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 plans to hold a public consultation on the Government Food Strategy White Paper after its publication.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The forthcoming Government Food Strategy is a once in a generation opportunity to create a food system that feeds our nation today and protects it for tomorrow. It will build on existing work across Government and identify new opportunities to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK.
Defra is committed to consulting stakeholders on any specific policies that affect them that are announced in or around the Food Strategy. Furthermore, in developing the Government Food Strategy, Defra is committed to listening to opinions from stakeholders across the entirety of the food system. We are speaking with a wide range of external and internal stakeholders to identify any policy gaps or potential options to transform the food system, using existing engagement forums and new relationships. In developing the Food Strategy, we are also considering Henry Dimbleby’s independent review of the food system, which was underpinned by a Defra Call for Evidence and active citizen engagement.
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 he has had with Ministers in (a) the Department of Health and Social Care, (b) Cabinet Office, (c) Department for International Trade, (d) Department for Education and (e) other Government departments on the (i) recommendations of the National Food Strategy and (ii) development of the Government Food Strategy.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The forthcoming Government Food Strategy is a once in a generation opportunity to create a food system that feeds our nation today and protects it for tomorrow. It will cover the entire food system from farm to fork, building on work already underway in the Agriculture Act, Fisheries Act, and Environment Bill as well as docking into wider Government priorities, including Net Zero, 25 Year Environment Plan, and Build Back Greener. It will also consider the evidence of Henry Dimbleby’s independent review of the food system.
Defra is therefore working very closely with all other relevant Departments on the Food Strategy – at official and Ministerial levels - to identify new opportunities to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK.
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 he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to enshrine a right to food in law.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
No such formal assessment has been made but since 1976, the United Kingdom has recognised the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 11 notes “the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food”, and seeks “to improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making full use of technical and scientific knowledge, by disseminating knowledge of the principles of nutrition and by developing or reforming agrarian systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources”; and “taking into account the problems of both food-importing and food-exporting countries, to ensure an equitable distribution of world food supplies in relation to need.” The Covenant is not incorporated into domestic law, as the Covenant does not require States to do so and the Government considers that its method of implementation of the Covenant fulfils the UK’s obligations under Article 2(1).
The UK is also committed to delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, including on ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture and on ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. This Government is wholly committed to supporting people on lower incomes through a range of measures, including by spending over £110 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.
We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41 million for the Scottish Government, £25 million for the Welsh Government and £14 million for the Northern Ireland Executive), for a total of £500 million.
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 potential merits of the proposals made by Action Plan for Animal Welfare, published 12 May 2021 on banning e-collars on reactive dogs.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
One of the key reforms in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare is to ban hand-held remote-controlled electronic training collars (“e-collars”), given their scope to harm the welfare of dogs, including those deemed reactive. We continue to work closely with the animal welfare sector, enforcement agencies and Governments across the four nations on this ban.
Concerns that e-collars can cause long-term harm have been raised by a number of trainers, behaviourists, the animal welfare sector and dog-keeping organisations. In light of these concerns, Defra undertook research studies AW1402 and AW1402a. The resultant peer-reviewed report on this research, carried out between 2007 and 2010, was robust and showed that many users of the hand-held devices were not using them properly in compliance with the manufacturers’ instructions, thereby having a negative impact on the welfare of some dogs. As well as being misused to inflict unnecessary harm, there was also concern that e-collars can redirect aggression or generate anxiety-based behaviour in pets, making underlying behavioural and health problems worse.
Data from the research were published separately in two different reputable scientific journals, which required additional independent peer review exercises involving scrutiny from experts in the same field prior to publication. This gives the Government further confidence that the results are robust.
We have listened carefully to a range of views from pet owners and respondents, as well as consulting key stakeholders including animal welfare charities, e-collar manufacturers, and trainers who use e-collars. Defra ran a public consultation in 2018 on the proposed ban on e-collars for cats and dogs in England. A summary of the responses received can be found here; Animal welfare: banning the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Training dogs is important to help them learn to behave appropriately and to make it easier to keep them under control. It can also help strengthen the relationship you have with them. Defra supports reward-based training, which includes the use of things that dogs value (e.g. toys, food and praise), is enjoyable for dogs and is widely regarded as the preferred form of training dogs. It is important to seek professional advice to identify/discuss any behaviour problems and the best training options for a dog. An incorrect training regime can have negative effects on a dog’s welfare.
The legislation needed to ban remote controlled electronic training collars will be laid before Parliament as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
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 representations his Department has received from local authorities on (a) rodent and (b) rat infestations in urban areas in the last three years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No specific assessment of the effectiveness of the powers available to local authorities to tackle rat and mice infestations in urban areas has been made.
The Secretary of State has not had to use powers available to him under section 12 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to empower persons to exercise rodent control functions on behalf of an authority which has been judged to have unsatisfactorily performed those functions.
In 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) published estimates of the proportion of houses where mice and rats were present in England. This can be viewed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15723-9
Higher prevalence was consistently observed in older and rented houses, when litter was present around a dwelling and when pets or livestock were present. The household and regional factors included in the analysis explained some, but not all, of the variation in rodent prevalence over time. This suggests that other factors not included in APHA’s models might also influence prevalence. The level of rodent control effort made by householders also varied over time, probably as a response to changes in rodent prevalence.
Defra has not received any representations from local authorities on rodent or rat infestations in urban areas in the last three years.
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 he has made of trends in the level of (a) rodent and (b) rat infestations in urban areas.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No specific assessment of the effectiveness of the powers available to local authorities to tackle rat and mice infestations in urban areas has been made.
The Secretary of State has not had to use powers available to him under section 12 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to empower persons to exercise rodent control functions on behalf of an authority which has been judged to have unsatisfactorily performed those functions.
In 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) published estimates of the proportion of houses where mice and rats were present in England. This can be viewed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15723-9
Higher prevalence was consistently observed in older and rented houses, when litter was present around a dwelling and when pets or livestock were present. The household and regional factors included in the analysis explained some, but not all, of the variation in rodent prevalence over time. This suggests that other factors not included in APHA’s models might also influence prevalence. The level of rodent control effort made by householders also varied over time, probably as a response to changes in rodent prevalence.
Defra has not received any representations from local authorities on rodent or rat infestations in urban areas in the last three years.
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 effectiveness of the powers available to local authorities to tackle (a) rodent and (b) rat infestations in urban areas.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No specific assessment of the effectiveness of the powers available to local authorities to tackle rat and mice infestations in urban areas has been made.
The Secretary of State has not had to use powers available to him under section 12 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to empower persons to exercise rodent control functions on behalf of an authority which has been judged to have unsatisfactorily performed those functions.
In 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) published estimates of the proportion of houses where mice and rats were present in England. This can be viewed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15723-9
Higher prevalence was consistently observed in older and rented houses, when litter was present around a dwelling and when pets or livestock were present. The household and regional factors included in the analysis explained some, but not all, of the variation in rodent prevalence over time. This suggests that other factors not included in APHA’s models might also influence prevalence. The level of rodent control effort made by householders also varied over time, probably as a response to changes in rodent prevalence.
Defra has not received any representations from local authorities on rodent or rat infestations in urban areas in the last three years.
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 his Department has made of air quality in Liverpool, Walton constituency; and what steps he is taking to improve air quality in northern cities.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Local authorities have a duty under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess air quality for a range of pollutants in their areas. If a local authority finds any places that are not likely to achieve national air quality objectives it must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and to draw up an action plan detailing remedial measures to address the problem. In the case of Liverpool it has declared the whole city as an AQMA and expects to meet the annual mean for nitrogen dioxide by 2020. In November 2016 I met Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool City Council and Steve Rotheram the then MP for Liverpool, Walton and now Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to discuss air quality in the City. In February 2017 I also met Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive of Transport for Greater Manchester, which has responsibility for air quality on behalf of the Combined Authority, to discuss air quality there. In 2016 Manchester amended the individual borough AQMAs into a single one for the Combined Authority.
Defra publishes the latest information covering local authorities in the ‘Air Pollution in the UK’ report published on our website and available here: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annualreport/. Air quality reports of the local authorities are based on 43 areas within the UK (termed zones and agglomerations) and Walton is contained in the agglomeration Liverpool Urban Area UK0006.
We will also be publishing the final Air Quality Plan for nitrogen dioxide by 31 July, which will include next steps for cities across the United Kingdom where exceedances exist.