Contributions
17 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFarmers: Flooding CompensationMy Lords—16 Apr 2024HANSARDFarmers: Flooding CompensationMy Lords, I am a farmer and luckily my crops are all planted, but many farmers are not so lucky, with fields that have been underwater since October. Even fields that have not…16 Apr 2024HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration BillMy Lords, I have houses for rental on my farm in Norfolk and in London. Sadly, I have been caught up in the restrictions. In March 2022, I proposed to convert two redundant barns…13 Sept 2023HANSARDPost Office Executives: BonusesMy Lords, I live three miles from the market town of Fakenham. The post office has been virtually closed for nearly four years. Surely the executives should provide a service that…11 May 2023HANSARDAvian InfluenzaMy Lords, I have 16,000 birds at my farm and the problem is the compensation. It is being paid only for birds that remain alive at the time of culling. We have heard of delays in…03 Nov 2022HANSARDElectric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021My Lords, I support these regulations. As my noble friend the Minister explained, they apply to charge points intended for use by vans and cars in a domestic or workplace setting.…30 Nov 2021HANSARDEggs (England) Regulations 2021My Lords, we started out as an egg producer on our farm in Norfolk about 10 years ago. For the first few years, it was a reasonably profitable business, but as more farmers have…23 Nov 2021HANSARDSmoking Cessation: Prescription of E-cigarettesMy Lords, I used to smoke over 50 cigarettes a day but, in 2014, I transferred to using e-cigarettes. I have not had a puff of tobacco since, and I find that my health and…02 Nov 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillMy Lords, this is the first time that I have spoken on this Bill. I know that convention says that one should not speak on Report if one has not been involved in the previous…13 Sept 2021HANSARDFisheries Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow my noble friend Lady McIntosh. When I was about nine or 10, my father took me from our home on the River Dart in Devon to Brixham harbour to…11 Feb 2020HANSARDDirect Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) BillMy Lords, before I start, I should say that I farm in Norfolk and that I am in receipt of these payments. As my noble friend Lord Gardiner has already so eloquently explained,…29 Jan 2020HANSARDAsh DiebackMy Lords, I have a high percentage of ash on my farm, but so far only a small percentage has been affected, which I find puzzling but gratifying. Given that ash dieback has now…25 Jun 2019HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal) (No. 5) BillMy Lords, this is the first time I have spoken today, but I will try to be brief. I do not think that I can support this Bill, for the following reasons. We are told that this…04 Apr 2019HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal) (No. 5) BillThe result was still in favour of leaving with no deal. We are told that emergency legislation is necessary, but the reality is that the Prime Minister has already said that she…04 Apr 2019HANSARDTobacco Harm ReductionMy Lords, five years ago I smoked 50 cigarettes a day. Then I took up vaping and have not had a puff of tobacco since. Should the Government not do more to encourage smokers to…02 Apr 2019HANSARDEU WithdrawalMy Lords, I have not spoken in a Brexit debate until now because I did not think there was any point. What I might have said would have been said dozens of times before, and I do…13 Feb 2019HANSARDEU WithdrawalI think I have just explained exactly that point. Just because the first deal is unacceptable, does not mean that the next deal will be. Negotiations will continue. I was saying…13 Feb 2019