Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
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 Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Covid-19 Zoo Animal Fund.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Zoo Support Fund and subsequent Zoos Animal Fund were set up to help those zoos and aquariums most effected by the coronavirus pandemic. No formal assessments of the schemes have been carried out but both funds aimed to avoid unnecessary euthanasia of zoo animals due to income reductions and to preserve animal welfare.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
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 Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Covid 19 Zoo Support Fund.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Zoo Support Fund and subsequent Zoos Animal Fund were set up to help those zoos and aquariums most effected by the coronavirus pandemic. No formal assessments of the schemes have been carried out but both funds aimed to avoid unnecessary euthanasia of zoo animals due to income reductions and to preserve animal welfare.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) zoos and (b) aquariums will be eligible for higher-tier support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) will continue to provide eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users with a discount on high energy bills from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024. A higher level of support will be provided for the most energy and trade intensive sectors who meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity through the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) Scheme element of the EBDS. Eligible sectors are represented by a list of SIC codes which has been published here. In order to be eligible, zoos and aquariums will need to meet the eligibility test and be able to evidence that 50% of their revenue from a specified period is generated from activity within an eligible sector.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the cost of energy on zoo-license holders; and if he will take steps to include (a) zoos and (b) aquariums on the list of protected sites in the Electricity Supply Emergency Code.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is available to all eligible non-domestic energy customers, including businesses, charities and the public sector, and will provide a discount on the wholesale costs of gas and electricity. This includes Zoos and Aquariums on eligible non-domestic energy supply contracts.
Zoos and aquariums are not included on the list of Approved Designated Services as set out in the Electricity Supply Emergency Code.
In order for a critical site or service to be placed on the Protected Sites List, the site must meet the criteria set out in the Electricity Supply Emergency Code guidance.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of rising energy costs on the life support systems for animals at zoos and aquariums; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has introduced a package of measures to provide businesses and households with relief from soaring energy costs this winter. The Government recognises the impact rising energy prices is having on both domestic and non-domestic consumers, including zoos and aquariums that are providing vital life support systems for animals. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is available to all eligible non-domestic energy customers, including businesses, charities and the public sector, and will provide a discount on the wholesale costs of gas and electricity. This includes Zoos and Aquariums on eligible non-domestic energy supply contracts.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
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 make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) re-naming the UK Zoos Expert Committee as the UK Zoos and Aquariums Expert Committee and (b) ensuring that aquariums are represented on that Committee.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
One of the primary functions of the Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC) is to provide advice to Ministers of the operation and implementation of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. Aquariums are included in the definition of zoos in the 1981 Act. The Committee is constituted to ensure it contains a wide range of expertise from across the zoo licensing industry, and aquaculture experts have previously sat on ZEC and its predecessor committee, the Zoos Forum. Members of the Committee are appointed via on open recruitment process based on merit and Defra would encourage experts in operating aquariums to apply for any appropriate vacancies on the Committee as and when they are advertised.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for consultation with zoos and aquariums in response to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and the development of the Secretary of State's standards for modern zoo practice.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Defra and the UK’s Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC) are in the process of revising the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoos Practice (SSSMZP). We aim to run a targeted consultation amongst key stakeholders on a draft of the revised SSSMZP by the end of this year (2021). All licensed zoos and aquariums in Great Britain will be invited to take part in the consultation.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 that the Zoo Animals fund is being effectively used to safeguard the future of British Zoos.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Zoo Animals Fund was introduced to provide for zoos who, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animals. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals’ welfare. We have taken many steps to make the Zoo Animals Fund accessible to those who need it including expanding the range of eligible costs so zoos could claim for costs relating to pre-planned essential maintenance and repair works as well as animal care costs, replacing the 6 week criteria and allowing applicants to apply at any time before reaching their final 12 weeks of reserves to help with their business planning and extending the fund several times. We recently extended the application deadline from 26 February 2021 to 28 May 2021 to give zoos more time to apply and have extended the support provided from the end of March 2021 to the end of June 2021.
The Zoo Animals Fund has supported a wide variety of zoos throughout the pandemic, from some of the smallest to some of the biggest – and it continues to do so. It has helped ensure the continued welfare of zoo animals and prevent unnecessary euthanasia. Only two applications have been rejected on the basis that the businesses in question were ineligible as they did not have the necessary licence or exemption. Fund recipients have reached out to express how funding has supported their animals and what a difference it has made to them to receive this help. From 12 April zoos have been able to welcome back visitors, reopening their outdoor areas as part of step two in the roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions. Allowing zoos to re-open has been an integral step towards enabling them to initiate a financial recovery. We encourage zoos in need of support in caring for their animals to apply to the Zoo Animals Fund and we will continue to work closely with the sector on reopening guidance to ensure that zoos and aquariums are able to welcome visitors safely.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of demand for additional support for the zoo and aquarium sector during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
From 12 April zoos have been able to welcome back visitors, reopening their outdoor areas as part of step two in the roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions. Our assessment was that zoos would need further support, which is why we extended the Zoo Animals Fund. We have extended the application deadline from 26 February 2021 to 28 May 2021 to give zoos more time to apply and have extended the support provided from the end of March 2021 to the end of June 2021. The fund has been a lifeline for many zoos and small, medium and large zoos have been able to secure funding to help them through this difficult time. Fund recipients have reached out to express how funding has supported their animals and what a difference it has made to them to receive this help.
Under both zoo support schemes we have so far awarded over £10 million to 56 zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums to care for their animals and we are currently processing further applications. This money has provided for animal care costs and essential maintenance costs for those zoos experiencing severe financial difficulties due to covid-19. Under the Zoo Animals Fund only two applications have been rejected on the basis that the businesses in question were ineligible as they did not have the necessary licence or exemption. We encourage zoos in need to apply to the Fund and we will continue to work closely with the sector on reopening guidance to ensure that zoos and aquariums are able to welcome visitors safely.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received from (a) zoos, (b) aquariums and (c) safari parks on the support needed to (i) remain economically viable in the context of the effect of covid-19 restrictions and (ii) ensure that animal welfare standards are maintained.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
We remain committed to ensuring the sector can deliver the best possible care for its animals and have regular meetings with BIAZA, the zoo and aquarium industry body, and frequently engage with the CEOs of the largest charitable zoos. These discussions touch on many topics, including updates on the financial situation of the sector.
We have reacted to feedback from the industry and expanded the eligibility criteria of the Zoo Animals Fund so that grant payments to zoos begin when zoos reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves, rather than six weeks and also expanded the range of costs that are eligible under the Fund so zoos can now claim costs relating to pre-planned essential maintenance and repair works as well as animal care costs. Representations were also made to extend the Fund and we have acted upon on this and extended the Fund for a second time. Applications are now open until 28 May and support will be provided until 30 June.
We are pleased to say we have received positive feedback from recipients of the Zoo Animals Fund on how the funding has enabled them to continue to provide the best care for their animals and operate safely in these challenging times. We are also working closely with the sector on their reopening guidance to ensure that zoos and aquariums are ready to open their doors to visitors, as soon as it is safe to do so. We will continue to engage with the sector to fully understand the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and to provide updates as situations change.