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1,788 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)That is a good point. Some of this discussion has conflated the two things, which may not be helpful for people. Actually, no money is allocated nationally. It is a political…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)Oh, I have. In which case, I withdraw that suggestion. I understand what the Minister is saying. She is trying to find a balance between an appropriate level of involvement…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)I am grateful, Mr Stringer, but I am slightly perplexed as to how to proceed because the case I am making is about the need for proper scrutiny. I am trying to explain why we…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)Today’s discussions have been most illuminating and interesting and have shown the benefit of giving the proposals detailed scrutiny. To refer to my earlier comments, it would be…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)This is both interesting and important. It again goes to the intended relationship between the tiers. Tier 3 schemes, at the catchment-area level, could have a big effect on the…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)I was rather anticipating that we would have a discussion about this issue. This is public money for public goods. We are trying to reflect what we believe is the strong view of…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the Minister for her response and I fully appreciate that it is difficult to respond to a series of questions that are only loosely related to the amendment. I listened…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)The Minister has given a welcome clarification. The obvious rejoinder is: where is the headroom in the DEFRA budget for these very ambitious plans? I suspect we will return to…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 36, in clause 2, page 3, line 27, at end insert— “(2A) Financial assistance may not be given to any person who is not compliant with standards set out in…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)I fully accept that we can always improve the drafting. What I am trying to get at is whether the right hon. Gentleman thinks that public money—taxpayers’ money—should be…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)Amendment 44 is another probing amendment. We are seeking to establish what protections there are against the financial assistance schemes’ administration costs being able to…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)This goes to the heart of the problem. We do not know how many of these schemes will be administered. Until we know, it is very hard for us to comment.27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 44, in clause 2, page 3, line 32, at end insert— “(4A) No more than 5% of the financial assistance given through a financial assistance scheme in any…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)I would like to press amendment 42 and withdraw amendment 4. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed : 42, in clause 2,…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)I am sorry to hear that. The right hon. Gentleman makes a serious point. I fully concede that this was not a drafting error; I am not sure we guided those doing the drafting in…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)We are moving on to a complex set of issues on baseline environmental standards. Amendment 36 reads: “(2A) Financial assistance may not be given to any person who is not compliant…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)My apologies, Mr Stringer. I quite appreciate your direction. The purpose of new clause 9 is to set baseline environmental standards across all farmed land, regardless of whether…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Eighth sitting)That was an interesting and illuminating discussion that, as ever, probably raised as many questions as it answered, sadly. I will start with the points made by the sharp-eyed…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 48, in clause 2, page 3, line 30, at end insert— “(3A) Financial assistance allocated to a scheme in a particular year but not spent within that year may…27 Feb 2020HANSARDAgriculture Bill (Seventh sitting)The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point, but I am not sure that the issue is covered; that is why I am seeking clarification. I am afraid these points are about a lack…27 Feb 2020