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1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFishery Protection SquadronMy Lords, I am answering for the Government but from Defra rather than from the Ministry of Defence. I shall run through the ships because I think it will be helpful. HMS “Forth”,…12 Feb 2020HANSARDFishery Protection SquadronThis issue goes back to the very essence of sustainability and the reason why we need to do this. Heightened surveillance is in the long-term interests of the fishing fleets—for…12 Feb 2020HANSARDFishery Protection SquadronMy Lords, access for foreign vessels will be subject to negotiation but clearly, as the Fisheries Bill states, they will require a licence. One important additional point is…12 Feb 2020HANSARDFishery Protection SquadronMy Lords, in England the Marine Management Organisation has contractual arrangements with the Royal Navy for two offshore patrol vessels. The Royal Navy will be increasing its…12 Feb 2020HANSARDFisheries Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to the debate. I say from the outset that so many points have been made that it would be impossible to answer them all,…11 Feb 2020HANSARDFisheries Bill [HL]My Lords, as we are an island nation, our seas are integral to our history, economy and culture, so it is a great privilege to open this debate. A rich diversity of fish and…11 Feb 2020HANSARDFisheries Bill [HL]That the Bill be now read a second time.11 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baronesses for posing a number of questions. If any further details are needed on any of the questions, I will write to them. I open by…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I will now repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, we will be assessing vis-à-vis farmers and the impact on them. The investment of £2.6 billion that I outlined is also designed to protect an additional 700,000 acres of…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseThe noble Lord makes a very good point, and it is precisely why my predecessor, my noble friend Lord De Mauley, and others worked hard on Flood Re. The introduction of Flood Re…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, that is a very important point; we should all be playing our part. I would like to say to people who want to concrete-over or tarmac their front garden, “Think about it.…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseAgain, my experience is of how extraordinarily resilient communities are, but, very often, they will not admit that they are under great pressure. I went to see a number of…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, the answer regarding the voluntary spirit is yes. That is an absolutely key part of resilience, and of how communities have got through many of the floods. When I went…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, I think that would mean most of London could never have been constructed. I do not mean to be facetious by saying that, but the truth is that many parts of our towns…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy understanding is that the property flood resilience recovery fund was part of the package following November’s flooding. The grant allows eligible local authorities, with 25 or…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, the noble Lord is of course right that all sorts of areas have been flooded over the centuries. I was only just discussing that happening in York, parts of which have…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseI have not finished yet. I say to my noble friend that the last thing we want to do, obviously, is to build houses which then get flooded. There needs to be an assurance that…10 Feb 2020HANSARDFlood ResponseMy Lords, the whole point of a review is to review all matters arising from this. Obviously, I cannot pre-empt the result of the review, but it is helpful that the points that my…10 Feb 2020HANSARDBovine TuberculosisMy Lords, the cull is taking place in the high-risk areas, which is precisely on the advice and with the consent of the Chief Scientific Adviser and the Chief Veterinary Officer.…29 Jan 2020