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  • Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of households with prepayment meters in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority in each year between 1996 and 2014.

    Gregory Barker

    Data is not available to the Department on the number of households with prepayment meters at the parliamentary constituency or local authority level.

    Statistics are produced on a quarterly basis which show the proportion of households on prepayment tariffs by Public Electricity Supply (PES) region. These are made available through the DECC publication Quarterly Energy Prices, in tables 242 (electricity) and 252 (gas), which can be found online at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-price-stastics

    “

  • Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects work to all properties identified by the Environment Agency in Christchurch constituency as being suitable for Property Level Protection against flooding to be completed.

    Dan Rogerson

    As part of schemes funded through Local Levy and Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid, work to protect ten properties in the Mudeford and Stanpit area is planned for 2015.

    Property-level protection measures were installed at twelve properties in Stony Lane, Christchurch earlier this year.

  • Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on placing the public forest estate on a sustainable footing; and if he will make a statement.

    Dan Rogerson

    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy), on 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 516W.

  • Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether garages, boiler rooms and other non-habitable areas affected by flooding are eligible for the Repair and Renew Grant.

    Dan Rogerson

    The “Repair and Renew” grant is available to establish resilience and resistance measures in properties to minimise the risk of damage caused by flooding. As it stands, the grant only applies to homes and businesses affected by flooding and excludes non-habitable areas.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received from environmental groups regarding beef consumption and the countries from which the UK imports beef.

    George Eustice

    As of 19 June, no such representations have been received from environmental groups.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what quantity and value of beef was imported to the UK from each importing country in the last year.

    George Eustice

    The following table provides details of UK imports of beef and veal as recorded in the Official Overseas Trade Statistics for the period May 2013 to April 2014. This is the latest available data.

    May 2013 – April 2014

    Country of dispatch

    Quantity (Thousand Tonnes)

    Value (£million)

    Irish Republic

    168

    629

    Netherlands

    15

    56

    Germany

    9

    29

    Poland

    8

    30

    Australia

    8

    49

    Namibia

    6

    24

    Brazil

    5

    20

    Uruguay

    4

    22

    Spain

    2

    8

    New Zealand

    4

    17

    Botswana

    5

    16

    Italy

    3

    16

    France

    3

    9

    Denmark

    2

    8

    Belgium

    2

    10

    Austria

    1

    5

    Argentina

    <0.5

    1

    Chile

    <0.5

    <0.5

    U.S.A.

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Hungary

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Portugal

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Switzerland

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Nauru

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Greece

    <0.5

    <0.5

    Beef and veal imports Total

    246

    949

    Ó Crown Copyright

    Source: HM Revenue and Customs

    2013 and 2014 data is subject to amendments

    “

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 30 October 2012, Official Report, column 146W, on food: charitable donations, and 7 March 2013, Official Report, column 1105, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency has made of the compatibility of legislation to remove criminal and civil liability from good faith food donors with EU food safety laws.

    Jane Ellison

    We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that consideration was given to whether an exemption from European Union food safety law was available in respect of donations of food for charitable purposes in 2012. The FSA’s view at that time was that no exemption is available and as the FSA’s advice has not changed it does not consider that any further assessment of the issue is necessary.

    The FSA published guidance on its web site in July 2013 on which charitable and community food provision does not require registration. This can be found at:

    http://multimedia.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/hall-provision.pdf

    Food supply not requiring registration is exempt from the requirements of food hygiene legislation although all such provision is still required to provide food that is safe.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Laurence Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with food suppliers to encourage them to reduce excess packaging; and if he will make a statement.

    Dan Rogerson

    The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with food suppliers specifically about packaging. I spoke at the Fresher for Longer conference in February this year, and the Government is working with food manufacturers and retailers to reduce food waste as part of the Courtauld Commitment, which is targeting a further reduction of 1.1 million tonnes of food and packaging waste by 2015. We encourage the use of a minimum level of packaging that protects products from damage and ensures that it maintains its quality during its shelf life.

  • Greg Knight – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Greg Knight – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to safety checks in slaughterhouses on the risk of diseased meat entering the food chain undetected; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The Food Standards Agency advises that the new procedure for pig meat inspection will better protect consumers from foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella. It reduces the amount of routine carcase handling and incision carried out by officials that contributes to the risk of microbiological contamination on carcases and offal. This is in line with a 2011 scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority.

    Under the new procedures, all pigs will continue to be inspected by an official veterinarian whilst they are alive, and their carcases and offal will be visually inspected by an official meat inspector or veterinarian after slaughter. Any abnormalities that indicate possible animal health, public health or welfare issues will be further investigated and removed before meat can be declared fit for human consumption.

  • Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bahrain.

    Hugh Robertson

    We believe that the only way to promote peace and stability in Bahrain and address the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis is through dialogue leading to an inclusive political settlement. With elections in October, we hope that this is an opportunity to reach a deal. We encourage all sides to engage constructively in this process.