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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons mandatory training for deer management was adopted, in the context of it not being required for other types of game and pest management.

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

The Deer Impacts Policy Statement does not state that mandatory training is required for deer managers.

It outlines that Defra will work with the Home Office and National Police Chief’s Council to explore whether the Guide on Firearms Licensing Law could be amended to encourage police forces to consider requiring that those seeking to use relevant firearms to shoot deer are first able to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in doing so.

It also outlines that Defra will continue to support the England and Wales Best Practice Guides and make funding available for appropriate training, particularly in the case of those seeking to grant support for lethal control of deer.

Demonstration of a minimum level of competence can ensure the safe, humane and effective management of deer, especially by new entrants to the sector. This includes the ability to identify deer species, understand their biology, and ensure that shots are correctly placed, benefiting deer welfare and quality wild venison production. Public safety must also be considered. It can also can ensure an understanding of legislation.

The Deer Act 1991 (as amended) governs the time of year (and day) when deer can be lethally controlled and also the firearm/ammunition combination that must be used to achieve this. Where licensing is required to permit activities that would otherwise be prohibited such as night shooting, minimum thresholds with regard to the experience and competencies of those applying are required to ensure humane, effective and safe deer control.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mandatory training is required for deer managers in order to adhere to the Deer Impacts Policy Statement.

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

The Deer Impacts Policy Statement does not state that mandatory training is required for deer managers.

It outlines that Defra will work with the Home Office and National Police Chief’s Council to explore whether the Guide on Firearms Licensing Law could be amended to encourage police forces to consider requiring that those seeking to use relevant firearms to shoot deer are first able to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in doing so.

It also outlines that Defra will continue to support the England and Wales Best Practice Guides and make funding available for appropriate training, particularly in the case of those seeking to grant support for lethal control of deer.

Demonstration of a minimum level of competence can ensure the safe, humane and effective management of deer, especially by new entrants to the sector. This includes the ability to identify deer species, understand their biology, and ensure that shots are correctly placed, benefiting deer welfare and quality wild venison production. Public safety must also be considered. It can also can ensure an understanding of legislation.

The Deer Act 1991 (as amended) governs the time of year (and day) when deer can be lethally controlled and also the firearm/ammunition combination that must be used to achieve this. Where licensing is required to permit activities that would otherwise be prohibited such as night shooting, minimum thresholds with regard to the experience and competencies of those applying are required to ensure humane, effective and safe deer control.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential contribution of black soldier fly bioconversion to delivering the Environmental Improvement Plan’s objectives on circular economy and landfill reduction, the implementation of Simpler Recycling for food waste, and the National Planning Policy Framework’s aims for farm diversification and rural economic growth; what evidence underpins the classification of black soldier fly insects kept solely for organic waste bioconversion as farmed animals under the Animal By-Products Regulations; and whether the Department has considered alternative regulatory classifications for such systems where the insects and their outputs are not intended to enter the human or animal food chain.

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

We are committed to ending the throwaway society, boosting recycling rates which have stalled for too long, and driving growth through the Government’s Plan for Change. There are no current plans to review regulations that restrict insects from being used to process organic waste streams. Our waste management regulations also play a crucial role in protecting UK biosecurity and reducing the risk of disease.

Defra commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment to assess the sustainability of insect protein compared to other animal feeds. This research also considered the use of food waste as a substrate for the insect larvae, although not the extent to which this would contribute to food waste diversion from landfill.

Black soldier fly is in scope of the animal by-products (ABP) regulations as a farmed animal when reared for food or feed production, or when deceased. It then becomes Category 3 ABP, which is defined as low-risk material, provided it came from healthy animals. Controls are required for the prohibition on feeding catering waste to farmed animals as well as handling, processing, and permitted uses of Cat 3 material.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that veterans receive adequate support after leaving the armed forces.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

This Labour Government was elected on a promise to renew the nations commitment with those who served – and we are acting.

We've made record investment for our remarkable veterans alongside a landmark new Veterans Strategy celebrating them as a vital national asset. £50 million for VALOUR, £12 million for the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, together with Ops COURAGE, RESTORE, FORTITUDE, ASCEND and NOVA.

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Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue guidance to firearms licensing departments on mandating training for firearms being used for deer management at either grant or renewal.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Chief Constables have operational responsibility for firearms licensing. However, as set out in the Deer Impacts Policy Statement published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) on 2 March.

The Home Office will work with the National Police Chief’s Council and Defra to explore whether the existing Guide on Firearms Licensing Law might be amended to encourage police forces to consider requiring those who use their firearms to shoot deer lawfully to first be able to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in doing so.

Any proposed changes to the Guide will be subject to discussions with stakeholders.

Found: Central) Mr Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat; Wimbledon) Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat; North Cornwall) Robbie Moore

Found: 78.7%) Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat, North Cornwall) (added 28 Oct 2024) 25 of 47 (53.2%) Robbie Moore

Found: Robbie Moore MP has written twice to the ministry on our behalf on the subject.