Contributions
1,165 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFishing Industry: TariffsBefore I turn to the question, the tragic loss of the Joanna C on Saturday is a sad reminder of the dangers that our fishermen face every time they go out to sea. We are all…26 Nov 2020HANSARDFishing Industry: TariffsWe have been working with the fishing industry and local authorities to ensure that they have the capacity in place to employ the environmental health officers necessary to issue…26 Nov 2020HANSARDFishing Industry: TariffsI always advise people to look at what I actually said, rather than at the Twitter attacks on what I might have said. I never said that specialist sheep farmers and crofters…26 Nov 2020HANSARDFishing Industry: TariffsTariffs on fish, particularly the fish that we export, are typically far lower than on many agrifoods. The average tariff on the shellfish that we export is about 8%. Obviously,…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPlastic PollutionThe Government have banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics and banned the use of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, and the 5p charge for single-use plastic bags has…26 Nov 2020HANSARDFood SecurityWe have worked with industry to ensure that the capacity is in place to issue export health certificates, and we have been contacting meat processors, fish processors and others…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsSince the last session of DEFRA oral questions, Royal Assent has been granted to both the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill. The Agriculture Act 2020 gives us powers to…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Government support extending maximum penalties and offences for animal cruelty. We are supporting a private Member’s Bill…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Hunting Act was introduced by the Labour party, and there is now a consensus across the House that it should remain. Where there is a breach of that legislation, obviously the…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsLast week the Prime Minister announced a new round for the green recovery challenge fund—an additional £40 million—and the Chancellor yesterday confirmed the spending that we…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are in discussions on this matter with ministerial colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The hon. Lady will be aware that a planning Bill is…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend and neighbour in Cornwall makes a very good point. As a fellow Cornish MP, of course I want to see the interests of the Cornish fishing industry prosper in the…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsUnder the Environment Bill, we will have a 25-year environment improvement plan that addresses issues such as air quality. There will also be targets set for air quality under the…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsFor now, the residual bit of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund continues to be something that fishing communities can access, but we will be replacing the EMFF with a…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend makes a very important point. Our future policy will be about incentivising, encouraging and supporting sustainable agriculture so that we have sustainable food…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPoor Air Quality: BAME CommunitiesOf course we talk with our colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPoor Air Quality: BAME CommunitiesAir pollution can be harmful to everyone; however, some people are more affected than others. My Department has commissioned research on inequalities of exposure to air pollution,…26 Nov 2020HANSARDSheep FarmersI can say that 18 months ago, in preparation for the first potential no-deal, the Government, working with the Rural Payments Agency, had developed detailed plans to be able to…26 Nov 2020HANSARDSheep FarmersLamb producers have enjoyed a very good year in 2020. A significant increase in lamb imports by China, combined with tighter supply globally, has contributed to high prices and…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPollinatorsThat sounds like a very interesting project, and I would certainly be willing to meet my right hon. Friend and representatives in Kent to discuss it. Our future environmental land…26 Nov 2020