Contributions
1,962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesI do not think that the ban on trail hunting is the major concern of most rural communities. Most rural communities, including the one I live in, are more concerned about the fact…12 Feb 2026HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesI can confirm.12 Feb 2026HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesOn the issues the noble Earl raised, I point him to two parts of the animal welfare strategy. First, we reference labelling. It is something that we will be looking at, not just…12 Feb 2026HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesI am aware of the concerns around foxhounds. To reiterate, the consultation will look at all views and concerns. I urge people who have concerns around the future of foxhounds to…12 Feb 2026HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesWe are obviously very aware of any potential impact of a ban on rural communities, including rural businesses. I can confirm that Defra will be starting a consultation which will…12 Feb 2026HANSARDAnimal Welfare Strategy: Rural CommunitiesMy Lords, the animal welfare strategy sets out a comprehensive package of reforms which will improve the lives of millions of animals across England, at home, on farm, and in the…12 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberWe need some standardised pattern books. We need a fairly extensive housebuilding programme and we must ensure that those houses are built to a minimum standard of quality.…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberI am sure the noble Baroness is aware the UK timber regulations prohibit the placing of illegally harvested timber and wood products on the UK market and require the operators to…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberI am very happy to congratulate Fera. It does excellent work. When I went to Forest Research, I saw some of the wood that had, shall we say, unpleasant visitors in it, so I know…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberMy Lords, the Timber in Construction Roadmap was updated and relaunched in February 2025. It sets out how we can increase the use of timber in construction. We are working in…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberThe noble Earl is always very quick to talk about the grey squirrel, and rightly so. As he says, we have recently published our plan on grey squirrel management—if any Members are…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberWe need to move forward by looking at how we can further support the use of timber in housebuilding and how we can support housebuilders in that process. We have already…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberThe road map was an important document on increasing the use of timber. As we go forward with our ambitious housebuilding programme, we need to ensure that the houses we build are…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberThe noble Lord is right that we import the vast majority of our timber and wood products, and this makes us the second largest net importer in the world after China. The…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberAs I mentioned earlier, we do not think the amount of imported timber is the way forward, and we have to change that. The noble Lord said that 10% is homegrown; our figures are…05 Feb 2026HANSARDConstruction Industry: TimberThe noble Lord asks a very interesting question. Those of us who have been involved in working with the construction industry will be aware that there is a quite a large lobby for…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Companies: FinesI politely suggest to my noble friend that we do not indulge criminal organisations. We put in payment plans because it would not help a water company if we forced it to pay fines…29 Jan 2026HANSARDWater Companies: FinesIt is important that the water companies pay the fines in such a way that it does not impact on consumers and consumer bills, and the Government are certainly keen to enforce that.29 Jan 2026HANSARDWater Companies: FinesMy Lords, Ofwat has imposed fines to the value of £122.7 million on Thames Water. There is a payment plan in place, with the first 20%—that is, £24.5 million—paid last year. The…29 Jan 2026HANSARDWater Companies: FinesThe Government have very ambitious plans for tree-planting, including three national forests, one of which has already begun planting and two are progressing well, so we are very…29 Jan 2026