Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 tackle dog theft.
Answered by Mark Spencer
We understand the devastating impact that the theft of a pet can have. The Government launched a Pet Theft Taskforce in May 2021 in response to concerns about a perceived increase in pet theft during COVID-19 restrictions. The taskforce published its findings and recommendations in September 2021, including the creation of a specific offence. We are making improvements to the cat and dog microchipping regime in England in line with the taskforce’s recommendations. In addition, police forces are working together to better coordinate and share best practice and advice on the steps owners can take to protect their pets.
The hon. Member for Southend West introduced a Pet Abduction Bill on 6 December 2023 and I welcome her interest in improving animal welfare. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help 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 crackdown on puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase the (a) adoption and (b) production of low carbon fertiliser.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra is committed to promoting the use of less environmentally damaging fertilisers and better nutrient use efficiency. The existing UK regulatory regime for the manufacture and placing of fertilisers on the market in the UK is fragmented and in need of modernisation. It does not cover organic or recycled nutrients, and newer types of fertilisers.
We aim to improve this by putting in place a conformity assessment framework for fertilisers and aim to consult on this later in 2023. The framework should smooth the route to market for new and innovative products which are less polluting to the environment or are less resource intensive in their creation. This should provide farmers with a wider choice of more sustainable fertilisers and will ease the route to market for low carbon fertilisers, therefore providing farmers with more opportunities to adopt these fertilising products.
The framework should valorise fertilisers made from organic materials, opening the market to products that re-use nutrients. The process of implementing new regulations will be iterative as more research is needed into newer fertiliser types before requirements for these products can be drafted into law.
Defra cannot recommend which fertilisers must be used. However we have responsibility for setting parameters to ensure their safety, to ensure that they maximise the use of nutrients, and also to reduce potential losses through emissions from their production through to their use.
Given the continuing high fertiliser prices, it remains a priority that we must work to pioneer new technologies to manufacture more organic-based fertiliser products in future. Where possible we will continue to encourage and support such applications for the development and adoption of these through the Farming Innovation Programme. We are also providing financial support to help farmers make best use of their manures and slurries, to complement inorganic fertilisers through the Farming Investment Fund.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to amend regulations to improve access to waste nutrients for the production of low carbon fertiliser.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra is aware of promising technologies to remove nutrients from waste streams however, there are gaps in knowledge on market readiness, environmental impact and fertiliser value. Defra will consider any example brought to its attention where it is believed regulations need to change, and this would apply in this case.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 made an assessment of the potential role of alternatives to fossil fuel dependent fertiliser in ensuring fertiliser availability for the agriculture sector.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra is committed to promoting the use of less environmentally damaging fertilisers and better nutrient use efficiency.
The efficient use of organic fertilisers can complement the use of mineral fertilisers, whilst reducing input costs. We know many farmers already use organic fertiliser to complement their nutrient management planning.
Given current fertiliser prices, a priority must be to pioneer new technologies to manufacture more organic-based fertiliser products in future and we will support the development of these through the Farming Innovation Programme. We are providing financial support to help farmers make best use of their manures and slurries, to complement inorganic fertilisers.
We must also look at alternatives to fertiliser, using techniques like nitrogen fixing legumes and clovers. We have therefore announced that the Government will pay farmers, through the Sustainable Farming Incentive, to help them with the costs of sowing nitrogen fixing plants and green manures in their crops - or in advance of their crops - to complement some of their fertiliser requirements.
We aim to streamline current regulation and implement a conformity assessment framework for fertilisers which will valorise fertilisers made from waste materials and provide farmers with a wider choice of more sustainable fertilisers.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 his Department has made of the impact of natural gas prices on fertiliser costs in the UK.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Due to the increase in cost of natural gas across the globe, a key feedstock for the production of nitrogen-based fertiliser products including ammonium nitrate, the cost of production of these fertiliser types has increased significantly. It has also affected Europe and the global market with some fertiliser companies halting or reducing production due to high input costs, leading to some countries such as China reducing the export of some fertiliser products to protect their domestic demands.
Britain sources fertiliser from a wide range of countries and also produces fertiliser such as ammonium nitrate domestically. CF Fertilisers continues to produce ammonium nitrate fertiliser from its plant at Billingham, although it has recently announced it will switch to imported ammonia in future, rather producing ammonia domestically. Fertiliser use is determined partly by fertiliser prices, but also by other factors such as commodity prices.
Fertiliser supply in Britain is resilient, although prices are volatile caused by fluctuating gas prices. Defra has hosted Fertiliser Taskforce meetings with key industry figures including the National Farmers Union and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and will continue to collaborate with industry on fertiliser price transparency. We are continuing to monitor the security and stability of fertiliser and other supply chains, work closely with colleagues across government and devolved administrations and industry figures.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the hospitality sector on reducing the quantity of single-use plastics in licensed premises.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Defra officials recently met with Iceland’s Managing Director to discuss their plan to eliminate plastic in their own brands by 2023.
Last December the Secretary of State chaired a roundtable with representatives from across the plastic sector to discuss reducing the amount of packaging produced and increasing the level of recycling.
In November I also wrote to a number of major retailers to ask about their packaging choices for specific products.
There has been no specific engagement with the hospitality sector.