Asked by: Michelle Donelan (Conservative - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of badgers exterminated through culling in Wiltshire were found to carry bovine TB in all instances in which tests were carried out in the last five years.
Answered by George Eustice
Natural England has not licensed the killing of badgers in Wiltshire for the purpose of preventing the spread of bovine TB in the last five years.
Asked by: Michelle Donelan (Conservative - Chippenham)
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 has issued guidance to local authorities on the conservation of nestling swifts in the demolition or renovation of old housing estates.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Natural England has part funded the production of book called Designing for Biodiversity: A Technical Guide for New and Existing Buildings. The publication includes detailed advice on provision for swifts (as well as a range of other species) in new developments, which local authorities may find useful.
No specific guidance has been issued to local authorities on the conservation of nestling swifts in the demolition or renovation of old housing estates.
Asked by: Michelle Donelan (Conservative - Chippenham)
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 extent to which kosher products are sold without being labelled as such in (a) supermarkets and (b) restaurants and cafes.
Answered by George Eustice
There is no obligation to label products as being kosher. However, when foods are labelled or presented as such, the information given must not mislead the average consumer. It is the responsibility of food businesses, including retailers and caterers, to ensure that the food they sell is what they say it is.
The definition of kosher and certification as kosher is a matter for the Jewish community and private business.
Accreditation bodies can assist retailers by setting standards and ensuring that these standards are met. These bodies are private organisations.
Asked by: Michelle Donelan (Conservative - Chippenham)
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 extent to which halal products are sold without being labelled as such in (a) supermarkets and (b) restaurants and cafes.
Answered by George Eustice
There is no obligation to label products as being halal. However, when foods are labelled or presented as such, the labelling must not mislead the consumer. It is the responsibility of food businesses, including retailers and caterers, to ensure that the food they sell is what they say it is.
The definition of halal and certification as halal is a matter for the Muslim community and private business.
Accreditation bodies can assist retailers by setting standards and ensuring that these standards are met. These bodies are private organisations.
Asked by: Michelle Donelan (Conservative - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department provides to farmers who are waiting to receive a single farm payment.
Answered by George Eustice
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) started paying Basic Payment Scheme claims from the opening of the payment window on 1 December 2015. As of 21 March 2016, the RPA has paid 72,807 claimants approximately £1.15 billion and remains focused on paying the remainder of claims as promptly as possible.
The RPA has an established financial hardship process and is working with a range of farming help organisations to see what further support could be offered. Following hardship case referrals from these organisations, over 420 farmers have received RPA hardship payments, amounting to more than £6.8 million.