Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
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 on animal sentience before the end of the transition period.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Government is committed to further strengthening our world-leading animal welfare standards. We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience following a clear manifesto commitment. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.
In the meantime, the Government’s policies on animal welfare continue to be driven by our recognition that animals are sentient beings. We ensure animal welfare needs are met by placing direct obligations on keepers of animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Our commitment to the protection of animal welfare is demonstrated by the Government’s continued support for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, sponsored by Chris Loder MP, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 23 October.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how he plans to involve devolved administrations in the regulation and enforcement of marine protected areas after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Marine management is a devolved matter. The devolved administrations will be responsible for the regulation and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas within their waters at the end of the transition period, as they are currently. We will continue to work with them to ensure a coherent approach to marine management in UK waters.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the total sea area around the UK designated as a marine protected area; and how many areas designated as protected areas are in adjacent waters to (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
36% of the UK’s waters are now designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). There are 136 MPAs in Scottish waters, 177 in English waters, 29 in Welsh waters and 25 in Northern Irish waters.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
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 the Government has had with the Competitions and Markets Authority on supermarket pricing levels during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain and representatives of our leading supermarkets are working to ensure people have the food and products they need. Retailers will work hard to mitigate any disruption to their supply chain that could impact on their costs, to keep customer prices down as far as possible.
The Business Secretary met the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), business, trade and consumer organisations on Thursday 9 April to discuss ways in which profiteering could be tackled. The Prime Minister has been clear the Government will look at further action, including legislation if necessary, to address any significant issues.
We have not seen any evidence that profiteering on food is a significant or widespread issue across the UK at present. We are in regular communication with all major retailers, who have been responsible, committed and co-operative in their response to Covid-19. We are aware, however, of concerns that a small minority of businesses are exploiting consumers through harmful sales and pricing practices, and the CMA has created a COVID-19 taskforce to address such issues. They have already approached traders and trade associations on this matter.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average additional annual costs to domestic consumers who are unable to (a) pay utilities bills by direct debit or (b) receive utilities bills electronically in each of the last three years.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Department has not made any estimate of the average additional annual costs to domestic consumers who do not pay by direct debit or receive an electronic water bill.
Water companies in England and Wales do not generally differentiate between customers that pay their water bill by direct debit or access their account online, and those that choose paper billing and annual payment. We are aware of two (Northumbrian Water and United Utilities) that offer an annual discount of £7 and £5 respectively. These discounts are not cross subsidised but reflect the value of the cost saving to companies and customers. These discounts are also an incentive to encourage greater sign up as there are benefits for both the customer and the company.