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Written Question
River Mersey: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 help tackle levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in the River Mersey.

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

We are working to assess levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurring in the environment, their sources, and their potential risks to inform policy and regulatory approaches. This includes the Environment Agency’s monitoring of PFAS levels in the River Mersey as part of a national programme of PFAS monitoring. We are committed to protecting human health and the environment.

Following a ban on specific PFAS chemicals more than a decade ago (notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) we have seen a decline in the level of these chemicals in our rivers.

We have welcomed the Health and Safety Executive’s publication of the PFAS Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA). We have accepted the RMOA’s recommendations, which include work under UK REACH to reduce PFAS emissions by considering restrictions. This will begin by considering a restriction on PFAS in fire-fighting foams.


Written Question
Hunting Act 2004
Thursday 15th February 2024

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 made an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening the Hunting Act 2004.

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

This Government made a manifesto commitment not to change the Hunting Act 2004.


Written Question
Animal Welfare
Wednesday 14th February 2024

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

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

Causing an animal fight to take place, or attempting to do so, is an offence under section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which would normally be enforced by the Police or the RSPCA. It is also an offence to be present at an animal fight without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increases the maximum sentence for such offences from six months to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. This strengthened penalty sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated and will enable our courts to take a firm approach to cases such as animal fighting.

The Online Safety Act 2023 also requires social media firms to remove online content of animal welfare abuse such as animal fights.


Written Question
Trapping: Animal Welfare
Friday 9th February 2024

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 implications for his animal welfare policies of the use of snares.

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

The management of predators plays an important role in supporting the recovery of some of our most vulnerable species.

An industry-owned code of practice for the use of snares to control foxes in England sets out clear principles for the legal use of snares, using evidence from snare-use research to improve snare deployment and design.

We are looking at how snares are regulated as part of our continued drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and working to ensure the regulated use of the most appropriate trap and cull method which causes the least suffering whilst providing the greatest protection to crops, game birds or endangered species.


Written Question
Offshore Industry: Marine Protected Areas
Friday 20th October 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential environmental impacts of new offshore oil and gas licences on marine protected areas.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) officials work closely together on achieving the dual aims of Net Zero and protection of the marine environment. The environmental impact of all proposed offshore oil and gas developments are considered by the relevant regulator (Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning and/or North Sea Transition Authority) when considering them for consent.


Written Question
Nature Conservation
Monday 16th October 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 (a) stop and (b) reverse nature degradation.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

In England, we have now set four legally binding targets for biodiversity. By 2030 we have committed to halt the decline in species abundance and by 2042 we aim to reverse species decline; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) published 31 January 2023. Here we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature.

We know that to meet our targets we will need large-scale habitat restoration, creation and improved connectivity; to tackle pressures on species including pollution, unsustainable use of resources and climate change; and targeted action to recover specific species. We have also launched a new £25 million Species Survival Fund, supporting the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats.


Written Question
Water Companies: Finance
Friday 7th July 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 help improve the financial stability of the water industry.

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

  • The sector as a whole is financially resilient. Water companies are responsible for ensuring that they remain financially resilient, however, over recent years, as investment requirements have risen, Ofwat has taken further steps to strengthen the financial resilience of companies. This includes increasing its financial monitoring, improving levels of reporting transparency and strengthening the ring-fence licence conditions, which ensure the regulated company maintains sufficient financial and management resources which enable it to carry out its functions in a sustainable manner.

  • Government and Ofwat take the financial resilience of the water sector very seriously. Government gave new powers to Ofwat through the Environment Act and in March 2023, Ofwat set out new measures to increase financial resilience in the sector. This includes additional powers to stop water companies making dividend payments earlier if the company's financial resilience is at risk.

  • Ofwat has also strengthened the existing dividend licence condition so that there is an explicit requirement for companies to measure performance by reference to delivery for customers and the environment. Companies will need to demonstrate this in their annual reporting on dividends and dividend decisions.

  • In addition, Ofwat has also tightened up the measures around water company executives’ bonuses so that Ofwat will make shareholders pay for bonuses, not the customer, where there is poor performance.


Written Question
Agriculture: Pay
Tuesday 4th July 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 she has made of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board on agricultural workers' wages.

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

The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales ended in 2013. The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wages rates for all eligible workers, including those in agriculture, are set by the Government, based on the advice of an independent advisory group, the Low Pay Commission.

On 1 April 2023, the Government increased the National Living Wage for workers aged 23 years and over by 9.7% to £10.42. The National Minimum Wage was also increased to £10.42 for workers aged 23 and over, with lower rates for younger workers.

A large portion of the agricultural workforce is seasonal. When the continuation of the Seasonal Worker visa route was announced on 24 December 2021, Defra and the Home Office were clear this would require those using the route to pay a minimum salary to discourage poor working conditions. Seasonal agricultural workers are among the most vulnerable workers in the UK and improving pay and conditions for these workers, along with increasing efforts to protect workers and prevent them from being exploited, are laudable goals.

From 12 April 2023 seasonal workers on the visa route must be paid a minimum rate of £10.42 (equivalent to the national living wage) for each hour worked. There is also a requirement to provide a minimum of 32 hours of work every week. The usual rules prohibiting zero hours contracts, alongside the operators of the Seasonal Worker visa route ensuring workers are supported in the event work is not available, continue to apply.

Recruitment and retention of agricultural workers, of which wages are one element, were considered in the independent review of labour shortages in the food supply chain which the Government commissioned in 2022. The review focused on farming, processing, and food and drink manufacturing as sectors that are critical for food production and food security. The final report was published on 30 June 2023: Independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and the Government response will follow in autumn 2023.


Written Question
Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group
Thursday 15th June 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times the Responsible Dog Ownership working group have met since its inception.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Responsible Dog Ownership working group and its subgroups have met 26 times since it was established in February 2022.


Written Question
Dangerous Dogs
Monday 12th June 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

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 plans to review (a) the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and (b) breed-specific legislation.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

We currently have no plans to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or breed-specific legislation. We have established a Responsible Dog Ownership working group involving the police, local authorities, and other key stakeholders to consider all aspects of tackling irresponsible dog ownership. The working group is considering improved data collection and reporting, dog training, consistency of enforcement practices and education and communications to encourage responsible dog ownership. Recommendations are expected later this year.