Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the trade agreement between the EU and Mercusor on (a) food producers and (b) farmers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department has not made an assessment of the trade agreement between the EU and Mercusor. The department continuously monitors agri-food markets through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
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 has taken with external stakeholders to remove excess phosphorus from cattle and pig slurry.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A recent £15 million round of the Farming Innovation Programme focussed on nutrient management, funding research projects to develop ideas and technology enabling farmers to manage their inputs and reduce environmental risk more effectively. Managing and recovering phosphorous in slurry is in scope of this competition and the successful projects will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
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 protect the wild salmon population.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
Between 2019 and 2023, the Environment Agency mitigated 58 barriers to fish passage on England’s salmon rivers. The Environment Agency also manages salmon fisheries in England, ensuring that 95% of salmon catches in 2023 were released, alive, through a combination of voluntary and mandatory measures.
Cleaning up the water environment is a key priority for Defra. The Government will be carrying out a review of the water sector regulatory system, with further details to be set out later this year.
Defra is also working internationally to protect salmon populations through participation in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). A full list of actions related to salmon conservation can be found in the England and Wales NASCO “Implementation Plan”, along with annual progress updates. The Environment Agency is currently re-assessing the key pressures on salmon, in England, ahead of producing a new Implementation Plan in 2025/26, to cover the 2025 – 2030 reporting cycle.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
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 bring forward legislative proposals to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is aware of the calls for legislative changes within the veterinary industry. Officials are working closely with stakeholders to consider all options to support the sector.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to issue guidance for Northern Ireland importers on compliance with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers are currently considering our approach to this in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
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 provides on whether the EU Deforestation Regulation will apply to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers are currently considering our approach to Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has received a request for assistance with algal bloom pollution in Lough Neagh from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland recently discussed the shared priority of improving water quality in the UK. There was agreement to collaborate further by enhancing joint scientific research and exchanging best practice methods to tackle pollution of culturally and economically important water bodies such as Lough Neagh.