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Written Question
Pets: Electronic Training Aids
Monday 16th October 2023

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ban electronic shock collars for pets.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations will make it an offence to attach an electronic shock collar to a cat or dog, or to be in possession of a remote-control device capable of activating such a collar when attached to a cat or dog. The regulations have been considered in the House of Lords and will be considered by the House of Commons in due course. Parliamentary business will be announced in the usual way.


Written Question
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Vodafone Group
Friday 23rd June 2023

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As an open economy, this Government welcomes and encourages investment where it supports the Prime Minister’s goal of boosting UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act, which it introduced, to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk.

As the hon. Member will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.

It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators.

The Investment Security Unit works closely with the CMA on cases that are being considered for both national security and competition reasons. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Investment Security Unit and the CMA to assist joint working. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021-memorandum-of-understanding/mou-between-beis-and-the-cma-on-the-operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021


Written Question
Business Premises: Noise
Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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 make an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the threshold for statutory noise nuisance for commercial properties.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively in order to promote good health and quality of life.

We do not consider it appropriate to issue guidance on resolving noise nuisance complaints about commercial properties. Local authorities are the main enforcers of the statutory noise nuisance regime under Environmental Protection Act 1990, and decisions around resolving noise nuisance complaints are best taken by them using their knowledge of the specific context.

There is no formal threshold in place for assessing noise nuisance from commercial properties. It is not possible to have a single objective noise-based measure that is applicable to all sources of noise in all situations, as effect levels are likely to be different for different noise sources, different people and at different times. However, owners of industrial, trade and business premises are expected to use the best practicable means available to minimise noise from their premises and operations.


Written Question
Business Premises: Noise
Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has issued recent guidance on resolving noise nuisance complaints about commercial properties when the local authority finds that criteria for statutory noise nuisance is not being met.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively in order to promote good health and quality of life.

We do not consider it appropriate to issue guidance on resolving noise nuisance complaints about commercial properties. Local authorities are the main enforcers of the statutory noise nuisance regime under Environmental Protection Act 1990, and decisions around resolving noise nuisance complaints are best taken by them using their knowledge of the specific context.

There is no formal threshold in place for assessing noise nuisance from commercial properties. It is not possible to have a single objective noise-based measure that is applicable to all sources of noise in all situations, as effect levels are likely to be different for different noise sources, different people and at different times. However, owners of industrial, trade and business premises are expected to use the best practicable means available to minimise noise from their premises and operations.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs
Wednesday 10th November 2021

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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 plans to issue national guidance to all Police forces on following the Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs initiative.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government takes the issue of dog attacks extremely seriously and we are determined to crack down on irresponsible dog ownership. The Government supports local preventative approaches to encourage responsible dog ownership of all breeds of dog, such as the Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) initiative.

The Middlesex University report on responsible dog ownership, which will be published shortly, identified the LEAD initiative as a model of preventative best practice for low level dog control issues. Defra liaises regularly with the police on dog control issues, and is giving careful consideration to the report and its recommendations, which will provide the basis for potential further reform in this area.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to identify dog owners with control challenges; and what early interventions his Department is encouraging local authorities and Police forces to take to tackle that matter.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

The Government takes the issue of dog attacks extremely seriously and is determined to crack down on irresponsible dog ownership.

Under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 also allows for a complaint to be made to a magistrates' court by any individual or authority that a dog is "dangerous and not kept under proper control". Additionally, the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 includes specific measures to enable the police and local authorities to tackle irresponsible dog ownership before a dog attack occurs. The main tool to tackle irresponsible dog ownership is the Community Protection Notice (CPN). These notices can be issued by local authority officers or the police on dog owners, or anyone temporarily in charge of the dog at the time, whose dogs are behaving in an unruly way. To breach a CPN is a criminal offence and could lead to a significant penalty. To that end we are encouraging police forces across the country to use these tools.

Defra has also commissioned research in collaboration with Middlesex University into ways to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners. The research considers different approaches and the effectiveness of current dog control measures. The report, which will be published shortly, identifies the police Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) initiative as a model of preventative best practice for low level dog control issues and early intervention. The Government supports these local preventative approaches to encourage responsible ownership of all breeds of dog. Defra is giving careful consideration to the report and its recommendations, which will provide the basis for potential further reform in this area.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote responsible dog ownership.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

The Government takes the issue of dog attacks extremely seriously and is determined to crack down on irresponsible dog ownership.

Under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 also allows for a complaint to be made to a magistrates' court by any individual or authority that a dog is "dangerous and not kept under proper control". Additionally, the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 includes specific measures to enable the police and local authorities to tackle irresponsible dog ownership before a dog attack occurs. The main tool to tackle irresponsible dog ownership is the Community Protection Notice (CPN). These notices can be issued by local authority officers or the police on dog owners, or anyone temporarily in charge of the dog at the time, whose dogs are behaving in an unruly way. To breach a CPN is a criminal offence and could lead to a significant penalty. To that end we are encouraging police forces across the country to use these tools.

Defra has also commissioned research in collaboration with Middlesex University into ways to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners. The research considers different approaches and the effectiveness of current dog control measures. The report, which will be published shortly, identifies the police Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) initiative as a model of preventative best practice for low level dog control issues and early intervention. The Government supports these local preventative approaches to encourage responsible ownership of all breeds of dog. Defra is giving careful consideration to the report and its recommendations, which will provide the basis for potential further reform in this area.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the research undertaken in collaboration with Middlesex University on dog attacks.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Defra commissioned Middlesex University to examine measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership. The research considers different approaches and the effectiveness of current dog control measures. The report will be published shortly and will provide the basis for the consideration of further reform in this area.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs: Tower Hamlets
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what communication his Department has had with Tower Hamlets Police following the dog attack in Bartlett Park on 26 August 2021.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Defra officials are in regular contact with the police to discuss issues relating to dog attacks, including seeking information on specific incidents. I can confirm that officials have been in contact with the Metropolitan Police seeking further information on this tragic incident. I cannot comment further on this incident as it is the subject of an ongoing police investigation.


Written Question
Air Pollution: Poplar and Limehouse
Tuesday 28th July 2020

Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of air quality in Poplar and Limehouse constituency.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in the capital and has reserve powers under the Environment Act 1995 to reflect this.

The UK is compliant with our air quality obligations for all pollutants with the exception of nitrogen dioxide concentrations at roadside locations, and we have put in place a £3.8 billion plan to tackle this issue. More widely, the Government’s Clean Air Strategy sets out an ambitious programme of action to reduce air pollution from a wide range of sources. Our Environment Bill delivers key parts of this Strategy, makes a clear commitment to set a legally binding target to reduce fine particulate matter and enables local authorities to take more effective action to tackle air pollution in their areas.