Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to reduce the complexity of environmental schemes for land holders.
Answered by George Eustice
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) took on responsibility for Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship schemes in October 2018, and has introduced a number of measures on agri-environment schemes to make it easier for farmers and land managers to apply and make it simpler for them to administer.
The RPA has made improvements to the online service, including making more offers available to apply for online and allowing applicants to download application packs. It has simplified both the rules regarding the evidence we require and the guidance manuals. In addition the RPA has made changes to the processing cycle which has reduced completion times for applications, agreements, claims and payments.
Looking forward we are considering ways to drive further online uptake, make improvements to the information on GOV.UK, and whether there are further simplifications we can make to the scheme to support the transition to a new Environmental Land Management Scheme, subject to exit negotiations and funding.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
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 statement entitled Health and harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a green Brexit, published in September 2018, what steps his Department is taking to limit the costs for small land owners of the future environmental land management scheme.
Answered by George Eustice
The Agriculture Bill constitutes the first major agricultural reform in the UK for almost 50 years. It will allow us to break from the rules of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and presents a unique opportunity to devise a new Environmental Land Management system where the Government will work with farmers, land managers, environmental experts and stakeholders to test and trial new approaches and investigate innovative mechanisms for delivery of environmental outcomes.
Small farmers and land owners will be well placed to benefit from any future scheme.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to allocate funding to ensure the future of Brixham Harbour.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
It is expected that the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will continue until 2020. In the event of no deal being reached, the Chancellor announced on 24 July 2018 that all EMFF projects approved before the closure date of the current programme will be fully funded under a Treasury guarantee. On 10 December 2018, this Government announced £37.2 million of extra funding for the UK seafood sector for projects approved during 2019 and 2020 to boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state.
Applications for funding to improve infrastructure in fishing ports should be directed to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in England. Applications are assessed against the scheme rules. The European Grants Team in the MMO processes applications for funding and projects over £100,000 will be assessed by a selection panel.
All applications in England should be sent to:
Marine Management Organisation
Lancaster House, Hampshire Court
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7YH
Telephone: 0208 026 5539
Email: emff.queries@marinemanagement.org.uk
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-emff-apply-for-funding
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to direct the £10 million funding allocated to the South West announced in the 2018 Budget to (a) the fishing industry and (b) the redevelopment of Brixham harbour.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
As announced in the 2018 Budget, the Government is investing £10 million from BEIS’s allocation of the National Productivity Investment Fund for Research and Development to enhance the productivity and sustainability of fisheries and seafood industries across the whole of the UK. The Seafood Innovation Fund will disburse this money and help transform the industry to ensure the UK is a world leader in safe, sustainable and productive fishing. BEIS has asked Defra and Cefas to deliver this funding on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, given the specialist knowledge and understanding required to make the most of this opportunity. Details of the design of the fund are currently being finalised to ensure value for money and we expect the fund to launch shortly.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to promote cross-departmental collaboration on adopting World Health Organisation standards for fine particulate matter.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Clean Air Strategy sets out our commitments to take bold action across all parts of Government to achieve reductions in air pollution. We are committed to the setting of an ambitious long term target to reduce population exposure to PM2.5. Defra continues to work closely with other Government departments and agencies to deliver the Strategy.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
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 ensure co-operation with the EU on tackling air pollution after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The UK remains a signatory to the 1979 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and will continue to be at the forefront of international action and cooperation to tackle transboundary air pollution alongside the EU.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the role of Natural England in helping farmers to improve their environment.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Department regularly reviews Natural England’s performance including via formal Ministerial review. Natural England is required to report progress to Defra’s supervisory board and the Secretary of State.
Natural England plays an important role in delivering the 25 Year Environment Plan, providing advice to help farmers to improve their environment. Natural England advisers provide valuable advice on how to effectively manage wildlife and habitats, promoting nature conservation and protecting biodiversity. This includes advice to help landowners set up agri-environment agreements and aftercare advice during the lifetime of the agreements, as well as for other projects that such as the ‘Back to the Brink’ species recovery project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other charitable organisations.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) location and (b) scale of bycatch in inshore fisheries; and when he plans to publish that assessment.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government funds the UK bycatch monitoring programme which provides essential observer data on incidents of bycatch. Bycatch levels are broken down by gear type and area. We do not have information on the exact numbers of bycaught individuals in inshore fisheries but estimates derived from observer data can be found here:
http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=18535.
The Sea Mammal Research Unit has undertaken work to identify potential marine mammal bycatch hotspots in the UK and the viability of the deployment of acoustic deterrent devices in the southwest of England. This report will be published following peer review.
We are currently working with stakeholders to develop a UK Cetacean Bycatch Strategy to address the issue of unintentional capture of dolphins, whales and porpoises. The Strategy will focus on implementing practical solutions in areas where there are high levels of bycatch, initially focussing on the southwest of England.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Marine Management Organisation has had with Wildlife Trusts on the use of pingers on vessels in inshore fisheries.
Answered by George Eustice
The Marine Management Organisation recently held very constructive discussions with Cornwall Wildlife Trust on the use of pingers in the South West of England and the requirements of wildlife licences for activities that may harm marine species protected under EU and UK legislation.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his French counterpart on ensuring that information resulting from the toxicity testing of scallop fishing areas in the English Channel is made available to British fishermen in a timely manner or at the same time as to French fishermen; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
As the responsible UK body, the Food Standards Agency has reiterated to the French Authorities the importance of ensuring that communications about the opening of fisheries, where raised toxin levels in scallops have resulted in their closure, are made to all of those affected at the same time.