Contributions
1,962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAccess to Nature Green PaperThe noble Baroness is absolutely right: one of the things that it is really important for us to do as a Government is get children out into nature. We know that, if you get out in…03 Jun 2026HANSARDAccess to Nature Green PaperI am very happy to consider a number of things to go in the Green Paper. Anything that encourages people to get out into nature is clearly to be welcomed. In fact, one member of…03 Jun 2026HANSARDAccess to Nature Green PaperI could not agree more with the noble Lord about responsibility. I live in Cumbria, as noble Lords know, where there is damage, litter, the leaving opening of gates and sheep…03 Jun 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsOne of the reasons why I go to Northern Ireland regularly and meet with businesses, farmers and people involved in the fishing industry is to understand exactly what the…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsOf course, while the negotiations are ongoing—there are regular meetings, and it is reaching an intensive phase—I am afraid I cannot give any detail at all. However, as I said…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsI agree with the noble Lord. An important component of the negotiations and one of the reasons why we are looking to agree a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, particularly on…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsClearly, while negotiations are ongoing, I am unable to give guarantees, but I will say that we are working extremely closely with all those who would be impacted by the outcomes…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsMy Lords, as part of the SPS agreement, the EU has accepted that there will need to be a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules. The details of those are subject to…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsI would be very happy to make the suggestion.18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsMy understanding is that it is business as usual and that will continue while the negotiations are going on. If I am wrong, I will write to the noble Lord.18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsAs I have said, I am not able to give detailed information around the negotiations because they are ongoing and we do not have outcomes. However, I assure the noble Lord that…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsAs I say, we talk regularly to farmers and other food producers. We are very aware that there will be impacts in some areas of realignment, and we are certainly looking at…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsWe are working very closely to encourage farmers to work with us, such as by applying for grants such as the SFI. The noble Baroness, Lady Batters, has done a report on food…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsI am sure that the noble Lord will be wanting to take part in the debates on the European partnership Bill when it arrives, and I imagine that that is the time for those…18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsAs I said to the noble Lord, Lord Redwood, the European partnership Bill will be coming to this House. That will allow plenty of time for debate on these issues.18 May 2026HANSARDEU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related StandardsClearly, we are discussing this area with the EU. One of the approaches that we have around the new technologies, whether you are talking about gene editing or novel foods, is…18 May 2026HANSARDControl of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 19 March be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 27 April.28 Apr 2026HANSARDControl of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026My Lords, I thank noble Lords both for making some important points about the legislation before us and for contributing to the debate. As I set out earlier, these regulations are…27 Apr 2026HANSARDAgriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 10 March be approved. Relevant document: 56th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee27 Apr 2026HANSARDAgriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026My Lords, I thank everyone for their valuable contributions to this debate. A number of broad concerns have been raised that I will do my best to address now. For any outstanding…27 Apr 2026