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, if he will publish (a) what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Pilot scheme due to end in February 2021, (b) the criteria for the final assessment of that scheme and (c) any assessments carried out of that scheme to date.
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.
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 plans she has to consult with stakeholder organisations representing migrant workers on the future of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Pilot scheme before any further rollout of that scheme.
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.
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, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing regulations on rights of access to waterways; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no plans to undertake such an assessment.
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 adequacy of fire prevention measures for moorland in and around Sheffield.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Natural England (NE) has recently undertaken an evidence review of the causes and impacts of wildfire. This review is feeding into the Government’s land management policies and practices.
Over the last 12 months the local Peak District Fire Operations Group has set up a small working group to develop a strategic approach to managing wildfire risk and NE is working closely with estates across the Peak District to develop Long Term Plans that include addressing wildfire risk and management.
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 she plans to bring forward legislation to recognise animal sentience.
Answered by George Eustice
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for City of Chester, Christian Matheson, on 20 January 2020, WQ 3774.
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, if the UK will remain a member of the European Chemicals Agency during the implementation period for the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
During the time-limited implementation period, the UK will no longer be a Member State. However, as set out in the terms of the agreement, common rules will remain in place and the UK may continue to participate in the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) where the presence of the United Kingdom is necessary and is in the interests of the Union, or where the discussion concerns acts addressed to the UK and its citizens. In addition, businesses based in the UK will be able to continue to register their chemicals directly with the ECHA.
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 steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastic straws.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
As announced by the Chancellor in his budget in November, my officials are working closely with HM Treasury and a call for evidence will be published early in 2018 seeking views on how the tax system or charges could reduce the amount of single-use plastics waste including non-recyclable plastic straws.
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, how much funding has been allocated from the public purse to local authorities to support steps to establish air quality plans.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is requiring local authorities where persistent exeedances of nitrogen dioxide concentrations have been identified to produce local air quality plans to reduce the pollution in the fastest possible time. We are helping them by providing £255 million to develop and implement their plans. In addition we will be establishing a Clean Air Fund, which will allow local authorities to bid for additional money to support the implementation of measures to improve air quality. This funding is over and above the £2.7 billion we are already investing to support air quality improvements.
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 guidance his Department plans to provide to schools in areas of high air pollution hotspots to help them protect children's health.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Through the Air Quality Grant we help local authorities tackle air quality in their areas in order to reduce the impact on peoples’ health and create cleaner and healthier environments. This fund has awarded more than £52 million to a variety of projects since it started in 1997, including schools engagement work by local authorities.
During air pollution episodes, Defra issues advice via the UK Air website which includes links to health advice issued by Public Health England (PHE).
My officials are currently working with PHE and the Association of Directors of Public Health to develop a series of outreach events aimed at Directors of Public Health and designed to help them deliver and communicate local action.
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, whether any funding has been allocated from the public purse to support Sheffield Council in establishing its air quality plans.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Sheffield City Council has been identified in the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations as a local authority with concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) projected to be persistently in exceedance of the legal limit. It is required to produce a local air quality plan to reduce levels of NO2 in the shortest possible time. Sheffield City Council has therefore been allocated initial funding to develop a proposal for a feasibility study. Further funding will be made available to carry out that feasibility study and for the implementation of agreed measures to bring Sheffield into compliance with the legal limit in the shortest possible time.