Results 1-20 of 1,692 for in the 'Written Answers' speaker:David Heath

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Red Tape (16 May 2013)

David Heath: The Farming Task Force Implementation Group has assessed progress in reducing red tape. Their assessment, published on 27 February, recognises the positive action taken by Government to date but highlights that much of it is yet to be felt by farmers. We will work at pace to ensure farmers see reductions in unnecessary red tape by: improving the way inspections are carried out; developing...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine Tuberculosis (16 May 2013)

David Heath: Financial data which allows the costs of bovine TB testing to be separately identified from other TB related spending for the last 10 years is not available. However, data is available (as follows) for 2011-12 and 2012-13 but not in the form requested as data is only available regionally (ie Midlands), not available by individual county. £ million   2011-12 2012-13 ...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine Tuberculosis (16 May 2013)

David Heath: The Irish approach to badger control is to cull badgers where they have been identified as contributing to an outbreak of TB, which is determined through an epidemiological investigation. There are a number of differences between the situation here and in the Republic of Ireland which mean that we are not planning to replicate their approach. These include differences in TB incidence, badger...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine Tuberculosis (16 May 2013)

David Heath: The Government is committed to a comprehensive and balanced approach to tackling bovine TB using all available tools. Numerous cattle controls are already in place, including: Routine surveillance testing of cattle herds, frequency of testing based on risk; Pre-movement testing of cattle from higher risk herds; Movement restrictions on animals from herds that have tested positive or...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine Tuberculosis (16 May 2013)

David Heath: EU Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), on 14 January 2013 setting out the substantial scientific evidence that will be needed before any decision can be taken on lifting the current EU ban on cattle vaccination. For that reason, his view is that it would be reasonable to...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine Tuberculosis: North West (16 May 2013)

David Heath: Bovine TB is rare in Cumbria and Lancashire. The majority of breakdowns identified in those counties in 2012 and previous years were caused by introductions of undetected infected cattle from areas of high TB incidence, including the West of England, Wales and Ireland. The origin of a recent cluster of bovine TB breakdowns detected in North Lancashire (River Lune valley) at the end of last...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Gangmasters (16 May 2013)

David Heath: DEFRA launched an eight week public consultation on proposals arising from the Red Tape Challenge review of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) on Friday 26 April. It includes proposals to introduce civil sanctions as an alternative to prosecution for the offences in the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act), and seeks views on how these could be introduced. Any measures...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Animal Welfare: Dogs (15 May 2013)

David Heath: The sport's regulatory authority, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), helps fund the Retired Greyhound Trust which rehomes many retired racing greyhounds. In addition, a significant proportion of ex-racing greyhounds find homes with their owners and trainers or through other welfare charities and others will return to Ireland. It is the responsibility of any racing greyhound owner to...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Horses: Databases (15 May 2013)

David Heath: No additional cost was incurred in running the tendering process to replace the National Equine Database. The procurement exercise was managed by existing staff resource.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Livestock: Exports (15 May 2013)

David Heath: No. The Harbour Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 aims to ensure that ports are available to all without discrimination. It would not be an appropriate legal instrument for use by port authorities to introduce an effective barrier to trade. In any case, banning the export of live animals would be illegal and undermine the principle of free movement of goods enshrined in the Treaty on the...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Livestock: Waste Disposal (15 May 2013)

David Heath: The Scheme for providing support to farmers for the costs of disposal of sheep, which died in the recent severe weather, will be administered by the National Fallen Stock Company. The Scheme will be administered at no cost to the taxpayer or farmer and will be open to both members and non-members of the National Fallen Stock Company's regular Scheme. An announcement is being made on how to...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Pesticides (15 May 2013)

David Heath: Measures recently proposed by the European Commission to restrict authorisations of three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) will come into force later this year. The Government will implement those measures on the date required. The Government have no plans, either nationally or on a regional or pilot basis, to impose additional restrictions or to...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture: Pay (14 May 2013)

David Heath: DEFRA does not collect data on the number of contracts awarded to agricultural workers. However, for the purposes of the impact assessment on abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board, DEFRA assumed that 5% of the permanent agricultural labour force were issued new contracts each year, and all temporary workers. Temporary workers represent around one third of the agricultural workforce.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture: Subsidies (14 May 2013)

David Heath: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) published a five-year plan in February 2012, designed to build stability and improve performance during the remaining part of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). The RPA business plan for 2012-13 was published in June 2012, setting new, more stretching performance indicators for every area of operations including, for example, speed and accuracy of payments,...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Ash Dieback Disease (14 May 2013)

David Heath: The process to evaluate the possible usefulness against Chalara of various chemical treatments submitted by a number of producers is covered in the Chalara Management Plan, published on 26 March. Based on scientific advice and other European countries' experience of Chalara we are advised against expecting to find a treatment that can be widely applied to protect woodland or treat an...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Flour: Additives (14 May 2013)

David Heath: DEFRA is currently coordinating a review of the national rules relating to bread and flour as they apply to England. It has held a public consultation seeking views on possible deregulatory options which closed on 13 March 2013. We are currently analysing the 47 responses received in conjunction with the Department of Health. The Government is committed to ensuring that any policy decision...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Forest Enterprise England (14 May 2013)

David Heath: Forest Enterprise England currently employs 39 people in full and part-time positions who are based at locations in Cumbria. They are all paid above the Living Wage Foundation's living wage of £7.45 per hour.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Horse Meat (14 May 2013)

David Heath: Products of animal origin (POAO), including meat, which are imported from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the European Union (EU). POAO imported from third countries must: come from an approved country; come from a country with an approved residue plan; come from an approved establishment/plant; be accompanied by appropriate animal and...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Horse Meat (14 May 2013)

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will announce the timing and details of the strategic review of the horsemeat fraud incident shortly.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture: Snow and Ice (13 May 2013)

David Heath: DEFRA provided an immediate programme of assistance to farmers who have had to cope with the effects of the horrendous spring weather. This was set out in my written ministerial statement on 18 April 2013, Official Report, column 34WS.