Contributions
1,212 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)It is a genuine pleasure and honour to be surrounded by so many knowledgeable and committed environmentalists. The Government consider that shooting activities can bring many…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)The Government are committed to animal welfare. I reassure Members that high-quality research and evidence from a range of sources will always inform our animal welfare policy.…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)Whistleblowing is already protected in legislation in Great Britain through the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, and the Food Standards Agency already has robust procedures in…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)While allowed under EU law, the Government have made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force-feeding raises serious welfare concerns, as the hon.…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)I see the good intentions behind the new clause, and I understand the desire to ensure that Ministers’ decisions on geographical indicators are made in the best interests of all…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)I have already responded fairly fully to the hon. Member for Bristol East and I feel that the Labour Front-Bench amendment is strikingly similar. I have said all I need to say on…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Bristol East for tabling the new clause and look forward to working with her on how we can support smallholding authorities to invest in, and commit…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)I will set out the Government’s position on that. The hon. Member for Cambridge was kind enough to say that I was an esteemed lawyer. I do not know whether that is true, but I am…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)I will give way, but I have a long speech and a lot to cover.05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)I thank hon. Members for tabling these new clauses. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to talk once again about the importance of food standards. The hon. Member for Bristol…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)We need to ensure that the provisions made under the clause are fair and proportionate. We want to involve devolved Administrations and I have set out how we intend to do so. In…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)Very briefly, the hon. Lady has made an entertaining speech, in which, I politely suggest, she is trying on this particular issue to have her cake and eat it. The reason we cannot…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)indicated assent.05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)It is a pleasure to be back for a busy day in the Agriculture Bill Committee. We do not dispute that agriculture is a devolved matter. However, this particular provision is about…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eleventh sitting)I feel that the hon. Lady was partly making my point: we have to stick to WTO rules. I think she and I agree that we want to comply with WTO rules. As a lawyer with many years’…05 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move amendment 51, in clause 31, page 28, line 48, leave out “the National Assembly for Wales” and insert “Senedd Cymru”. Section 2 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales)…03 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Ninth sitting)I hesitate to behave like a lawyer, but it seems to me that what is specified under subsection (2) is the power to reduce basic payment scheme payments and, of course, any…03 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Tenth sitting)The amendment seeks to give Scottish Ministers discretion in respect of the regulations, potentially preventing the UK Parliament from creating a UK-wide producer organisation…03 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for her thoughtful desire to progress with these amendments, to ensure that Scottish farmers are effectively and appropriately supported. We are committed to…03 Mar 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Tenth sitting)We are committed to tackling supply chain injustices, and an effective enforcement regime is a crucial part of that process. It is important to state that no decisions have yet…03 Mar 2020