Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many geese have been culled since the outbreak of avian flu on 27 October 2021.
Answered by Mark Spencer
To date during the avian influenza outbreak (from 26 October 2021 to the 3 November 2022), 6 million poultry or other captive birds (including chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and other kept birds) have died or are being culled and disposed for disease control purposes (2.8 million since Oct 2022; 3.2 million birds between October 2021 and September 2022). This is a small proportion (approximately 0.6%) of overall yearly poultry production (c.20m birds slaughtered for human consumption per week).
Of the total which have died or are being culled and disposed for disease control purposes during the outbreak, approximately 1,282,000 are turkeys, 679,200 ducks and 60,800 geese (equating to approximately 21%, 11% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) (931,000 turkeys, 336,700 ducks, and 19,000 geese (equating to approximately 33%, 12% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) since October 2022; 351,000 turkeys, 342,500 ducks and 41,800 geese (equating to approximately 11%, 11% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) between October 2021 and September 2022).
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many turkeys have been culled since the outbreak of avian flu on 27 October 2021.
Answered by Mark Spencer
To date during the avian influenza outbreak (from 26 October 2021 to the 3 November 2022), 6 million poultry or other captive birds (including chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and other kept birds) have died or are being culled and disposed for disease control purposes (2.8 million since Oct 2022; 3.2 million birds between October 2021 and September 2022). This is a small proportion (approximately 0.6%) of overall yearly poultry production (c.20m birds slaughtered for human consumption per week).
Of the total which have died or are being culled and disposed for disease control purposes during the outbreak, approximately 1,282,000 are turkeys, 679,200 ducks and 60,800 geese (equating to approximately 21%, 11% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) (931,000 turkeys, 336,700 ducks, and 19,000 geese (equating to approximately 33%, 12% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) since October 2022; 351,000 turkeys, 342,500 ducks and 41,800 geese (equating to approximately 11%, 11% and 1% of the total birds culled respectively) between October 2021 and September 2022).
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on poultry prices in winter 2022-23 of the decision to cull birds following the outbreak of avian flu on 27 October 2021.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The British poultry sector is highly resilient and plays a significant role in the production of high quality chicken, turkey, duck and geese.
The United Kingdom is currently experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) with over 240 cases confirmed across the country in poultry and other captive birds since October 2021. During the period 1st– 31st October 2022, around 1.5 million chickens, 822,000 turkeys, 330,000 ducks, and 19,000 geese alone have died or been culled because of AI.
We recognise that these outbreaks are very distressing for the individual poultry farmers and businesses that are affected. However, the overall impact on food supply is relatively small, with approximately 1.1 billion chickens and 11 million turkeys alone usually sold in Great Britain each year.
Defra’s objective in tackling any outbreak of AI is to eradicate the disease as quickly as possible. Our approach considers the latest ornithological, epidemiological, veterinary and other scientific advice. Where necessary, we are also able to introduce Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) and mandatory housing measures within AIPZs to prevent the spread of the disease. A national housing order in England was announced on 31st October and will come into force on 7th November.
The price increases that the poultry industry has seen this last year are largely a result of rising input costs such as feed and energy; partly caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of bee bricks installed in new buildings on supporting bee populations.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
While no formal assessment of the effectiveness of bee bricks has been undertaken, the Government works with public, private and voluntary sector partners to develop advice for everyone wishing to provide and manage nesting and feeding resources for bees and other insects, whether in gardens, the wider countryside or new buildings.
This advice is based on clear evidence that by increasing habitat for insects, including bees, we support long-term population increases in those insects.
Defra and Natural England are also working with other partners and stakeholders to develop a Green Infrastructure Framework. This will provide guidance as to what good green infrastructure looks like and help local authorities, developers and communities to improve provision in their area, including introducing nature friendly features into new developments.
In addition, all public bodies, including local authorities, have a legal duty under the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act to have regard to conserving biodiversity when exercising their functions, a duty which the Environment Act 2021 strengthens. Some local authorities may choose to introduce a planning requirement that requires suitable new buildings to include bee bricks, or they may focus on other measures, such as creating pollinator friendly wildflower habitats.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on maintaining British food standards in the trade deal with Australia.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
I have had regular discussions with the Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade and, indeed, other Cabinet colleagues on the issue of food standards in the context of our negotiations with Australia.
The UK is rightly proud of our world-leading food, environment and animal welfare standards. We have a number of tools available in FTAs to maintain these standards. All imports of agri-food products will still have to comply with the UK’s food safety and biosecurity requirements.
The commitment to non-regression means that neither country can lower their animal welfare standards to undercut the other.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
What steps he is taking to support farmers producing food for the domestic market.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
From this year we will be offering new productivity support. Farmers will be able to apply for grants to help them invest in equipment and technology and boost their productivity under the Farming Investment Fund.
The Farm Resilience scheme will provide help for the first three years of the agricultural transition period to manage their businesses through the transition. It will ensure experts are on hand to provide any advice and support needed.