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Written Question
Seals
Monday 8th June 2015

Asked by: Susan Elan Jones (Labour - Clwyd South)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of seals killed by the British fishing industry in the last 12 months.

Answered by George Eustice

Seal conservation is a devolved issue so I can only respond with respect to England. Approximately 85% of the UK seal population is in Scotland and the Scottish government have their own legislation concerning the protection of seals.

No licences to cull seals, under the Seals Act 1970, have been issued in England since 2010.

A ‘Conservation Order’ currently protects grey and common seals on the east coast of England. Given the distribution of seal populations in England, this Order has the net effect of providing year round protection for almost all common seals and the majority of grey seals in England.

Fishermen are permitted to kill or take, without the need for a licence, to protect their fishing equipment or fish therein if the seal is in the vicinity of the equipment at that time.

The Government has not made an assessment of the number of seals that may have been killed off the English coast.

Written Question
Wildlife: Smuggling
Monday 15th December 2014

Asked by: Susan Elan Jones (Labour - Clwyd 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 the Government is taking to monitor the use of the internet for wildlife-related criminal activity.

Answered by Dan Rogerson

We recognise that the internet can be used as a route for wildlife-related criminal activity, including illegal trade in species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The illegal trade in CITES species is one of the six UK wildlife crime priorities and action to tackle such trade is spearheaded by the UK CITES Priority Delivery Group (CPDG) comprising Border Force, the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). Defra has provided additional funding to the NWCU this year to conduct research into wildlife crime on the internet and we will be considering the findings of their report.

Powers are available in the UK to tackle illegal internet trade in wildlife products under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (COTES) legislation. This legislation is currently under review. The review will consider trends in illegal trade and the enforcement practices needed to combat this, including the increasing use of the internet to conduct trade in wildlife products.

More broadly the National Crime Agency (NCA) focuses on the relentless disruption of serious and organised criminals and those that present the highest risk to the UK and its communities. Where high risk organised criminals are engaged in illegal wildlife trade the NCA will lead, support or coordinate an appropriate level of response. That response could include the NCA’s niche capabilities such as the National Cyber Crime Unit or its global network of liaison officers.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 Mar 2014
Badger Cull

"Whatever our views on this subject, one need only remember what the Secretary of State himself said in this Chamber in October 2012:

“It would have been quite wrong to go ahead when it was not confident of reaching the 70% target and could have made the position worse.”—[ …..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Badger Cull
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 Feb 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"With so many developments on this issue, an increasing number of us are of the view that the problem is not so much to do with the badgers as with the Government who are moving the goalposts. In a not very heavy parliamentary schedule, will the Government commit to time …..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Oct 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"I am sure that many of us will be of the view that the increased attendance in cathedrals must be down not only to the high standards of liturgy but to the fact that they have a diverse range of clergy. On the subject of churches and diversity, would the …..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Nov 2012
Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [Lords]

"I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh), who, as ever, speaks with great authority and expertise in this area.

I welcome the Bill. The creation of the groceries code adjudicator is an important step, and it is vital that we get the best …..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [Lords]
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 13 Sep 2012
Dairy Industry

"My hon. Friend has spoken a great deal about fairness and equity in this industry. Although I think that we would all welcome the voluntary code, I am reliably informed by certain farmers in the Ceiriog valley that there is a chance that it might not work and that if …..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 03 Feb 2011
Oral Answers to Questions

"Will the Minister tell us how many staff will be cut from the RPA as a result of the 30% departmental spending cuts? Will he also explain how that will speed up payments to farmers?..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Dec 2010
Oral Answers to Questions

"8. When she plans to publish a rural impact assessment in respect of the comprehensive spending review...."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Dec 2010
Oral Answers to Questions

"I am grateful to the Secretary of State for her answer, but will she home in a little and give me one concrete example of something that DEFRA has done in this area?..."
Susan Elan Jones - View Speech

View all Susan Elan Jones (Lab - Clwyd South) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions