Written Question
Tuesday 29th March 2016
Asked by:
Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review animal welfare policy and regulations, in particular with regard to the welfare of ducks in the production of foie gras overseas that is then imported and sold within the UK.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Foie gras using force feeding gives rise to serious welfare concerns, which is why its production is banned in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The EU has already introduced controls on the production of foie gras and, therefore, as a matter of EU law, any further action must be taken at an EU level, and not individually by Member States. Additionally we have to be mindful of our obligations under the EU Treaty in relation to the free movement of goods. Ultimately, it is for the consumer to decide whether or not to purchase foie gras.
Written Question
Thursday 19th March 2015
Asked by:
Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will reallocate surplus funds from the current round of bids on the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme to additional projects designed to close physical gaps in coverage along the Cheshire Edge Zone in East Cheshire and Stockport.
Answered by George Eustice
Applications for the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme, which offers support for privately-led vaccination campaigns in the Edge Area of England (including parts of Cheshire) closed on 27 February. All applications received are being considered in line with the published criteria and decisions on successful applications will be announced in due course.
In addition, we are initiating a one-off additional skin test of all cattle herds in the Stockport area. This test will be paid for by Defra and its purpose will be to identify whether there has been any spread of the disease among the local herds and to help detect any infected herds early in order to limit the number of affected animals within these herds.
Written Question
Thursday 19th March 2015
Asked by:
Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the recommendations of the Epidemiology Report on bovine TB on the Cheshire Edge by Sue Ridout; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
Detailed six monthly epidemiology reports on TB in the Edge of High Risk Area (which includes Cheshire) and also the Low Risk Area of England will be published from this summer. This positive development will give cattle keepers and their vets a fuller and more detailed picture of the TB risks in these areas.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"T9. I thank the Secretary of State for her response on dairy farmers, but may I impress on her the damage that fluctuating and falling prices are doing to the industry and farmers in my constituency? Can she absolutely reassure us that she is treating this problem with the seriousness …..."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"4. What assessment she has made of the benefits and costs of extending the Cheshire badger vaccination programme to include the borough of Stockport...."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"Sadly, I must report an outbreak of bovine TB in Stockport in my constituency that is just north of the Cheshire area for which bids can be accepted. May I press the Minister to extend the area from which valid bids will be accepted, to take account of the northern …..."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 Mar 2014
Badger Cull
"Hazel Grove is in the northern part of Cheshire or the southern part of Greater Manchester, and Cheshire is on the frontier zone of the northern spread of bovine TB. We are officially an edge risk area. In Cheshire there were 143 outbreaks in 2013 and 829 animals were destroyed …..."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Oct 2013
Natural Capital (England and Wales)
"I want to make just a few brief comments. I add my congratulations to the right hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman) on all the work she did as Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. As I was a Minister in the Department for …..."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Jul 2013
Oral Answers to Questions
"7. What progress his Department is making on the establishment of marine conservation zones...."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Jul 2013
Oral Answers to Questions
"I thank the Minister for that reply. He will know that the Select Committee was getting a bit frustrated about this, and the Government’s response to the Committee did not improve the situation. Does the Minister understand that there is real frustration about the slow speed at which this is …..."Lord Stunell - View Speech
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