Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 tackle the illegal use of rat poison to kill birds of prey.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Where birds of prey are killed by illegal use of rat poison, the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime. We have significant sanctions in place including an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence.
Bird of prey crime has been identified as a national wildlife crime priority. Defra supports the work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by, for example, directly assisting law enforcers.
Defra also provides funding for England’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme which determines the underlying cause of death in birds of prey where illegal use of pesticides or rodenticides/rat poison is suspected.
The Health and Safety Executive has responsibility for the GB Biocidal Products Regulation which covers rodenticides. Given the potential risks posed to the environment by rodenticides, they are subject to strict regulation. To ensure risks associated with professional use of anticoagulant rodenticides could be properly managed, a stewardship regime was developed by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK to promote responsible use. This is currently under review. As of July 2024, it is no longer possible to purchase anticoagulant rodenticides for use outdoors in open areas.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 help reduce the number of Blue Tongue virus livestock cases in Shropshire.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra acted quickly to contain bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) when the first case this season was detected on 26 August, implementing zones with movement controls on susceptible livestock to prevent spread. These disease control restrictions have been adapted in response to new findings and there is now a single restricted zone (RZ) covering the east coast and some inland areas in England.
The movement of susceptible animals from the RZ to live elsewhere in England requires a specific licence and is subject to free pre-movement and post-movement testing. This helps to prevent the possible establishment of new pockets of disease from undetected spread via animal movements.
BTV-3 was confirmed on a single farm in Shropshire on 3 October, following the high-risk movement of cattle from the RZ.
Infected animals in cases found in free areas outside the restricted zone that moved before the RZ was declared, have also been humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission.
Defra has permitted the use of vaccines for BTV-3. These vaccines are now available for vets to prescribe in England.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 his Department's closed consultation entitled The UK fresh produce sector: review of the supply chain, updated on 14 May 2024, whether he plans to introduce new regulations for fresh produce contracts.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government will deliver a resilient and healthy food system, with a new deal that ensures fairness in the supply chain across all sectors, including the fresh produce sector. Farmers should always receive a fair price for their products and the Government is committed to tackling contractual unfairness wherever it exists.
Defra will continue to work closely with stakeholders from the fresh produce sector on the best way to achieve this.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 increase domestic production of fruit and vegetables.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government recognises that food security is national security and fruit and vegetables grown in the UK have an important part to play. As part of our mission-driven government and, in partnership with the sector, we are considering several ways to achieve our ambitious, measurable and long-term goals for the sector. We also recognise the importance of ensuring that growers can access the labour they need, and we have recently confirmed the Seasonal Worker visa route for 2025 with a total of 43,000 Seasonal Worker visas available for horticulture.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 commission research into the (a) public health and (b) animal welfare impact of quiet fireworks.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is looking at existing policy to decide if and where policy changes may be needed. We also intend to engage with business, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on issues with and impacts of fireworks, including on animal welfare.
The use of fireworks is governed by the Fireworks Act 2003. The Fireworks Regulations, introduced in 2004, were made under this Act and prohibit the use of fireworks between 11pm and 7am. Exceptions apply for New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and 5 November. Enforcement is the responsibility of the police.
Local authorities are responsible for investigating any noise or nuisance issues brought to their attention under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act. For noise – including from fireworks - to count as a statutory nuisance it must unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises, injure health or be likely to injure health.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 protect (a) the food supply chain, (b) livestock and (c) public health from the Asian longhorned tick.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UKHSA has been running a tick surveillance scheme (TSS) since 2004 which encourages people to send in ticks for identification. The Animal and Plant Health Agency and our veterinary investigation centres are part of this scheme, particularly through our Centre of Expertise for Extensively Managed Livestock. The TSS has so far not detected the Asian Longhorned Tick.
We recognise that over the last few years there has been an expansion in certain tick populations of our livestock and managed deer populations, which can mean both public and animal health risks of tick borne diseases are increasing. In response, we have funded a £6.5 million research programme with BBSRC on vector borne diseases which includes several projects on ticks, livestock and climate impacts.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 increase his Department's funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations.
Defra supports the valuable work of the NWCU. Defra is providing £424,000 for it in financial year 2024-2025. Budgets for 2025-2026 and beyond have not yet been set.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 take steps to commission research into developing a vaccine to protect livestock from the Schmallenburg virus.
Answered by Mark Spencer
A vaccine for Schmallenberg virus was authorised for use in the UK in 2015. The marketing authorisations are still valid for GB and NI, but the vaccine is not commercially available in the UK at present.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 bring forward legislation to ban (a) new dogs and (b) cross-breeds in addition to those dogs already banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Government is taking urgent action to bring forward a ban on XL Bully dog types following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities, which appear to be driven by this type of dog. We intend to have the legislation in place to deliver this by the end of the year.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 is taking with the Health and Safety Executive to reduce (a) farm deaths and (b) farm-related work accidents.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the regulation of health and safety standards on Great Britain’s farms. Agriculture has the highest rates of injury and ill health of any industry sector and the HSE is working with key stakeholders in the industry to change behaviours in order to improve the management of risks on farms. The HSE’s website - Agriculture health and safety - provides essential information and guidance on health and safety in agriculture. The industry, via the Farm Safety Partnership Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org, is also a key partner in the HSE’s Working Minds campaign and supporting farmers to manage stress and mental wellbeing.
Defra works with the HSE to ensure that farmer feedback informs the HSE’s work.