Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 introducing vicarious liability for landowners who direct their employees to commit wildlife crimes.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not currently have any plans to introduce vicarious liability in England. So far there is no compelling evidence that the introduction of the provisions in Scotland has had a significant deterrent effect on those who persecute wildlife.
We will continue to monitor the situation to consider whether this, or a similar offence such as strict liability, is necessary and proportionate to assist in tackling wildlife crime.
There are strong penalties in place for offences committed against wildlife.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 with Cabinet colleagues to tackle the illegal killing of raptors.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government takes wildlife crime seriously. Bird of prey persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife. Defra supports the work of Bird of Prey Crime Priority Delivery Group, which brings together police, government and stakeholders from conservation and country sports organisations to tackle raptor persecution. In 2022 Defra more than doubled its funding of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) from a total of £495,000 over the three previous years to £1.2 million for the three-year period of 2022-25 to target wildlife crime priorities, in particular crimes against birds of prey. The Home Office is a further core funder of the NWCU. Defra is also providing funding to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) to develop DNA forensic analysis for the police and other organisations investigating crimes against peregrine falcons.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 review the safe levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Drinking water quality in England is of an exceptionally high standard and among the best in the world. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has provided guidance on PFAS since 2007, updated in 2021, which adopts a guideline value of 0.1 mg/l for drinking water. This has been agreed as an appropriate value with the UK Health Security Agency and is line with a guideline value the World Health Organisation has recently consulted on for PFOS and PFOA. Work continues across government to assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks, to inform future policy and regulatory approaches.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 risks posed by the recently identified case of Bluetongue disease.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The risk of BTV entry into Great Britain is currently assessed as medium (event occurs regularly). These assessments are published on the ‘Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring’ collection on Gov.uk. Following the confirmed case in a single animal in Kent, epidemiological assessments will be undertaken to inform surveillance and disease control options.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish the Land Use Framework.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We announced in the Food Strategy that we will publish a Land Use Framework for England this year. Defra is working with other Government departments to understand and take account of their land use expectations as we develop the content of the Framework.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 2022 to Question 92217 on Property Flood Resilience Scheme, on what date she plans to publish the outcomes of the evaluation of the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The evaluation of the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme report was published in April 2023 and can be found at:
https://randd.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=20539.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 had made of adequacy of funding for tree planting projects in England.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We have confidence that the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) provides adequate funding for our tree planting ambitions over this Parliament. Last year in England, statistics show an almost 1000 hectare increase in woodland creation and planting of trees outside of woodlands compared to the previous year, with over 3600 hectares of tree planting. This represents the highest level of tree planting in England for over a decade, demonstrating there is adequate funding for our strong pipeline of projects. The England Trees Action Plan is transforming how we grow and manage trees and woodlands in England. Its delivery is supported by over £675 million of funding for woodland creation, management and tree planting under the £750 million NCF. Through this work, we aim to at least treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 (a) the adequacy of her Department's tree mapping and (b) the implications for her policies of trends in tree planting.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Forest Research undertakes the National Forest Inventory (NFI) exercise. Measurements collected from field surveys are combined with the area and general woodland composition data derived from the NFI woodland map to generate quantitative estimates of known accuracy describing Britain’s ‘current’ woodland structure, composition, condition, biodiversity and social use. It is a rolling programme designed to provide accurate information about the size, distribution, composition and condition of our forests and woodlands and also about the changes taking place in the woodlands through time. It is essential for developing and monitoring the policies and guidance that support the sustainable management of woodland in Great Britain. You can find more information on the Forest Research website at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/about-the-nfi/
In 2020 an independent panel carried out a review of the NFI. In this review the NFI’s importance was formally confirmed as being essential in both supporting and evidencing policy and investment decisions. The report and Forest Research response is published on their website at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/nfi-user-review-2020-findings-and-recommendations/
Forestry Commission has also published an opportunity map of low sensitivity for woodland creation which identifies areas which are more likely to be suitable for woodland creation - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-the-land-information-search. This is to help people who are interested in planting trees, or investing in woodland creation, identify the best places to do so.
We will also publish a Land Use Framework for England in 2023 which will help us to strike the right balance between different land uses as we deliver on our ambitious targets and commitments to improve the environment, deliver Net Zero and support food security.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what frameworks there are for her Department to work with (a) the Department for Health and Social Care, (b) the Department of Work and Pensions, (c) other Departments on improving food diets.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra works with other departments to implement various aspects of the Government Food Strategy published June 2022, namely working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system. For example, through the Food Data Transparency Partnership, Defra, DHSC and the FSA are working together with industry and food system experts to improve the consistent measurement of scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions to meet our net zero targets and agree a set of health metrics to support more consistent voluntary reporting by large food and drink companies. DWP are responsible for wider poverty policy, of which household food insecurity is one element and DEFRA continues to collaborate with them and other departments to ensure we have the latest information on the cost of living crisis as it relates to household food security.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 plans to take steps to mandate large food business to improve food waste reporting.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We consulted in 2022 on options to improve reporting of food waste volumes by large food businesses in England. By increasing the number of businesses measuring and publicly reporting their food waste, we expect to drive action to reduce it. We will publish a government response in due course.