The department was not collecting this data over the period in question so we are unfortunately not able to provide this information.

In Autumn 2015, Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to take social and economic factors into account in their procurements to help level the playing field for UK steel producers. This guidance has now been extended to the wider public sector.

Since publication of the guidance, Government has been working closely with departments to monitor its impact and ensure delivery. There are no plans to share Government level data publicly, due to its provisional nature.

On 13th December 2016, the Government published its indicative future steel requirements to 2020, to enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan in advance of future government contracts.

In terms of EU direct payments to farmers under Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy, the table below contains figures from Defra’s ‘Agriculture in the UK’ 2015 Publication which show the relationship between:

1. the Total Income From Farming in the UK in the last five years and

2. the total amount of EU funded payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the predecessor Single Payment Scheme (SPS) in the UK over the past five years

£billion (current prices)

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Total Income from Farming

5.043

4.620

5.367

5.285

3.769

Total Direct Payments from BPS/SPS

2.805

2.600

2.691

2.336

2.176

Based on these figures, the average value of direct payments from the Basic Payment Scheme and Single Payment Scheme equates to approximately 53 per cent of Total Income from Farming in the UK over the last five years.

This excludes any figures associated with EU co-financed agri-environment schemes which compensate for costs incurred and income foregone.

Outside of the EU, we have an opportunity to redesign policies to better deliver on our objectives. My department is carrying out initial analysis on future agricultural policy that will, in due course inform cost assessments.

However, in advance, we will shortly be publishing for consultation two Green Papers setting out our ambitions for food and farming and for the environment to inform these important decisions.

Defra has had no discussions with its Australian counterpart on the constitutional status and sovereignty of Norfolk Island.

Since the beginning of 2012 the European Commission has published 14 Commission Implementing Decisions which include UK disallowance. This relates to 55 instances where the European Commission asserted that UK controls, across the four administrations, failed to meet the rules set by the EU.

My Department is in the process of reviewing the animal establishment licencing schemes, including those that regulate the breeding and selling of dogs, with the aim of improving animal welfare and reducing burdens on businesses and local authorities. We note the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)’s campaign to ban third party sales of dogs. We consider that the best way forward is to improve welfare standards for both licensed dog breeders and pet sellers.

Retaining tariff free access between the UK and the EU is a significant benefit to the food and farming sectors in both the UK and Europe. In 2015, the UK exported £7.5 billion of food to the EU, and imported £18 billion; for all agri-food and drink products this increases to £11 billion and £28 billion respectively. We aim to secure a mutually beneficial deal that delivers market access for the benefit of farmers and food manufacturers both in the UK and the EU.

We do not publish information on investigations undertaken by Defra Investigation Services given the confidential nature of such enquiries. However, we are considering an FOI request regarding the subsequent review that was carried out on the original investigation referred to by my Honourable Friend.

Disallowance relating to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is paid from national, not CAP scheme, funds.

Defra is amongst those Government Departments whose work is most closely linked to and impacted by EU activity, legal frameworks and funding. A number of roles within the Department will support EU work relating to the Great Repeal Bill to some degree.

The resourcing of EU Exit work is a key priority of the Department and will be subject to on-going assessment. Work continues to identify the number of dedicated posts required in the long term. Staffing resources will be deployed flexibly across the entire Defra agenda, including work on the Great Repeal Bill.

Defra is very aware that seasonal workers from other EU countries will be one of the complex issues that will have to be resolved as part of our exit negotiation and future relationship with the EU.

We are currently working with colleagues across government to understand the issues and explore options.

Defra is also working closely with the devolved administrations to establish their views and priorities to get the best possible outcome for all parts of the United Kingdom as we leave the EU.

The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Scotland) Regulations 2007 is a devolved matter. Defra does not hold any information on how many retailers have been fined since it was introduced.

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. The numbers of these cases identified by the FSA for the period from April 2014 to June 2016 were published on the FSA website in August 2016 following a Freedom of Information Act request. The FSA have developed an action plan in regards to animal welfare in slaughterhouses which aims to “Deter, Prevent, Detect, Enforce”. An Animal Welfare Steering Group was set up by the FSA to oversee the delivery of its animal welfare action plan.

Defra works closely with the FSA to ensure that the welfare of animals is maintained in all slaughterhouses. There is a wide ranging, systemic programme of animal welfare 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.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has no record of communication with iNHouse Communications Ltd on its tendering system and has not awarded any commercial contract to iNHouse Communications Ltd in the last five years.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on January 23 in Brussels. I will represent the United Kingdom.

As the provisional agenda stands, the primary focus will be an exchange of views on agricultural products in free trade agreements.

There will also be an information item on the Dairy Market and milk package report. This will be followed by a Council discussion.

The Maltese Presidency, whose Presidency term commenced on January 1, will present their 6 month Work Programme to the Council.

There is currently only one item scheduled under ‘Any Other Business’:

- Conclusions of the 40th Conference of Directors of Paying Agencies (tabled by the Slovak delegation).

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. The outcome of these negotiations will determine what arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation in future once the UK has left the EU.

We continue to make progress towards more sustainable fishing, with more stocks than ever now being fished in line with their Maximum Sustainable Yield. This year, there will be 29 stocks that are of interest to the UK and which will be fished at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield - an increase on 2016. The UK has been and will continue to be an advocate of sustainable fishing.

Defra is working closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union and the Department for International Trade to ensure the UK gets the best possible deal on market access for our agri-food sector when we leave the EU.

In particular, we want a reciprocal deal that delivers no tariffs on trade between the UK and EU. We are also working to minimise burdensome non-tariff-barriers to such trade, while maintaining high standards for food safety, animal welfare and the environment.

Commodity prices, exchange rates and oil prices are known to be the most important drivers of retail food price inflation. It is too early to tell what, if any, impact leaving the EU might have on these factors.

The US represents US interests in negotiations; the UK Government will represent the UK in any future trade negotiations. As I made clear earlier, we will not compromise on issues such as animal welfare and food safety.

I am aware of the concerns, particularly about pulse trawling in the southern North sea. I have asked CEFAS, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, to look at the issue, do a review of current literature and give me a report on what we know about the science. In addition, there is a working group in the EU on the matter.