Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
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 merits of requiring (a) full ingredient declaration and (b) meaningful, legal definitions of commonly-used marketing terms in its review of the Bread and Flour Regulations.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations committed to carry out a review of Bread and Flour Regulations across the UK. The key proposals for change are outlined in a public consultation published on 1 September 2022 which is open for responses until 23 November 2022. The proposals address the most pressing aspects identified for change including the addition of mandatory folic acid to flour to prevent neural tube defects in foetuses. Full ingredient listing is already required for all prepacked foods with loose foods subject to certain derogations for practical reasons. An update of existing guidance around commonly used marketing terms across all foods is planned for the future.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
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 remove unwanted ivory products from the UK.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Ivory Act 2018 will introduce one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world by banning the dealing in items made of or containing elephant ivory, regardless of their age, unless they fall within one of the narrow and carefully defined exemptions. The ban will come into force in the spring.
It is important to note that the Act will not affect the ownership of ivory items. We recognise that, for some low value items, owners may decide it is not cost-effective to register them for sale. This will be a decision for individual owners. Such items may of course be gifted, donated, or bequeathed rather than discarded. We will explain to owners what options are available to them as part of our awareness raising campaign.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2021 to Question 37500, Bomb Disposal: Seas and Oceans, what progress has been made on the first at sea trails of alternative clearance methods for unexploded ordnance which were planned to begin in October 2021.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Danish Navy and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are working together to deliver the first at sea trials of deflagration on unexploded ordinance. The first trials were planned for October 2021 but have been rescheduled to January 2022 due to operational and logistical constraints. Working at sea in changeable conditions and with old and degraded explosives is challenging and it is essential that appropriate expertise and equipment are available, not least to maintain high safety standards.
The UK Government, marine regulators and statutory nature conservation bodies published a joint interim position statement last month on disposal techniques for unexploded ordnance. This demonstrates, for the first time, a preference for quieter alternative technologies and ensures low noise alternatives will be prioritized, wherever possible, over detonations.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the UK Government is taking to reduce the environmental impact of underwater munitions disposal.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance by detonation can have on vulnerable marine species. Therefore, Defra’s dedicated underwater noise team, as part of the Offshore Wind Enabling Actions Programme, is continuing to focus on reducing, monitoring and managing underwater noise to minimise harm to marine life.
In addition, the Government is working closely with scientists, industry, and regulators to investigate and collect the necessary evidence on the safety and efficacy of these alternative methods of UXO clearance in the marine environment. The very first at sea trails of alternative clearance methods are planned to begin in October. Further to this, Defra and BEIS officials are working together to expedite planning and creation of additional trials of historic UXO clearance using alternative methods in the North Sea
Once sufficient evidence is available, and on the advice of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) (as the regulatory authority) will be able to make the strongest licensing decisions around the use of such low order techniques in England.
At present, UXO removal must be individually assessed by the MMO in accordance with the applicable marine licence, marine protected species licence and habitats regulation requirements and all forms of potential mitigation considered. For example, marine mammal specialists are deployed to ensure there are no marine mammals in the vicinity.