The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the release of Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Sha’ar and Naftali Frenkel, who were abducted in the West Bank on 12 June 2014.
Hugh Robertson
As of 30 June, we have received no reports that the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers have been released.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Bahrain about the death of Abdulaziz al-Abbar.
Hugh Robertson
We are saddened to hear about the death of Abdulaziz Al- Abbar. We encourage the authorities to carry out a timely and thorough independent investigation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which policies of other countries he has assessed with regards to the gassing of badgers.
George Eustice
Carbon monoxide gas has been used successfully in the United States and Australia to control a range of species including burrowing rodents, rabbits and larger mammals such as coyotes and foxes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential suffering felt by badgers through gaseous methods of slaughter.
George Eustice
In August 2013, we commissioned new research into alternative methods of culling badgers.
The first step involved reviewing and updating the ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control’ published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013.
Following research carried out as a result of Lord Zuckerman’s review in the 1980s, we would not support the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives.
In October and November 2013 we carried out initial trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals.
Further research is now planned into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the devolved administrations on the proposed National Pollinator Strategy to reverse the decline in the bee population in the UK.
Dan Rogerson
Defra officials have been in regular contact with theDevolved Administrations as we prepare the National Pollinator Strategy. We have shared lessons learned and how to work cooperatively to achieve common goals. As we move to implementation of the Strategy’s actions, this cooperation will continue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Austin Mitchell on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been prosecuted for setting intertidal nets in England in each of the last three years.
George Eustice
Prosecutions for setting intertidal nets in England are undertaken, for the most part, by the Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). The ten IFCAs manage sea fisheries resources to six nautical miles around the English coast.
· In 2011, North Eastern IFCA made one prosecution relating to intertidal nets and Cornwall IFCA had one case where a prosecution was commenced alongside another, potentially more serious, non-fisheries offence.
· In 2012 there were no prosecutions.
· In 2013, North Eastern IFCA made two prosecutions.
· To date in 2014, there are two cases under investigation by Cornwall IFCA,
one case under investigation by North Eastern IFCA, and three pending cases with Southern IFCA. These cases will not necessarily result in a prosecution in a court.
In all of these years there will be cases where warnings or cautions were issued or seizures were made instead of formal prosecutions.
Environment Agency records indicate that 12 people have been prosecuted in the past three years for setting an intertidal net which targeted or caught salmon or sea trout for which they did not have an Environment Agency licence to do so in England.
The River Tweed Commission (RTC) has its own legislation to control netting both in England and in Scotland which is included in The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006. In England, the RTC took seven prosecutions relating to intertidal nets in 2011, five prosecutions in 2012, and five prosecutions in 2013.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to expand the training provided by the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project.
George Eustice
We are working with our Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to consider training needs and how these can be met, building on lessons from the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project. Announcements on this will be made in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has undertaken of the effect of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project on the incidence of bovine TB in cattle.
George Eustice
The purpose of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project is to learn lessons about the practicalities of deploying an injectable vaccine; provide training for others who may wish to apply for a licence to vaccinate badgers; and build farmer confidence in the use of badger vaccination. It was not designed as a scientific trial to assess the impact of vaccination on bovine TB in cattle and the scale of the project is insufficient to produce statistically reliable data on this.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to which locations pending applications for hydraulic fraturing relate.
Michael Fallon
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2014, Official Report, Column 426W:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to ensure that the recent reductions in wholesale gas prices available to energy companies are benefiting consumers.
Michael Fallon
In a competitive market, pricing decisions are a commercial matter for companies.
Consumers can put pressure on companies to reduce prices by switching to the best deal for them – Ofgem’s Retail Market Reforms to deliver a simpler, clear market combined with Government’s push to significantly reduce switching times and require suppliers to share consumer data with trusted third parties, should make this easier to do.
The Government supported Ofgem’s recent letter to the largest suppliers, challenging them to explain to consumers the impact of falling wholesale prices on their retail prices. Evidence that large suppliers raise prices more quickly when costs increase than they reduce prices when costs fall was one of the issues underpinning Ofgem’s recent referral of the energy markets to the Competition and Markets Authority.