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Written Question
Clean Air Zones: Birmingham
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the ability of his Department to support Birmingham City Council in implementing a system to collect payments from the proposed Clean Air Zone.

Answered by George Eustice

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
Thursday 5th September 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Joint Air Quality Unit vehicle checking software will be ready by February 2020.

Answered by Thérèse Coffey

Yes.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Thursday 13th June 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has plans to bring forward legislation to ban the racing of pregnant mares.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is keen that the welfare needs of all racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of all racehorses and already have rules in place to regulate the welfare of all racehorses including that of pregnant mares.

Under these rules, the BHA must be notified within 25 days of a mare being found in foal. A mare that is in foal is permitted to run until 120 days of pregnancy. No evidence has been found to suggest that there is any detriment to the health and welfare of either the mares or foetuses during this period. According to BHA, in 2018 there were 91 runs by 33 pregnant mares on British racecourses, and there have been 38 runs by 18 pregnant mares to date in 2019. The Government understands that the recent fatality at Hexham racecourse is the only fatality from all pregnant mares notified to the BHA as having run within the last five years.

As such, the Government is satisfied that the BHA rules provide adequate protection for the welfare of pregnant mares in British horseracing and we do not plan to bring forward legislation to ban the racing of pregnant mares. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met with the BHA and stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results. I intend to stay in regular contact with the industry to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare for all racehorses including pregnant mares.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Thursday 13th June 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the British Horseracing Authority on the death of a pregnant mare on 21 May at Hexham racecourse; and if he will request a report from the course vet on the decision to allow the mare to race.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is keen that the welfare needs of all racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of all racehorses and already have rules in place to regulate the welfare of all racehorses including that of pregnant mares.

Under these rules, the BHA must be notified within 25 days of a mare being found in foal. A mare that is in foal is permitted to run until 120 days of pregnancy. No evidence has been found to suggest that there is any detriment to the health and welfare of either the mares or foetuses during this period. According to BHA, in 2018 there were 91 runs by 33 pregnant mares on British racecourses, and there have been 38 runs by 18 pregnant mares to date in 2019. The Government understands that the recent fatality at Hexham racecourse is the only fatality from all pregnant mares notified to the BHA as having run within the last five years.

As such, the Government is satisfied that the BHA rules provide adequate protection for the welfare of pregnant mares in British horseracing and we do not plan to bring forward legislation to ban the racing of pregnant mares. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met with the BHA and stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results. I intend to stay in regular contact with the industry to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare for all racehorses including pregnant mares.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Thursday 13th June 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

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 ask the British Horseracing Authority to publish data on the number of pregnant mares that have raced in this country in (a) 2019 and (b) 2018.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is keen that the welfare needs of all racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of all racehorses and already have rules in place to regulate the welfare of all racehorses including that of pregnant mares.

Under these rules, the BHA must be notified within 25 days of a mare being found in foal. A mare that is in foal is permitted to run until 120 days of pregnancy. No evidence has been found to suggest that there is any detriment to the health and welfare of either the mares or foetuses during this period. According to BHA, in 2018 there were 91 runs by 33 pregnant mares on British racecourses, and there have been 38 runs by 18 pregnant mares to date in 2019. The Government understands that the recent fatality at Hexham racecourse is the only fatality from all pregnant mares notified to the BHA as having run within the last five years.

As such, the Government is satisfied that the BHA rules provide adequate protection for the welfare of pregnant mares in British horseracing and we do not plan to bring forward legislation to ban the racing of pregnant mares. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this. Most recently on the 14 May, I met with the BHA and stressed the need for the BHA to develop a robust action plan that will deliver tangible results. I intend to stay in regular contact with the industry to continue to press for improvements in racehorse welfare for all racehorses including pregnant mares.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Tuesday 14th May 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether autopsies were carried out on racehorses Crucial Role and Up For Review after the Grand National meeting.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards and any racehorse fatality is one too many.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses, including the Grand National. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this, including the fatalities at the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival 2019 as well at any other racetrack.

On 14 May, I am due to meet the BHA Chair and the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board when I will again press them on what progress they are making to improve racehorse safety and what further lessons have been learned from this year’s Grand National and Cheltenham Festival.

The Government understands that the BHA carried out post-mortem examinations on all three horses which incurred fatal injuries at the Aintree Grand National meeting.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Tuesday 14th May 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the British Horseracing Authority on the death of the horse named Up For Review during the Grand National race.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards and any racehorse fatality is one too many.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses, including the Grand National. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible. However, both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this, including the fatalities at the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival 2019 as well at any other racetrack.

On 14 May, I am due to meet the BHA Chair and the new independent Chair of the BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board when I will again press them on what progress they are making to improve racehorse safety and what further lessons have been learned from this year’s Grand National and Cheltenham Festival.

The Government understands that the BHA carried out post-mortem examinations on all three horses which incurred fatal injuries at the Aintree Grand National meeting.


Written Question
Pheasants: Imports
Tuesday 14th May 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pheasant (a) eggs for hatching and (b) live birds were imported into England from each (a) EU country and (b) third country in the last year for which figures are available.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into England from the EU in 2018 was:

Country of OriginTotal
Hatching EggsFrance13,070,875
Poland1,211,480
Portugal15,000
Spain943,620
Hatching Eggs Total15,240,975
Live BirdsBelgium12,000
France5,943,220
Live Birds Total5,955,220

The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into the UK from third countries in 2018 was:

Hatching eggs – 91,560

Live birds – 5,250

All imports were from the USA.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is not able to determine how many of the above imports from third countries were imported into England.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Thursday 4th April 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the British Horseracing Authority and b) Cheltenham racecourse on the deaths of three horses during the meeting at that course in March 2019.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The loss of any racehorse is a tragedy.

Since the end of last year, I have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) about racehorse safety both at Cheltenham and in racing in general. As the BHA are responsible for racehorse safety at tracks, I have not had any direct contact with Cheltenham racetrack.

I have recently written to the Chair of the BHA requesting an update on the cause of the fatalities at this year’s event and why they were not prevented by the policies that were put in place, as a result of the seven fatalities at last year’s Festival. I will also discuss these concerns when I meet the newly appointed independent Chair of the racing industry’s new Horse Welfare Board, Barry Johnson, who is a former Chair of World Horse Welfare as well as a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

I am also seeking clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the Horse Welfare Board to ensure that it will be able to make recommendations that the racing industry will implement.


Written Question
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Thursday 4th April 2019

Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)

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 ability of the British Horseracing Authority to ensure the welfare of racehorses following the deaths of three horses at the Cheltenham festival in March 2019.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The loss of any racehorse is a tragedy.

Since the end of last year, I have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) about racehorse safety both at Cheltenham and in racing in general. As the BHA are responsible for racehorse safety at tracks, I have not had any direct contact with Cheltenham racetrack.

I have recently written to the Chair of the BHA requesting an update on the cause of the fatalities at this year’s event and why they were not prevented by the policies that were put in place, as a result of the seven fatalities at last year’s Festival. I will also discuss these concerns when I meet the newly appointed independent Chair of the racing industry’s new Horse Welfare Board, Barry Johnson, who is a former Chair of World Horse Welfare as well as a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

I am also seeking clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the Horse Welfare Board to ensure that it will be able to make recommendations that the racing industry will implement.