Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has received a copy of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s report on standards for animal welfare during transport.
Answered by David Rutley
The Government has received the Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on the welfare of animals in transport and this advice has also been sent to the devolved administrations.
We are considering the report and we intend to publish the Government’s response to it along with the report itself this summer.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
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 the effect of reported environmental policy plans of the President-Elect of Brazil on (a) the environment in that country and (b) global climate change targets.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The UK and Brazil have a close dialogue on issues of mutual interest and concern, both bilaterally and globally, including on climate and the environment. We are aware of a number of proposals reported during the recent election period. The new Brazilian President takes office on 1 January 2019. It is for the Government of the day to formulate its own policies and it would be inappropriate to speculate at this stage on the decisions that the new Government may make. Climate and environment issues form an important part of our work with Brazil and we look forward to continuing our dialogue on these.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether an area's socio-economic deprivation is a factor in compulsory metering decisions made by (a) Thames Water and (b) other water companies.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Before implementing a domestic metering programme, water companies must assess the cost-effectiveness of the programme as a mechanism for reducing demand for water by comparison with other measures. Their metering programmes inform business plans that must be approved by Ofwat. Water companies need to show broad customer support for metering programmes and set out clearly how they will mitigate the impacts on customer bills.
All water companies offer social tariffs to help customers. If a customer is struggling to pay their bills they should speak with their water company about the possible support available.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - 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 he will make an estimate of the effect on food price inflation in (a) 2019-2020, (b) 2020-2021 and (c) 2021-2022 of (i) the UK leaving the EU customs territory on 29 March 2019 and (ii) the UK leaving the EU customs territory on 29 March 2019 and levying most-favoured nation tariffs on foodstuffs imported from the EU after that date.
Answered by George Eustice
Currently the most important drivers of change in the cost of food are commodity prices, exchange rate and oil prices. This will not change when we leave the EU. The UK Government does not directly control these factors. However, leaving the EU gives us the chance to decide our trade policies, enabling us to take control of more levers to help facilitate competitive and frictionless trade.
We are seeking to negotiate a unique and ambitious economic partnership with the EU, as well as future trade deals with the rest of the world.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - 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 he will make an estimate of the distributional effect per income decile of the population of food price inflation in (a) 2019-2020, (b) 2020-2021 and (c) 2021-2022 in the event that (i) the UK leaves the EU customs territory on 29 March 2019 and (ii) the UK leaves the EU customs territory on 29 March 2019 and levies most-favoured nation tariffs on foodstuffs imported from the EU after that date.
Answered by George Eustice
Currently the most important drivers of change in the cost of food are commodity prices, exchange rate and oil prices. This will not change when we leave the EU. The UK Government does not directly control these factors. However, leaving the EU gives us the chance to decide our trade policies, enabling us to take control of more levers to help facilitate competitive and frictionless trade.
We are seeking to negotiate a unique and ambitious economic partnership with the EU, as well as future trade deals with the rest of the world.