Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update their United Kingdom Food Security report, published on 16 December 2021, to take account of (1) the crop and production failures this year, and (2) the impact of the war in Ukraine on food supplies.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture Act 2020 the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security and will do so every three years. The next United Kingdom Food Security Report will be published by December 2024.
The UK has a high degree of food security built on access to a diverse range of sources including robust supply chains from various countries, and strong domestic production. The 2022 domestic harvest and the war in Ukraine have had little impact on the UK’s overall food security. In addition to the United Kingdom Food Security Report, Defra collects and publishes annual data on UK domestic agricultural production and overseas trade in its “Agriculture in the United Kingdom” Report.
Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in fertiliser prices on the cost of (1) agricultural, and (2) horticultural, produce for the domestic market.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Due to the increase in cost of natural gas across the globe, a key feedstock for the production of nitrogen-based fertiliser products including ammonium nitrate, the cost of production of these fertiliser types has increased significantly. It has also affected Europe and the global market with some fertiliser companies halting or reducing production due to high input costs, leading to some countries such as China reducing the export of some fertiliser products to protect their domestic demands.
The situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current high fertiliser prices, are being monitored closely. We will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks. We understand from industry intelligence that the vast majority of fertiliser needs for this planting season have been met.
There are nutrient management techniques and technologies that can be used alongside fertiliser products that help the efficacy of fertilisers and help maintain high yield and good quality produce. Support in the form of guidance from fertiliser suppliers and agricultural organisations such as National Farmers Union can be found from various public sources. Defra is aware that the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has published many helpful public pieces of guidance, advice and webinar recordings on mitigating high fertiliser prices.
Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a facility in Northern Ireland which will be able to carry out the batch testing and certification by a qualified person of packs of medicines being traded from Great Britain to Northern Ireland from 1 January 2022; and if so, whether any such facility will have (1) responsibility for, and (2) capacity to, process such certification for veterinary medicines.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) can confirm that there are currently facilities in Northern Ireland authorised to carry out veterinary medicines quality control (QC) batch testing and batch release/certification. These facilities will remain authorised to conduct these activities from 2022. We are currently working with industry and other government departments to establish the capacity and capability in NI to meet the requirement for batch testing and certification by a Qualified Person from 1 January 2022.
Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide an economic assistance package for sheep and goat milk producers whose markets have been disrupted by COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We continue to monitor the impact of the coronavirus disruption on all sectors and dairy producers and are committed to providing support. Dairy producers are eligible for a range of support, including the Covid-19 Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans with a Government 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.
Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 22 May (HL Deb, col 973), whether the three devolved administrations have agreed how the UK’s £3 billion of agricultural support will be divided up; and if not, what plans they have to reach an agreement.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We have made a commitment that the amount we allocate to farming support - in cash terms - will be protected until the end of this Parliament. Allocations from the current Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) budget were set by the government in 2014.
No decisions have yet been taken on allocations once we have left the EU.
Asked by: Duke of Montrose (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to report on the effect of the current badger culling trials on other wildlife and the general ecology in those areas.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Defra has published the Food and Environment Research Agency's evaluation of the potential consequences for wildlife of a badger control policy in England.
We are not planning any further work on this at the present time.