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Animal Welfare: Prosecutions | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
The numbers of prosecutions, those which were found guilty and sentenced, and those which resulted in prison sentence under section 4 and 9 of Animal Welfare Act 2006 can be viewed in the table below.
Court proceedings data for 2016 are planned for publication in May 2017.
Animal Welfare Act 2006 Section 4
Animal Welfare Act 2006 Section 9
Outcome
2014
2015
2014
2015
Proceeded against
1,016
775
391
302
Found guilty
800
612
266
208
Sentenced
801
614
263
208
of which
Immediate Custody
78
55
10
21
The table includes the following offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 Section 4(1)(2), 32(1)(2), 9.
The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
The numbers of offenders sentenced and found guilty in the same year may differ due to some being sentenced the following year.
Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. PQ 60104 & 60113
Animal Welfare | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
The number of proceedings heard at magistrates’ courts, and those which were found guilty, sentenced and had a fine imposed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in England and Wales, 2014 and 2015 can be viewed below.
Court proceedings data for 2016 are planned for publication in May 2017.
Outcome
2014
2015
Proceeded against
1,433
1,103
Found Guilty
1,080
831
Sentenced
1,078
833
of which Fine
219
143
The table includes the following offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 Section 4(1)(2), 5(a)(b)32(1)(2(40), 6(1)(a)(b)2,8,9,12, 7(a)(b)2, 8(1)(a to i),(2), 9, 11(1)(3), 13(6), 18(12),34(9)
The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
The numbers of offenders sentenced and found guilty in the same year may differ due to some being sentenced the following year.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Iron and Steel | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Trip of a lifetime for CSIA sixth form scholarship students
Penzance meeting crowd rejects new plans for Cornwall's NHS
Farmers: Income | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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:
the Total Income From Farming in the UK in the last five years and
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.
Agriculture | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Norfolk Island | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
Defra has had no discussions with its Australian counterpart on the constitutional status and sovereignty of Norfolk Island.
Common Agricultural Policy: Fines | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Dogs: Animal Welfare | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
UK Trade with EU: Agriculture | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Horses: Dartmoor National Park | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
New goal posts with nets for The Moors playing field
Every year, each Cornwall Councillor gets a small pot of funding to help local groups and organisations with funding. In the past, I have paid over the last year or so for new life-jackets for Porthleven Gig Club, Porthleven Village Show, Porthleven School PTA and the Porthleven Food Festival to name a few.
Since the removal old goal posts on the Moors (because they were at the end of their life) there has been a strong request from both parents and young people to have these replaced.
Goal posts that are designed for play-parks are not cheap, but I am very pleased to say yesterday I placed an order for two goal posts both with nets for the Moors playing field. These goal posts will be paid for out of my community fund.
Further good news is the delivery of these goal posts should be within two-weeks and installation soon after. Porthleven Town Council should also be thanked because they will be funding the installation costs (concrete) and the future maintenance of the goal posts.
Emergency services rush to reports of woman stabbed and unconscious in St Ives
Common Agricultural Policy: Fines | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
Disallowance relating to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is paid from national, not CAP scheme, funds.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Recruitment | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Agriculture: Seasonal Workers | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Infant Foods: Scotland | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Slaughterhouses: Animal Welfare | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: iNHouse Communications | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
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.