Food Production Costs
(Dunfermline and West
Fife) (SNP)
1. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on
increases in the cost of food production. (905828)
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
11. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues
on increases in the cost of food production. (905839)
(East Lothian) (Alba)
13. What steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the
impact of increased food production costs on (a) consumers and
(b) businesses. (905841)
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has placed pressures on global
imports and energy costs. We have taken significant action to
support British growers and to safeguard our food security.
Building on the work to invest in fertiliser supply and slurry
storage, energy infrastructure and costs, the Prime Minister
recently hosted the first ever UK Farm to Fork summit on
productivity and sustainability, as part of maintaining the £2.4
billion budget for farming each year.
Last month, the Prime Minister said that weekly shopping bills
had
“gone up far too much in the past few months”.
That must be the understatement of the year. Food inflation is at
a record 45-year high. Farmers and growers are facing higher
business costs across the board, and consumers are bearing the
brunt with their weekly shop. What discussions has the Minister
had with the Prime Minister to find out what they can do now for
farmers, growers and producers and to protect beleaguered
shoppers? What is the plan, because what the Government are doing
now ain’t working?
I think the hon. Gentleman will be aware that we are not
responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has had a
significant impact on global energy prices. The good news is that
those global energy prices are coming back to a level, and that
is starting to feed back into our food supply chain. That is why
we are helping and supporting farmers, investing in new
technology and investing in their businesses to make them more
sustainable and more profitable going forwards so that they can
continue to deliver great quality British food at a reasonable
price.
The war in Ukraine has not caused the labour shortages that are
causing Scottish crops to be ploughed back into the fields. The
war in Ukraine has not caused customs barriers and tariffs that
mean that Scottish seafood is being left in the sea. Brexit has
caused those things. That is why food inflation is higher in the
UK than elsewhere. When will the Government accept that?
Unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman is misinformed. Food prices are
higher in Germany and France. If Brexit were the issue, clearly
that would not be the case. That is why we are investing in those
farmers. We are supporting them by increasing the number of visas
that are available in the seasonal agricultural worker scheme. We
are supporting those farmers to continue to produce great quality
food.
Businesses, as the hon. Member for Glasgow North () has said, are suffering
because of the absence of labour, in fishing and, indeed, in
farming in East Lothian. Given that this has been brought about
by Brexit and that the previous routes of labour have been sold
off, is it not time that the Scottish Government had control over
some migration visas, even of a limited timescale, as applies in
south Australia and Quebec?
We have issued 45,000 possible visas on the seasonal agriculture
worker scheme and we are currently nowhere near that level. There
are an extra 10,000 visas available should the industry require
them. We have not seen the necessity to trigger those extra
10,000 at this moment in time, which is because there are
adequate visas available to support farmers and fishermen.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee.
Sir (Scarborough and Whitby)
(Con)
The price of wheat peaked at £350 a tonne. It has subsequently
fallen to below £200 a tonne—not much more than it was before the
invasion of Ukraine. Why has the price of bread in
our supermarkets not
fallen, too?
I declare my interest in these matters.
I recognise the fact that global wheat prices have now come back
down. We work closely with retailers, processers and the
hospitality sector to make sure that there is not extra
profiteering in the marketplace. We will continue to have
discussions with those representatives and will work with the
sector to make sure that food is reasonably priced for our
constituents.
(Kettering) (Con)
The farming Minister will know that in north Northamptonshire we
have some of the best farmers in the country who are facing these
challenges, like every other farm up and down the land. Would he
be kind enough to visit Kettering to meet a large group of local
farmers—perhaps in early September in between harvesting and
drilling?
That is a very kind invitation. It is always a pleasure to visit
Northamptonshire, and, if my diary allows, I will of course meet
my hon. Friend and his farmers.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
The Minister has talked a lot about support for farmers, but in
reality there is a severe lack of profitability for those
producing chicken. That is causing a sharp reduction in the
number of birds reared in England, while in Scotland production
has changed significantly, as retailers resist demands to pay a
fair price for chicken. Will the Minister commit to extending the
examination of food supply chains to poultry meat, as requested
by the National Farmers Union Scotland, as the threat of empty
shelves looms? Will he also engage with retailers to ensure that
poultry farmers are fairly compensated?
I was on a poultry farm yesterday talking to poultry producers.
The SNP cannot have it both ways; it cannot ask one question
about suppressing prices for consumers and another about
increasing the prices for farmers—those things are diametrically
opposed. What we are doing as a Department is supporting those
farmers through the £2.4 billion-worth of subsidy, helping them
to invest in new technology and talking to retailers and
producers to make sure we get fairness in the supply chain, so
everybody gets a fair return for their hard work.
Animal Welfare
(Coatbridge, Chryston and
Bellshill) (SNP)
2. What steps she is taking to bring forward legislative
proposals to improve animal welfare. (905829)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Dr Thérèse Coffey)
The Government are committed to continuing to deliver on our
manifesto commitments and the work we have undertaken through the
action plan for animal welfare from 2021. So far we have
delivered six measures through primary legislation and four
through secondary legislation. We have also supported three
private Members’ Bills, one of which, the Shark Fins Act 2023,
banning the import of detached shark fins, received Royal Assent
last week. As the Minister updated the House on 25 May, we will
be supporting the delivery of the measures from our manifesto
during the remainder of the Parliament and we have already
started with a consultation on banning primates as pets through
secondary legislation.
We have had three Secretaries of State and 760 days have passed
since the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was first introduced
in this House, and we are no further forward today on banning
animal fur imports, or on tackling illegal puppy and kitten
smuggling, or on banning foie gras. The former DEFRA Secretary,
the right hon. Member for Camborne and Redruth (), said the Bill did not go
ahead due to
“a lack of resolve to take it through.”
How long must animals suffer the consequences of this Tory
psychodrama, and when will animal welfare finally be prioritised
in this place?
Dr Coffey
The hon. Gentleman must be living in a parallel universe. There
is no doubt that many measures have been undertaken to improve
animal welfare. One thing I would say is that there have not been
any live exports of animals since 2021, and we still have
legislation ready to go. We have already set out our approach. Of
course he will be aware that it is already illegal to smuggle
pets, and some of the legislation we were working on was to try
to make it more challenging for criminals who abuse pets as
well.
(North East Bedfordshire)
(Con)
The Secretary of State is right that progress on animal welfare
can be made by specific and targeted measures. I would add to the
ones she mentioned the adoption by the Government of my own
private Member’s Hare Coursing Bill. However, we do need a clear
programme of further progress. Can she tell me the progress on
two specific changes: the ban on the import of dogs with cropped
ears and the ban on keeping primates as pets?
Dr Coffey
As my hon. Friend points out, he has already undertaken
significant work regarding hare coursing; it is one of the top
priorities for rural police and crime commissioners and they
continue to do good work on that, recognising that much of it is
connected to organised crime. On the two measures he refers to,
because we are introducing secondary legislation to stop people
keeping primates as pets, we have to consult formally and then
the legislation will be prepared alongside that. In terms of the
mutilation elements, when my right hon. Friend the Minister for
Food, Farming and Fisheries spoke to the House on 25 May, he said
that we would be taking forward measures on individual issues. I
intend that to happen in the next Session of Parliament.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Leeds North West)
(Lab/Co-op)
Last Friday resigned from the Government
and his letter to the Prime Minister was absolutely devastating.
If I may paraphrase it, it said that before taking office the
Prime Minister assured party members via that he the Prime Minister
would continue to implement the action plan, including the Animal
Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and measures such as ending the live
export of animals for slaughter, banning keeping primates as pets
and preventing the import of shark fins and hunting trophies from
vulnerable species. has been horrified as bit by
bit the Government have abandoned those commitments, domestically
and on the world stage. The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
has been ditched, despite the Prime Minister’s promises; efforts
on a wide range of domestic environmental issues have simply
ground to a standstill; and, more worryingly, the United Kingdom
has visibly stepped off the world stage. and the Secretary of State
served as DEFRA Ministers in the last Parliament. Does she agree
with his devastating critique of the Prime Minister and her
Department?
Dr Coffey
Of course not. I was very sad that the noble Lord chose to leave
Government. I pay tribute to him for a lot of what he has done in
terms of international nature. The Minister for Food, Farming and
Fisheries, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (), set out to the House on 25
May the approach that we are taking and why. We are getting on
with the legislation on keeping primates as pets, and we are
preparing single-issue Bills. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for
Cambridge (), who is chuntering from a
sedentary position, clearly does not know a lot about government.
I understand that, because he has never been in
it—[Interruption.] I am responding to the chuntering from the
hon. Gentleman. The point is that when we introduce secondary
legislation, the formality is that we have to consult. That is
why we are doing a short consultation, which we launched last
week. We will get on with the secondary legislation when we
return after the recess.
Coastal and Marine Biodiversity
(North Norfolk) (Con)
3. What recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders
on monitoring coastal and marine biodiversity. (905830)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Dr Thérèse Coffey)
My hon. Friend and I share a feature in that the coast and the
sea are a key part of our constituencies. We have just brought
into effect our first three highly protected marine areas. We
engage regularly with various stakeholders on a variety of issues
relating to the monitoring and protection of coastal and marine
biodiversity. We will continue to do that around our shores, but
we also do extensive work around the world, with our knowledge
and expertise, to ensure that we preserve marine biodiversity
much more strongly right across the globe.
I recently met Applied Genomics Ltd, a marine scientific business
in my North Norfolk constituency. It specialises in environmental
DNA acquisition and processing, and has developed an effective
technique to measure a broad biodiversity profile, from fish
stocks and invasive species to microbial pollution. The UK does
not currently have an all-encompassing nationwide programme to
monitor our coastal marine environments, so will the Minister
consider launching a consistent, low-cost and accurate programme,
and will she meet me to discuss it?
Dr Coffey
My hon. Friend will be aware that we monitor marine and coastal
wildlife and habitats through the UK marine monitoring and
assessment strategy evidence groups. Indeed, the £140 million
natural capital and ecosystem assessment programme is an
important example of how we are trying to do these things in a
smarter and more timely way. I am delighted to say that Applied
Genomics, the company to which he refers, whose work I think is
interesting and valuable, has delivered some of that work.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
When will the Secretary of State join me in a campaign to try to
clean up our seas and oceans? Around our country, there are
reports of marine life dying. When will she wake up to the fact
that tyres are not just made of rubber but contain 72 chemicals,
some of them poisonous and related to cancer, and all that wear
goes into the gullies, gutters, streams, rivers and oceans and it
is poisoning marine life? When will she do something about
it?
Dr Coffey
I know that the hon. Gentleman is trying to launch a campaign on
that. The Department and the Government are aware of the impact
of the particulate matter that comes off tyres and brakes. That
is increasingly one of the challenges for heavier electric
vehicles, and the Department for Transport in particular is
working with the industry on that. On the other aspects he
mentions, we have the £500 blue planet fund, and we invest right
around the world and on our shores in improving marine
biodiversity. That is why we are sponsoring activity on coral
reefs, for example, and on getting plastic out of our oceans. It
is why the UK played a critical role in securing the UN
“biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction” treaty on trying to
improve marine biodiversity. This Government have done more for
the oceans, and made them a central part of tackling climate
change, than any other country in the world, and we will continue
to do so.
Tree Planting
(West Bromwich East)
(Con)
4. What steps she is taking to increase tree planting.
(905832)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Dr Thérèse Coffey)
I am pleased that the England trees action plan has set out more
than 90 actions to help us meet our targets in increasing tree
planting. Since its publication, we have rolled out the England
woodland creation offer grant scheme; we have added two new
community forests, bringing that to a total of 13; we have
invested in nursery capacity; and we have launched a new training
and apprenticeship scheme to boost skills and workforce in the
forestry sector.
Since January 2020, 350,000 trees have been planted in the west
midlands. An estimated 62 tonnes of air pollution have been
removed as a result in the Black Country alone. More than 320,000
of those trees have now been registered with the West Midlands
Combined Authority’s virtual forest. Will the Secretary of State
join me in thanking our wonderful Mayor, , for spearheading that massive
effort, and will she outline how the Government plan to help the
west midlands to plant even more trees?
Dr Coffey
It is fantastic to hear about these successes and the innovation
of virtual forests. I thank Mayor and the people of the west
midlands for planting more trees. We will continue to support
tree planting through our national forest in the midlands. We
will work closely with the Forestry Commission on the nature for
climate fund grant schemes, including the local authority
treescapes fund. This is yet another example of fantastic
Conservative Mayors delivering for their residents cleaner air,
and greener and more beautiful spaces. As we regularly say, vote
blue, go green.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
I recently visited the Woodland Trust’s Snaizeholme tree planting
project, which is in the Prime Minister’s Yorkshire constituency.
It has huge potential for nature recovery and carbon capture, but
along with other sites, it faces a financial cliff edge when the
nature for climate fund comes to an end. Will the Government
commit to long-term funding that provides certainty for that
vital work?
Dr Coffey
The hon. Gentleman will know that we have extensive funding, and
he will also know that the cycles of funding go with something
called the spending review, which is until 2025. We will continue
to invest in forestry, and we are doing it through our
environmental land management schemes as well. I planted the
first tree in the northern forest with my hon. Friend the Member
for Bolton West (). We need to keep it going.
I was there!
Mr Sheerman
He did it!
Dr Coffey
No, he didn’t. The more trees that are planted, the better, so
let us all take credit for planting trees. It is good for
wellbeing, and it is good for the planet.
Fur Market
(Bury South) (Lab)
5. When she plans to publish the results of her Department’s
consultation on the fur market in Great Britain. (905833)
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
A summary of responses to the call for evidence on the fur market
setting out the results and any next steps in this policy space
will be published soon.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs called for
evidence on banning the import and sale of fur back in 2021, but
two years on, we have yet to hear what the public think about
such an important and timely issue. Will the Department commit to
a date when it will release the results of the consultation on
the fur market in Great Britain?
As I said, we are considering those responses and will publish
our response very soon.
Non-mains Drinking Water
Sir (Middlesbrough South and East
Cleveland) (Con)
6. What mechanisms exist to supply safe drinking water to homes
without access to mains water. (905834)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Private drinking water supplies are regulated by local
authorities, which receive scientific and technical advice from
the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Local authorities sample and
identify water-quality risks, can serve notices to correct any
issues identified and have remedial powers if those responsible
for the supply do not comply with the notice. Private water
supply compliance is steadily improving. In 2022, 96.4% of
private supplies were compliant, up from 91.4% in 2010.
Sir
The nine homes of Aysdalegate near Charltons do not have access
to mains water. Over the last decade, Redcar and Cleveland
Borough Council has performed drinking water checks nine times,
and on all occasions, the supply has been judged unsatisfactory
owing to bacterial contamination, including E.coli and
enterococci. A regulation 18 notice, which specifies that the
water requires boiling before drinking, has been in place
permanently since December 2017, and residents report to me
finding tadpoles and other life in their drinking water. This is
a Dickensian scandal in 2023, but Northumbrian Water has advised
that it will cost these low-income homes over £100 each simply to
give them a quote for mains water connection. That is obviously
unacceptable. Will my hon. Friend agree to meet me urgently so
that we can discuss how to help my constituents?
I am sorry to hear about this issue, which my right hon. Friend
has already brought to my attention. Our legislation does allow
for those on a private supply to request a connection to the
mains supply, but it is right that the legislation allows a water
company to charge for the cost of making a new connection,
because otherwise it would impact on all customers’ bills. The
local authority can give advice, and I urge him to keep
contacting it, but if there is anything more we can discuss
usefully, I would be happy to do so.
(Strangford) (DUP)
Like yourself, Mr Speaker, I am of a generation that can well
remember when water came from the wells, and it was pure and
clean. Times have moved on, and we have realised that such water
is not available to everyone, as the right hon. Member for
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Sir ) said. I ask the Minister
this question ever mindful of the discussions that she will have
had: have there been any discussions between the Government and
the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland to ensure that
grants are available for people who need to go on to mains water
and that their water is pure, as it was many years ago but is not
always today?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question; I, too, have a well,
but it does not supply our drinking water. I think a lot of
people have wells on their properties, or locally on their roads
or wherever. The issue he has raised is a matter for the Northern
Ireland Administration, but here the Drinking Water Inspectorate
has commissioned research into the impact of future private water
supplies, as well as the whole regulatory model and legislative
framework.
Support for Farmers
(Burnley) (Con)
7. What steps she is taking to support farmers.(905835)
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
We are backing British farmers with £2.4 billion of investment
every year. We have recently updated our new schemes based on the
feedback that farmers have given us, making them easier to apply
for. We are providing tailored business advice to all farmers. We
have cut red tape, brought in fair enforcement regimes, and
helped the sector access the seasonal labour it needs. We are
looking closely at the Shropshire review that we commissioned to
see how we can go further. We are reviewing supply chain fairness
in the sector and trying to unlock opportunities for genetic
technologies. I could keep going, but I will leave it there for
now.
Upland farmers across Burnley and Padiham, and indeed right
across Lancashire, play a huge role in keeping us fed and
enhancing the local environment. That is why it is so important
that we support them. Can my right hon. Friend say how recent
announcements will improve support for upland farmers
specifically, and will he reaffirm the commitment made in May by
my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that we will move
beyond income-foregone calculations when designing support
schemes?
I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Lancashire farmers and
the efforts they make to keep us all well fed. We are committed
to ensuring that payment rates mean that as many farmers as
possible can benefit from our offers, and have recently increased
payment rates for upland farmers. Through countryside
stewardship-plus, we will pay farmers extra for co-ordinating
their action and working with neighbouring farms and landowners
to tackle climate change, as well as supporting nature gains and
keeping us all well fed.
Farming: Delinked Payments
(Camborne and Redruth)
(Con)
8. When she plans to bring forward regulations to introduce
delinked payments from 2024.(905836)
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
The Government plan to bring forward regulations to delink
payments later this year, as the parliamentary timetable allows.
Those regulations will introduce delinked payments in 2024, as
planned. Information about delinked payments can be found on
gov.uk.
Delinking the legacy basic payment scheme payments from the need
to have land area entitlements could be a really powerful
catalyst for change. It would free the Rural Payments Agency and
farmers from the bureaucracy of the legacy scheme; remove a very
difficult distortion from the land market; and, crucially, free
farmers up to make decisions about what to do with their land in
future. Since farmers are making decisions about next year’s land
use now, will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to
confirm from the Dispatch Box that the delinked payments will
happen next year, and that there will be no reversal of that
plan?
I am happy to confirm that, and I pay tribute to my right hon.
Friend for all the work he did to get us to this point. Of
course, we will be bringing forward the legislation to delink
those payments next year.
Food Security
(Ogmore) (Lab)
9. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK food
security.(905837)
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
The first UK food security report, which we introduced in the
Agriculture Act 2020, was published in 2021; the next one is due
in 2024. The F4 group, comprising the British Retail Consortium,
the National Farmers Union, the Food and Drink Federation and
UKHospitality, meets regularly and reports directly to Ministers.
We recently met representatives from the whole supply chain at
the UK Farm to Fork summit in Downing Street.
I have raised access to food before with the Minister and, in
particular, how surplus food and food near its use-by date can be
used by organisations such as FareShare. There is still a huge
problem right across the country whereby constituents cannot
afford to buy food in supermarkets and are
therefore relying on food pantries and food banks for their main
shop. To have food security, people must be able to afford food.
What more can the Minister do to resolve those issues and ensure
that people are not literally starving, or in a position where
they cannot afford to buy basic foodstuffs?
The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the huge package of support
the Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced to help families
with the cost of living challenges they face. On average, every
household receives over £3,000 of support with their energy and
food bills, but I am sure we can do more to help and support
primary food producers, processers and retailers to make sure
that we drive as much efficiency as possible into the system, in
order to maintain lower food prices and help families up and down
the country.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
Last week, past failures caught up with the DEFRA ministerial
team. First, the Climate Change Committee castigated them for
lack of progress on agriculture and land use, and then the report
they had commissioned from John Shropshire and his team detailed
the crop losses and lost productivity and production caused by
their failure to address labour supply issues. This week, could
the Minister tell the House if he knows whether the UK is more or
less food-secure than this time last year, and will he explain
how he has reached that conclusion?
We have extensive conversations with the food supply market. We
are blessed in the UK with very robust food supply chains, which
are some of the most secure anywhere in the world. Of course, I
acknowledge that the Shropshire review has indicated some areas
in which we can improve and assist, but we have delivered the
45,000 visas that are available through the seasonal agricultural
workers scheme. Not all of those visas have been taken up, and an
extra 10,000 are available if required, but nobody has asked for
that to be triggered.
Topical Questions
(Stourbridge) (Con)
T2. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities.(905848)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Dr Thérèse Coffey)
It has been a particularly busy week for DEFRA in a number of
different ways, with not only the launch of the designated highly
protected marine areas, but the House of Commons voting to
support the legislation to introduce the ban on plastics, which
is another way to improve the environment.
Of course, there has also been significant speculation about the
water industry. I think it is important to put it on record that
the Government have confidence in the financial resilience of the
water sector industry. We will continue to have discussions,
which are important, and I think it is critical to be aware that
people who do not know a lot about the water industry, frankly,
are out of their depth in making some comments and speculation.
We need to make sure that we treat this situation very carefully,
because it is critical to make sure that we have ongoing
investment in the water industry, which everybody here relies
on.
Thankfully, my dog Sidney Pickles came from a great home,
although one could complain to trading standards that his former
home failed to describe him as a naughty cocker spaniel or a fox
poo-rolling little tinker. Seriously, however, there has been
much misinformation about the Government’s action on puppy
farming from the Opposition. Does my right hon. Friend agree that
this Government have, in fact, been taking firm action to stop
the unscrupulous selling of puppies by deceitful sellers?
Dr Coffey
Indeed, and I want to thank my hon. Friend. I have met her dog
Sidney Pickles, who is delightful. As she says, it was purchased
from a great breeder. One thing we need to continue to focus on
is improving the laws on dog breeding to crack down on
unscrupulous breeders. Regulations do require commercial dog
breeders to hold a valid licence from their local authority, and
it is important that people check for that licence. The
regulations also prohibit the third-party sale of puppies and
kittens.
Mr Speaker
Order. We are on topicals, folks. I call the shadow Secretary of
State.
(Oldham West and Royton)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Tories are sinking the water industry. Since Tory
privatisation, water companies have racked up debts of over £60
billion. Every day, we see 800 sewage dumps and lose over 3
billion litres of water in leaks, and what is the biggest leak of
all? The £72 billion paid out to shareholders. Now Thames Water
is on the edge as the money dries up. Can the Secretary of State
tell the House if she believes that this is an isolated case—yes
or no?
Dr Coffey
I have already said to the House that the Government have full
confidence in the financial resilience of the water sector. I
will point out that, of course, the gearing for Thames Water shot
up in 2007, when Labour was in government. It is fair to say
that, when a previous Secretary of State issued a strategic
policy statement to Ofwat, one of the key focuses was about
reducing the gearing, and that has not happened with Thames
Water. Ofwat is still responsible, and I am still holding it to
account on how that goes forward. However, it is very important
that we do not have speculation and misinformed comments. It is
critical that we get water companies through certain stages, and
I am confident the Government will do that.
Like the industry itself, that response does not hold water.
People know that Thames Water is not an isolated case: five
companies are rated as being of concern by the Government’s own
financial regulator. Last weekend, I wrote to the Environment
Secretary setting out six key tests to safeguard bill payers,
workers and taxpayers from paying the price of a failing water
industry. Will she finally act to protect the national interest
and commit to those six tests, and will she rule out customers
having to pay twice for boardroom failures—yes or no?
Dr Coffey
I have not yet seen the hon. Gentleman’s letter, but I will of
course respond to it before the recess. Over £190 billion has
been invested into our water industry since privatisation,
through a long-standing combination of equity and debt investment
by water companies. Speculation around such an important utility
does not help the situation, and a measured approach is critical
to getting through this difficulty. He mentions other water
companies, and that is why Ofwat has acted and why new equity has
come into many water companies. It is critical that we continue
to have that confidence.
(Walsall North) (Con)
Hundreds of animal lovers across the west midlands have suffered
the dreadful crime of pet theft in recent years. What are
Ministers doing to prevent such crimes?
Dr Coffey
Stealing a pet is already a criminal offence, and we know the
devastating impact that pet theft can have. We legislated to
require the microchipping of cats, in addition to dogs, because
that can act as an effective deterrent. The pet theft taskforce
reports that dogs are mostly stolen from gardens and
outbuildings, and highlights the need for owners to ensure
security at home for their treasured pets.
Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
T3. Bearing in mind the escalating number of dangerous dog
attacks, including the death of a dog, Sula, in Milngavie in East
Dunbartonshire, whose owner felt that their life would have been
at risk had they intervened, will the Secretary of State review
the Government’s decision to drop the Animal Welfare (Kept
Animals) Bill? If not, will she explain to the House how she
plans to deliver its measures by different means?(905849)
Dr Coffey
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries
set out on 25 May how we intend to take through our manifesto
commitments. We also have a taskforce working on this situation,
and I expect a report with some recommendations later this
year.
(Keighley) (Con)
A couple of weeks ago, I visited Yorkshire Water’s sewer
improvement project. This £15 million scheme under the A65 in
Ilkley is only happening as a result of a huge campaign by the
Ilkley Clean River Group and our passing the Environment Act
2021, which the Opposition voted against at every stage. Does the
Minister therefore agree that the Government are purely focused
on cleaning up the water quality of our rivers?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
I could just say yes, but I will add a bit more. My hon. Friend
is absolutely right that it is this Government who have got water
quality on the radar. We are cleaning up our rivers and our
bathing waters, 93% of which are classed as good or excellent.
Our plan for water will ensure that we provide the clean and
plentiful water we need for generations.
(Blaydon) (Lab)
Gateshead food bank and Feeding Families, both of which operate
in my constituency, have seen huge increases in the demand for
food parcels over recent years. With food inflation running at
18.3%, the situation will only get worse. What will the Minister
do to tackle food inflation, so that people do not have to rely
on those organisations?
The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries ()
That is why we are investing in our farmers to help them produce
food more efficiently and increase productivity. It is also why
the Government have put forward a huge £94 billion support
package—over £3,300 per household—and provided £100 million of
support to charities working in the sector.
(Southend West) (Con)
The use of storm overflows is of huge concern to my residents in
Southend-on-Sea. Due to this Government’s actions, Anglian Water
was supposed to have its plan for mitigating the use of overflows
on the Secretary of State’s desk last Friday. Was it there, and
when will my residents be able to see it?
Every water company was asked to put a plan for every storm
overflow on the Secretary of State’s desk. I can tell my hon.
Friend that all the plans have arrived and are being
analysed.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
What should I say to my twin grandsons, who are here today, about
their future given that they live in Cambridge, where air quality
is poisoning young people, pregnant women and many others? What
will the Secretary of State really do about cleaning up the
environment for that generation?
Dr Coffey
I recommend that they vote for a Conservative MP.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
What assurance can the Farming Minister give my Ynys Môn farmers
that this Government are doing all they can to ensure that food
labelling is accurate? Will the Minister accept my invitation to
the Anglesey show on 15 and 16 August to discuss the matter with
my farmers in person?
It is always a pleasure to visit Wales and Welsh farmers. I say
to constituents of my hon. Friend that making sure there is a red
tractor on their food is a very good step to make sure that their
food is procured in the right way and that they are supporting UK
farmers. I will look at my diary and see whether I can attend her
show. I am sure it will be an excellent example of the
top-quality food and farming in Wales.
