Tag: Kerry McCarthy

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward species-specific legislative proposals to (a) prohibit the use of barren cages for new rabbit farm developments and (b) make other provision for protecting the welfare of farmed rabbits.

George Eustice

There are existing provisions which protect the welfare of rabbits kept for meat production. Whilst there is no specific EU-wide legislation for rabbits, any kept for meat production in cages or in other systems in this country are protected by the general provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause suffering to an animal. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 specifically covers the welfare of rabbits kept for the production of food. In addition, the statutory welfare code for rabbits provides good husbandry advice including recommendations for housing, feed, water and space allowances which should be regarded as absolute minimum.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the Government plans to announce the UK’s contribution to the Green Climate Fund; and whether that contribution will be, proportionately, in accord with the funding being sought by the Fund for its initial resource mobilisation.

Lynne Featherstone

The UK government considers all resource mobilisations in terms of impact and value for money for the British taxpayer. Any announcements are timed to encourage international donors to step up to the plate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in which countries rabbit meat sold in the UK in each of the five most recent years for which data is available was produced.

George Eustice

Rabbit meat was imported into the UK from the following countries. We have no data on whether this meat was then sold in the UK.

Country	Volume and Value	2010	2011	2012	2013	Jan to Nov 2014
Belgium	Tonnes	19	38	42	137	108
	£000s	77	160	160	556	428
France	Tonnes	237	232	225	475	334
	£000s	905	848	838	1,221	794
Germany	Tonnes			1	0
	£000s			4	6
Irish Republic	Tonnes	1	22		72	87
	£000s	3	67		227	301
Italy	Tonnes	6	11	14	14	9
	£000s	22	41	41	40	26
Netherlands	Tonnes		2	75	170	84
	£000s		5	119	984	817
Poland	Tonnes			0
	£000s			1
Portugal	Tonnes	5	4	6	9	8
	£000s	24	15	21	22	26
Spain	Tonnes			12	75	54
	£000s			43	284	191

Crown Copyright
Source: HM Revenue and Customs

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will ensure that the UK’s financial contribution to the Green Climate Fund is announced at the Climate Summit in September 2014.

Lynne Featherstone

The UK government considers all resource mobilisations in terms of impact and value for money for the British taxpayer. Any announcements are timed to encourage international donors to step up to the plate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that consumers are fully informed of the manner in which rabbit meat on sale in England was raised.

George Eustice

Food labelling rules are set at EU level and require that food information must be accurate and must not mislead. This Government has pressed for better information for consumers during negotiations relating to food labelling in Europe.

The European Commission has no plans to introduce further production method labelling for rabbit or any other farmed game. However, the Commission is due to produce a report on country of origin labelling for meats such as rabbit in the first half of this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many rabbit farms are operating in England.

George Eustice

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) do not conduct routine welfare inspections of rabbit farms. There is no specific requirement to register rabbit farms with APHA.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will extend the ban on the use of unenriched battery cages for laying hens, as set out in Schedule 3 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 2078), to quail egg production.

George Eustice

UK legislation prohibiting unenriched cages for laying hens implements EU Directive 99/74/EC which specifically protects birds of the species Gallus Gallus. There are no such requirements for quail set in EU law and we have no plans to introduce a similar measure for this or other species of egg-laying birds. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to fail to provide for the welfare needs of animals, including quail raised for egg production.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on ratification of the EU-Central America Association Agreement; when he expects the UK to ratify the agreement; and when the two remaining pillars will be applied.

Mr Hugo Swire

We strongly support the EU-Central American Association Agreement, which was signed in 2012. The Agreement supports our policy objectives for Central America via three important pillars of political dialogue, development cooperation and trade. We believe that these are the right tools to support economic growth, democracy and political stability in Central America and the UK has supported the Agreement’s progress through its negotiation, signature and conclusion stages.

The trade pillar of the Association Agreement has been provisionally applied since 2013. The two remaining pillars will be applied as soon as the remaining EU Member States ratify. I have not had any recent discussions with my EU counterparts on this issue. However, I have recently discussed the Agreement with a number of Ambassadors to the UK from Central American countries and have had the occasion to discuss it while visiting the region – most recently on my visits to Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama last year. The preparatory work prior to ratification is ongoing. The next stage will be to seek parliamentary approval for a draft Order in Council that will specify the Association Agreement as an EU treaty. I expect a draft Order to be laid early in the next Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the role of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Foreign and Commonwealth Office representatives regularly discuss MINURSO with their international counterparts, most recently in New York in January 2015. The UK supports the UN-led efforts to reach a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation of the Saharawi population in Western Sahara; and what discussions he has had with the government of Morocco on this issue.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We assess that there has been progress in the human rights situation. Some concerns remain and we are continuing to follow progress in these areas. My Noble Friend, Lady Anelay, raised Western Sahara at senior levels during her visit to Morocco last month. I discussed Western Sahara issues with the Moroccan Ambassador most recently in January 2015.