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1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord. We are seeking a pragmatic solution to this matter.10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorThe noble Baroness makes two important points on the improvement of our waters. The water industry has invested £200 million in improving waters. We need to work on improving our…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, I will take that particular point back to the Fisheries Minister, because it is important that that is received by my honourable friend. Clearly, we want to ensure that…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, there were quite a number of questions there. In terms of trade, the figures are that the annual value of exports of live fresh bivalve molluscs to the EU in 2019 was…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorI am grateful to the noble Lord, and this gives me an opportunity to mention the very regular dialogue that there is between Defra and stakeholders that work with the…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, of course I shall seek to answer the noble Baroness’s question. The £23 million fund for financial assistance announced today is for those businesses that suffered a…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend’s tone. We seek to have a quick discussion with Commissioner Kyriakides about how this trade can resume. We do not believe that the legal…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish SectorMy Lords, we recognise the importance of this long-standing trade and the impact of restrictions on a valued industry. Live bivalve molluscs ready for human consumption can be…10 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsMy Lords, the Secretary of State has written to Commissioner Kyriakides in a very friendly and a constructive spirit. This issue relates to undepurated live bivalve molluscs and…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsMy noble friend makes an important point, which is that we all need to work on improving water quality—it is part of the 25-year environment plan and it is addressed in the…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsMy Lords, that is precisely why we wish to discuss with Commissioner Kyriakides a situation that we do not think is founded on a correct interpretation of the law. It is clear…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsMy Lords, what the noble Lord has said is important. The working of the Northern Ireland protocol and the fact that Northern Ireland is part, clearly, of the United Kingdom, our…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsAgain, my noble friend is correct to raise this point. It is why the Secretary of State wrote to Commissioner Kyriakides yesterday. We wish to meet her and her officials, because…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish ExportsThe noble Baroness has hit on why we wish to have discussions with the Commission. It interprets the matter as being one of public health. The point is that all molluscs exported…09 Feb 2021HANSARDUK Shellfish Exports[ Inaudible ]—to Commissioner Kyriakides, because we want to restore the trade in undepurated live bivalve molluscs. That is the issue here. We think that the interpretation that…09 Feb 2021HANSARDGenetically Modified FoodMy Lords, my noble friend has made a very important point: we have to feed the world’s increasing population. We think that, particularly in the area of gene editing crops, there…08 Feb 2021HANSARDGenetically Modified FoodMy Lords, I agree with the whole thrust of what the noble Lord said. We think that science and our knowledge of gene editing have advanced since the GM framework nearly 30 years…08 Feb 2021HANSARDGenetically Modified FoodMy Lords, what the noble Baroness has said is why we believe there could well be environmental benefits from gene editing, whether they are reduced use of neutron additions,…08 Feb 2021HANSARDGenetically Modified FoodMy Lords, organic farmers undertake a very important role in producing great products. There are regulations about these matters and the way in which GM crops are engaged in the…08 Feb 2021HANSARDGenetically Modified FoodLet me be clear: our endeavours in this matter are for better regulation, not deregulation. We think that gene editing has considerable benefits for the natural environment but…08 Feb 2021