Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, much of the work the noble Baroness describes was conducted on the back of UK experience and expertise, neither of which have gone. On the precise relationship we will…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, a number of factors—not least a Covid lockdown across Europe and businesses adjusting to our new trading relationship—have made inevitable the dip in exports to the EU…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatI am not convinced that peat as a fuel does fit into this picture. Our priority is to restore peatlands as closely as possible to their natural conditions, so they can fulfil the…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, our relationship with the European Union hinges in many respects on issues yet to be resolved. The noble Lord mentioned two of them. Resolving issues around the Northern…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatThe peat strategy we have produced is an England peat strategy, so clearly, there are geographical limits. However, the issue goes far beyond England: it is a UK issue, for the…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatMy Lords, I absolutely make that commitment, and that is one reason why we are moving with renewed vigour on banning the use of peat in horticulture. Additionally, our England…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatMy noble friend raises an important point, and she is right that there are insufficient amounts of suitable replacement materials. However, there is clearly scope for making…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, it is hard to know how effective the partnership is, given that we have only had one of those meetings. We have another meeting at some point this year. It has not been…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy noble friend makes a hugely important point. I reiterate that our overall aim is to renegotiate the Northern Ireland protocol to resolve the undoubtedly significant issues that…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, the date for the second meeting of the Partnership Council has yet to be confirmed. The first Partnership Council met on 9 June last year; it marked an important…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilI will certainly convey the noble Baroness’s message to the Foreign Secretary; I cannot make an undertaking on her behalf, but it certainly seems in the spirit of the approach she…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatMy Lords, an enormous amount of progress was made at COP 26. The story that made the headlines related to forests but the principles that were agreed around the protection of…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatI am very happy to make that commitment on behalf of my colleagues in whose portfolio and remit this issue sits. From an international perspective, the noble Baroness makes a very…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatThe noble Baroness is right: Forestry England continues to use peat in the manner she has described. However, it has committed to eliminating completely the use of peat in the…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatMy Lords, I will certainly take both those suggestions back to the department. The point the noble Baroness makes about imports is a good one; I will have that discussion with the…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatI am afraid I cannot provide that justification because there is a clear contradiction, but that is why we are pushing ahead with our proposals and measures to eliminate the use…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilMy Lords, I am not sure I agree that we have taken an insufficiently proactive approach, but I certainly think the new Foreign Secretary has brought a particular level of energy…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilI will try in due course to provide answers relating to other specialist committees, as the noble Baroness mentioned, but on fishing licences our approach has been and remains…18 Jan 2022HANSARDEU-UK Partnership CouncilI am not able to give the noble Baroness any kind of detailed update on those discussions. I do not believe there is an update to provide, other than that those discussions…18 Jan 2022HANSARDPeatMy Lords, we are currently consulting on measures to end the use of peat in horticulture in England and Wales. This includes a call for evidence on the impacts of ending the use…18 Jan 2022