Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
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 effect on UK agriculture of a foreign takeover of Morrisons plc.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
We continue to monitor the situation. The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains open for business, while protecting the livelihoods of British workers and investment in the UK. We recognise that overseas investors play a major and positive role in stimulating economic growth in every part of the UK. In most cases, it is right that mergers are treated as a commercial matter for the parties involved.
We have received reassurances from Morrisons of the priorities of the potential new investor, including support of the relationships Morrisons has fostered with small suppliers and farmers and no material changes to existing payment practices are expected.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
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 appointing a (a) zoo and (b) aquarium expert to the new Animal Sentience Committee.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill creates an expert committee, the Animal Sentience Committee, which has powers to consider how Ministerial policy decisions have paid all due regard to the welfare of animals as sentient beings. The Bill introduces new powers for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to appoint appropriate committee members. Recruitment activity for the Committee will be in line with standard public appointments rules and will take place as soon as is practicable. This includes the principle that candidates should be drawn from a strong, diverse field, and that their skills, experiences and qualities should meet the needs of the Committee.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects to announce that zoos will be permitted to reopen.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
We understand the challenges faced by zoos and aquariums during these unprecedented times. We also appreciate the significant opportunities zoos can provide for the public to access well managed and controlled outdoor spaces, and the potential to improve general wellbeing.
However, the Government has taken the decision that zoos and aquariums should not yet reopen, and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 1 June, provide greater clarity and certainty on this. While each individual attraction can be made safer, it is vital that we do not move too quickly in reopening to ensure public health is protected.
We are continuing to work with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to understand how we can reopen zoos in a safe way as soon as possible with social distancing measures in place.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average time taken was for a substantive response to letters to his office from hon. Members in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
In line with Cabinet Office guidance, Defra has a target of replying to correspondence within 20 working days where a response is required.
As you will understand, Defra is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. All correspondence received from Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the arrangements will be for the oversight of the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status of British regional and traditional food after the transition period.
Answered by George Eustice
At the end of the transition period, we will establish our Geographical Indication (GI) schemes, as part of our strategy to protect regional and traditional foods. All current UK GI-protected products, including TSGs like Traditionally Reared Pedigree Welsh Pork, will continue to enjoy legal protection in the UK.
The new UK GI schemes will welcome applications from the day the schemes enter into force. The Secretary of State will be responsible ultimately for decision-making on new GIs, but we will work closely with Devolved Administrations to run the new schemes. The current enforcement and control rules that apply for GI schemes in the UK will continue to apply after the transition period, including the role of local authorities in ensuring that protection for TSG products is upheld.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
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 the British Egg Industry Council on food safety standards for imported egg products after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with the British Egg Industry Council on food safety standards for imported egg products after the UK leaves the EU. Food safety policy is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
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 ensure that imported liquid and powdered egg products are compliant with UK food standards after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Our high animal welfare, environmental and biosecurity standards are of critical importance to the UK and we are committed to ensuring those standards are maintained when we leave the EU. We have been clear that we will not water down our standards in pursuit of trade deals.
As a member of the EU we share standards of biosecurity with other Member States. This has facilitated the free movement of these goods between Member States. In the short term those standards will not change. Furthermore, to ensure minimum disruption at the UK border, we will not introduce new border controls on these goods imported from the EU. Import requirements relating to welfare will also be retained.
To ensure we remain vigilant, we will require advance notification of imports of high risk food and feed from the EU. This includes products of animal origin and high risk food and feed not of animal origin. The Food Standards Agency will be in a position to monitor those notifications so that, in the event of a food incident occurring involving imported food or feed, it will be able to respond effectively to safeguard public health by swiftly identifying the point of entry to the UK and the spread of a problem. We will also be reviewing our imports regime once we leave the EU.
For imports from countries outside the EU we will maintain the current controls, and consignments of animal products will continue to be required to enter at UK Border Inspection Posts for veterinary checks. Notification will be required using the UK Import of Products, Animals and Food and Feed System. These controls will also apply to products of animal origin that come from outside the EU, but travel through the EU before arriving in the UK.