Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase the number of offshore patrol vessels to monitor fish stocks; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
The Royal Navy provides up to three vessels for the purposes of fisheries control, including the enforcement of EU fishing quotas in the offshore waters of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Fisheries control in the waters off Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Cefas has one vessel which undertakes scientific research in offshore waters, including the monitoring of fish stocks.
Work is also being conducted to scope the utility of using other vessels, such as those owned and operated by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, for offshore monitoring.
Operating outside the Common Fisheries Policy will give us the opportunity to establish a new fisheries regime that better meets the UK’s needs. We are reviewing all aspects of fisheries management, including the future requirements for patrol vessels, and will work with stakeholders, Devolved Administrations and other Government Departments to agree the most effective way to achieve this.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many offshore patrol vessels the UK has at its disposal to monitor fish stocks, and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
The Royal Navy provides up to three vessels for the purposes of fisheries control, including the enforcement of EU fishing quotas in the offshore waters of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Fisheries control in the waters off Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Cefas has one vessel which undertakes scientific research in offshore waters, including the monitoring of fish stocks.
Work is also being conducted to scope the utility of using other vessels, such as those owned and operated by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, for offshore monitoring.
Operating outside the Common Fisheries Policy will give us the opportunity to establish a new fisheries regime that better meets the UK’s needs. We are reviewing all aspects of fisheries management, including the future requirements for patrol vessels, and will work with stakeholders, Devolved Administrations and other Government Departments to agree the most effective way to achieve this.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the consultation on bans of sales of items containing ivory dated between 1947 and the present day will start; how long people will be given to respond to that consultation; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government will consult on the ban on sales of items containing ivory dated between 1947 and the present day early next year as a first step in meeting the manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. Details of the consultation duration will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
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 oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of 18 October 2016, Official Report, 299WH, in which areas her Department has increased spending in the last six years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The attached table sets out departmental spending by area from 2010/11 to 2015/16.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
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 oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, of 18 October 2016, Official Report, column 300WH, on environmental protection, for what reasons judgments can be made by (a) judicial review, (b) the European Court of Justice and (c) the European Commission; what the scope is of such judgments; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
(a) Judicial review is the process by which the Court supervises the lawfulness of the actions and decisions of inferior courts and tribunals, public bodies and individuals who carry out public duties and functions. Judgments can be given on grounds including illegality, irrationality or unreasonableness, fettering discretion, unlawful delegation, procedural fairness, legitimate expectation and breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
(b) The Court of Justice of the European Union examines the legality of EU measures and provides for the uniform interpretation and application of EU law. Judgments may be given in infraction proceedings, direct actions against EU institutions or Member States, preliminary references from national courts or requests for opinions.
(c) The European Commission does not give judgments. But it is given the power under the Treaties to bring infraction proceedings against a Member State where the Commission considers that the Member State has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Treaties.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
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 oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, of 18 October 2016, Official Report, column 300WH, on Environmental protection, what information the Government holds on the average costs to the litigant of (a) a judicial review, (b) a case being considered by the European Court of Justice and (c) the European Commission; what the scope is of such judgments; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
(a) The Department does not hold data on costs to claimants of specifically environmental judicial reviews. However, information on costs can be found in the paper The Value and Effects of Judicial Review. The Nature of Claims, their Outcomes and Consequences. London: Public Law Project. (available at: http://www.publiclawproject.org.uk/data/resources/210/Value-and-Effects-of-Judicial-Review.pdf). Claimants in environmental cases in the High Court may be entitled to costs protection, limiting their exposure to the defending public authority’s costs to £5,000 for an individual and £10,000 in other cases.
(b) The department does not hold specific information on the costs to a litigant of a case being considered by the Court of Justice of the EU. There are no court fees in the Court of Justice which has power to grant legal aid to litigants.
(c) The department does not hold any information about potential costs to litigants associated with the process of bringing a complaint to the attention of the European Commission.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
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 an assessment of the potential merits of harmonising with the Council of Europe's Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is currently considering the impact of leaving the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. This will include future arrangements for the Natura 2000 suite of sites. The aims and objectives of the Natura 2000 network, designated under the EU Nature Directives, are analogous to those of the Emerald Network, designated under the Bern Convention.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her oral contribution of 18 October 2016, Official Report, 301WH, which directives are no longer fit for purpose; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is currently considering future arrangements for existing EU legislation in preparation for the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will effectively convert current EU law into our domestic law. We look forward to working with the industry, rural communities and the wider public to shape our plans for a future outside the EU when we can assess the benefits of moving to an outcomes-focussed regulatory framework.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her oral contribution of 18 October 2016, Official Report, 301WH, which aspects of Natura 2000 will need to be incorporated into UK law; what the other elements she referred to are; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is currently considering the impacts of leaving the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. This will include future arrangements for the Natura 2000 suite of sites.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her oral contribution of 18 October 2016, Official Report, 301WH, whether she plans for the UK's participation in Natura 2000 to continue; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is currently considering the impacts of leaving the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. This will include future arrangements for the Natura 2000 suite of sites.