Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Japan about that government's intention to resume whaling in the Antarctic.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK Government regularly makes representations to the Government of Japan to set out our opposition to special permit whaling for “scientific purposes”. Most recently, the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) reiterated the Government’s concerns, including in relation to Japan’s proposals to resume whaling in the Antarctic, at a meeting with the Japanese Commissioner to the IWC in May 2015, and officials from the Japanese Embassy in March 2015. The Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, George Eustice, attended the IWC meeting in September 2014, where he underlined the Government’s continued opposition to commercial whaling.
We will continue to make our concerns known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity, including in light of the recently published advice of the IWC Scientific Committee, which has examined Japan’s latest proposals.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what difference the badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire have made to the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle in those areas.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
In Gloucestershire the total annual cattle herd incidence of tuberculosis fell from 12.70% in 2012 to 11.48% in 2014. In Somerset the total annual cattle herd incidence of tuberculosis fell from 7.56% in 2012 to 6.91% in 2014.
Total new breakdowns | Breakdowns with OTF status withdrawn | TB tests in OTF herds | Total annual herd incidence * | ||
Glos. | 2012 | 224 | 181 | 1764 | 12.70% |
2013 | 213 | 174 | 1735 | 12.28% | |
2014 | 196 | 153 | 1708 | 11.48% | |
Soms. | 2012 | 310 | 213 | 4103 | 7.56% |
2013 | 317 | 202 | 4106 | 7.72% | |
2014 | 288 | 197 | 4167 | 6.91% | |
* Total new breakdowns divided by TB tests in OTF herds | |||||
The biology of bovine tuberculosis and its epidemiology is complex. The full effects of interventions will only be seen several years after their introduction.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to end dog fighting.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Dog fighting has been banned in this country for over 100 years. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of £20,000 or both. In addition, the police have powers to investigate allegations of dog fighting as well as powers of arrest against those suspected of being involved in this barbaric practice.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they are permitting the importation of bumble-bees from overseas which could carry disease.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Protecting the country from disease is a key priority and we work closely with countries across the globe to make sure that we are well placed to prevent the movement of animal and plant diseases.
EU legislation lays down rules for importing bumble bees; this does not allow the Government to ban imports. Where notifiable diseases are detected, safeguard measures are introduced by the European Commission. Bumble bees may only be imported if they are accompanied by a completed and signed health certificate. The competent authority/veterinary service within the country of origin must make sure that the conditions specified in the certificate are fulfilled, including freedom from proscribed pests and diseases.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government from which countries (1) eggs, and (2) poultry, have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last four years; and what are the respective quantities from each country.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
The tables below provide the numbers and countries within the EU and third countries from which live poultry and hatching eggs have been imported:
EU imports of live poultry and hatching eggs | ||||||||||||||
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 (to 26 Nov) | |||||||||||
Country | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | ||||||
Belgium | 63950 | 412750 | 7200 | 371264 | 112400 | 221472 | 5040 | 187325 | ||||||
Czech Rep | 8640 | 5000 | 0 | 17380 | 5760 | 47760 | 0 | 40780 | ||||||
Germany | 1025482 | 627798 | 1007850 | 401274 | 1126806 | 701409 | 1291524 | 388139 | ||||||
Denmark | 1000 | 0 | 2500 | 0 | 285960 | 0 | 126100 | 0 | ||||||
Spain | 590000 | 0 | 329460 | 0 | 399026 | 0 | 203800 | 2768 | ||||||
Finland | 75240 | 0 | 67250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2000 | 0 | ||||||
France | 14242537 | 1972197 | 16479078 | 1988591 | 16753060 | 1750953 | 15793874 | 1209422 | ||||||
Hungary | 257284 | 4000 | 324982 | 4000 | 214214 | 0 | 169887 | 0 | ||||||
Ireland | 27786675 | 9574151 | 33551712 | 8474460 | 36863359 | 6847264 | 40434677 | 7309954 | ||||||
Italy | 1157760 | 0 | 3634560 | 0 | 15962400 | 32500 | 1695600 | 0 | ||||||
Netherlands | 4816640 | 2188437 | 2298680 | 1750349 | 9084440 | 1556067 | 20083325 | 1229405 | ||||||
Norway | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Poland | 72000 | 0 | 6480 | 0 | 125500 | 0 | 356560 | 0 | ||||||
Portugal | 1526400 | 0 | 558000 | 0 | 302400 | 0 | 1568160 | 0 | ||||||
Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23400 | 0 | 20000 | 0 | ||||||
Slovenia | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Third country imports of live poultry and hatching eggs | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||||||||
Country | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | Number of Eggs | Poultry Number of birds | ||||
Brazil | 13320 | 0 | 61920 | 8968 | 65880 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Canada | 0 | 0 | 6000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25200 | 0 | ||||
Russia | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
USA | 3382620 | 143445 | 3056220 | 157677 | 1742475 | 163940 | 1227700 | 92577 | ||||