Written Question

Avian Influenza

Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk posed by avian flu, given its spread through the US cattle herd and reports that many infected cattle are asymptomatic; what monitoring is being carried out on UK cattle and other farm animals, wild mammals, and the humans that come into contact with them; and what additional biosecurity measures they are planning or developing.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is in close contact with counterparts in the United States on the incidents of influenza of avian origin in cattle in the USA. We know that the strain of virus (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain B3.13) involved has not been detected in the UK.

Defra is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Food Standards Agency, the Cabinet Office and with international partners on risk assessments to consider the routes of incursion, animal to animal spread and animal to human spill-over and to review our well-tested surveillance mechanisms and preparedness activities in light of this emerging situation.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has assessed the risk to Great Britain of this outbreak in the USA of Influenza A (H5N1) of avian origin in livestock to our own livestock as very low (event is very rare but cannot be excluded). The assessment has been published on gov.uk Avian influenza in cattle in USA (publishing.service.gov.uk) (see attached). The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have assessed the risk to UK consumers from HPAI strain B3.13 in imported milk, dairy products, colostrum and colostrum-based products originating from US dairy cattle as very low with medium uncertainty (Rapid Risk Assessment: Risk to UK consumers from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US dairy products | Food Standards Agency) (see attached).

In response to the unprecedented global outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in wild and kept birds, the UK's avian influenza national reference laboratory at the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge laboratory has increased its surveillance in both wild birds and wild mammals and genome analysis of the virus itself while keeping a close eye on its spread in global populations of wildlife. In addition, we have published an ‘Influenza A (H5N1) infection in mammals: suspect case definition and diagnostic testing criteria’ on gov.uk to support veterinary professionals and others in knowing when to report suspicion. The UK case definition for influenza of avian origin in mammals has been updated and now includes a case definition for ungulates including dairy cattle, this in response the emerging situation in cattle in the USA and will be kept under regular review as further information becomes available.

We are monitoring the situation closely but at this time have no reason to suspect the virus is circulating in our cattle, nor is this strain of the virus circulating in Europe. We have had no recent cases of avian influenza in kept birds, or findings of influenza of avian origin in kept or wild mammals, and the risk level from wild birds is low. We have discussed the need for surveillance in wildlife, domestic animals and humans with DHSC and UKHSA and are considering the case for additional surveillance for influenza of avian origin in cattle and how best such animal health surveillance could be undertaken.

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Written Question

Milk: Health Education

Wednesday 28th February 2024

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote the benefits of drinking milk to children and young people.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Milk and dairy products make a valuable contribution to the nutrient content of the diet, providing protein and B vitamins for example. They are also an important source of calcium, which is especially important for children to help build healthy bones and teeth. In the United Kingdom, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for around the first six months of a baby’s life with continued breastfeeding throughout the first year. Following this, the Government encourages the population to consume some lower fat milk and dairy products as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This is reflected in the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, a copy of which is attached.

The Healthier Families and Start4Life websites both include information in an online-only format to parents of young and primary school aged children on the consumption of lower fat, unsweetened milk as part of a healthy balanced diet.

The Eatwell Guide principles, including consumption of milk and dairy products, underpin the School Food Standards and Public Health England’s example menus and guidance for early years settings, available on GOV.UK in an online-only format.

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Written Question

House of Commons: Food

Thursday 16th May 2024

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the House of Commons' policy is on the procurement of (a) food and (b) drinks produced in Britain for use in its canteens and restaurants.

Answered by Charles Walker

The House of Commons complies with UK legislative standards when procuring food and drinks from suppliers. Its procurement approach supports and where possible prioritises the purchase of food and drink produced in Britain. For example:

• The Strangers’ Bar offers Members the opportunity to request that a specific cask ale from an independent, regional brewer from their constituency be offered for sale.
• As much as possible, most fresh products purchased by Catering Services are sourced within the UK. This includes meat, poultry, dairy, bread, eggs and most fruit and vegetables (when in season). Bought-in sandwiches use British chicken and cheese boards feature only British cheese. Milk is sourced locally from a British dairy.
• There is a mandatory inclusion of wines from England and Wales on wine lists.
• Speciality cakes and dairy ice cream are only UK-made.
• Bottled water is from British source.
• Promotional activity in catering outlets highlights British food by showcasing a rolling programme of regional goods.

Certain regulations, such as the Government’s Procurement Policy Note of December 2020 and increased use of the UK-based Catering Framework, have allowed for additional freedom for spend on goods and services below certain price thresholds. Within the limits of these regulations, the House where possible seeks to hold competitions which only target producers within the UK.

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Commons Chamber
Groceries Code Adjudicator - Tue 05 Mar 2024
Department for Business and Trade

Mentions:
1: Alistair Carmichael (LD - Orkney and Shetland) Few things illustrate that better than the way in which the dairy industry has been affected by supermarket - Speech Link
2: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) burdens on sectors that may not require intervention.The first sector-specific regulations for the dairy - Speech Link

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Select Committee

G B Holmes Limited Partnership

MET0005 - Methane

Written Evidence May. 10 2024

Inquiry: Methane
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Environment and Climate Change Committee

Found: Written evidence from George Holmes (MET0005) Introduction I am a dairy farmer in Dorset farming 1000

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Departmental Publication (Research)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Jan. 26 2024

Source Page: Agri-climate report 2023
Document: (ODS)

Found: meat produced: obtained from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter Dairy

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Departmental Publication (Research)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dec. 22 2023

Source Page: Farm accounts in England data sets
Document: (webpage)

Found: farm.business.income General Cropping FBI 161 67,600 54,200 81,100 2013/14 2010SO Current farm.business.income Dairy

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Departmental Publication (Research)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dec. 22 2023

Source Page: Farm accounts in England data sets
Document: (webpage)

Found: in milk dairy.cows Dairy Part-time 0 c c c 2021/22 2013SO Beef cows beef.cows Dairy Part-time 0 c c

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Departmental Publication (Research)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dec. 22 2023

Source Page: Farm accounts in England data sets
Document: (webpage)

Found: Dairy Low 61 23 15 31 2021/22 2013SO Permanent grass (hectares) permanent.grass.principle.area Dairy

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