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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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 take steps to encourage consumption of plant-based milks.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Government does not promote the consumption of one category of food over another but wants consumers to have access to a range of healthy and nutritious food and drink, as set out in the Eatwell Guide, to suit dietary tastes. This includes both animal products and alternative options.
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 is his planned timescale for publishing the results of his Department’s 2021 Fur Market consultation; and if he will take legislative steps to ban the import and sale of fur.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra published a formal call for evidence on the fur trade in Great Britain, which has now closed. A summary of responses, setting out the results and any next steps in this policy space, will be published in due course. Any future measures would be subject to consultation.
We are continuing to build our evidence base on the fur sector, which will be used to inform any future action on the fur trade. This includes commissioning the Animal Welfare Committee to explore current responsible sourcing practices in the fur industry.