Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Environment Secretary makes statement on flooding

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Water in Wales, George Eustice, Eustice, British MPs, Organizations

George Eustice MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs updated the House on the recent flooding in the UK.

Key Points: 
  • George Eustice MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs updated the House on the recent flooding in the UK.
  • 18 river gages across 15 rivers recorded the highest levels of wateron record, triggered by the two storms.
  • Over 1,000 Environment Agency staff per day have been deployed, with the assistance of around 80 military personnel.
  • He also thanked the emergency services, the Environment Agency, local councils and volunteers.

Environment Secretary makes statement on flooding

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Water in Wales, George Eustice, Eustice, British MPs, Organizations

George Eustice MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs updated the House on the recent flooding in the UK.

Key Points: 
  • George Eustice MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs updated the House on the recent flooding in the UK.
  • 18 river gages across 15 rivers recorded the highest levels of wateron record, triggered by the two storms.
  • Over 1,000 Environment Agency staff per day have been deployed, with the assistance of around 80 military personnel.
  • He also thanked the emergency services, the Environment Agency, local councils and volunteers.

Lords debates Fisheries Bill

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Countries, Environmental law in the United Kingdom, ClientEarth, Environmental law, Marine Management Organisation, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, John Gardiner, Baron Gardiner of Kimble, Parliament of Singapore, Environment (Wales) Act, Speaker of the House of Commons, Seafarers UK, United Kingdom

Members of the Lords will discuss the key principles and purpose of the Fisheries Bill during second reading on Tuesday 11 February.

Key Points: 
  • Members of the Lords will discuss the key principles and purpose of the Fisheries Bill during second reading on Tuesday 11 February.
  • Speakers expected to take part include a member of the ClientEarth Development Committee and a trustee of Seafarers UK.
  • Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is expected to open the debate on the bill and respond on behalf of the government.
  • protect the UK's marine environment by extending the powers of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Scottish and Welsh Ministers.

General licences for controlling wild birds

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 1, 2019
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England, England, Conservation in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom

House of Commons Library

Key Points: 
  • House of Commons Library

    This paper provides an overview of the general licence system for controlling wild birds in England, following media attention given to the revocation of three licences in April 2019.

  • Wild birds are protected under UK law, but licences may be issued which allow lethal control to be used in certain conditions for particular statutory purposes.
  • Since the 1990s, general licences have been issued which allow authorised persons to exercise lethal control on a number of wild bird species without the need to apply for specific licences.
  • In April 2019, Natural England announced that three general licences for the control of wild birds would be revoked.

Defra's no deal Brexit preparations: Minister to give evidence

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 11, 2019
Brexit, Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom, Withdrawal from the European Union, No Deal, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Disaster preparedness, Decades, European Union, Negotiation

Wednesday 16 October in Committee Room, Palace of Westminster

Key Points: 
  • Wednesday 16 October in Committee Room, Palace of Westminster
    The Committee has an ongoing inquiry examining the UKs preparations for a 'no deal' Brexit and the impact this may have on energy and the environment.
  • On 11 September, the Government published its no deal Yellowhammer planning assumptions.
  • Without a deal currently in place as the UK departure date gets closer, the Committee will ask the Minister how Defra plans to meet the challenges of a 'no deal' exit.
  • The impact of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Bills not being made into law before the 31 October.

Defra's no deal Brexit preparations: Minister to give evidence

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 11, 2019
Brexit, Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom, Withdrawal from the European Union, No Deal, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Disaster preparedness, Decades, European Union, Negotiation

Wednesday 16 October in Committee Room, Palace of Westminster

Key Points: 
  • Wednesday 16 October in Committee Room, Palace of Westminster
    The Committee has an ongoing inquiry examining the UKs preparations for a 'no deal' Brexit and the impact this may have on energy and the environment.
  • On 11 September, the Government published its no deal Yellowhammer planning assumptions.
  • Without a deal currently in place as the UK departure date gets closer, the Committee will ask the Minister how Defra plans to meet the challenges of a 'no deal' exit.
  • The impact of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Bills not being made into law before the 31 October.

Lords examines Wild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Animals, Circuses, Animal welfare organizations, Humans, Bioethics, Animal welfare, Freedom for Animals, Great British Circus

Peers discuss use of wild animals

Key Points: 
  • Members discussed the definition of the term 'wild animal', the use of domesticated animals and animal welfare.
  • Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative), the bill's sponsor in the Lords and parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,opened the debate on the bill and responded on behalf of the government.
  • This bill will aim to prohibit the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

Live Animal Exports

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Countries, Meat industry, International organizations, World, Animal welfare, Export, Intensive farming, Live export, Livestock, Brexit, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Animal slaughter

Tuesday, June 18, 2019Live animals are exported to EU countries from the UK for breeding, fattening, and slaughter. EU rules to protect the welfare of live animals during transport and related operations were agreed in 2004, and implemented in the UK in 2007. However, there are a number of ongoing campaigns calling for a ban on live exports for slaughter, on welfare grounds. The UK vote to leave the EU has prompted renewed calls for such a ban.

Key Points: 
  • Is the vote to leave the EU an opportunity to ban live animal exports?
  • In the case that followed the High Court ruled that the Port could not ban live animal exports, on the grounds of freedom of movement within the EU and existing UK legislation.
  • In November 2016, the then Minister explained that the Government had not reached a position on the nature of future arrangements concerning live animal exports after Brexit.
  • In April 2018, Defra issued a six week call for evidence on controlling live exports for slaughter and to improve animal welfare during transport after the UK leaves the EU on behalf of the UK Government and Devolved Administrations.

Lords debates Wild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Circus, Lord Gardiner, John Gardiner, Baron Gardiner of Kimble

Use of wild animals on agenda

Key Points: 

Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative), the bill's sponsor in the Lords and parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is expected to open the debate on the bill and respond on behalf of the government.
This bill will aim to prohibit the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

FS50809977

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 14, 2019
Freedom of information in the United States, Michael Gove, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public records, British MPs, Government of the United Kingdom, Government

The complainant has requested DEFRA to disclose all correspondence and communications between Michael Gove and the European Research Group (ERG). DEFRA confirmed that it considers all communications of this nature are party political, do not relate to departmental business and so are not covered by FOIA. However, it has carried out all necessary searches and no information is held. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities DEFRA does not hold any recorded information falling within the scope of the request. She therefore does not require any further action to be taken.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested DEFRA to disclose all correspondence and communications between Michael Gove and the European Research Group (ERG).
  • DEFRA confirmed that it considers all communications of this nature are party political, do not relate to departmental business and so are not covered by FOIA.
  • However, it has carried out all necessary searches and no information is held.
  • The Commissioners decision is that on the balance of probabilities DEFRA does not hold any recorded information falling within the scope of the request.