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 assessment she has made of the potential effect on gunmakers of a ban on the use of lead in shotgun ammunition; and what plans she has to introduce such a ban.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Government is considering the independent Lead Ammunition Group’s report on the effect of lead shot on human and wildlife health and will respond as soon as possible.
A representative from the Gun Trade Association contributed to the group and the formation of its report.
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, when she plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of primates as pets.
Answered by George Eustice
Primates are wild animals with complex needs and it is already against the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to keep them in a domestic pet environment, particularly if kept alone rather than in a social group.
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 hold discussions with UK airlines on the transit of hunting trophies through UK airports.
Answered by Rory Stewart
There are no current plans to hold discussions with UK airlines on this subject. It is at the discretion of each airline whether they wish to allow the transport of hunting trophies. However, the UK Government is working within the EU to introduce stricter hunting trophy import controls. These ensure that not only must the exporting country be satisfied that the animal was hunted sustainably but the importing country must also undertake this check. In this way the import of hunting trophies of certain species from certain countries is currently prohibited by the EU.
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 discuss with representatives of the dairy industry increasing the supply of organic milk to food (a) wholesalers and (b) retailers.
Answered by George Eustice
I visited an organic dairy farm in 2014 and discussed the potential for organic milk production and exports with representatives of the OMSCO organic milk co-operative.
The Government supports organic milk farmers through conversion and maintenance payments made under the CAP for organic land. Officials have also investigated the potential for exports of organic dairy products. However the supply of milk to wholesalers and retailers is a commercial matter for industry.
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 amend the fishing licensing regime to enable day licences to be more easily issued by independent fishing venues without requiring costly security measures.
Answered by George Eustice
The rod licensing regime is currently being reviewed by the Environment Agency. This is evaluating the scope for a broader range of licensing options, including the ways of issuing licences and the greater future use of digital channels.
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 proportion of the cost of fishing licences is allocated to the protection of fish stocks through the deployment of bailiffs.
Answered by George Eustice
In 2014-15, 6.3% of rod licence income was used to fund Environment Agency officers carrying out compliance checks and enforcing regulations.
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 request the Environment Agency to conduct a public information campaign for non-UK passport holders on fish stock management in the UK's waterways and rivers to improve the long-term sustainability of freshwater fish stocks.
Answered by George Eustice
The Environment Agency funds a targeted campaign called “Building Bridges” which educates migrant anglers about English fishing laws and customs. The project operates at a national level, as well as focussing on specific areas with high numbers of migrant anglers. It is currently delivered by the Angling Trust.
More details can be found at:
http://www.anglingtrust.net/page.asp?section=709§ionTitle=Building+Bridges+with+Migrant+Anglers
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 measures her Department has in place to monitor the welfare of meerkats imported into the UK.
Answered by George Eustice
Meerkats imported into the UK are covered by EU legislation that requires them to come from an approved premises which has met health and welfare standards. They also undergo a clinical examination ahead of the movement and are required to travel with a signed health certificate assuring this examination has taken place and that the movement complies with Regulation 1/2005/EC on the Welfare of Animals in Transport. As carnivores, they may be required to enter rabies quarantine for four months at an approved quarantine facility. For imports from third countries, animals directly entering the UK must do so through a Border Inspection Post where official veterinarians will check for welfare issues and ensure the animals have the correct certification.
Once in this country, meerkats are subject to the same protection as other captive animals. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal. It is also an offence, under the 2006 Act, to fail to provide for the welfare needs of an animal. There is additional protection for animals, including meerkats, held in establishments licensed under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. Such establishments are licensed by local authorities and subject to inspection. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of a meerkat they should report the matter to the relevant local authority which has powers to investigate such complaints, or to the RSPCA which will also investigate.
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 legislative proposals to ban the use of glue traps for the killing of mice and rats.
Answered by George Eustice
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits causing unnecessary suffering to animals under the control of man. Once trapped, any animal should be killed or otherwise dealt with humanely. Traps must be inspected regularly and trapped animals dealt with appropriately in order to comply with the 2006 Act.
In 2010, Defra asked the Law Commission to review wildlife legislation, with a view to putting together a modern, consistent and simple to understand regulatory framework. A final report and draft Bill is due to be delivered early this summer.
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 meet the National Farmers' Union and the Health and Safety Executive to discuss possible measures to reduce the number of (a) injuries and (b) deaths in the farming sector.
Answered by George Eustice
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) leads on health and safety in agriculture and provides essential information and guidance on this matter. I have no plans to meet the HSE or National Farmers’ Union at present to discuss this issue.
However, I support the work of campaigns such as ‘Make the Promise’, to highlight the importance of farm safety.