Contributions
1,165 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPollinatorsThe national pollinator strategy sets out the actions we are taking with partners to protect pollinators. It includes dealing with habitat loss and the potential harm from…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPlastic PollutionMy hon. Friend makes an important point, and I congratulate the Chevening and St Lawrence primary schools on their interest in this. All hon. Members cannot but have noticed the…26 Nov 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental Protection: Contingencies Fund AdvanceDEFRA has sought a repayable cash advance from the Contingencies Fund of £536,000. The requirement has arisen because there is an urgent requirement to proceed with setting up the…23 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI understand the point the hon. Gentleman was making. It is important to note that we had a smaller zoo fund to support small zoos, which was announced earlier. This fund is for…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere has been a long-standing arrangement between Norway and the EU under which, broadly speaking, Norway has some access to blue whiting in the North sea and in return the EU—we…15 Oct 2020HANSARDCountryside ProtectionThe Environment Bill will be resuming its passage in Committee shortly. The hon. Gentleman will be aware, for instance, that the Government have recently been consulting on our…15 Oct 2020HANSARDAgricultural ImportsMy hon. Friend makes an important point. We have been doing a lot of work on business readiness with the sector—in particular, with meat processors—to ensure that they understand…15 Oct 2020HANSARDAgricultural ImportsDEFRA is working with officials across Government to ensure that the flow of agricultural imports at UK borders continues after the transition period. We will introduce a phased…15 Oct 2020HANSARDAgricultural ImportsI do not recognise the claim that this was hidden from them. I regularly meet Fergus Ewing and other devolved Administration Ministers to discuss this. They now join the EU Exit…15 Oct 2020HANSARDCountryside ProtectionI am delighted to give my hon. Friend the Minister a rest from the Dispatch Box after a marathon session. Within the rich diversity of the English countryside, our existing…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI used to run a strawberry farm, so I am familiar with this challenge, but everybody needs to be trained at some point to do this sort of work, whether they are a foreign worker…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend makes an important point. Of course I would be happy to meet him to discuss this matter. I think that the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe introduced a number of measures to support those struggling to afford food during the initial lockdown and over the summer months. It is the case that, as unemployment rises,…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn the summer, we issued a consultation on having mandatory contracts in the dairy sector. That is something that I have long felt is important, since dairy farmers, perhaps more…15 Oct 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point. We are aware of this, and it is one of the issues that we are seeking to address at a technical level and through the Joint Committee…15 Oct 2020HANSARDPick for Britain and Seasonal Agricultural Workers SchemesDuring the last summer season, I had regular dialogue and discussions with a number of companies involved in the horticulture sector. The general picture is that, at the beginning…15 Oct 2020HANSARDFood Production Standards: Trade DealsThe answer is simple: we have all the powers that we need in law to deliver our manifesto commitment already. As I said earlier, we will use a range of tools, including tariff…15 Oct 2020HANSARDPick for Britain and Seasonal Agricultural Workers SchemesThe Pick for Britain campaign generated huge interest—the website has received nearly 2 million unique page views since its launch—resulting in a significant increase in the…15 Oct 2020HANSARDAnimal Welfare StandardsThis country has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. We have modernised standards for dog breeding, pet sales and other licensed activities involving…15 Oct 2020HANSARDCountryside ProtectionThe hon. Gentleman paints an accurate picture of the environmental degradation that has taken place, particularly in the past 50 years or so. As we think about the future, it is…15 Oct 2020