Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to communicate the peat ban for the professional horticulture sector with (a) UK-based nurseries and (b) international suppliers of plants and trees that import products into the UK.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We have conducted a formal consultation which ended on 18 March 2022. This was followed up with more detailed stakeholder engagement last autumn with over seventy representatives from the horticultural sector. The Government response to the consultation was published on 27 August 2022. The latest government position can be found at: https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/24/media-reporting-on-peat-ban-for-the-professional-horticulture-sector/
In recent weeks I have met with a range of stakeholders, including the Horticultural Trade Association and visited horticultural businesses where I have discussed our proposals. My officials are in regular contact with representative groups, including the National Farmers’ Union and the British Leafy Salads Association. Further meetings with stakeholders are planned in the coming months.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to match the target to recover 90% of the materials in the scope of the deposit return scheme for drinks containers by 2028 with a similar target for glass.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
A Final Impact Assessment will be published in alignment with the next phase of the DRS work in order to allow us to update the analysis to accurately reflect what is set out in the government response with the most recent data available.
Glass bottles will not be captured by DRS in England and Northern Ireland as the respective governments believe the addition of glass will add additional complexity and challenges to delivery of DRS in particular to the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as additional consumer inconvenience. Given concerns raised on managing glass in a DRS, delivery of the scheme will focus on plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans in England and Northern Ireland.
Whilst not in scope of the DRS in England and Northern Ireland, glass drinks bottles will be covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme in both nations, which will place targets on producers in relation to glass recycling. The proposed recycling target for glass packaging under EPR is 83% by 2030.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 make an assessment of the potential impact of not including glass in the forthcoming deposit return scheme on consumer choice.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
A Final Impact Assessment will be published in alignment with the next phase of the DRS work in order to allow us to update the analysis to accurately reflect what is set out in the government response with the most recent data available.
Glass bottles will not be captured by DRS in England and Northern Ireland as the respective governments believe the addition of glass will add additional complexity and challenges to delivery of DRS in particular to the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as additional consumer inconvenience. Given concerns raised on managing glass in a DRS, delivery of the scheme will focus on plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans in England and Northern Ireland.
Whilst not in scope of the DRS in England and Northern Ireland, glass drinks bottles will be covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme in both nations, which will place targets on producers in relation to glass recycling. The proposed recycling target for glass packaging under EPR is 83% by 2030.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Impact Assessment on introducing a deposit return scheme, published on 24 February 2021, if her Department will re-evaluate the findings published in that Assessment on net benefits of (a) a scheme that excludes glass and (b) an all-in scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
A Final Impact Assessment will be published in alignment with the next phase of the DRS work in order to allow us to update the analysis to accurately reflect what is set out in the government response with the most recent data available.
Glass bottles will not be captured by DRS in England and Northern Ireland as the respective governments believe the addition of glass will add additional complexity and challenges to delivery of DRS in particular to the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as additional consumer inconvenience. Given concerns raised on managing glass in a DRS, delivery of the scheme will focus on plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans in England and Northern Ireland.
Whilst not in scope of the DRS in England and Northern Ireland, glass drinks bottles will be covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme in both nations, which will place targets on producers in relation to glass recycling. The proposed recycling target for glass packaging under EPR is 83% by 2030.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 issued guidance to allow residents to utilise a neighbouring local authority's refuse and recycling sites when they are the nearest facility for a household.
Answered by Jo Churchill
I have not issued any guidance on this subject. However, the law governing the provision of places to deposit waste from households is set out in Section 51 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which requires waste disposal authorities to provide places for persons resident in its area to deposit household waste. Each place must be situated in the area of the authority or so that it is reasonably accessible to people resident in its area.
Waste disposal authorities may include arrangements for the deposit of household waste for people outside of their area but they are able to charge for this.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 has taken to facilitate entry into the UK for Ukrainian citizens with pets.
Answered by Jo Churchill
As a nation of animal lovers, we understand how important it is for those fleeing Ukraine to bring their pets. We recognise that many pet owners will not have been able to complete the preparations needed, especially in relation to rabies. We need to protect the UK’s public and animal health and that is why pets coming from the Ukraine may need a period of quarantine. All quarantine and relevant health costs will be covered by the UK Government.
We are acting quickly to ensure that everyone who wants to travel with their pet can, and without delay. Pet owners must contact The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to apply for a licence before they travel to the UK. APHA will make all the necessary arrangements and confirm entry dates for when the pet arrives in the UK.
We have been working with stakeholders to increase capacity, and in parallel exploring alternative options with the rescue and rehoming sector, and with licenced boarding kennels and catteries where we have implemented the use of isolation facilities.
We have delivered emergency legislation to authorise the use of a new blood test for rabies, which reduces the timescale for checking immunity, which in respect can free up quarantine spaces. Results can be turned around in a minimum of 3 days and animals may be eligible for home isolation in England if they are found to have rabies antibodies, subject to strict criteria. This will help maintain our strict biosecurity measures and may allow people to be reunited more quickly with their pets.
We continue to work with APHA to streamline the process, and are continuing to provide information in both Ukrainian, Russian and English to those wishing to travel.
We have provided full guidance on GOV.UK for those fleeing Ukraine to bring their pets to the UK. This provides detailed information on the steps that need to be taken to enter the UK. We have included advice on ports of entry and the process once their pet reaches the UK. People fleeing to the UK from Ukraine with pets should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for a pet licence by email at ukrainepettravel@apha.gov.uk or call +44 3000 200 301 and select option 2.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 stop trail hunting on Government-owned land.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act, and completely bans hare coursing.
Issuing a license or giving permission for trail hunting is an operational matter for the landowner and Defra does not play a central role here.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on jail terms for offenders of (a) trophy hunting and (b) importers of trophy hunting.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In the UK we have robust legislation, such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in place to protect our wildlife. Controls on imports from trophy hunting are currently enforced by the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018 and the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
As set out in the Government’s manifesto, we are banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species. We will be setting out our plans soon, including on sanctions, and my department remains in communication with the Ministry of Justice regarding such matters.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 (a) prevent and (b) prosecute trophy hunting.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government takes the conservation of endangered species very seriously, which is why we are banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species, as set out in the Government’s manifesto.
Our approach will be robust and effective and will deliver the change we promised to help protect thousands of species worldwide. We will be setting out our plans soon.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
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 plans to ban the sale and import of fur in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
On 31 May, Defra published a formal call for evidence on the fur trade in Great Britain (GB). This was a key step in helping us to meet the commitment set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare to better understand the fur sector in GB and gather evidence from those with an interest in it. We received around 30,000 responses from businesses, representative bodies and individuals, demonstrating the strong public interest in this area.
We will use the evidence gathered to inform any future action on the fur trade in GB, in line with the Government’s commitment to improving animal welfare standards. A summary of responses setting out the results and any next steps in this policy space will be published in due course.