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Updated: 6 years 49 weeks ago

Dogs: Diseases | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

Bovine TB is a notifiable disease in all farmed and pet mammal species, including dogs. The disease has only very rarely been diagnosed in dogs, in this country and elsewhere, and investigations into bovine TB breakdowns in cattle herds have never identified the source of a breakdown as an infected dog.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Dogs | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

An epidemiological investigation into this incident is underway.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Dogs | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

We have no plans to do this.

TB in dogs, caused by Mycobacterium bovis (the bovine TB bacterium), is extremely rare and dogs pose a very low risk of transmitting the disease.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Dogs | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

Bovine TB is a notifiable disease in all farmed and pet mammal species, including dogs. The disease has only very rarely been diagnosed in dogs, in this country and elsewhere, and investigations into bovine TB breakdowns in cattle herds have never identified the source of a breakdown as an infected dog.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Dogs | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

Government veterinary experts have provided advice to the hunt kennels and hounds from the affected kennel have not been in contact with other hounds since the initial case was suspected. At this stage no further Government action is considered necessary in relation to other hunts.

Agriculture | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

We have robust engagement plans to inform and shape our future agriculture and land use policy options and take on board stakeholder views. Decisions on the timings of future legislation and consultation documents about agriculture and land use will be shared in due course. We want to ensure that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to have their say as we shape the vision for these vital industries, including through formal consultation and broader engagement opportunities.

Circuses: Animal Welfare | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

The Government remains committed to banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. We support the Bill sponsored by the Member for Torbay, the Wild Animals in Circuses (Prohibition) Bill. If this Bill is not successful we will introduce legislation when Parliamentary time is available.

We have made no detailed assessment of the implications of bans introduced in other countries.

Cattle: Transport | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Thu, 23/03/2017 - 00:00

The number of cattle movements in the UK recorded on the Cattle Tracing System by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) in each year from 2008 to 2016 is shown in the table below:

Year

Cattle Movements

2008

13,445,614

2009

13,194,912

2010

13,654,294

2011

14,570,411

2012

13,810,509

2013

13,736,427

2014

13,742,163

2015

13,783,821

2016

14,084,952

These figures include from April 2010 movements manually entered by BCMS, usually as a result of keeper contact. Where an animal moves off a location and then onto another that is classified in reporting as 2 movements.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

Trials have shown that reducing the badger population can help reduce the spread of bovine TB. Tests carried out during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial showed that roughly a third of badgers in the high risk area were infected with TB.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

TB cattle controls are the cornerstone of our TB eradication strategy and we continuously look for opportunities to enhance them. In April 2016, we introduced compulsory post-movement testing in the Low Risk Area (LRA) of England to reduce the risk of disease spread from cattle with undisclosed infection.

Agriculture: Apprentices | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

The table below shows apprenticeship starts in each year since 2010/11. This is based on the number of starts under the Food Manufacture, Agriculture and Horticulture frameworks. The Apprenticeships Levy, being introduced in April, is expected to drive a further increase in apprenticeship numbers.

In the next few years, frameworks are being replaced by employer-led standards. The food and farming industry is developing such standards which will better meet the needs of the industry.

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

Food, farming and agri-tech apprenticeship starts

4,870

7,280

7,180

6,200

5,890

7,160

Agriculture | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

The annual value of the Pillar 1 budget fluctuates with currency movements but the budget for the 2016 scheme year for the UK was circa £2.7bn. It is too early to calculate the equivalent value for the 2019/2020 scheme year.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, have had no secondees from PwC, Deloitte, Accenture, McKinsey & Co, Ernst and Young or Bain & Company since July 2016.

Dogs: Imports | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 00:00

Information regarding the stated country of origin of dogs entering GB for non-commercial reasons, supplied by the carriers, is presented in Annex A. We are currently working with carriers to ensure accuracy of all information collated.

Details of the country of origin of dogs entering GB for commercial reasons in 2016 can be extracted from the EU TRACES database, and is presented in Annex B.

Annex A (PDF Document, 207.8 KB) Annex B (PDF Document, 270.81 KB)

Dog Fighting | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 00:00

The maximum penalties for animal welfare offences are kept under regular review. The Sentencing Council has very recently published revised magistrate’s court sentencing guidelines, including those in relation to animal welfare offences, which include dog fighting, with the aim of ensuring that the most serious cases of animal cruelty receive appropriately severe penalties within the available maximum penalty.

Veterinary Services: Migrant Workers | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 00:00

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons already has a statutory examination for non-EU registrants whose examinations are not automatically recognised by the College. Applicants must reach level 7 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) before applying to sit this exam. Government is currently reviewing the content of the EU Mutual Recognition Directive.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 00:00

The 14 civil servants are employed in the following grades.

Grade

Number of staff

Grade 6

3

Grade 7

7

Senior Executive Officer

3

Higher Executive Officer

1

Slaughterhouses: Animal Welfare | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 00:00

The Government encourages the highest standards of welfare at slaughter. The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the right of the Jewish and Muslim communities to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

Official veterinarians (OVs) from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are present in all approved slaughterhouses in England and take a prompt, proportionate and risk based approach to enforcement action when animal welfare breaches are identified.

Defra works closely with the FSA to ensure that the welfare of animals is protected in all slaughterhouses. There is a wide ranging, systemic programme of animal welfare monitoring activity including strengthened verification of compliance through the establishment of welfare assurance teams; a welfare themed audit programme; targeted unannounced inspections; additional checks for non-compliant business operators; and improved education and instruction through an animal welfare publicity campaign in slaughterhouses.