Bridleways
(Tewkesbury) (Con)
If he will increase the number of bridleways to improve the
safety of horse riders; and if he will make a statement.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The Government share my hon. Friend’s ambition to improve safety
and access for horse riders. Our 25-year environment plan and
landscapes review explain how we will help to connect people with
nature. Our new environmental land management schemes will
include payments to ensure that those goods are delivered.
Mr Robertson [V]
The Minister will be aware that as more and more building takes
place in villages, more traffic is put on the road, which
presents a danger to horse riders. Just last year alone, 46
horses were killed and 130 riders were injured. One way in which
more access could be provided is by allowing horse riders to use
footpaths, for example, and there are many other ideas. Will she
work with me and others who are concerned about this issue to try
to improve access to bridleways for horse riders?
I would be delighted to do that. I have first-hand experience of
negotiating bridleways over motorway bridges and level crossings
with two small daughters on their ponies, and I very much
appreciate that one of the benefits of improving the bridleway
network will be increased safety. The schemes we are introducing
will incentivise farmers to enhance public access across the
piece.
Scottish Fishing Businesses
(North East Fife) (LD)
What assessment he has made of the effect of the UK-EU trade and
co-operation agreement on Scottish fishing businesses.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Under the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement, the UK has
secured tariff-free access for fisheries products and a
substantial transfer of quota from the European Union, benefiting
fishing communities across the UK, including Scotland. The
transfer is equivalent to 25% of the value of the EU’s historic
catch in UK waters, worth £146 million delivered over five years.
All fisheries Administrations will have regulatory control,
giving Scotland powers over the largest part of the UK’s
exclusive economic zone.
At the beginning of the year, the Secretary of State stood at the
Dispatch Box and told Members that difficulties with the UK-EU
fishing trade were just “teething problems”, but two months on
those problems are still ongoing, and the Government’s
compensation fund is clearly insufficient. On Tuesday, the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee was told that in
the medium term, we will see a lot more of the smaller companies
stopping trade in Europe, and it may ultimately be their demise.
That is terrible news for the East Neuk in North East Fife and
their fishing fleet. Does the Secretary of State still agree with
the words that he wrote in 2016, when he said:
“From the point of view of the fishing industry, the case for
leaving the EU is overwhelming”?
Yes, I do still believe that, and we have a 25% uplift in quota
as a result of the trade and co-operation agreement and
regulatory freedom that we did not have before. It is worth
noting that we are now seeing lorry loads of fish clearing border
control posts in France typically in under an hour—sometimes a
little longer, but it is an improving situation. Volumes of trade
are back up to around 85% of normal volumes.
(Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP) [V]
The Prime Minister said a week ago that he thought the fishing
industry could be saved if we only ate more British fish. Two
months ago, the Leader of the House said that the fish are
“happier” because of Brexit. In January, the DEFRA Secretary said
the collapse of exports was a “teething problem”. Can the
flippancy end now, and can we get some serious answers for the
industry? Some Scottish businesses still face three-day waits to
get their fresh fish to EU markets. Does the Government not
accept that they have got it wrong and that the taskforces and
other sticking plasters are not enough? Will they get back to the
negotiating table with the EU, eat some humble pie and accept
whatever regulatory alignment and other measures are necessary to
save the industry?
As I said, volumes of fish exports are currently running at about
85% of normal volumes. Given coronavirus and the lockdown in the
EU, we think that is probably about the right level, given the
stress to the markets in the European Union. It is an improving
situation. Well over half of all consignments now clear border
control posts within an hour, and typically in 45 minutes. Over
90% are clearing them within three hours, so we do not recognise
the figure that the hon. Lady gives of three days.
Biodiversity
(Chipping
Barnet) (Con)
What steps he is taking to improve protection for nature and
biodiversity.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker—Mr Speaker! Goodness gracious me, I
am so sorry. Gosh! Apologies.
Biodiversity definitely matters, and it is critical that we act
now internationally and at home in this crucial year for nature
and biodiversity. In England, our Environment Bill sets out a
strong legal foundation for improving the environment, and we
have introduced substantial new funding for nature, including the
nature for climate and green recovery challenge funds. We have
protected 40% of English waters across 178 marine protected
areas, and we have committed to protecting 30% of our land by
2030.
Will the Government ensure that nature-friendly farming is at the
heart of our replacement for the common agricultural policy, and
will securing a global switch to sustainable and nature-friendly
farming be a core goal for us at COP26?
I am pleased that my right hon. Friend has given me the chance to
say that we on the Front Bench—every single one of the Ministers
and the Secretary of State—are absolutely committed to
nature-friendly farming, and there will be schemes through the
new environmental land management system that will reward it. The
sustainable farming incentive will support approaches to farm
husbandry that will help the environment. That might include
propagating integrated pest management and actions to improve
soil health and water quality. Local nature recovery will pay for
actions that support local nature recovery and deliver local
environmental priorities, with farmers potentially collaborating.
Finally, landscape recovery will support much wider
landscape-scale and ecosystem recovery through long-term change
of land use and projects. Internationally, that work continues
with our Darwin initiative and many more things, and we will
bring all those into COP26.
Office for Environmental Protection
(Cheadle) (Con)
What recent progress he has made on establishing the Office for
Environmental Protection.
(Heywood and Middleton) (Con)
What recent progress he has made on establishing the Office for
Environmental Protection.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Now that we have left the European Union, we have the opportunity
to do things better. We will innovate and improve our
environmental and agricultural standards, enabling us to identify
where we can deliver better environmental outcomes more
effectively and in ways that better align with our regulatory
systems.
Mr Speaker
I think the questions were grouped.
Apologies, Mr Speaker. Work to establish the Office for
Environmental Protection continues at pace. We have appointed the
chair and interim CEO, with non-executive directors to follow,
and the headquarters will be in Worcester.
[V]
Lockdown has highlighted the importance of our environment, with
the positive effects of good air quality, access to green spaces
and connecting with nature for our health and wellbeing. Will the
Secretary of State elaborate on the remit of the new independent
regulator and on what the interim Office for Environmental
Protection will be able to do to maintain those important
protections, as we seek to enhance and protect our natural
environment?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. The interim OEP will be
able to produce an independent assessment of the Government’s
progress towards their 25-year environment plan and receive
complaints about failures of public authorities to comply with
environmental law. It will take decisions on operational matters
such as recruitment, accommodation and facilities; develop the
OEP strategy, including its enforcement policy; and determine
approaches to how the OEP will form and operate.
May I associate myself with the comments of my hon. Friend the
Member for Cheadle ()? I am a fellow Greater Manchester MP, and my
constituents in Heywood and Middleton also put a very high
premium on our natural environment, especially as we are in a
city region. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to
implement the measures in the Environment Bill ahead of Royal
Assent?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. Although the timetable
for the Environment Bill has slipped by a few months, we are
working at pace to implement the policies and measures behind it.
We have announced Dame Glenys Stacey as the chair of the OEP and
Worcester as its HQ, and it will launch on an interim basis in
July. We are also progressing work on developing targets. We have
already published a policy paper and set up working groups, and
we are developing proposals for a consultation. We will launch
further consultations on a raft of measures to be brought forward
under the Environment Bill, including relating to packaging and
waste collection reforms.
(Newport West) (Lab) [V]
Now that we are no longer a member of the European Union, it is
vital that all steps are taken to ensure that the UK has the
strongest possible protections for our environment. That is why
so many of us are confused that the Tories weakened their own
Environment Bill in Committee by voting down cross-party
amendments that would have strengthened the OEP and made the Bill
fit for purpose. Can the Secretary of State finally confirm that,
when the Environment Bill eventually comes back to the House, he
will support all steps to make the OEP—which was promised to
Bristol and the south-west but is now headed for Worcester—fit
for purpose and fit for the 21st century?
I believe it is fit for purpose. We have set up an independent
Office for Environmental Protection that has powers to
investigate. It will have powers to bring a judicial review, and
powers to investigate and follow up on any complaints that the
law has been broken. Crucially, as well, it has been given some
work to develop those targets, and also to comment on progress
towards both the targets and our environmental plan.
Flood Re: Consultation
(Pontypridd) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to encourage public participation in the
Flood Re consultation.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
We published a consultation on amendments to the Flood Re scheme
on 1 February 2021 on DEFRA’s consultation hub. We drew public
attention to this through a press notice to the media, which
received positive coverage. In addition, the consultation has
been communicated to a range of stakeholders, including members
of the property flood resilience roundtable. The consultation
will close on 26 April 2021, and I would encourage all interested
parties to engage in it.
We have just passed the one-year anniversary of the devastating
flooding that hit my community of Pontypridd in February 2020.
Sadly, far too many people are still unable to get affordable
home insurance, and it is clear that there are serious problems
with the Flood Re scheme in its current form. Will the Minister,
as part of this consultation, please agree to meet me and some of
the residents affected in my community to hear at first hand
about the problems with Flood Re?
I thank the hon. Lady for that, and of course, as ever, I have
huge sympathy with anyone who has suffered flooding; it is not a
nice experience. But Flood Re is doing everything it can to
ensure that people can get flood insurance. It was introduced in
2016, and since then 96% of those with prior flood claims were
able to get five or more insurance quotes. So this is really
moving, but we are doing the consultation because if tweaks need
to be made, we will make them. We very much look forward to
hearing views. Do input to the consultation—
Will the Minister meet me?
I am very happy to meet anybody who wants to make suggestions of
how the whole system could work more effectively.
(Barnsley
East) (Lab)
Too many people in flood risk areas cannot afford and do not have
adequate insurance. Flood Re strongly supports flood cover being
a standard part of household insurance, as recommended by the
Blanc review. Can the Minister confirm what steps her Department
is taking to ensure that this recommendation is implemented, and
by when?
I thank the hon. Member for that. It is very important that those
who might be susceptible to flooding can get hold of the right
insurance. We are doing a great deal of work on this. She refers
to the independent review of flood insurance. It was actually a
special review taken around the Doncaster area to look at the
lessons learned there. It has reported with its recommendations,
and the Government are looking at that with a view to taking on
board suggestions that may be helpful in this space.
Import Checks: Live Animals and Products
(Tiverton and Honiton) (Con)
What preparations his Department is making prior to the
implementation of checks on imports of (a) animal and germinal
products and (b) live animals from the EU in July 2021.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
We are already conducting some checks on live animals, with full
documentary checks and physical checks being conducted at the
premises of destination. We plan to introduce some documentary
checks on products of animal origin next month and then begin
some physical checks from July onwards, and also to introduce
similar checks on plant products later this year. Recruitment of
staff by the port health authorities is at an advanced stage.
[V]
On Tuesday, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
heard from a series of our fish and meat exporters to the EU who
are struggling with the paperwork system imposed by the EU and
its border officials. One exporter in Brixham needed over 70
pages of paperwork for one consignment of fish. When we start
making checks this summer, we could insist on 140 pages of
paperwork for EU imports, if we wanted to. However, could we, in
our mutual interest, negotiate with the EU a digital system to
make it easier for our businesses both to export and to import?
Unlike the European Union, we have taken a pragmatic approach to
phasing in border controls, so that we can protect business
supply chains and UK consumers, but when we do start to introduce
those export health certificates, they will be certificates that
are of a similar form to those of the European Union, since they
are derived from retained EU law. I understand the point my hon.
Friend is making, but we should also remain conscious that the
primary focus of these checks is to protect food standards and
animal health. Over time, the European Union may diverge from
British law or may suffer variable enforcement between member
states, and the UK needs the ability to protect British consumers
and to operate food safety surveillance of other EU member
states.
Flood Resilience
(Bassetlaw) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support flood resilience.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
In July 2020 we published a long-term statement setting out our
“ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and
coastal erosion risk”,
and it contained five key policies and over 40 actions to better
protect and prepare the country. We are investing £5.2 billion to
build 2,000 new flood defences over the next six years; this is a
serious commitment and it will better protect 336,000 properties.
[V]
I thank the Minister for her response and also for meeting me and
the Environment Agency in January to discuss various issues
surrounding flooding in Bassetlaw. Can the Minister update us on
the progress of the proposed £6.5 million scheme in West
Stockwith with local stakeholders?
I was very pleased to meet my hon. Friend and the EA to discuss
this issue. He is a great campaigner for his local community. The
West Stockwith pumping station evacuates flood water into the
Trent at times of flood; elements of the station are at the end
of their design life, and the Environment Agency is working with
its partners to consider competing water demands in the area to
develop an outline business case to replace these. There is a
£5.5 million grant-in-aid indicative allocation in the capital
programme for 2020-21 to 2023-24 for this work, and, crucially,
the work will protect around 68 homes.
Illegal Puppy Trade
(Gordon) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the devolved
Administrations on bringing forward legislative proposals to help
tackle the illegal puppy trade.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Puppy smuggling is abhorrent. We operate a rigorous pet-checking
regime and work collaboratively to share intelligence, disrupt
illegal imports and seize non-compliant animals. Officials liaise
closely with devolved Administration colleagues, and they meet
fortnightly to discuss developments, although of course often
they speak in between these formal meetings as well.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that response. Puppy smuggling is a
trade carried out outside current regulations and it causes
considerable distress and suffering. Does the Minister agree with
charities such as the Dogs Trust that we need tougher penalties
right across the UK for those caught smuggling puppies, in order
to ensure that there is a real deterrent in place to tackle this
horrific trade?
DEFRA is considering a range of possible measures, which may
result in legislative change. We are listening to a group of
stakeholders, including the Dogs Trust, and the recommendations
that they and the EFRA Committee made relatively recently will
inform our policy making in this important area.
Flood Defences
(Wyre Forest) (Con)
What progress he is making on the construction of flood defences.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
This month will see the completion of the Government’s six-year
£2.6 billion investment programme to deliver over 1,000 flood
schemes, better protecting 300,000 homes from flooding. Starting
in April, the Government will invest £5.2 billion in a six-year
investment programme to deliver 2,000 flood schemes, protecting
336,000 properties from flooding. Alongside this programme, a
further £170 million will be invested to accelerate work on 22
shovel-ready projects for defence schemes, and construction on
these will begin from March 2022.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that response and also for meeting me
and the Environment Agency yesterday. As she knows, Bewdley in my
constituency has suffered from two once-in-100-year floods in the
last 18 months alone. While the western bank of the River Severn
is protected by impressive demountable flood barriers, the
eastern bank, known as Beales Corner, has been protected just by
temporary barriers and by property-level resilience, and this
year the temporary barriers collapsed catastrophically and the
property-level resilience all but failed. The Minister is very
familiar with Bewdley, having kindly visited last year during the
flooding, and she knows that the Environment Agency is working up
plans to provide a permanent solution to floods at Beales Corner,
but can she promise me that she will work with me, the
Environment Agency and the residents of Beales Corner to deliver
on the pledge made by the Prime Minister when he visited Bewdley
last year that we will finally “get Bewdley done”?
As my hon. Friend knows, I was very sorry to hear of the flooding
of the 19 properties at Beales Corner on 22 January, when the
temporary flood defences failed. He kept well in touch with me on
that at the time, and we have since met, as he said, which I was
pleased, and always am pleased, to do. I give him an assurance
that the Environment Agency is working really hard with the local
authority and partners—and indeed with him—to develop the
business case for a permanent flood scheme at Beales Corner. He
knows that I take a very close interest, from a ministerial
perspective, in this and all areas relating to it, including just
working out how it will be possible and the funding options. I
urge him to keep up the good work that he is doing in Bewdley.
Agricultural Policy: Farmers
(Penistone and
Stocksbridge) (Con)
What steps he is taking to consult and engage with farmers on
future agricultural policy.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Since 2018, we have been working with farmers to build up ideas
and gain their insights. So far, more than 3,000 farmers have
helped us to develop aspects of our new approach through 72 tests
and trials. Our co-design approach includes the sustainable
farming incentive pilot, which will open for expressions of
interest shortly. We will also be working with farmers on various
consultations and on policies, in particular to address the
causes of poor profitability.
[V]
Last year, I visited a dairy farm near Penistone in my
constituency that is using new technologies to increase
efficiency and improve yields. That is a great example of
innovation in farming that can lead to a bright future for the
dairy industry. Can my right hon. Friend tell me how his
Department is supporting farmers to remove barriers to adopting
new technologies that they need so that they can become more
competitive?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Dairy businesses
such as the one she refers to in her constituency are embracing
technology and innovation, and we want to support them to go
further. Over the last three years, we have provided around £75
million to farmers to help them purchase new and innovative
technology. From autumn this year, the new farming investment
fund will help farmers, including those in the dairy sector, to
build on the progress already made by offering them grants. We
will also be launching a new approach, with research and
development syndicates to support individual farm businesses with
research and development of technology.
Untreated Sewage: Discharge
(Enfield North) (Lab)
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that untreated
sewage is not discharged into rivers and other inland waters.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Water companies are committed over the next five years to a £1.1
billion programme to improve the monitoring and management of
sewage discharges. However, I have made it clear to water
companies that more action is needed. That is why we have
established the storm overflows taskforce, which has agreed to
set a long-term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows and
is working on plans to start progress towards that goal.
[V]
The River Lea, which runs through my constituency, is well used
for water sports by many clubs and schools, and it is much loved.
Sadly, it is also one of the most polluted waterways in the UK;
in 2019 alone, Thames Water spent over 1,100 hours discharging
raw sewage into the River Lea. When will the Government finally
hold water companies to account to protect our waterways
properly?
The hon. Lady raises a very serious issue, and indeed the
Department is taking it very seriously. In fairness, as I said,
water companies already spend £1.1 billion to improve their
monitoring and discharging, but we have set up the taskforce to
hold their feet to the fire to come up with some measures for how
we can set this long-term goal of getting rid of these sewage
outlets once and for all. They will be doing more real-time data
checking, so we will have the relevant data that we need soon,
and they will be installing more monitoring devices, but the
taskforce will report back in the spring on further actions that
we may be able to work on.
Fish Products: Standards
(South West Devon) (Con)
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring
that fish products imported from the EU are subject to the same
standards and requirements as fish products exported to the EU.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
I regularly have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on this
issue, in particular through the Cabinet Sub-Committee dealing
with EU exit. Import controls on fish products are being
introduced in stages. Imports of most fish products have required
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing documentation since
January. That includes a catch certificate. We plan to introduce
documentary checks for export health on imported fish from April
and some physical checks from July.
[V]
I thank my right hon. Friend for all the efforts he is making to
iron out the wrinkles in the export of fish products from the UK.
However, if these problems persist, why do we not serve notice on
our friends in the EU that with immediate effect we intend to
treat the import of fish products from EU countries in precisely
the same way that our fish exports to EU countries, especially
France, are currently being treated—regulatory equivalence? Would
that not help to bring people to the table to resolve the current
disruption being suffered by our fishing industry?
As I said to the Chair of the Select Committee earlier, when we
start to introduce those checks they will indeed be equivalent
and similar to the types of checks that the European Union is
currently requiring on our own fish exports. At that point, I
hope there will be an opportunity for some discussion about how
we can each ensure that we have the right safeguards for our
respective markets in a way that is more user-friendly and more
pragmatic. There are countries in the world that have better and
more developed systems for doing this documentation than the
European Union.
Topical Questions
(Blackpool
North and Cleveleys) (Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
When it comes to pesticides policy, the Government apply the
precautionary principle. Emergency authorisations are an integral
part of the precautionary principle, because they allow
restrictions on a precautionary basis for certain products while
allowing their use where there is a risk that cannot be
controlled by any other means. At the beginning of the year,
applying that principle, the Government granted an emergency
authorisation for the use of thiamethoxam on sugar beet. Sugar
beet is a non-flowering crop and we applied a strict condition,
which is that the pest pressure should be assessed over the
winter months and that the product should only be used if it were
deemed necessary and the pest pressure passed a certain
threshold. I can tell the House that earlier this week that
analysis was published. The threshold was not met due to some of
the cold weather we have had. Therefore, the terms of the
emergency authorisation are not met and the neonicotinoid in
question will not be used this year.
[V]
The fishing and fish processing industry continues to be affected
by the closure of hospitality nationwide and the impact of border
friction arising from Brexit, which has also weakened sales in
key Asian markets such as Korea. Will the Secretary of State
volunteer his Fisheries Ministers to meet further with me and
affected employees? Can he also confirm that the replacement for
the European fisheries fund will also benefit the fish processing
sector, as well as the fishermen themselves?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. My ministerial
colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (), was
nodding to give her assent to a meeting. Indeed, I would also be
more than happy to meet fish processors in my hon. Friend’s
constituency. I can confirm that the new £100 million fund to
develop the fishing industry and infrastructure will be open to
fish processors. In addition, those fish processors who have had
issues during January, due to the new administrative processes,
in exporting to the European Union, are eligible for the
fisheries disruption fund and many have already applied.
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Fishing boats are tied up and fish exporters are tied up with red
tape. Fishing was promised a sea of opportunity, but the reality
is that many fishing businesses are on the verge of collapse.
Much of the so-called extra fish may not even exist or be able to
be caught by British boats. The fishing industry feels betrayed.
Is it not now time for the Secretary of State to apologise to the
fishing industry for the Brexit deal that his Government
negotiated?
I have made it clear all along that the Government had hoped to
get closer to a zonal attachment sharing arrangement in that
first multi-annual agreement, but the EU has been required to
forfeit 25% of the fish that it has historically caught in our
waters—a significant uplift—as the price for continued access.
That additional fishing quota is worth £140 million.
The pollock quota has gone down in the south-west. There is no
apology and no sense of reality from the Secretary of State. He
cannot wriggle out on this one—the net is closing in on him. The
reality is that fishing has lost trust and confidence in the
actions of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs. For all the broken promises, fishing businesses have
closed and others will follow. Why will the Secretary of State
not apologise? What will he do to fix the mess that this
incompetent Government have created for fishing communities
nationwide?
As I said, we have seen, through the trade and co-operation
agreement, a significant increase in quotas—25%, worth some £146
million. As we have left the single market and the customs union,
there are some new administrative processes in place. That was
challenging for the fishing sector during January, which is why
we opened a fund to support it. Looking to the long term,
however, we have regained control of regulations in our waters,
which enables us to do conservation measures on places such as
the Dogger Bank that were never possible as an EU country. It has
also enabled us to ban pulse trawling in our waters. These are
all things that could not be done while we were shackled to the
common fisheries policy.
(Romsey and Southampton North) (Con) [V]
I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’
Financial Interests stating that I am a trustee of World Horse
Welfare. We have heard from my right hon. Friend this morning
that lorryloads of fish are clearing the border in less than an
hour, but Olympian Richard Davison tells me that horses that are
used for dressage are taking between four and 10 hours to clear
the border at Calais because of the requirement for equine health
certificates. Please will the Minister tell me what the
Government are doing to make sure that there is not a looming
animal welfare crisis as temperatures increase and grand prix
horses are left standing in lorries for hours on end? [R]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
My right hon. Friend is right that the EU has chosen to introduce
new import controls on GB livestock, including that they must
enter through a border control post. Border control posts will be
designed to take account of animal welfare need. The border
control post at Calais for equines is one such post. We are
working very hard with the European Commission to ensure that any
disruption to traffic, especially across the short straits, does
not lead to welfare issues. I would be grateful if she could get
in touch with me directly with any specific examples and I will
take them up.
(City of Durham) (Lab) [V]
A recent report by the Disability Benefits Consortium said that
many disabled people faced a choice between heating and eating
during the pandemic and stated that unless legacy benefits were
uplifted in line with universal credit, it would be
“discriminatory”. Does the Secretary of State therefore feel that
the Chancellor’s refusal to do this has discriminated against
disabled people while undermining his job to tackle food poverty?
I do not accept that. Obviously, the Chancellor has made an
announcement in relation to extending the universal credit uplift
to help the financially vulnerable through the current situation.
We also announced new rounds of funding late last year to support
charities such as FareShare in food redistribution and to support
other food charities to help those in need.
(Rother
Valley) (Con) [V]
Over the last year, we have all learned how vital it is to have
access to high-speed broadband, whether that is for home
schooling, home working, home shopping or keeping in touch with
our friends and families. For residents in cities, an internet
connection can be taken for granted, but for many residents in
the rural or less well-connected villages in Rother Valley—such
as Harthill where I live, Netherthorpe, or even Treeton and
Wales—connection is temperamental, slow and in some places
completely lacking. We have all adapted to new ways of living and
working as a result of the pandemic, but what assurances can my
right hon. Friend give me that rural communities such as those in
Rother Valley will not be left behind?
My hon. Friend makes a good point. All rural areas need good
digital connectivity, including his constituency. The Government
have delivered superfast broadband to more than 5 million
premises, with 96% of UK premises now able to access superfast
speeds. We are investing an unprecedented £5 billion to support
deployment of gigabit broadband in the hardest-to-reach areas of
the country.
(Rochdale) (Lab) [V]
Will the Minister make a very clear statement on the Government’s
policy with respect to our peat bogs and recognise that they are
an enormously powerful carbon sink as well as being important for
water retention in flood prevention schemes? On that basis, will
he agree to meet me and one or two colleagues virtually who,
particularly in the south Pennines area, have a real interest in
this issue?
I or one of my ministerial colleagues would be more than happy to
meet the hon. Gentleman and others to discuss this. I completely
agree with him that deep peat in particular can be an important
store of carbon. That is why we have recently announced new
restrictions on burning on blanket bog. Restoration of the
hydrology of some of those deep peats is a fundamental part of
our approach to tackling climate change.
(Totnes) (Con)
I declare my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial
Interests. I know that the Minister and the Secretary of State
are fully aware of the problems faced by mollusc exporters from
grade B waters, but are they aware of the scale? If we are to
introduce innovative solutions, such as creating our own
depuration plants, we need to be aware that these are sizeable
operations and that businesses such as Offshore Shellfish, based
in Brixham, need all the support they can get. Will the Minister
take that into account and also meet that business and other
organisations in my patch?
My hon. Friend and I have discussed the current completely
unacceptable situation many times, particularly in respect of
Offshore Shellfish in Brixham. There is no justification for the
European Commission to ban our molluscs from class B waters, and
we are seeking an urgent resolution of this dispute. We are
willing to provide additional reassurances, but we ask the
Commission to recognise the existing high standards and long
history of trade between us. I am happy to meet the business as
my hon. Friend suggests.
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
The Prime Minister’s 10-point plan has been condemned by
environmentalists as a wish list, DEFRA has been criticised by
the Public Accounts Committee for failing to drive Government
policy on the environment, and the Secretary of State’s
Environment Bill has been delayed yet again. COP26 is approaching
and the UK’s credibility on the environment is close to zero, so
can I ask what input he has had into the COP26 ambitions, what
the Government hope to get out of COP26 and what he would
consider to be a success at the conference?
I clearly do not share the hon. Gentleman’s caricature of the
situation. This Government are the first in the world to make it
clear that 30% of our international climate finance will go on
nature-based solutions. In answer to his question, what we hope
to get out of COP26 are ambitious targets around the world to
continue to tackle carbon emissions, but also, crucially, a big
recognition of the role of nature in tackling climate change.
