Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to introduce (a) 25p per coffee cup surcharge, (b) bottle deposit scheme and (c) refillable water bottle policy.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government recognises the problems caused by disposable cups, which are difficult to recycle and often littered. At Budget 2018, the Government concluded that a levy on all cups would not at this point deliver a decisive shift from disposable cups to reusable cups across all beverage types.
The Government expects industry to go further in taking action on disposable plastic cups and will return to the issue if sufficient progress is not made. In the meantime, the Government is considering the case for reducing the environmental impact of disposable cups within a reformed packaging producer responsibility system and a potential deposit return scheme (DRS), which we are currently inviting views on through consultation.
The DRS consultation is being undertaken jointly by the UK and Welsh Governments, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. The consultation was launched on 18 February and will close on 13 May. The aim of a DRS is that it is easy for consumers to return drinks containers (such as plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans, and glass bottles), reduce litter and increase recycling rates of drinks containers within the scope of a DRS.
The Government recognises the importance of making drinking water more readily available in public places, as a means of reducing single use plastic bottles. As laid out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Resources and Waste Strategy, we are already taking action in this area.
The Government has encouraged transit hub operators, including Network Rail and airports, to install free water fountains to support refilling water bottles.
The water industry is supporting the Refill campaign, which is managed by City to Sea. We are pleased to see new refill points being installed in every major city and town in England. There are now over 14,000 refill points on City to Sea’s free Refill app, and they aim to double this by 2020.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on negotiations with the EU on maintaining access to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulations after 29 March 2019; and what contingency plans he has made to ensure that a UK chemicals registration scheme would be officially recognised by the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government’s white paper on the future relationship between the UK and the EU proposes a UK-EU free trade area for goods, including chemicals, underpinned by a common rule book. We are seeking participation in ECHA, to ensure UK businesses could continue to register chemical substances directly. This remains part of ongoing negotiations with the EU.
In the event of a no-deal, the EU (Withdrawal) Act will convert existing EU chemicals law, including REACH, into domestic law. This includes the registration of chemicals under a UK REACH system which will replicate the current EU approach. We have published a Technical Notice ‘Regulating Chemicals (REACH) if there’s no Brexit deal’. This sets out the implications for business and transitional measures to minimise disruption and ensure continuity in the event of a no deal. The Technical Notice is available via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-chemicals-reach-if-theres-no-brexit-deal
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
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 effect on wildlife or husbanded animals of fly tipping?
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Defra has not made a specific assessment of the effect of fly-tipping on wildlife and husbanded animals. The Government is committed to tackling the impact of fly-tipping on wildlife, farmland and local communities.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
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 19 January 2016 to Question 22080, when the Environment Agency will be consulting on the proposals to modernise the rod licence service.
Answered by George Eustice
The Environment Agency advertised its proposed changes to the rod licence structure and duties on 6 May 2016 in the London Gazette, Welsh newspapers and in the angling press. The Environment Agency also consulted stakeholders through focus groups, newsletters, publications, websites, telephone calls and their stakeholder forum, the England Fisheries Group, prior to advertising the changes in England and Wales.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
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 effect of the dairy crisis on (a) jobs in the industry, (b) local economies, (c) supply chains and (d) the environment.
Answered by George Eustice
The dairy industry in Britain has had a very tough year. A slowdown in global markets, low farm-gate prices, and a strong pound increasing imports, have all contributed to this. The UK average farm gate milk price for March 2016 is 22.38p per litre. This represents a 10.5% decrease on March 2015 and continues the downward trend seen since November 2013.
There were 281 fewer registered dairy producers in England and Wales in April 2016 compared with April 2015 (a 2.8% reduction). This continues the long-term trend which has resulted in dairy producer numbers falling while the average herd size and annual yields per cow have increased. In the year ending February 2016, forecasts suggest that incomes on dairy farms in England fell by 45% to an average of £45,000 per farm. Average incomes on Welsh dairy farms fell by around 40% to £42,000 in the same period. Expert commentators such as Rabobank expect the current cycle of low prices to be maintained through most of 2016.
The Government continues to work closely with the UK farming unions, Dairy UK and Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) to assess the difficult market situation and what we can do to help the industry to recover. For example, we are currently drawing up practical options for creating new derivatives markets, co-operating closely with the AHDB’s volatility forum, farmers, processors and the finance sector.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what communication has been delivered to private veterinary practices and farmers regarding the recent changes to the UK's veterinary surveillance network; and what plans her Department has to ensure that surveillance data from veterinary practices and non-APHA sources is being centrally collated and shared at a national level.
Answered by George Eustice
The changes to the veterinary surveillance system in England and Wales have been delivered and communicated through the project called Surveillance 2014. There has been a broad range of different communications provided by APHA to private veterinary practices and farmers regarding changes to the veterinary surveillance network, including:
(a) Public consultation on the development of a new surveillance model, from December 2012 to February 2013, which gathered over 370 responses from vets, farmers, the livestock industry and other stakeholders.
(b) Visits to a total of 57 private veterinary practices in England and Wales from January 2014 to January 2015.
(c) A series of 19 regional meetings for private veterinary practitioners in different parts of England and Wales, running from December 2014 until March 2015.
(d) A total of 22 articles, letters or other forms of communication to private veterinary practices or farmers from February 2014 to date.
Details of the surveillance model are being finalised. It will be designed to enable central collation and sharing of surveillance information from Government bodies, private veterinary practices, abattoirs, livestock industry bodies, academia and other collaborative surveillance networks nationally and internationally.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Government review of the Forestry Commission's policy on grey squirrels.
Answered by George Eustice
The Secretary of State asked the Forestry Commission to review the policy for grey squirrels in England set out in the document published in January 2006 entitled ‘Grey Squirrels and England’s Woodlands: Policy and Action’ with a view to making improvements where necessary. Following a stakeholder meeting earlier this year and other information received and researched Government is considering advice from the Forestry Commission on the future of grey squirrel policy in England.
At the UK level Government has signed the Squirrel Accord which will draw together UK organisations involved in both red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel control for protection of woodlands under a common aim. Defra and Forestry Commission are working with the Red Squirrel Survival Trust and others on an effective system for administering and supporting the Accord going forward.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the use of warfarin in controlling grey squirrel numbers.
Answered by George Eustice
Warfarin was until recently approved for use in plant protection products against grey squirrels. That approval expired on 31 March 2014, although if purchased before that date it may be used until 30 September 2015. A new application for approval may be submitted at any time. Defra would like people to have the tools that they need to control grey squirrels. However, it is a commercial decision for the company that manufactures the product whether to apply for approval. Warfarin remains approved for indoor use in biocidal products for control of grey squirrels which may find their way into property and cause a nuisance.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 178W, on dairy farming, how many complaints her Department has received on the Dairy Code of Conduct.
Answered by George Eustice
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 178W.
Asked by: Simon Hart (Conservative - Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many complaints his Department has received on the Dairy Code of Conduct.
Answered by George Eustice
Since its launch in October 2012, the Dairy Code of Conduct has helped to improve contractual relationships between farmers and their milk buyers. The Code was developed by the industry and now covers more than 85% of domestic milk production. I regularly discuss the Code with industry.
I am aware of some concerns that exist about the notice periods for farmers where there are any price changes and how these apply to dairy co-operatives. I have emphasised that any difficulties or suggestions for improving the Code should be raised with the Rt Hon. Alex Fergusson, MSP who is currently leading an independent review process.