Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 she has had with the Welsh Government on ensuring that healthy foods are more accessible and affordable.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra Ministers have regular discussions with Devolved Administration Ministers on a range of issues including at meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (IMG EFRA). Food supply and sustainability was discussed at the last IMG EFRA meeting which was held on 6 March.
I recognise this is a challenging time for consumers and we are taking a large number of steps to support people with the cost of living, including targeted support of £26 billion announced by the Chancellor.
Defra works closely with retailers and producers to explore measures they can take to ensure the availability of healthy, affordable food.
A healthy diet is a key component of good health and the Government advises people to follow the Eatwell Guide. Encouraging more people to follow the Eatwell Guide will have a substantial benefit on health as well as the environment.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of current regulations for online marketplaces at ensuring the safety of decapod crustaceans sold online.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Legislation protects all animals from being transported in a way likely to cause injury or suffering. Invertebrates are protected from injury or unnecessary suffering during transportation by a general duty of care provision in Article 4 of The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO) and equivalent national legislation in Scotland and Wales. WATEO requires that animals are transported in receptacles or means of transport under conditions (in particular with regard to space, ventilation, temperature and security) and with such supply of liquid and oxygen, as are appropriate for the species concerned. No further assessment has been made.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on banning the sale of decapod crustaceans online where they are sent to consumers via postal or courier while alive.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No discussions have taken place with the Welsh Government.
The Government is considering carefully the implications of recognising in law the sentience of decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs and is working constructively with industry and stakeholders on these issues.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 (a) Environment Agency and (b) Health and Safety Executive on the regulatory options management analysis (RMOA) into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Work is underway across HM Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches. In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and HSE to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a ‘Regulatory Management Options Analysis’ (RMOA). The RMOA will be published in due course and will make recommendations for risk management measures. Defra and the Devolved Administrations will carefully consider its recommendations to inform future PFAS policy, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 impact of prohibiting all non-essential use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on (a) human health, (b) water quality, (c) animal health and (d) biodiversity.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Work is underway across HM Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches. In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and HSE to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a ‘Regulatory Management Options Analysis’ (RMOA). The RMOA will be published in due course and will make recommendations for risk management measures. Defra and the Devolved Administrations will carefully consider its recommendations to inform future PFAS policy, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost is of an Animal Health Certificate; and what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of Animal Health Certificates for UK pets.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) fees are set by veterinary surgeons or veterinary practices and are a private matter between individual practices and their clients and neither the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the UK regulator of the veterinary profession, nor Defra intervenes in the level of fees that are charged.
We are continuing to engage with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to develop additional guidance to support vets in completing and issuing AHCs.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 and feasibility of extending the length of validity of Animal Health Certificates.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
For the purposes of the EU Pet Travel Scheme, Great Britain and the Crown Dependencies are considered a Part 2 listed third country which requires an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for travel to the EU. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU rules also apply to the non-commercial movements of pets into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
The model AHC is set down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 577/2013 and it states that the certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue until the date of entry into the EU, and that it is valid for onward travel within the EU for a period of four months subject to certain conditions. Great Britain cannot unilaterally choose to amend the conditions specified on this certificate.
Our advice for pet owners and users of assistance dogs travelling is that they should continue to contact their vet at least one month in advance to ensure their pet has the correct vaccinations and paperwork to travel abroad.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 the provisions of the Ivory Act 2018.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Earlier this year we ran a consultation on the implementation of the Ivory Act 2018 and on 14 September we published a summary of responses confirming our plans for implementation.
More recently we ran a consultation on additional enforcement requirements to the Ivory Act 2018 and published the government response on 6 December. There are no more consultations required ahead of us introducing secondary legislation to implement the Act, and establish enforcement provisions to bring the ban into force. We plan to implement the Ivory Act this winter and for the ban to come into force in Spring 2022.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 of the proposed flat rate deposit under the Deposit Return Scheme on the drinks and container materials markets; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a variable rate of deposit under the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have recently closed our second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are analysing the responses with a view to publishing a government response later this year. We will be appointing a Deposit Management Organisation to run the DRS scheme. The recent consultation explored the potential for both a flat rate and variable rate deposit to be used in the scheme, and stated that the intention would be for the Deposit Management Organisation to have the power to set the deposit level within parameters set out in legislation by Government. This would include the ability to set either a flat rate or variable rate deposit. The government response to the consultation will include details on the agreed approach to setting a deposit level in the DRS.
I am acutely aware of the concerns that stakeholders have raised regarding the possible market distortions that could occur depending on the type and level of deposit set, and we will be keeping these concerns in mind when finalising the approach to setting and amending the deposit level.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 effect on (a) the competitiveness on the UK internal market of goods originating in Wales and (b) consumer choice in Wales of Government authorisation for use of a product containing a neonicotinoid to treat sugar beet seed in England.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The application for emergency authorisation of the neonicotinoid product Cruiser SB was made in respect of use in England only as there is no significant commercial sugar beet production elsewhere in the UK. It is not anticipated that the decision will have any impact on the competitiveness of goods from different parts of the UK or on consumer choice. Defra has not had any discussions with the Welsh Government on internal market effects of the decision.
Officials of the Welsh Government have been sighted on the Cruiser SB application and the decision. They have not flagged to Defra any issues about internal market implications of this application.