To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Pesticides
Tuesday 21st June 2022

Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has finished reviewing the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive review of pesticide regulations; and whether he has plans to allow for uncertified voluntary conservation workers to return to using glyphosate solution under direct supervision from properly certified professional staff.

Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury

Defra has not yet finished reviewing the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive’s review of pesticide regulations. Therefore, the department has no immediate plans to allow for uncertified voluntary conservation workers to return to using glyphosate solution.


Now that we have left the EU and are in control of our own laws, we are in a position to take forward reforms to our pesticides regulatory regime to ensure that it is tailored to the GB context. We are looking to ways in which we can ensure future regulation is fit for purpose – protecting the environment and the public along with effectively supporting productive and competitive agriculture and horticulture. This will be set out in the National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides to be published later this year.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 15 Jun 2022
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill

"As someone who has a farming business, I draw hon. Members’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I warmly welcome the Bill. I commend the Government for pressing ahead on a matter that is vital for national and global food security, protecting the environment, supporting …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered sustainable intensification and metrics in agriculture.

It is a pleasure, as always, to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies. In bringing forward this debate, I declare my interest as an arable famer and as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman. Soils play a hugely important part in the wider metrics of agriculture. Knowing the Minister very well, I know that she shares a passion for soils, so she might touch on that in her response.

Early action by the Department for Environment, Food …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"I completely agree with the hon. Member that we have to ensure that we protect our farming communities and that people do not leave farming. It is so important that we have expertise both on the land and within the sector to make sure that opportunities are there for future …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"My hon. Friend makes a very good point. I thought he was about to call for DEFRA to come to his constituency; I would argue that York would make a fantastic location too. The principle of DEFRA moving out of London and into the wider farming community, where our food …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"I thank the hon. Member for bringing that up. I could say a lot about wilding, if I am brutally honest; that could fill another debate on its own. I return to the point that I made early in the debate: current farmland needs to be used to produce food …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics

"Absolutely. We have to produce more food, but we have to do so in an environmentally friendly way. We have to protect the environment at the same time—there is a balance to be struck. The way we do that has to be led by technology and science; we must go …..."
Julian Sturdy - View Speech

View all Julian Sturdy (Con - York Outer) contributions to the debate on: Agriculture: Sustainable Intensification and Metrics
Written Question
Pets: Tagging
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)

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 make checking pet microchip databases as efficient as possible.

Answered by Jo Churchill

We are carrying out a post-implementation review of the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations that came into effect in 2016, which will consider whether improvements can be made to the current regime, including the operation of the databases.

We will come forward with proposals shortly. A public consultation on the 2016 Regulations will take place following this.

This is a devolved matter and these developments relate to the situation applying in England.

Written Question
Pets: Tagging
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a single pet microchip database.

Answered by Jo Churchill

Database operators are commercial enterprises which offer a range of services and provide choice for pet owners. We are confident that improvements can be made to the current regime.

We are exploring the possibility of creating a single point of access to compliant databases for authorised users, such as vets, police and local authorities.

We will come forward with our proposals shortly.

This is a devolved matter and these developments relate to the situation applying in England.