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1,962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDStorm BertObviously, the noble Baroness is aware that we discussed this at some length during the Water (Special Measures) Bill. It is important that water authorities and water companies…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertAs I said, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State have been in touch with the Welsh Government. We want to offer what support we can. As to the extent to which that looks…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertI start by wishing the noble Baroness a very happy birthday. She makes an extremely good point. The maintenance of existing flood defences is critical, but we also need to make…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertThe right reverend Prelate makes a very good point about higher-tier stewardship. We need to move forward with it. I know that the Farming Minister is keen to get this moving…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertIn response to the noble Baroness’s first question, clearly, these are devolved issues, so how the allocation works is a matter for the Welsh Government, but, as I mentioned…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertI thank noble Lords for their responses to the Statement and their questions. As other noble Lords have done, I pay tribute to all those who responded and supported communities…26 Nov 2024HANSARDStorm BertThe noble Lord is absolutely right that the more concrete there is, the harder it is. The water has to go somewhere, and this is the issue. You can never stop flooding; you can…26 Nov 2024HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]I am very happy to take that back to the department and to discuss whether that is possible.26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionThe noble and gallant Lord makes an extremely important point. Farmers have had their prices pushed down for years. I was looking at milk prices today. They seem to be doing okay…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionMy noble friend raises a really important point. In a nutshell, we have to recognise that climate change is a much bigger threat to farming and to our food security, and we have…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionThe noble Lord has not said which solar farms he is referring to, but a number of large solar farms have been approved in East Anglia recently. With regard to the Sunnica energy…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionI am very happy to write to the noble Lord with the detail on this but, as I said earlier, we expect only a very small percentage of land to be taken up with solar farms, as…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionRegarding tenant farming, the noble Baroness I am sure will be aware that we have announced that we are appointing the first ever commissioner for tenant farming. Clearly, part of…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionAs the noble Baroness rightly points out, solar generation can be co-located with farmland. Many projects, for example, are designed so that livestock grazing can continue, and on…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionAs part of the consultation and the development of the land use framework, we are intending to engage with a very broad range of respondents in order to have meaningful co-design,…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionFirst, I reassure the noble Lord that estimates suggest that ground-mounted solar used just over 0.1% of land in 2022, and we expect any future rollout to take up a very small…26 Nov 2024HANSARDSolar Farms and Food ProductionMy Lords, the Government recognise that food security is national security. We will champion British farming and protect the environment, and we are committed to maintaining…26 Nov 2024HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]My Lords, the Deputy First Minister for Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs has recommended that the provisions of the Bill extend to Wales. An…26 Nov 2024HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]That the Bill be now read a third time.26 Nov 2024HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]That the Bill do now pass.26 Nov 2024