Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, a new by-law power in the Fisheries Act 2020 allows the Marine Management Organisation to protect offshore MPAs from damaging fishing activity, and work on this has…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, as a responsible independent coastal state, we are committed to developing world-class sustainable fisheries management, safeguarding stocks and the environment for the…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, the UK Government are absolutely committed to investing in the seafood sector, and a range of government initiatives over several years has allowed the sector to invest…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryI certainly join the noble Lord and, no doubt, the whole House in wishing the greatest luck to our negotiators. On sustainability generally, I think the UK can say that we are…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, I do not believe that is the case. Catch limits, known as total allowable catches, have been set for 70 fish stocks at the EU-UK annual negotiations, and the total value…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement, covering the whole of the United Kingdom, provides a significant uplift in quota for UK fishers, which is estimated to be…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, I am afraid I am not yet in a position to provide that update, but I will do my utmost to ensure that it is made available as soon as possible.16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryMy Lords, the recently announced trade deal with Norway does not address access to waters or exchange of fishing quotas with Norway or the Faroes; those are negotiated separately…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryI will certainly convey my noble friend’s message to my colleagues in Defra, who I am certain will be willing and able to make that commitment. In relation to the sustainability…16 Jun 2021HANSARDFishing IndustryThe noble Lord makes an extremely valuable point. I have absolutely no doubt that the Fishing Minister, my colleague Victoria Prentis, and our representative here in this House,…16 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, very few pieces of legislation enter the process in exactly the same form as they end it. To that end, a number of changes have been introduced already in the Commons on…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, environment policy is mostly a devolved matter. Although a small number of provisions are drafted for Northern Ireland and Wales only, only half the provisions in the…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentThe noble Lord makes a very important point, but it is true of almost all legislation: no piece of legislation can be seen in isolation. The department I stand here representing…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, the Secretary of State will be able to issue guidance to the OEP to ensure that the organisation retains a focus on the key priorities, but the OEP is just as able to…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentAgain, the noble Lord makes a very important point, and of course the Bill must be subjected to full and proper scrutiny—as I believe it will in the days and hours that have been…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, it is absolutely our intention that the Bill be passed before COP 26. I note the comments of the noble Lord. Huge progress has been made since the UK assumed the role of…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, as the noble Lord says, we have seen significant declines in biodiversity in recent decades. For a target to be successful, there needs to be a strong element of bench-…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, I do not think I am in a position to make that commitment, but I will certainly commit to ensuring that the House is presented with as much information as is possible…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, our landmark Environment Bill was officially reintroduced in the Commons following the Queen’s Speech at the start of May. The Bill completed its passage through the…10 Jun 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill: Royal AssentMy Lords, it is absolutely right that this House will want to subject the Bill to full and proper scrutiny, but I hope noble Lords will agree that it represents a giant step…10 Jun 2021