House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Minutes of Proceedings Session 2013–14 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated bodies. Current membership Miss Anne McIntosh (Conservative, Thirsk and Malton) (Chair) Richard Drax, (Conservative, South Dorset) Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour, Poplar and Limehouse) Mrs Mary Glindon (Labour, North Tyneside) Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour, South Shields) Iain McKenzie (Labour, Inverclyde) Sheryll Murray (Conservative, South East Cornwall) Neil Parish (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton) Ms Margaret Ritchie (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down) Mr Mark Spencer (conservatives, Sherwood) Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat, Brecon and Radnorshire) The following members were also members of the Committee during this Session. Thomas Docherty (Labour, Dunfermline and West Fife) George Eustice (Conservatives, Camborne and Redruth) Barry Gardiner (Labour, Brent North) Dan Rogerson (Liberal Democrat, North Cornwall) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No. 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/efracom Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are David Weir (Clerk), Dr Anna Dickson (Second Clerk), Sara Priestley (Committee Specialist—Environment), Clare Genis (Senior Committee Assistant), Lisa Stead (Committee Assistant), Sayeda Begum (Committee Support Assistant), and Hannah Pearce (Media Officer). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, 14 Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NB. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 5774; the Committee’s e-mail address is: [email protected]. Media inquiries should be addressed to Hannah Pearce on 020 7219 8430. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Tuesday 14 May 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair George Eustice Sheryll Murray Barry Gardiner Neil Parish Mrs Mary Glindon Ms Margaret Ritchie In the temporary absence of the Chair, Barry Gardiner was called to the Chair for part of the meeting. 1. Draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to the draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill be reported to the House for publication on the internet: RSPCA (supplementary) ACPO (supplementary) Elissa Gravells Chair’s Draft Report (Draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill) proposed by the Chair, brought up and read. The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the First Report from the Committee, HC 95, Session 2013-14. 2. Food Contamination Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Food Contamination be reported to the House for publication on the internet: FSA (second supplementary) Greencore Group PLC Zoo Track Systems Mr James Fairbairn, Freeza Meats; and Catherine Brown, Chief Executive, Rt Hon. Lord Rooker, Chair, Mr Steve Wearne (interim) Director, Food Safety, and Mr Andrew Rhodes, Director, Operations, Food Safety Authority, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Wednesday 15 May 2013 at 2.30 pm Wednesday 15 May 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair George Eustice Neil Parish Barry Gardiner Ms Margaret Ritchie 1. Future programme Resolved, That the Committee inquire into CAP Implementation and Food Security. 2. Triennial Review The Committee met privately with officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [Adjourned till Tuesday 21 May 2013 at 2.30 pm Tuesday 21 May 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Neil Parish Barry Gardiner Ms Margaret Ritchie Mrs Mary Glindon Dan Rogerson 1. Flood Funding The Committee considered this matter. 2. Bovine TB The Committee considered this matter. 3. Wild animals in circuses Ordered, that the following written evidence relating to Wild Animals in Circuses be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Jolyon Jamieson Andrew Lewis RSPCA Captive Animals’ Protection Society Born Free Foundation Trading Standards Institute John Dineley Fédération Mondiale du Cirque Feld Entertainment Inc Dr Ted Friend European Circus Association Animal Defenders International Classical Circus Association Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain Alexander Lacey and Martin Lacey Jnr Rona Brown’s Movie Animals 4. Food contamination Ordered, that written evidence relating to Food Contamination, submitted by the Food Safety Agency Ireland, be reported to the House for publication on the internet. Joanna Darmanin, Head of Cabinet, Bernard Van Goethem, Director of Directorate G (Veterinary and International Affairs), Koen Van Dyck (Head of Unit of Unit G4 (Food, Alert Systems and Training), DG Health and Consumers (SANCO), and Jacqueline Minor, Head of the European Commission Representation in the UK, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 4 June 2013 at 2.30 pm Tuesday 4 June 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Mrs Mary Glindon Ms Margaret Ritchie Iain McKenzie 1. Food contamination Ordered, that further evidence relating to Food Contamination, submitted by the Food Standards Agency, be reported to the House for publication on the internet. 2. Bovine TB Chair’s Draft Report (Vaccination against Bovine TB) proposed by the Chair, brought up and read. The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report from the Committee, HC 258, Session 2013- 14. [Adjourned till Tuesday 11 June 2013 at 2.30 pm Tuesday 11 June 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Neil Parish George Eustice Ms Margaret Ritchie Barry Gardiner 1. Fisheries The Committee considered this matter. 2. Food Contamination David Heath MP, Minister for Agriculture and Food, Defra, and Andrew Rhodes, Director of Operations, Food Standards Agency, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Wednesday 12 June 2013 at 2.30 pm Wednesday 12 June 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair George Eustice Sheryll Murray Mrs Mary Glindon Neil Parish Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck Ms Margaret Ritchie Iain McKenzie 1. Declaration of interests Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck declared no interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. 2. Draft National Policy Statement for Hazardous Waste The Committee considered this matter. 3. Flood Funding The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned till Wednesday 19 June 2013 at 2.30 pm Wednesday 19 June 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Sheryll Murray Mrs Mary Glindon Neil Parish Iain McKenzie Ms Margaret Ritchie 1. Ofwat The Committee considered this matter. 2. Tree Health Ordered, That written evidence relating to Tree Health, submitted by Horticultural Trades Association, be reported to the House for publication on the internet. 3. Food Contamination The Committee considered this matter. 4. Wild Animals in Circuses The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned till Wednesday 26 June 2013 at 2.30 pm Wednesday 26 June 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Iain McKenzie George Eustice Sheryll Murray Barry Gardiner Ms Margaret Ritchie Mrs Mary Glindon Dan Rogerson 1. Tree Health Resolved, That the Committee visit York on 12 September in connection with inquiries into Tree Health and Flood Funding. 2. Genetically Modified Organisms The Committee considered this matter. 3. Written evidence Ordered, that the following written evidence relating to Flood Funding and Rural Communities be reported to the House for publication: Defra Pitchup.com 4. Tree Health Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Tree Health, be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Jim Pratt Confor Jamie Dewhurst, Horticultural Trades Association, Managing Director J+A Growers, Caroline Harrison and Chris Inglis, Chair, Nursery Producers Group, Confor, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 2 July 2013 at 2 pm Tuesday 2 July 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Sheryll Murray George Eustice Ms Margaret Ritchie Iain McKenzie Dan Rogerson Managing Flood Risk The Chair’s Draft Report (Managing Flood Risk) proposed by the Chair, brought up and read. The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Third Report from the Committee, HC 330, Session 2013-14. [Adjourned till Tuesday 3 July 2013 at 2.30 pm Wednesday 3 July 2013 Members present: Miss Anne McIntosh, in the Chair Richard Drax Sheryll Murray George Eustice Neil Parish Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck Ms Margaret Ritchie Iain McKenzie 1. Comprehensive Spending Review Ordered, That correspondence relating to the CSR from the Secretary of State be reported to the House for publication on the internet. 2. National Adaptation Programme The Committee considered this matter. 3. Primates as pets The Committee considered this matter. 4. Food Contamination Ordered, That written evidence