Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) published on the use of electronic training collars since 2018.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not commissioned or published new research on this matter since 2018. The decision to ban electronic shock collars was reached after considering a broad range of factors. This includes academic research – including Defra-commissioned research (AW1402 and AW1402a), published in 2011. We also note the findings of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, published in April 2023, which recommended banning the devices on welfare grounds.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has received representations from animal welfare organisations on the notice owners require ahead of the coming into force of the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It is the Government’s intention that the ban on the use of electronic shock collars is introduced on a revised timeline and allows owners sufficient time to retrain their dogs.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
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 amount of notice owners will require ahead of the coming into force of the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It is the Government’s intention that the ban on the use of electronic shock collars is introduced on a revised timeline and allows owners sufficient time to retrain their dogs.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date he plans to bring into force the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government remains committed to introducing a ban on the use of e-collars. We will pursue new regulations to deliver this commitment on a revised timeline. Parliamentary business will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received opposing the proposed ban on the use of electronic training collars since 2018.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Both during and after process of consultation in 2018, we have heard a range of views from stakeholders and correspondents on the proposed ban on electronic shock collars. We recognise that some people do not support the Government’s decision to ban electronic training collars controlled by hand-held devices that deliver an electric shock to cats or dogs. However, we have to balance these views against the need to protect dogs and cats from avoidable harm and suffering.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on members of the armed forces contacting hon. Members.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Those serving in the Armed Forces are accountable to Ministers and should not therefore contact Members of Parliament regarding Defence business.
They may however contact their Member of Parliament about personal matters affecting them directly, including their lived experience during their service. This includes issues related to: recruitment and training; terms and conditions of service; career management; discipline; housing; healthcare; and how defence policies and practices affect them and their families personally.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice he has (a) commissioned and (b) received from the Animal Welfare Committee on the use of electronic training collars since 2018.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) has not been commissioned to produce advice on the use of e-collars for cats and dogs. The AWC report ‘Opinion on the welfare implications of using virtual fencing systems to contain, move and monitor livestock’ was published in October 2022. This opinion was limited to the welfare effects of electronic collars used as part of virtual containment systems for cattle, sheep and goats.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the Fifth Report of Session 2023-24 of the Committee of Public Accounts entitled Government’s programme of waste reforms.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Based on a report by the National Audit Office, the Public Accounts Committee took evidence from Defra on 11 September 2023. The Committee published its report on 1 December 2023. The Fifth Report of Session 2023-24 of the Committee entitled 'Government's Programme of Waste Reforms' is the Government’s response to the recommendations in the Committee’s report. The Fifth Report of Session 2023-24 will be returned to Treasury Officers of Accounts on 7 February 2024 and published on 15 February 2024.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department has taken to address the persecution of Buddhists in Tibet.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government consistently raises human rights issues with the Chinese authorities. The Foreign Secretary did so during his introductory call with China's Foreign Minister on 5 December 2023. We also regularly raise Tibet in multilateral fora, urging China to reverse its ongoing, serious, and systematic human rights violations. On 23 January at China's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, the UK again called on China to cease human rights violations in Tibet. The British government works with international organisations and networks to promote and protect the freedom of religion or belief for all where it is threatened, including through the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
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 implications for his Department's policies of the European Chemicals Agency's report entitled Investigation report to support the Commission on the preparation of a restriction proposal for the use and presence of CMR 1A or 1B substances in childcare articles based on REACH Article 68(2), published on 31 October 2023.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has implemented its own independent chemicals regulatory framework, including UK REACH, from 1 January 2021.
UK REACH retains the same fundamental approach and key principles of EU REACH, ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment in the UK. Now that we have left the EU, we are responsible for introducing our own regulatory measures, and these reflect GB-specific circumstances and effectively address the risks which apply in GB. In so doing we remain aware of regulatory activity taking place within EU REACH.