Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (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 adequacy of current legislation relating to fly tipping in (1) urban, and (2) rural, areas.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
In its manifesto, the Government committed to increase the penalties for fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is unacceptable whether it occurs in urban or rural areas and tackling this crime is a priority for the Government. Existing legislative and regulatory controls are the same for both urban and rural areas. Tackling fly-tipping requires a local approach, tailored to the characteristics of the area and the community in which the problem occurs. We are committed to encouraging local solutions for local problems and the role of central Government is to enable and support this local action: providing a clear legal framework of rights, responsibilities and powers, setting national standards and, where possible, making sure that the costs of dealing with fly-tipping is passed to those responsible for causing the problem.
The Resources and Waste Strategy, published in 2018, set out an ambitious package of commitments to modernise the way waste is regulated, to prevent, detect and deter waste crime, including fly-tipping. Defra is subsequently preparing a number of legislative reforms to tackle waste crime, including fly-tipping. We are taking forward the commitment in the Strategy to develop proposals for the reform of the waste carrier, broker and dealer regime. We are working with industry and the regulator and we intend to consult later this year. At the same time, we intend to consult on the introduction of mandatory electronic waste tracking. This will reduce the ability of waste criminals to hide evidence of the systematic mishandling of waste and make it easier for enforcement authorities to identify material dropping out of the system, and therefore make it easier to protect against fly-tipping. The reforms aim to improve competence in waste transportation and deter illegitimate operators from entering the sector. This will help to ensure that waste is dealt with appropriately and to reduce the incidence of waste crime and fly-tipping.
The Environment Bill provides a significant step forward in delivering a number of the commitments set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy. The newly introduced Bill amends section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 to make it easier for an officer to search premises to seize and remove documentary or other evidence. The new power does not require a warrant if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that first obtaining a warrant would allow for evidence to be concealed, altered or destroyed. Further to this, Schedule 11 of the Environment Bill removes the seven-day notice period required before powers of entry can be used to access residential premises. The current seven-day notice requirement enables, for example, rogue waste carriers who operate from their home address rather than a business address, to destroy evidence. These new powers will work to ensure waste criminals, such as illegitimate waste operators reliant on fly-tipping for income, are held accountable for their actions.
In recent years we have bolstered local authorities’ powers to tackle fly-tipping, including introducing fixed penalty notices of up to £400 for those who give their waste to fly-tippers, or fly-tip themselves. We have also enhanced the powers available to local authorities and the Environment Agency to search and seize the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.
As well as legislative changes, Defra is developing a fly-tipping toolkit, following a commitment in the Resources and Waste Strategy. The toolkit will be a web-based tool to help local authorities and others work in partnership to tackle fly-tipping. It will cover, for example, the use of new technology to report fly-tipping, the presentation of cases to court, the sharing of intelligence within and between partnerships and promoting the duty of care to individuals and businesses.
Furthermore, as the majority of fly-tips involve household waste (62% in 2018/19), we published a research project on public awareness of and adherence to the household waste duty of care in August 2019. At the same time, we published related publicity materials. The materials have been provided to the Local Government Association to circulate to local authorities. They are also available on the website of National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, which is chaired by Defra: http://www.tacklingflytipping.com. By limiting the material given to fly-tippers and using appropriately licenced waste carriers, everyone can play their part in reducing fly-tipping incidents.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the labelling of meat from the non-stun slaughter of animals.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government encourages the highest standards of welfare at slaughter, would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, and also respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.
There are no domestic or European Regulations that require the labelling of Halal or Kosher meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government expects industry to provide consumers with the necessary information for them to make an informed choice about their food.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 4 March (HL Deb, col 490) that they would launch a consultation on the licensing of firearms and issues relating to medical records by the summer recess, whether they are on track to meet that commitment; and if not, when they intend to begin that consultation.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government intends to launch a consultation on statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, including the arrangements for the provision of medical information, very shortly.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the process of appointing a new Governor for the Turks and Caicos Islands, they will consider the importance of promoting and encouraging tourism and businesses in that sector in those Islands.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recruitment process looks for the best candidate who can demonstrate they have the skills to meet the challenges of the position of Governor. The position is advertised across the civil service. The Governor as Her Majesty The Queen's representative has responsibility for security, external affairs and defence. Although the locally elected Government is responsible for tourism and business, Governors of course have an important role to play in supporting the prosperity of the Overseas Territories.
As has been the established practice since 2002, I wrote to the Turks and Caicos Islands Premier last September asking for her views on the qualities and expertise needed for a new Governor.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures will be in place to ensure that (1) eggs, and (2) egg products, imported into the UK after the UK leaves the EU meet the same environmental and animal welfare standards that are adhered to currently.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government shares the British public’s high regard for the environment and for animal welfare, and our current import requirements for eggs and for egg products will continue to apply when we leave the EU.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Chief Constables in England and Wales must be in receipt of a medical report for a firearms licence applicant prior to granting or renewing a firearms licence.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In accordance with arrangements introduced in 2016, relevant medical information is requested from the GPs of those who apply for a firearms licence before the licence is issued. Police forces must be satisfied that a person does not pose a danger to public safety before granting or renewing a firearm licence and they may require sight of medical information before proceeding to issue the licence.
The Government does not collect statistics on the participation of GPs in the firearms licensing process, placing of the encoded reminder, or the level of any fee that GPs may charge their patients for providing medical information to the police. However, we do understand from information from informal reports from police forces and firearms licence applicants that participation rates amongst GPs and the fees that they charge are variable. We have been in discussions with the police, medical bodies and shooting representatives about improving the arrangements for providing medical evidence and how greater consistency can be achieved.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, which include the medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. Once issued, the police will be required to have regard to this guidance, and this will therefore help to ensure greater consistency in practice across the country. The Government intends to launch the consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) number of GPs who have refused to provide medical information to support a firearms licence application, and (2) reasons for such refusals.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In accordance with arrangements introduced in 2016, relevant medical information is requested from the GPs of those who apply for a firearms licence before the licence is issued. Police forces must be satisfied that a person does not pose a danger to public safety before granting or renewing a firearm licence and they may require sight of medical information before proceeding to issue the licence.
The Government does not collect statistics on the participation of GPs in the firearms licensing process, placing of the encoded reminder, or the level of any fee that GPs may charge their patients for providing medical information to the police. However, we do understand from information from informal reports from police forces and firearms licence applicants that participation rates amongst GPs and the fees that they charge are variable. We have been in discussions with the police, medical bodies and shooting representatives about improving the arrangements for providing medical evidence and how greater consistency can be achieved.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, which include the medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. Once issued, the police will be required to have regard to this guidance, and this will therefore help to ensure greater consistency in practice across the country. The Government intends to launch the consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of encoded reminders that have been placed on the patient records of firearms licence applicants following the grant or renewal of a firearms licence.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In accordance with arrangements introduced in 2016, relevant medical information is requested from the GPs of those who apply for a firearms licence before the licence is issued. Police forces must be satisfied that a person does not pose a danger to public safety before granting or renewing a firearm licence and they may require sight of medical information before proceeding to issue the licence.
The Government does not collect statistics on the participation of GPs in the firearms licensing process, placing of the encoded reminder, or the level of any fee that GPs may charge their patients for providing medical information to the police. However, we do understand from information from informal reports from police forces and firearms licence applicants that participation rates amongst GPs and the fees that they charge are variable. We have been in discussions with the police, medical bodies and shooting representatives about improving the arrangements for providing medical evidence and how greater consistency can be achieved.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, which include the medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. Once issued, the police will be required to have regard to this guidance, and this will therefore help to ensure greater consistency in practice across the country. The Government intends to launch the consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the fees charged by GPs to provide medical information to support a firearms licence application.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In accordance with arrangements introduced in 2016, relevant medical information is requested from the GPs of those who apply for a firearms licence before the licence is issued. Police forces must be satisfied that a person does not pose a danger to public safety before granting or renewing a firearm licence and they may require sight of medical information before proceeding to issue the licence.
The Government does not collect statistics on the participation of GPs in the firearms licensing process, placing of the encoded reminder, or the level of any fee that GPs may charge their patients for providing medical information to the police. However, we do understand from information from informal reports from police forces and firearms licence applicants that participation rates amongst GPs and the fees that they charge are variable. We have been in discussions with the police, medical bodies and shooting representatives about improving the arrangements for providing medical evidence and how greater consistency can be achieved.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, which include the medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. Once issued, the police will be required to have regard to this guidance, and this will therefore help to ensure greater consistency in practice across the country. The Government intends to launch the consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what trade protections will be in place on (1) egg, and (2) egg product, imports from countries outside the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government recognises the importance of eggs as an affordable and nutritious food for UK consumers. The UK egg industry has led the way in promoting high welfare standards, which the Government is committed to maintaining along with our existing high food standards for all imports.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 12 April a temporary tariff regime would apply to all UK imports from countries with which no trading arrangement is in place, including the EU.
In setting that temporary regime the Government has sought to strike a balance between the impacts on consumers and producers. No duty would apply to eggs or egg products.
The temporary tariff policy would only apply for up to 12 months. During the 12 month period, the Government will work with industry and remain responsive to businesses and consumers. We will consider exceptional changes where clear evidence is provided against the criteria set out by the five principles of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.
After this, the Government intends to introduce a long term tariff regime. This would be developed over the course of the next 12 months following an appropriate public consultation process with interested stakeholders, including the egg sector.