer financial assistance to enable farmers, foresters, and growers to invest in the equipment, technology, and infrastructure that they need, to improve their productivity, manage the environment sustainably, and deliver other public goods.
In addition, The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport. The RTFO is a certificate trading scheme which rewards those supplying low carbon fuels in the UK for use in road vehicles and some other forms of transport, including tractors.
Low carbon fuels supplied under the RTFO saved 2.88 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in just the last three quarters of 2018. The Government has nearly doubled targets for supply from 2018 to 2020, and set further targets out to 2032, providing investment certainty.
Agricultural fuel and energy use represent around 1% of the total UK emissions, and constitutes just 10% of agricultural sector emissions.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 publish a revised no-deal tariff schedule for agricultural products during a transition period after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
After the UK leaves the EU with on 31 January 2020, we will enter a temporary implementation period which will apply until the end of December 2020. The UK will continue to import goods tariff free from within the EU and will continue to apply the EU’s Common External Tariff to goods imported from outside the EU during this period.
At the end of the implementation period the Government will introduce a long-term tariff regime. Further information on this will be provided on GOV.UK at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations his Department received on the display of Union Jack flags at the Royal Welsh Show.
Answered by George Eustice
As part of preparations for the Royal Welsh Show, the Department had discussions with the organisers and the Welsh Government on the use of the GREAT brand, which features the Union Jack within its logo, at the show. The Department does not normally publish internal correspondence.
The FOOD is GREAT campaign highlights the very best food and drink from all parts of the UK, including Wales. It provides a global shop window for our world-class producers, including renowned Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 representations to the Welsh Government on the display of the Union Jack flag in the Royal Welsh Show.
Answered by George Eustice
As part of preparations for the Royal Welsh Show, the Department had discussions with the organisers and the Welsh Government on the use of the GREAT brand, which features the Union Jack within its logo, at the show. The Department does not normally publish internal correspondence.
The FOOD is GREAT campaign highlights the very best food and drink from all parts of the UK, including Wales. It provides a global shop window for our world-class producers, including renowned Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 publish the correspondence between his Department and Royal Welsh Show officials on the display of Union Jack flags at the Royal Welsh Show.
Answered by George Eustice
As part of preparations for the Royal Welsh Show, the Department had discussions with the organisers and the Welsh Government on the use of the GREAT brand, which features the Union Jack within its logo, at the show. The Department does not normally publish internal correspondence.
The FOOD is GREAT campaign highlights the very best food and drink from all parts of the UK, including Wales. It provides a global shop window for our world-class producers, including renowned Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 publish the minutes of the meetings he has held with the (a) National Farmers' Union Cymru and (b) Farmers' Union of Wales on the (i) design and (ii) implementation of funding schemes for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with stakeholders and discuss a wide range of issues, including future funding. Details of meetings are published on the GOV.UK website, consistent with the Government’s policy on transparency and accountability.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has had with stakeholders in the agricultural sector on the (a) design and (b) implementation of agricultural funding after 2022.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with stakeholders and discuss a wide range of issues, including future funding. Details of meetings are published on the GOV.UK website, consistent with the Government’s policy on transparency and accountability.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
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 publish the minutes of the meetings he has had with stakeholders in the agricultural sector on the (a) design and (b) implementation of agricultural funding after 2022.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with stakeholders and discuss a wide range of issues, including future funding. Details of meetings are published on the GOV.UK website, consistent with the Government’s policy on transparency and accountability.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has had with the Welsh Government on the (a) design and (b) implementation of agricultural funding after 2022; and what was discussed at those meetings.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Devolved Administrations. The Secretary of State last met with Ministers from the Welsh and Scottish governments and senior officials from Northern Ireland on 14 May 2018. They discussed domestic preparedness, legislative planning, frameworks and future funding.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the (a) design and (b) implementation of funding for the agricultural sector after 2022.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Devolved Administrations. The Secretary of State last met with Ministers from the Welsh and Scottish governments and senior officials from Northern Ireland on 14 May 2018. They discussed domestic preparedness, legislative planning, frameworks and future funding.