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Written Question
Outdoor Recreation
Thursday 24th November 2022

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

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 for the implications of her policies of the proposals outlined in the British Mountaineering Council's open letter entitled the Outdoors for All.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Government agrees with the three proposals set out in British Mountaineering Council’s open letter specifically that there should be fair access to the outdoors for everyone, better opportunities for young people to access the outdoors, and that we should invest in the health and well-being benefits of spending time in nature. We are working across departments developing a number of policies to open up access; for example, through active travel, nature-rich school grounds, more urban parks and green social prescribing.

To support fair access for all, for example:

  • we are delivering the £9 million Levelling Up Parks Fund which will create or significantly refurbish over 100 green spaces, targeting the 100 most deprived urban communities across the UK who also lack accessible green space;
  • through the England Trees Action Plan we are creating Woodland Creation Partnerships and Community Forests to enable the creation of large scale publicly accessible woodlands near towns and cities; and
  • we have also committed to continuing to fund access in the development of our new Environmental Land Management schemes.

To support opportunities for young people to connect with nature we are, for example:

  • committing to increase opportunities for all children and young people to spend time and get involved in nature;
  • implementing a new Climate Leaders Award and National Education Nature Park, which in combination will encourage children and young people to learn about biodiversity and sustainability and take action to improve their school grounds; and
  • Introducing a new Natural History GCSE.

To support the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature, we are, for example:

  • completing the England Coast Path, which at around 2,700 miles will be the longest coastal walking route in the world. 800 miles of the England Coast Path are now open to the public;
  • delivering the £5.77 million cross-governmental green social prescribing programme, which is aiming to implement green social prescribing in order to improve mental health outcomes and reduce health inequalities; and
  • investing an unprecedented £2 billion in walking and cycling over this Parliament, building hundreds of miles of high-quality cycle lanes and increasing access to a range of places including green spaces.

Written Question
Birds of Prey: Conservation
Friday 15th July 2022

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

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 Answer of 24 March 2022 to Question 141136 on Birds of Prey: Conservation, whether his Department has taken recent steps to work with the police to identify cases of white-tailed eagles that have been deliberately killed.

Answered by Steve Double

Enforcement of wildlife offences is an operational matter for the police and it is not for the Government to comment on individual police investigations. However, where any protected birds are killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to any proven perpetrators of the crime. We have significant sanctions for this type of wildlife crime in place which includes an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence. Defra officials have been in regular contact with the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) with regard to two fatal poisonings of white-tailed eagles in the south of England. The NWCU monitors and gathers intelligence on wildlife crime and aids police forces in their investigations when required.

The Government takes all wildlife crime seriously. To address concerns about the illegal killing of birds of prey, senior government and enforcement officers have identified raptor persecution as a national wildlife crime priority. Defra continues to be fully involved with the police-led national Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group and Natural England continues to work closely with wildlife crime officers. This year, Defra has also more than doubled its funding of NWCU from £165,000 per year to over £1.2 million over the next three years to target wildlife crime priorities including raptor persecution.


Written Question
Gardens: Biodiversity
Friday 24th June 2022

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

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 Answer of 9 June 2021 to Question 10218 on Gardens: Biodiversity, whether his Department has taken steps to encourage individuals and organisations not to use artificial grass.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In the 25 Year Environment Plan, we committed to introduce new standards for green infrastructure. This new Green Infrastructure Framework will be launched by Natural England in December 2022. It will show what good green infrastructure looks like and help local authorities, developers and communities to improve provision in their area.

The Environment Act 2021 contains an ambitious package of reforms to restore and enhance nature and green spaces. This includes a new mandatory requirement for biodiversity net gain in the planning system, to ensure that new developments enhance biodiversity. In future, developments which involve the laying of artificial grass at the expense of natural landscaping, and are above a de minimis threshold, will be required to enhance biodiversity in other ways, through the biodiversity net gain requirement. This will incentivise more nature positive development.

As part of the Government's work to address the needs of pollinators, most recently set out in the latest Pollinator Action Plan published in May 2022, we encourage everyone to take 'Five Simple Actions' in gardens, on balconies, in window boxes and in allotments to make them pollinator friendly. These include: growing more flowers, shrubs and trees; letting gardens grow wild; cutting grass less often; not disturbing insect nest and hibernation spots; and thinking carefully about whether to use pesticides.


Written Question
Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date the most recent meeting took place between a Minister from his Department and (a) Pro-Force Ltd, (b) Fruitful Jobs, (c) Concordia Ltd and (d) AG Recruitment and Management Ltd.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

As a result of the work on the temporary visa schemes for poultry workers, pig butchers and HGV drivers transporting food, Defra officials are in almost daily contact with the operators of the Seasonal Workers Pilot.


Written Question
Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many occasions workers employed under the Seasonal Worker pilot have (a) complained about their employer, (b) requested a transfer and (c) been transferred.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

There have been a few instances where the Department has been notified of farms not meeting the required standard. Defra takes the welfare of seasonal workers very seriously and works very closely with operators, the Gangmasters Labour and Abuse Authority (GLAA) and the Home Office to address any concerns and ensure standards are met and maintained.

The operators of the scheme are licensed by the GLAA. The GLAA will ensure that all workers are placed with farms that adhere to all relevant legislation, including paying the National Minimum Wage. Farms are vetted to ensure that living and working conditions are of a suitable quality.

The Home Office sponsored licensing system places clear and binding requirements and obligations on the scheme operators to safeguard Pilot workers. Should any of the operators fall short in their duties as a sponsor, action will be taken, up to and including the revocation of their sponsor licence.

The Home Office and Defra monitor the scheme closely to ensure operators adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers. The monitoring process includes site visits by Home Office Sponsor Compliance Teams, and we are working closely with the GLAA to share best practice for conducting such compliance visits and to share intelligence of our respective findings.

We intend to publish the first-year review of the Seasonal Workers Pilot as soon as possible. Additional considerations will be made for the future based on the outcomes of the review.


Written Question
Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

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 Answer of 26 October 2021 to Question 58820, on how many occasions his Department has been notified of (a) an operator or (b) a farm not meeting the required standards.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

There have been a few instances where the Department has been notified of farms not meeting the required standard. Defra takes the welfare of seasonal workers very seriously and works very closely with operators, the Gangmasters Labour and Abuse Authority (GLAA) and the Home Office to address any concerns and ensure standards are met and maintained.

The operators of the scheme are licensed by the GLAA. The GLAA will ensure that all workers are placed with farms that adhere to all relevant legislation, including paying the National Minimum Wage. Farms are vetted to ensure that living and working conditions are of a suitable quality.

The Home Office sponsored licensing system places clear and binding requirements and obligations on the scheme operators to safeguard Pilot workers. Should any of the operators fall short in their duties as a sponsor, action will be taken, up to and including the revocation of their sponsor licence.

The Home Office and Defra monitor the scheme closely to ensure operators adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers. The monitoring process includes site visits by Home Office Sponsor Compliance Teams, and we are working closely with the GLAA to share best practice for conducting such compliance visits and to share intelligence of our respective findings.

We intend to publish the first-year review of the Seasonal Workers Pilot as soon as possible. Additional considerations will be made for the future based on the outcomes of the review.


Written Question
Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the current number of workers employed under the Seasonal Worker pilot who are subject to zero-hours contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

There are no workers employed under the Seasonal Workers Pilot on zero-hours contracts.


Written Question
Seasonal Workers: Pilot Schemes
Tuesday 26th October 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government's evaluation of the Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme, produced in 2019, will be published; and what recent assessment he has made of the effect of (a) the expansion of the Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme and (b) use of short term work visas on levels of exploitation among seasonal workers.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

On 22 December 2020, the Government extended the Seasonal Workers Pilot for one year and expanded the number of visas from 10,000 to 30,000.

The extension and expansion of the Pilot for 2021 allows for further review of the Pilot, including how growers will reduce their reliance on migrant labour now we have left the EU, whilst also easing some of the pressure experienced on farms when they are at their busiest.

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of seasonal workers extremely seriously. The Home Office sponsor licencing system places clear and binding requirements and obligations on the operators of the Seasonal Workers Pilot to safeguard seasonal workers and prevent exploitation of them.  Defra, the Home Office and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), work together to ensure that businesses adhere to the stringent requirements for ensuring safety and wellbeing of seasonal agricultural workers.

The Seasonal Workers Pilot requires the operators to ensure all seasonal workers, including those on short-term temporary visas recently announced for HGV drivers, poultry workers and butchers, have a safe working environment, are treated fairly and paid properly, and robust systems are in place for the reporting of concerns and rapid action. A prerequisite for becoming an operator is that each organisation must hold and maintain licencing from the GLAA. Defra would be notified should an operator or farm not be meeting the required standards and appropriate action taken.

We intend to publish the first-year review later this year.


Written Question
Food: Standards
Thursday 22nd July 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on maintaining British food standards in the trade deal with Australia.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

I have had regular discussions with the Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade and, indeed, other Cabinet colleagues on the issue of food standards in the context of our negotiations with Australia.

The UK is rightly proud of our world-leading food, environment and animal welfare standards. We have a number of tools available in FTAs to maintain these standards. All imports of agri-food products will still have to comply with the UK’s food safety and biosecurity requirements.

The commitment to non-regression means that neither country can lower their animal welfare standards to undercut the other.


Written Question
Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
Monday 11th January 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers pilot scheme; and when he plans to make an announcement on its future.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

On 22 December 2020, the Government extended the Seasonal Workers Pilot for one year and expanded the number of visas from 10,000 to 30,000.

The extension and expansion of the Pilot for 2021 will allow for further evaluation of the pilot, including how growers will reduce their reliance on migrant labour now we have left the EU, whilst also easing some of the pressure felt on farms when they are at their busiest. The first-year evaluation information will be published later this year.

Defra is working closely with industry and the Home Office to better understand the effectiveness of interventions and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the food and farming workforce beyond 2021.