Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 potential merits of consulting stakeholders on a proportionate approach to managing avian influenza risks in relation to poultry shows.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials have engaged with stakeholders to better understand achievable conditions for poultry shows. This process helped to shape a set of template conditions which could mitigate the disease risk associated with some poultry gatherings (for example shows). Applicants can apply to the Animal and Plant Health Agency for a specific licence for a poultry gathering. An individual risk assessment will be competed for each application to determine if a licence can be granted for that specific event.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 review the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra is finalising its post-implementation review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The report into the review will be published in due course.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 Government plans to take to promote British food and drink exports.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The agri-food sector is worth over £100bn and employs one in eight people. The food and drink manufacturing sector – largest in the UK - exported nearly £19bn last year, including chocolates to Belgium, pork to China and chillies to India.
Supporting and encouraging businesses to take the opportunities that exporting presents is one of my Department’s top priorities. Officials are working with the industry and UKTI to develop a new Action Plan.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 Government plans to take to support bees and pollinators.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Taking action to support pollinators is a key part of my priorities to improve the natural environment and grow the rural economy.
Bees and other insect pollinators are vital to the diversity of our environment. They play an essential role in contributing to our £100bn food industry and are worth £400m to the economy. They face many threats and some species are in decline.
This is why we have published the National Pollinator Strategy on 4th November, a 10 year plan to build solid foundations to bring about the best possible conditions for pollinators to flourish.
The Government is committed to taking action to support pollinators across all types of land across our country, enhancing the response to pest and disease risks, and to improving our evidence base.