Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
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 increase UK fishing quotas after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
The current historic EU quota shares, fixed through the principle of “Relative Stability”, are unfair to the UK fleet for many stocks. EU vessels currently catch around 700,000 tonnes of fish from UK waters each year. The UK fleet only catches about 100,000 tonnes of fish in EU waters each year. After the end of the Implementation Period, the UK will diverge from the existing allocation methodology for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and seek a more equitable arrangement as a condition of future access to UK waters.
We are currently giving detailed consideration to fairer allocation methodologies for Total Allowable Catches in future international negotiations. After March 2019, the UK will also join Regional Fisheries Management Organisations such as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in preparation for the UK regaining its seat in international fisheries negotiations from the autumn of 2020.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
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 improve standards of animal welfare in transit after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Our manifesto made it clear that we would take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter, once we leave the European Union, and we are currently considering options.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government plans to announce its policy on fishing for after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
The government has announced that it will introduce a Fisheries Bill during this session of parliament and will shortly publish a White Paper in advance of the Bill. The White Paper will set out the government's vision for an independent fisheries policy for the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many new directives relating to his Department's responsibilities are under negotiation in the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for measures relating to the environment, agriculture, fisheries, food, animal and plant health and the management of natural hazards such as flooding. A number of these dossiers are currently under discussion in the EU, including:
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the cloning of animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species kept and reproduced for farming purposes (COM(2013) 892 final);
Proposal for a Council Directive on the placing on the market of food from clones (COM (2013) 893 final);
Proposed repeal of the Environment Reporting Directive 91/692/EEC;
Waste (proposed revision of four directives: 2008/98/EC, 1999/31/EC, 94/62/EC and 2000/53/EC); and
Proposed amending Directive 2011/65/EU on the Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances Directive in electrical and electronic equipment .
The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committees, which can be found online at http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/search/findby-topic. Each proposal from the EU on any dossier (along with reports etc.) is deposited in the Library of the House accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum and so these documents, available online, show the full range of areas currently under discussion in the EU.
Until Exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many directives of the EU relating to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting incorporation into UK law.
Answered by George Eustice
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.
Defra has 12 Directives awaiting transposition into UK law before 29 March 2019. These are:
Directive | Title |
2013/51/EURATOM | Directive 2013/51/EURATOM of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. |
2014/97/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards the registration of suppliers and of varieties and the common list of varieties. |
2014/96/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/96/EU of 15 October 2014 on the requirements for the labelling, sealing and packaging of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production, falling within the scope of Council Directive 2008/90/EC. |
2014/98/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards specific requirements for the genus and species of fruit plants referred to in Annex I thereto, specific requirements to be met by suppliers and detailed rules concerning official inspections. |
2015/412/EU | Commission Directive 2015/412/EU of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory. |
2015/996/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/996 of 19 May 2015 establishing common noise assessment methods according to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. |
2015/1787/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1787 of 6 October 2015 amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption. |
2015/2193/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/2193 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants. |
2015/2203/EU | Commission Implementing Directive EU) 2015/2203 of 25 November 2015 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to caseins and caseinates intended for human consumption and repealing Council Directive 83/417/EEC
|
2016/317/EU | Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/317 of 3 March 2016 amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the official label of seed packages. |
2016/2284/EU | Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC. |
2016/2109/EU | Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/2109 of 1 December 2016 amending Council Directive 66/401/EEC as regards the inclusion of new species and the botanical name of the species Lolium x boucheanum Kunth |
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at what point the UK will cease translating new EU directives relating to his Department's responsibilities into UK law.
Answered by George Eustice
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals her Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is responsible for measures relating to the environment, food, plant and animal health and agriculture.
The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the Parliamentary EU Scrutiny Committees, which can be found online.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what EU directives related to her Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.
Answered by George Eustice
As of 30 June, there are currently 15 EU directives awaiting transposition into UK law. These are detailed in the table below.
Directive | Title |
2013/51/EURATOM | Directive 2013/51/EURATOM of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. |
2014/97/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards the registration of suppliers and of varieties and the common list of varieties. |
2014/99/EU | Commission Directive 2014/99/EU of 21 October 2014 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Directive 2009/126/EC on Stage II petrol vapour recovery during refuelling of motor vehicles at service stations. |
2015/1127/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1127 of 10 July 2015 amending Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives. |
2014/89/EU | Commission Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 2014 establishing Aa framework for maritime spatial planning. |
2014/96/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/96/EU of 15 October 2014 on the requirements for the labelling, sealing and packaging of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production, falling within the scope of Council Directive 2008/90/EC. |
2014/98/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards specific requirements for the genus and species of fruit plants referred to in Annex I thereto, specific requirements to be met by suppliers and detailed rules concerning official inspections. |
2015/412/EU | Commission Directive 2015/412/EU of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory. |
2015/996/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/996 of 19 May 2015 establishing common noise assessment methods according to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. |
2015/1480/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1480 of 28 August 2015 amending several annexes to Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules concerning reference methods, data validation and location of sampling points for the assessment of ambient air quality. |
2015/1787/EU | Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1787 of 6 October 2015 amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption |
2015/1955/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2015/1955 of 29 October 2015 Amending Annexes I and II to Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed. |
2015/2193/EU | Directive (EU) 2015/2193 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants. |
2016/11/EU | Commission Implementing Directive 2016/11 of 5 January 2016 amending Annex II to Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed oil and fibre plants. |
2016/317/EU | Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/317 of 3 March 2016 amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the official label of seed packages. |
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many miles of river and waterway bank the Environment Agency has weeded in the last 12 months.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency is responsible for 22,600 miles of main river and carries out conveyance work which includes aquatic weed management. This activity is carried out on a risk based approach which is dependent on local circumstances and associated flood risk.
In 2014/15the Environment Agency allocated around £45 million on conveyance work to control aquatic weed in rivers, dredging rivers and removing shoals and silt, clearing screens and removing obstructions from rivers so that water can flow freely along the channel.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many miles of river and waterway bank the Environment Agency (a) strengthened and (b) raised in the last 12 months.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency is responsible for over 22,600 miles of main river. Strengthening and raising of rivers and waterways is part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing capital programme.