Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to designate the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government has made good progress on designating a Blue Belt of Marine Conservation Zones around our coasts. The first tranche of 27 Marine Conservation Zones was designated in 2013, and a consultation on 23 sites proposed for the second tranche closed in April this year. We will designate the second tranche by January 2016.
We have committed to completing the network of Marine Conservation Zones, to create a Blue Belt of protected sites around our coasts. Further details on our plans to achieve this will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to complete the network of Marine Conservation Zones.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government has made good progress on designating a Blue Belt of Marine Conservation Zones around our coasts. The first tranche of 27 Marine Conservation Zones was designated in 2013, and a consultation on 23 sites proposed for the second tranche closed in April this year. We will designate the second tranche by January 2016.
We have committed to completing the network of Marine Conservation Zones, to create a Blue Belt of protected sites around our coasts. Further details on our plans to achieve this will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding her Department plans to allocate to contributing to achieving the Government's target of three million more apprenticeships by expanding apprenticeships in the food, farming and agri-tech sector.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government’s commitment to treble the number of apprenticeships in food, farming and agri-tech is a key part of the Government’s overall programme to increase apprenticeships, which is led and funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The future funding of apprenticeships will, as with all Government expenditure be considered as part of the next Spending Review. Our priority is to grow the number of apprenticeships and we will fund accordingly.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
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 set a target to reduce farm antibiotic use.
Answered by George Eustice
The annual progress report and implementation plan for the UK five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy sets out our ambition for reducing antimicrobial use in livestock production over the next four years. The focus is on: improving bio-security and husbandry, optimising prescribing practices and improved education, training and public engagement.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to investigate the implications for human health of the appearance of antibiotic resistant strains of MRSA in pig meat.
Answered by George Eustice
The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) sub-group on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been considering an assessment of the risk to consumers from MRSA in the food chain. Based on current evidence, the risk of contracting MRSA through consumption of foodstuffs is considered to be very low. This will be kept under review. Food Standards Agency food hygiene advice remains the same, i.e. that foodstuffs should be stored appropriately, handled hygienically and meat should be cooked thoroughly.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
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 take measures to reduce farm antibiotics use.
Answered by George Eustice
The annual progress report and implementation plan for the UK five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy sets out our ambition for reducing antimicrobial use in livestock production over the next four years. The focus is on: improving bio-security and husbandry, optimising prescribing practices and improved education, training and public engagement.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Single Inspection Taskforce will be established; and what Departmental resources she will allocate to it in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.
Answered by George Eustice
The Animal and Plant Health Agency and Rural Payments Agency are working closely to develop proposals. Any decisions in this area will be announced by the Secretary of State when made.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Ministers and officials in her Department have met the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance.
Answered by George Eustice
Officials of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), an executive agency of Defra, meet regularly with the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and its member organisations. The VMD attends meetings of RUMA as an observer.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
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 press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015, how the £83 million reduction in her Department's budget for 2015-16 will be met by (a) her Department and (b) her Department's executive agencies and NDPBs.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is planning to remain within its budgetary control totals for 2015-16 and is currently developing options to deliver the £83m savings referenced in the press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015. These options include tight control of budgets to drive underspends in-year; further efficiency savings; and asset sales. The options are being considered across the Core Department and Defra’s executive agencies and NDPBs.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
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 press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015, whether any of the £83 million reduction in her Department's budget for 2015-16 will be accounted for by asset sales; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is planning to remain within its budgetary control totals for 2015-16 and is currently developing options to deliver the £83m savings referenced in the press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015. These options include tight control of budgets to drive underspends in-year; further efficiency savings; and asset sales. The options are being considered across the Core Department and Defra’s executive agencies and NDPBs.