Contributions
1,338 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRural FarmersI thank the hon. Member for that question. Again, she highlights how important this is. I think farming is challenging enough, frankly, without our putting false barriers in place…30 Mar 2023HANSARDRural FarmersI thank my right hon. Friend for his question. We have been working with Baroness Rock, who has been doing a review of farm-based tenancies, and we will respond to that review…30 Mar 2023HANSARDRural FarmersThat, actually, Mr Speaker, is a very important issue: “If it’s not red, leave it in the shed” is what I would say. I pay tribute to my right hon. and learned Friend’s…30 Mar 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsFood is assessed before it is allowed to be placed on the UK market, and that assessment includes whether it is safe. As with any other food, any producer has to be registered…30 Mar 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs the hon. Gentleman indicates, this is a very important issue. We have not made a statement today because there is an ongoing criminal investigation. I do not want to jeopardise…30 Mar 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have regular conversations across the supply chain. The hon. Gentleman is right to identify that the supply chain needs fairness to be built into it. There needs to be a…30 Mar 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman demonstrates again how informed he is on this matter. From Saturday, it will be possible to catch spurdog. The statutory instrument has now been laid. That…30 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationThe number of households in absolute poverty has actually gone down since the Government came to power, but I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to the people working in…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationWe are very keen to use the power of government to procure top-quality, UK-produced food. As the hon. Lady identifies, we made a commitment to try to get to 50% as soon as…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationI recognise how challenging that situation must be. That is why the Government are putting in huge support packages to try to help households cope with the increase in energy and…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationThe Government have a responsibility to deal with the facts as they are presented. It is a statement of fact that Ukraine was a huge producer of food within Europe. It is a…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationAs the hon. Gentleman will have heard earlier, food inflation is higher in Europe than in the UK for some products. He may well want to join back with his friends in Europe, but…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationWe should be clear that I am the Minister with responsibility for food, which is why I am here to answer this urgent question. We take this challenge very seriously, and we…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We are moving to a new phase—away from the common agricultural policy and towards environmental land management schemes. If we…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationWe continue to work with the whole sector, including retailers, manufacturers and primary producers, to maintain the most robust food supply chain. I pay tribute to the work that…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationThe hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the great support our retailers are giving to those people who face that challenge; they continue to work with charities in that…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationWe are supporting more children now than at any point in history. We continue to offer them that support and we will carry on doing that. School meals are the responsibility of…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments and statements—there were not many questions in there. I can tell him that the Government wholly recognise the challenge that inflation…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationI will respond on behalf of the Secretary of State. I draw attention to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. We recognise that food prices have gone up.…23 Mar 2023HANSARD Food Price InflationSo the hon. Gentleman says, but there are an extra 10,000 visas available should the industry request it and require it. That request has not come to the Government, because we…23 Mar 2023