Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many badgers have been killed under the current cull regime in Devon.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The numbers of badgers removed during culling operations are published annually on GOV.UK. The number of badgers removed cannot be broken down by county as licensed cull areas often overlap multiple counties. However, for licences granted which are predominantly in Devon, approximately 41,000 badgers have been removed since 2013 under these licences.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to introduce national screening for prostate cancer by level of risk.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service on all aspects of population and targeted screening. Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). A PSA-based screening programme could harm men, as some of them would be diagnosed with a cancer that would not have caused them problems during their life.
The UK NSC is currently undertaking an evidence review for prostate cancer screening, and plans to report within its three-year work plan. The evidence review includes modelling of several approaches to prostate cancer screening, which includes different potential ways of screening the whole population from 40 years of age onwards, and targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher than average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 fishing grounds in the context of the increase in (a) offshore wind energy developments and (b) protected areas.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Food security is national security.
That is why the new Government will always back our great British fishing industry. We are engaging with industry and across Government on the spatial prioritisation programme to champion to protect the fishing sector.
We will go further by tearing down unnecessary trade barriers that block our fishing exports and push for more fish to be caught in British waters.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 take steps to develop a national fishing strategy.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I have recently heard the representations of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and others on the benefits of a national fishing strategy. This is something to discuss further with the industry and with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations given fisheries issues are largely devolved.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost is of culling badgers in Devon since the beginning of the cull.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Badger culls are industry led and the cost of delivering them has been met by participants. The additional costs to Defra have related to licensing, monitoring and policing for public safety.
Badger control costs are published annually on GOV.UK and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-government-badger-control-costs.
Badger control costs for 2023 will be published in due course.
Whilst a breakdown of costs by individual county is not available, police costs are available on individual force websites. Costs for Devon and Cornwall Police can be found at: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/police-forces/devon-cornwall-police/areas/about-us/about-us/transparency-and-financial-information/badger-cull-costs/.
On 30 August, the government announced the start of work to refresh the Bovine TB strategy for England, to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and drive down disease to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods. This will be undertaken in co-design with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists, ensuring a refreshed strategy continues to be led by the best scientific and epidemiological evidence and advice.
Further details can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to strengthen her Department's compliance with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department takes its responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously and is proud to continue to provide vital and significant support services for veterans which recognises their particular needs and circumstances.
For DWP, strengthening our compliance with the Armed Forces Covenant is about making sure that we have a benefits and employment support offer that meets the needs of veterans, serving personnel, and their families. DWP is fully committed to the Covenant and will do what is necessary to support members of the Armed Forces Community.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national framework inclusion strategy on accessible and inclusive banking.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government and is vital to supporting people’s financial resilience and wellbeing. It is also an essential part of achieving inclusive growth and ensuring individuals are able to fully participate in the economy.
As part of prioritising financial inclusion, the Government is working closely with the financial services sector to roll out at least 350 banking hubs which provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with in-person cash and banking services. I am committed to considering what more can be done to support accessible and inclusive banking for all.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help increase financial inclusion of people with learning disabilities.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government and is vital to supporting people’s financial resilience and wellbeing. It is also an essential part of achieving inclusive growth and ensuring individuals are able to fully participate in the economy.
As part of prioritising financial inclusion, the Government is working closely with the financial services sector to roll out at least 350 banking hubs which provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with in-person cash and banking services. I am committed to considering what more can be done to support accessible and inclusive banking for all.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans who were in receipt of the (a) War Disablement Pension, (b) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, (c) Service Invaliding Pension and (d) Service Attributable Pension on 2 September 2024.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As at 30 June 2024, the latest date for when data is available, 78,469 veterans were in receipt of a disablement pension under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) and 4,798 veterans were in receipt of a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) following an injury/illness claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
As at 4 September 2024, the estimated number of veterans in receipt of a Service Invaliding Pension (SIP) is 12,744 and the estimated number of veterans in receipt of a Service Attributable Pension (SAP) is 1,685.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 is taking steps to help increase the population of wild beavers.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government supports species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment. All reintroductions in England are expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations. We will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England.