Campaign reply - Thank you for being a Hedgerow Hero

Thank you for contacting me about hedgerows.

Hedgerows are one of the most important ecological building blocks in our farmed landscape. They maintain the distinctive character of our countryside and provide crucial habitats and food for wildlife. Hedgerows can store carbon, improve local air quality and benefit the rural economy by boosting job creation for hedgerow planting and management in local communities.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wants to reward the work that farmers do to manage hedgerows on their holdings sustainably. The primary tools to deliver environmentally beneficial hedgerow management and hedgerow creation are the Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes. These schemes fund hedgerow management, with CS funding restoration and laying to deliver recognised benefits for wildlife, landscape, and the historic environment. Hedgerow management is one of the most popular options within CS, with several options available for planting, managing and restoring hedgerows.

Ministers continue to offer grants for hedgerows and boundaries in CS. In February 2022, the Countryside Stewardship scheme opened for applications for Higher Tier, Mid Tier and Wildlife Offer agreements starting on 1 January 2023, and standalone Capital Grants agreements starting throughout 2022.

Further, through the UK’s new agricultural schemes, the Government will be able to reach more farmers and landowners. Defra aims for at least 70 per cent of farms to participate in the Government’s new schemes. The first of the agricultural schemes, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, will pay for a variety of actions that all farmers can do to manage their land in an environmentally sustainable way. Part of this scheme is the hedgerow standard, under which farmers will be paid to plant more hedgerows, leave them uncut, or raise the cutting height. To provide habitat for wildlife, the Government will incentivise farmers and land managers to maintain and plant more hedgerow trees.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Campaign reply - Please prevent a painful death for farm animals

Thank you for contacting me about religious slaughter.

I appreciate the depth of your feeling on this issue. As far as I am aware, no amendment relating to the non-stun slaughter of animals has been tabled to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. 

 

I know that the Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare and would prefer that all animals are stunned prior to slaughter. However, Ministers accept the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat killed in accordance with their religious beliefs.

 

I am aware that religious slaughter is only permitted to be carried out in approved slaughterhouses by licensed slaughterhouse workers and is not permitted in any other place, including for personal consumption. Animal welfare is monitored and enforced in all approved slaughterhouses in England by Official Veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency, including the use of CCTV in all areas where live animals are present. This ensures that all animal welfare requirements are met so that animals are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering.

 

I understand that there are no regulations that require the labelling of method of slaughter, but where any labelling or information of this nature is provided voluntarily, it must be accurate and not misleading to the consumer. The Government expects the industry, whether food producer or food outlet, to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices about the food they eat.

 

I understand that the definition and certification of halal meat is a matter for the Muslim community and private businesses. I know that accreditation bodies can assist retailers by setting standards and ensuring that these standards are met, however these bodies are private organisations.

 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Campaign reply - Please support the Carer’s Leave Bill and help to secure landmark employment rights for millions of unpaid carers

Thank you for contacting me about carer’s leave.

Around five million people across the UK are providing unpaid care by looking after or helping a family member, relative or friend. Unpaid carers face particular challenges in balancing work and caring responsibilities and nearly half do this while also working full-time or part-time. Juggling caring responsibilities and work can be challenging and can limit the participation of unpaid carers in the labour market. Women, who are often still the primary carers within families, tend to be disproportionately impacted. 

The Government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to introduce a new right to an additional week of leave for unpaid carers. This will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.

A consultation on carer’s leave ran from March to August 2020 setting out detailed policy proposals to create a new employment right for one week’s unpaid leave. The Government has responded to the consultation, highlighting that there were over 800 responses from a range of stakeholders and individuals. 

The Government response details that employees with caring responsibilities for a dependant with long-term care needs will be entitled to one working week of unpaid Carer’s Leave (per employee, per year). This right will be available from the first day of employment and the leave can be taken flexibly (i.e. from several half day blocks to a single block of whole week). The full eligibility criteria will be defined. 

I am encouraged that the Government has designed the proposals to balance the needs of employers and employees, ensuring that employers are able to plan and manage the absence created by Carer’s Leave. This includes a minimum notice period and enabling employers to postpone, but not deny, the request for Carer’s Leave where the employer considers the operation of their business would be unduly disrupted.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Campaign reply - Please back the Renters Reform Bill

Thank you for contacting me about reforming the private rented sector. 

While I was unable to attend the reception, I appreciate you sharing your concerns with me and I have made note of the points you have raised.

 

The Government has set out plans to level up the private rented sector which will rebalance the relationship between tenants and landlords. This will provide tenants with more secure, higher quality homes and give councils the tools they need to crack down on the minority of non-compliant landlords.

 

Standards in rented accommodation will be driven up, including by ensuring all tenants have a right to redress and warranting well-targeted, effective enforcement that drives out criminal landlords. It is unacceptable that some households that rent privately pay a large proportion of their income to live in poor conditions. I am aware that the Government intends to introduce a legally binding Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector for the first time.

 

In addition, Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished and a more secure and simple tenancy structure will be brought in. Under the new system, a tenancy will only end if the tenant chooses to leave or if the landlord has a valid ground for possession. Not only will this improve security for tenants and protect them from having to move unexpectedly at short notice, but it will also empower tenants to challenge poor practice without the fear of retaliatory action. Repossession grounds will be strengthened to make sure that landlords with a valid cause can regain possession of their property.

 

To further support tenants, the Government will increase the minimum notice period for rent increases to two months. The use of rent review clauses will also come to an end. The creation of a single Ombudsman that all private landlords must join will strengthen tenants’ ability to hold their landlord to account. A new digital Property Portal will be established which will help landlords understand their obligations and support local authorities to crack down on poor practice.

 

These are important steps in ensuring that renters can benefit from more secure and higher quality homes. I understand that these measures will be translated into law through the Renters Reform Bill, which will be brought forward in this parliamentary session.

 

I appreciate the strength of feeling on this matter and I know that many in the private rented sector want to see these reforms brought forward as quickly as possible. I am assured that there is a strong commitment across government to reform the private rented sector for landlords and tenants alike. Let me assure you that I will follow any developments closely.

 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

 

Campaign - Honey labelling petition

Thank you for contacting my office. I very much appreciate you getting in touch about honey.

I know that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is very active in ensuring honey meets our high standards. Food Adulteration is a key issue and Defra has an active food authenticity programme to ensure that food sold in the UK meets the standards expected and is accurately labelled.

Ministers recognise the importance of accurate labelling and quality standards for foods, including honey. All honey on sale, regardless of where it has come from, must comply with the Honey (England) Regulations 2015 which set out detailed specifications in terms of its composition, labelling, and quality criteria. Addition of sugars, or anything else to honey, is not permitted by these regulations.

I am aware that honey is a complex natural product, meaning analysis can often be challenging. No single test can definitively determine a honey’s authenticity, and there are a range of different analytical methods available, from the well-established traditional validated methods to more recently developed advanced ‘fingerprinting’ tools such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

I understand that allegations that some honey sold in the UK may be adulterated with added sugars, including the recent Honey Authenticity Project (HAP) survey, are based on results using NMR. These have been investigated by the relevant local authorities, using a weight of evidence approach, and they concluded there was insufficient evidence to indicate fraud or non-compliance. The Food Standards Agency has commissioned the Government Chemist to carry out an independent review of the most recent HAP survey of UK honeys.

Finally, I know that Defra’s programme of work on honey focuses on dissemination and knowledge transfer such as a webinar organised by the GC with Defra’s support. As part of the UK’s honey programme, Ministers are also supporting work on testing methods which will look more in depth at issues such as ensuring method fitness for purpose and on standardising approaches.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Campaign reply - Please talk to Guide Dogs about their campaigns at Conservative Party conference

Thank you for contacting my office. I very much appreciate you getting in touch about this Guide Dogs event.  

I am aware of Guide Dog’s vital work to help the two million people living with sight loss in the UK, including supporting children and their families. I was pleased to attend a parliamentary event held by the charity back in March where I learned more about their vital work as well as meeting a lovely Guide Dog called Kelsie. 

 

I appreciate you sharing this event at conference, which I will attend if my diary allows. In the meantime, I will ensure I do all I can to support the important work and campaigns led by Guide Dogs UK.

 

Thank you once again for getting in touch, and if I can be of further assistance with any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Campaign reply - solidarity for CWU members in BT/Openreach industrial dispute

Thank you for contacting me about the industrial dispute involving members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and BT/Openreach.

 

It is my understanding that CWU members, including call centre workers and engineers took part in strike action due to a dispute over pay.

 

BT and Openreach, as its wholly-owned subsidiary, are private sector employers and therefore this dispute was a matter for them and CWU to resolve and not something the Government can involve itself in.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.  

Campaign reply - will you take action to tackle waiting times in Truro and Falmouth 08/08/22

Thank you for contacting me about support for people with arthritis who are waiting for hip and knee replacement surgery.

I can assure you that reducing waiting times for operations required by people with arthritis - including hip and knee replacement surgery - is an urgent priority for the Government, as well myself locally for Truro and Falmouth.

To date, £5.4 billion of funding has been committed to reduce the backlog of operations, including hip and knee replacements. In addition to this, the number of surgical hubs will be increased to deliver more hip and knee replacements in a COVID-secure environment.   

NHS England and Improvement has published a plan for the recovery of elective care in England and launched the My Planned Care platform to ensure that people waiting for treatment have access to information and support in the meantime. 

It is important that local NHS bodies clearly communicate with people with arthritis on waiting lists for surgery about when they can expect to be treated, and signpost to information and support available from charities like Versus Arthritis. 

To this end, I am aware that my colleague Ed Argar MP (the former Minister for Health) recently met with Versus Arthritis to discuss their ideas around the recovery of elective treatment and better understand the issues faced by people with arthritis on waiting lists. 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.