Robin Swann

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit has 50 trained inspectors which includes the National Bee Inspector and 8 Regional Bee Inspectors. All of these inspectors are trained to inspect and assess the health of bees and the hives in England and Wales.

The UK approach to managing climate risks is set out by the Climate Change Act 2008 and involves a Climate Change Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Programme. Similar to the French approach our National Adaptation Programme is developed on a 5 yearly cycle, outlining national-level measures that aim to address the impacts of climate change, and is based on planning adaptation against a longer-term climate change scenario.

The most recent National Adaptation Programme was published in 2023 and covered five sectors, infrastructure, natural environment, health, communities and built environment, business and industry and international dimensions, and 61 climate risks all owned and managed by specific government departments. We are managing the National Adaptation Programme as an ongoing programme of delivery against climate risks and are considering a range of options to achieve this and will set out our refreshed approach in due course.

Due to the intelligence led and dynamic nature of our biosecurity controls, and to ensure operations are not impacted, we are unable to share this data.

Due to the intelligence led and dynamic nature of our biosecurity controls, and to ensure operations are not impacted, we are unable to share data on inspection volumes.

Due to the intelligence led and dynamic nature of our biosecurity controls, and to ensure operations are not impacted, we are unable to share this data.

The risk of legitimate commercial loads not attending Sevington is mitigated by robust, data-backed enforcement options. Consignments called to Sevington for an inspection will have completed the necessary customs declarations and pre-notifications. These goods will not be legally cleared for sale or use within the UK until they have attended and been cleared at the Border Control Post (BCP).

Where the BCP has concerns, for example due to non-attendance, there are existing robust provisions for contacting the person responsible for the load. These provisions are enforceable through the data collected in customs declarations and pre-notification.

Meanwhile, vehicles suspected to be carrying illegal imports (e.g. those for which customs declarations and pre-notification have not been made or suspected to have been made in bad faith) will continue to be stopped and dealt with by Border Force at the point of entry to the UK, not sent to the BCP.

In response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany, we are in contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation and, as is routine procedure, we are working closely with the Devolved Governments to understand the risks to the UK and prevent an incursion from imported goods.

On 21 January, the situation and the need for ongoing collaboration and vigilance was also discussed at a meeting between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Hayman of Ullock; Andrew Muir MLA; and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Member for Leeds South (Hilary Benn).

The measures announced on 14 January 2025 apply to imports into Great Britain. For Northern Ireland the controls on meat and live animals will apply to a 3 kilometres protection zone and 10 kilometres surveillance zones surrounding the infected premises in Germany. Products from the zones cannot move to Northern Ireland. Meat from outside these disease control zones can move into Northern Ireland, as can personal movements of food products. Additional health requirements will apply for movement of live animals from outside of these zones. The measures in place to protect farmers in Northern Ireland are strong. Given the strict prohibitions on the imports of animals and products of animal origin from countries in which foot and mouth disease is present, goods which transit Great Britain when moving from Germany to Northern Ireland are also subject to the same restrictions as imports into Great Britain.

Qualifying Northern Ireland goods will continue to have full unfettered access to the rest of the UK, these provisions are unaffected by these new control measures.

Water policy and regulation in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in the Northern Ireland Executive. However, there are regular opportunities for ministerial discussions on a wide range of issues where there are shared challenges and opportunities.

The department has not made an assessment of the trade agreement between the EU and Mercusor. The department continuously monitors agri-food markets through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group.

Responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 lies with English local authorities. Local authorities may keep records of individual enforcement activity, including cases that have led to prosecutions. However, the information requested regarding prosecutions is not held centrally by Defra.

Defra is finalising a post-implementation review (PIR) of the Regulations. The PIR considers the effectiveness of the regulations, including enforcement. The report into the review will be published shortly.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Between 2019 and 2023, the Environment Agency mitigated 58 barriers to fish passage on England’s salmon rivers. The Environment Agency also manages salmon fisheries in England, ensuring that 95% of salmon catches in 2023 were released, alive, through a combination of voluntary and mandatory measures.

Cleaning up the water environment is a key priority for Defra. The Government will be carrying out a review of the water sector regulatory system, with further details to be set out later this year.

Defra is also working internationally to protect salmon populations through participation in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). A full list of actions related to salmon conservation can be found in the England and Wales NASCO “Implementation Plan”, along with annual progress updates. The Environment Agency is currently re-assessing the key pressures on salmon, in England, ahead of producing a new Implementation Plan in 2025/26, to cover the 2025 – 2030 reporting cycle.

A recent £15 million round of the Farming Innovation Programme focussed on nutrient management, funding research projects to develop ideas and technology enabling farmers to manage their inputs and reduce environmental risk more effectively. Managing and recovering phosphorous in slurry is in scope of this competition and the successful projects will be announced in due course.

The Government is aware of the calls for legislative changes within the veterinary industry. Officials are working closely with stakeholders to consider all options to support the sector.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to this in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Secretary of State and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland recently discussed the shared priority of improving water quality in the UK. There was agreement to collaborate further by enhancing joint scientific research and exchanging best practice methods to tackle pollution of culturally and economically important water bodies such as Lough Neagh.

For an airport to be designated as Level 3 slot coordinated, and therefore requiring the formal allocation of slots by an independent coordinator, the demand for operating services should exceed the airport infrastructure’s capacity for at least one scheduling period. Secretary of State approval is required to designate any airport as Level 3 slot coordinated.

We are committed to the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles, as this will drive economic growth, help the UK meet its climate change obligations and improve air quality.

To support that transition, the Department for Transport continues to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive. Transport is a devolved matter, so this would be the decision of the Executive.

Under the UK law, the managing body of the airport is responsible for ensuring the provision of free assistance, for disabled or less mobile passengers. The UK aviation sector operates in a private market, therefore the sector is responsible for funding the provision of assistance.

We recognise that the concerns the Taskforce will work on are shared across the UK. Therefore, we have proposed a meeting of the Taskforce that includes representatives from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to discuss any key differences in markets across the UK and how these affect the cost of insurance for consumers.

This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October.

The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant Government Departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.

This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies and communities.

Ministers are giving consideration to this matter. An update will be provided in due course.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) published its new Airline Accessibility Performance Framework Guidance on 7 August 2024. It sets out requirements for airlines to meet existing legal obligations, and the criteria to be used by the CAA for airline accessibility assessments.

Everyone must be able to fly with dignity and ease. This Government is committed to ensuring aviation is accessible, and will consider the ways this can be best achieved.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) assesses airports on a yearly basis to ensure airports are meeting their legal obligations, and provides a rating on the airports performance against its Airport Accessibility Performance Framework.  It is for the the CAA as the independent regulator to develop the tools it needs to assess performance and take enforcement action as needed.  The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring aviation is accessible, and it will continue to work with the CAA, industry and stakeholders to ensure that everyone can fly with dignity and ease.