Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 the Food Data Transparency Partnership Eco Working Group to produce its report detailing proposals to measure and communicate carbon emissions in the food system.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP) was established in early 2023, as a means to work jointly across Defra, the Food Standards Agency, the Department of Health and Social Care, industry, academia and civil society. The FDTP aims to drive positive change in the food system through better and more transparent food data. On environmental sustainability, the FDTP has focused on the approach needed to deliver consistent, accurate and accessible data on quantifying and communicating the environmental impact of food across the agri-food system. This will support our agri-food industry to remain internationally competitive in the context of global growing demand for data on environmental impacts associated with products or services sold.
The FDTP Eco Working Group continues to develop the detail of proposals to measure and communicate greenhouse gas emissions in the food system. The group has identified several interim priorities for the short and medium term. These will be communicated to industry as part of the FDTP's continued programme of engagement.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 implications for his policies of the potential impact of reducing meat and dairy consumption on the Government's Net Zero Strategy.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s preferred approach to supporting consumers to make sustainable food choices is to support sustainable food production practices and high-quality British produce, whilst maintaining people’s freedom of choice.
The Government recognises the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions made by the livestock and dairy sectors, whilst valuing the importance of our farmers in feeding the nation and managing our rural environment. Well managed livestock provide environmental benefits such as supporting biodiversity, protecting the character of the countryside, and generating important income for rural communities.
Government is focusing on productivity and innovation to help reduce agricultural emissions. The measures in the Net Zeo Growth plan aim to reduce emissions from agriculture in England through sustainable land management practices, the uptake of innovative practices and technologies, and actions to improve the productivity and profitability of the sector.
Some of the policies and proposals which will help reduce emissions from livestock include, improved health and welfare of livestock, multi-purpose breeds, and increasing the uptake of methane suppressing feed products in cattle. Additionally, the Food Data Transparency Partnership’s work on health and environmental sustainability metrics for food will help enable healthier and more sustainable diets.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 reduce the number of birds of prey (a) injured and (b) killed by wind turbines.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government does not have estimates of the number of birds of prey killed by offshore wind turbines. The majority of evidence held relates to impacts to seabirds from collisions, displacement, and foraging pressures. The British Energy Security Strategy confirmed that the Government will bring forward an Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package. This will support the accelerated deployment of offshore wind developments while continuing to protect the marine environment. The package will include new Offshore Wind Environmental Standards which aim to reduce the impact of offshore wind development on the marine environment, including impacts on birds.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of birds of prey (a) killed and (b) injured by wind turbines in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The British Energy Security Strategy confirmed that the Government will bring forward an Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package. This will support the accelerated deployment of offshore wind developments while continuing to protect the marine environment. The package will include new Offshore Wind Environmental Standards which aim to reduce the impact of offshore wind development on the marine environment, including impacts on birds.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 take steps to (a) reduce the supply of sugar and (b) reverse the exemption for sugar beet crops to the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
British farmers take decisions on the planting of crops based on a variety of factors including the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy, in addition to reacting to market signals. Sugar beet often plays a vital role in soil and crop health in the arable farm rotation, allowing a season of “rest” from intensive cereal production. It is not for the Government to determine which crops farmers should grow or prioritise to include in their crop rotation.
The Government is fully persuaded that the widespread use of neonicotinoids should not be permitted. Approval was withdrawn from December 2018 for the outdoor use of three neonicotinoid pesticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) on any crops, including crops such as sugar beet which are harvested prior to flowering, due to the risk of harmful effects on pollinators. There is no intention to change these restrictions.
There is no ongoing exemption for sugar beet crops from the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. An application for emergency authorisation to use the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam on the 2024 sugar beet crop has been received. No decision has yet been made; once taken, the decision will be published on GOV.UK. Emergency authorisations for pesticides are only granted where strict legal requirements are met. More information on the emergency authorisation process can be found on HSE’s website, here.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will hold discussions with supermarkets on introducing filters to help customers choose British products when shopping online.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials regularly engage with major supermarkets to understand the work they are doing to promote British produce online. We encourage their efforts to promote British food and the innovative ways to make it easier for consumers to pick British and back our farmers, who produce some of the best food in the world.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 bring forward legislative proposals to tackle puppy smuggling.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.
The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto commitment on puppy smuggling. We plan to take forward measures to crack down on puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food to visit the UK.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has a standing invitation to all United Nations (UN) Special Procedure mandate holders. The UK’s Mission to the UN in Geneva is in touch with the Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the visit request by the SR on Food, to find suitable dates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the comparative environmental impact of (a) plant-based and (b) animal-based milks.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 bring forward legislative proposals to enable manufacturers of plant-based milks to label them as plant-based milks rather than plant-based drinks.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Existing law regulates the labelling of milk and milk products and plant-based alternatives. The Government has no plans to bring forward legislation in this area.