Contributions
1,279 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)I share my hon. Friend’s concern about that point. We heard from several witnesses that we should be talking about animal welfare not in this Bill, but in connection with other…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)When we discuss clauses 11 to 13, I might raise some examples of where I am concerned about animal welfare standards. I do not think the farm animal welfare codes are particularly…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)In speaking to amendment 32, my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge quoted oral evidence. I had a bit of a Twitter conversation with David Rose, professor of sustainable…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)We have seen planning applications, for example, for huge pig farms where there have been lots of concerns about the impact on the local environment. One of the problems is that…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)That is a fair point. Hopefully we will come to that when we get to clause 17. To conclude, Joanna Lewis at the Soil Association talked about this “unhelpful trajectory”, and how…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fifth sitting)indicated dissent.05 Jul 2022HANSARDAction on Climate Change and DecarbonisationI am mightily relieved to see that the Minister is still in his place. I hope he manages to hang on until 7 o’clock; he might find he is the last man standing on the Government…05 Jul 2022HANSARDAction on Climate Change and DecarbonisationThe right hon. Gentleman is correct. We should be looking at long-term solutions, not short-term fixes. When the next rise in energy bills comes in the autumn, people will quickly…05 Jul 2022HANSARDEnergy (Oil and Gas) ProfitsI understand the hon. Gentleman’s arguments, although I do not agree with them, but has he an alternative proposal for helping people to bring down their energy bills? I am sure…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Sixth sitting)The Minister has gone into a lot of detail already as to why she does not support Labour’s amendments. I am not sure that I will be able to change her mind or whether she has…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Sixth sitting)My concern is that that is not spelled out in the Bill, and it goes back to our argument about the public benefit. I would be far more comfortable if the Bill spelled out what the…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Sixth sitting)One might think so, but consider the lifespan of cows and that fact that they become infertile pretty quickly. One would think that logic would suggest that a farmer would want a…05 Jul 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Third sitting)Q On a similar point to Clive’s, I note what Dr Rice said about the virus coming from outside, but from my reading of the syndrome, it spreads by direct contact between animals,…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Third sitting)I was talking more about proximity than about numbers.30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Third sitting)Q It is not so much numbers, but if you have a smaller number of pigs, they tend not to be kept in such close proximity. Dr Lewis: My final point would be that if we look at gene…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Third sitting)Q This will possibly have a one-word answer. We have heard quite a few witnesses say that the farm animal welfare codes are sufficient in terms of regulating some of our concerns…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Could I just press a little more about the Animal Sentience Committee side of things? We are now in the position where there is the welfare advisory body under this legislation,…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Do you not worry that things would get lost in the mix, and that something might be seen as the responsibility of one body and then be overlooked by another? Penny Hawkins: No,…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q May I ask about liability? I hope this is within your remit. What happens if an organic farmer finds that there is contamination? Does the Bill provide any mechanisms or…30 Jun 2022HANSARDGenetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Contamination was always the concern with GM. Dr Edenborough: That could be a real mess. To prove it, you would have to have some sort of genetic marker, because you would have…30 Jun 2022