Every parliamentary written question tabled by Johanna Baxter this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–6 of 6 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the animal welfare strategy.
This Government was elected on a mandate to improve animal welfare. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to ban the import of cheetah trophies.
The Government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of endangered animals in its manifesto and will deliver on this. Defra is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many permits were issued for cheetah trophies in the 2024-25 financial year.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for releasing data on hunting trophy import permits. APHA has not yet released its data on permits issued for hunting trophies in the 2024-25 financial year. This information will be published on the CITES trade database later this year. Available here.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether the £400 million in capital spend confirmed in the 2024 Autumn Budget for (a) tree planting and (b) peatland restoration is (i) in addition to or (ii) included in the Nature for Climate fund for 2024-255 and 2025-266.
We have pledged up to £400 million in capital spend for tree planting and peatland restoration over the current (2024-25) and next (2025-26) financial year. This includes funding of the Nature for Climate Fund for 2024-25. The detail of how this funding is allocated for 2025-26 is now being finalised through internal business planning, and we will be able to share more once this has concluded.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to extend the Nature for Climate Fund beyond 2025.
The Nature for Climate Fund was established in 2020 as a five-year programme aimed at tackling climate change and boosting biodiversity and it is due to finish in March 2025. This Government is committed to protecting and restoring nature, trees and peat, which are important to our plans to reduce emissions. We have pledged up to £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration over the current (2024-25) and next (2025-26) financial year. The detail of how this funding is allocated for 2025-26 is now being finalised through internal business planning, and we will be able to share more once this has concluded.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including (a) cats and (b) kittens in legislation to prevent pet smuggling.
The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Danny Chambers MP. The measures in the Bill will extend to cats and kittens, and close loopholes exploited by unscrupulous pet traders.