Contributions
2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityIt is, and a further concern in my constituency is that the consultants who do soil sampling for the developers are often felt to be interpreting and grading the quality of soil…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityI will come on to the underspends, because that is one of the key dividing lines between the two sides of the House. After we came out of the EU, I secured an agreement with the…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityI would never suggest such things of you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I could not quite spot the hon. Lady’s question—it seemed to be more of a statement. I am sure that farmers in…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityI know that the clustering of solar farms on some of the best food production land in Lincolnshire is a live issue; I suspect that might be what my right hon. Friend wants to…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityThe Secretary of State should be doing that, but there is a marked difference between us. I persuaded the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to strengthen the guidance…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityI very much agree. My right hon. Friend alludes to one of the key questions being asked by many farmers around the River Wye: what has happened to the £35 million that was…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Farming and Food SecurityAs we came out of the European Union, new schemes were set up, including the SFI, to support nature and farming. They represented a shift from the EU scheme, under which 50% of…08 Oct 2024HANSARDWater Pollution: AccountabilityOn a point of order, Mr Speaker.12 Sept 2024HANSARDBritish Food ProducersBoth in that answer and in the earlier answer from the environment Minister, the hon. Member for Coventry East (Mary Creagh), the House has heard Government Front Benchers say…12 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Secretary of State has repeatedly talked tough with the water companies, yet the Water (Special Measures) Bill that he announced actually weakens a number of measures, such as…12 Sept 2024HANSARDPlanning, the Green Belt and Rural AffairsI begin by congratulating the Secretary of State and the ministerial team on their appointments and wishing them well. I also pay tribute to the hon. Members for Chesterfield (Mr…19 Jul 2024HANSARDPlanning, the Green Belt and Rural AffairsMy right hon. Friend gets to the nub of the issue, because if a Government are promising change, they need to be able to say what the timelines are. They need to say what the…19 Jul 2024HANSARDPlanning, the Green Belt and Rural AffairsOf course we respect the science. The hon. Gentleman chunters from a sedentary position, but I presume he will get the same science brief—in a way, he makes my point—that I got…19 Jul 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationMy hon. Friend talks about the huge importance of the quality of drinking water. That is why we have the Drinking Water Inspectorate there, and it will be fully investigating, and…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationI will take that steer, Mr Speaker, and direct my remarks your way. First, there is agreement on bonuses that where there is criminal wrongdoing, they should not be paid. On…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationAs a Minister, one has to follow the correct legal process, and the legal process for an independent arm’s-length body requires it to have a consultation. As I have said, we are…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationMembers on the Labour Front Bench like to claim that their party wants to be taken seriously as a potential party of Government, yet once again we see shadow Ministers pre-empting…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationMy hon. Friend is quite right to express the huge local concerns. He and I have spoken multiple times a day since this issue arose, and he has been extremely effective in raising…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationI agree with the hon. Gentleman about the brilliant tourist offer, and there is work to do to support businesses, particularly in the hospitality trade, which will have been…20 May 2024HANSARDSouth West Water: Brixham ContaminationMy hon. Friend raises an important point. It is not just those residents directly affected who are concerned; so too will be those in the surrounding areas. Indeed, some of the…20 May 2024