Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years..
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
In line with Cabinet Office guidance, Defra has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required.
As you will understand, Defra is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. Defra ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.
All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
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 plans to end the sale of rod fishing licenses at post office branches.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Environment Agency is not currently planning to end the sale of rod licences through the Post Office and is in the process of renewing its contract with the Post Office. This contract will apply only to England and Wales. It will include a two year break clause at which point the contract will again be reviewed.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that water services are affordable for older people.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
The Government’s November 2017 ‘Strategic policy statement to Ofwat’, the economic regulator for the water industry, challenged the water industry to do more for vulnerable customers in England, including older people. In Ofwat’s Price Review 2019 process in which water companies set out their business plans for 2020-25, Ofwat required companies to set out in their business plans how they would better identify and support those customers who need financial help. Work on the plans is ongoing.
Current support includes the Government mandated WaterSure scheme which enables water companies to cap bills for eligible low income customers using a lot of water for essential family or health reasons. All water companies also offer schemes, known as social tariffs, for eligible customers on low incomes or receiving specific benefits. Approximately 400,000 household customers currently benefit from such water bill support schemes.
Legislative powers recently put in place in the Digital Economy Act 2017 allow data sharing between water companies and other organisations, including Government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions. This will help companies identify and consequently provide support to more customers who may need help with their bills.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
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 is taking to ensure people can travel abroad with pets after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Whatever the outcome of negotiations, when the UK leaves the EU, owners of pet dogs, cats and ferrets will be able to continue to travel to the EU with their pets but there may be changes to the system.
We want owners to continue to be able to travel with their animals with the minimum of disruption, whilst maintaining our high biosecurity and welfare standards. The Department has submitted its application to allow the UK to become a Part 1 listed third country under Annex II of the EU Pet Travel Regulations and is currently seeking technical discussions with the European Commission. It is now for the Commission to consider our application for listed status, following our departure from the EU.
On 6 November 2018 Defra published guidance and advice on Pet travel to Europe after Brexit. The guidance also contains advice on the documents and health preparation required for pets to return to the UK from the EU.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Government departments and agencies have achieved the Food for Life catering award.
Answered by George Eustice
The Food for Life Catering Mark is awarded to suppliers in the food service sector, not to Government Departments and Agencies.