Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to include primates in the scope of the proposed ban on the import of hunting trophies.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope for the ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Species of conservation concern are listed primarily on Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) according to the level of threat international trade has on their conservation status. This includes a large number of primate species.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
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 plans to reform the (a) Packaging Recovery Note and (b) Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note system to (i) reduce price disparities, (ii) strengthen oversight of overseas export destinations and (iii) support domestic recycling infrastructure.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We meet regularly with industry stakeholders and will examine options to reform the Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN/PERN) system, which will include proposals intended to support the UK recycling sector.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on tackling plastic pollution; and what steps he is taking through international forums to promote global action to (a) reduce plastic waste and (b) support sustainable alternatives.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that no country can solve alone. The UK has played an active role in pushing for an ambitious and effective global plastics treaty.
In June 2025 I met with a range of influential countries in the margins of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice to discuss global action. Over 90 countries, including the UK, endorsed the 'Nice Wake-up Call' calling for an ambitious global treaty to end plastic pollution.
I also attended the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee took place from 5-14 August in Geneva. The UK worked hard to progress negotiations, working closely with our partners to push for effective global measures on plastic products, including ensuring that any alternatives are sustainable. We are disappointed that no agreement was reached.
The Government remains steadfast in our commitment to continue working to secure an effective global treaty on plastic pollution which protects the environment and paves the way to a circular economy.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of levels of (a) puppy and (b) kitten smuggling into the UK under existing pet travel rules.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Due to the illegal nature of this activity, we cannot know the true extent of puppy and kitten smuggling operations. The Animal and Plant Health Agency plays a critical role in monitoring and intercepting animals that do not meet legal importation standards including those that are underage.
As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. That is why we are supporting the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill. We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through the House of Lords as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
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 (a) uphold and (b) improve welfare standards for racing greyhounds; and in what way his Department engages with organisations involved in their (i) care and (ii) oversight.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The welfare of racing greyhounds in England is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 (the 2010 Regulations). The 2010 Regulations include a number of welfare requirements, such as requiring all greyhound tracks to have a veterinary surgeon in attendance to ensure that every greyhound is fit to run.
In addition to these statutory protections, the sport’s main regulatory body – the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has also undertaken a number of welfare reforms to improve welfare standards for racing greyhounds, including publishing a long term, national welfare strategy – ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’. The Greyhound Forum, of which Defra officials and GBGB are members, also regularly discusses possible improvements that would ensure or improve welfare standards for racing greyhounds.
The Government is monitoring GBGB’s progress in delivering ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’ strategy and should further measures be required the Government will consider options which are targeted, effective, and proportionate.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
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 plans to set a timetable for the phasing out of farrowing crates.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of light pollution on biodiversity.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has supported international assessments of drivers of change on insects and wider biodiversity such as the global IPBES Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production (2016), which notes that the effect of light on nocturnal insects may be growing and identifies the need for further study.
The National Planning Policy Framework, updated in 2024, sets out how the possible ecological impacts of artificial light should be considered in the planning system. It includes a specific requirement to limit the impact of light pollution on nature conservation. Defra has also contributed to associated guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
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 plans to amend waste regulations to impose stricter controls on the (a) destinations and (b) environmental standards of aluminium scrap exports.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government takes the control of waste exports and our international obligations very seriously. The export of aluminium scrap is subject to strict controls and exporters are required to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout shipment and recycling. The Government has not issued any specific proposals to amend existing waste regulations relating to aluminium scrap.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of levels of aluminium scrap being exported to Asia on the environment.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government takes the control of waste exports and our international obligations very seriously. The export of aluminium scrap is subject to strict controls and exporters are required to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout shipment and recycling. The Government has not issued any specific proposals to amend existing waste regulations relating to aluminium scrap.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many used beverage cans were exported outside of Europe under the Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note system in 2024-25.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Producer Responsibility Regulations, waste exporters are accredited by packaging material, not by format, so it is not possible to provide an exact tonnage of beverage cans exported for recycling.
In terms of total tonnages, in 2024, and as part of the PRN/PERN system, 157,049 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste was recycled, of which 51,690 tonnes (33%) was exported outside of the EU for recycling.