Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers were answering
questions in the Commons. Subjects covered included...
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Fishing Industry: Tariffs
(Gordon) (SNP)
What discussions he has had with representatives from (a) fishing
communities and (b) the fish processing sector on the potential
effect on the viability of the UK fishing industry of the
imposition of tariffs after the transition period. [909294]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Before I turn to the question, the tragic loss of the Joanna C on
Saturday is a sad reminder of the dangers that our fishermen face
every time they go out to sea. We are all incredibly grateful for
the bravery and dedication of the Coastguard, the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution and all those involved in the search. Our
thoughts are with the families of Adam Harper and Robert Morley,
and all the families and those affected.
The Government have offered the European Union a free trade
agreement along the lines of the EU-Canada one, which would
involve zero tariffs on all goods, including fish and fish
products. We hold regular discussions with both the catching
sector and the fish processing sector to discuss the great
opportunities that will arise at the end of the transition
period.
I associate my group with the comments of the Minister. It is a
timely reminder of the high price that is sometimes paid for
putting food on our plates at home.
Non-tariff barriers are also a concern for the fishing industry,
as are tariffs. This week’s test run for post-border transition
procedures demonstrated the severe chaos that might be expected
in the new year. I am sure that the Minister appreciates fully
that seafood products need to be delivered to markets timeously.
So what assurances can he give to the catching and processing
sectors that delays will not equal ruined produce and ruined
businesses?
We have been working with the fishing industry and local
authorities to ensure that they have the capacity in place to
employ the environmental health officers necessary to issue both
the catch certificates and the environmental health certificates.
We have about 1,000 officers now who can issue export health
certificates for fish. It is the case that there are some
concerns in Scotland, where the Scottish Government potentially
have a gap in capacity of 100. We are working with them to try to
offer our help to ensure that that gap can be filled.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
I, too, associate myself with the Secretary of State’s remarks.
That reminds us why this industry is so important to us and why
it tugs at our hearts when we hear of such sad events.
Tariffs are a great worry for many other sectors as well. Tariffs
of a possible 48% are a huge concern for the sheep sector, so the
Secretary of State’s suggestion that sheep farmers could simply
switch to beef production if punitive lamb tariffs cause their
business models to crash has angered many Scottish farmers and
crofters, who have spent many years building up the high
reputation that Scotch lamb enjoys for quality. The National
Sheep Association Scotland has called for assurances that a
compensation scheme will be ready and waiting. What details can
he outline today of such a scheme?
I always advise people to look at what I actually said, rather
than at the Twitter attacks on what I might have said. I never
said that specialist sheep farmers and crofters should diversify
into beef; I explicitly said that some of the 7,000 mixed beef
and sheep enterprises might choose to produce more beef and less
lamb if the price signal suggested that they should.
(Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) [V]
The Scottish Seafood Association has joined other food and drink
leaders with a recent letter to the Prime Minister. The message
is clear: tariffs mean enormous damage to our industry, and that
is on top of covid losses of an estimated £3 billion. So when
will the Minister reveal details of the financial support that is
so clearly desperately needed?
Tariffs on fish, particularly the fish that we export, are
typically far lower than on many agrifoods. The average tariff on
the shellfish that we export is about 8%. Obviously, we would
prefer there to be zero tariffs on all goods, and that is the
offer that the Government have made to the European Union—in both
directions—but the fishing sector generally recognises that, if
it needed to pay tariffs, it could pay those tariffs, and the
European Union would have to face higher prices.
Food Security
Mr Speaker
Question 4 has been withdrawn. If the substantive question cannot
be answered, do not worry. I call the shadow Minister.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
May I associate those on this side of the House with the
Secretary of State’s comments on the appalling loss of the Joanna
C?
Twenty-six per cent. of our food comes from the European Union,
and it is reported that last week the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs’ head of food security warned industry
reps to expect just 40% flow rates. I am sure the Secretary of
State will want to provide reassurance on that, but as we have
already heard, his attempts to placate livestock farmers recently
led to some pretty dreadful headlines in the farming press.
“Laughable” was the comment from the Farmers Guardian. So can he
do better today and explain the plans he has in place to keep our
food supplies flowing in just 35 days’ time?
We have worked with industry to ensure that the capacity is in
place to issue export health certificates, and we have been
contacting meat processors, fish processors and others in the
sector to ensure that they are prepared for the new
administration that will be required, and of course we continue
to work on plans to ensure that goods flow at the border.
Plastic Pollution
(Sevenoaks)
(Con)
What steps he is taking to reduce plastic pollution. [909297]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
The Government have banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics and
banned the use of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, and
the 5p charge for single-use plastic bags has reduced their use
by 95% in the main supermarkets. We are increasing the charge to
10p and extending it to all retailers. In addition, we are
seeking powers in the Environment Bill to require similar charges
for single-use plastic items, to make recycling collections more
consistent and to reform packaging producer waste responsibility
schemes.
Earlier this year, I was written to by year 6 pupils in the
Chevening and St Lawrence primary schools. They were asking me to
protect the environment, and reducing plastic pollution was top
of their list. I am sure they will have been reassured by the
Secretary of State’s answer, but can he reassure them further
that we will act to stop this attack on our environment and that
they will see change in their lifetime?
My hon. Friend makes an important point, and I congratulate the
Chevening and St Lawrence primary schools on their interest in
this. All hon. Members cannot help but have noticed the rising
awareness within all our schools of the scourge of plastics in
particular and the action that must be taken. In my own
constituency, I have been contacted by schools such as Lanner,
Troon, Treleigh, Rosemellin and Roskear on this very matter just
in the past year. We are working very hard to address the
concerns raised by pupils in my hon. Friend’s primary schools.
Pollinators
(North Thanet) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to reverse the decline in the
population of pollinators. [909298]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
The national pollinator strategy sets out the actions we are
taking with partners to protect pollinators. It includes dealing
with habitat loss and the potential harm from pesticide use,
invasive species and climate change. Our future agriculture
policies will help to improve biodiversity and support habitats
for pollinators, building on existing agri-environment measures
to enable many more farmers and land managers to take positive
action.
Mr Speaker
Let us head to North Thanet and
.
[V]
Thank you, Mr Speaker, from the garden of England. My right hon.
Friend will know that the value to the economy of pollinators is
estimated at about £691 million. Some 60% of our native
pollinators are in decline, and we have lost 75% of them over the
past 25 years. Will he support me in backing Kent’s Plan Bee,
which is seeking to establish 5,000 miles of B-lines across the
United Kingdom?
That sounds like a very interesting project, and I would
certainly be willing to meet my right hon. Friend and
representatives in Kent to discuss it. Our future environmental
land management scheme will encourage the creation of habitats
for pollinators, and our local nature recovery plans, to be
advanced by local authorities, will also have a role to play.
Covid-19: Zoos
(Southend West) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support zoos during the covid-19
outbreak. [909299]
(Workington) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support zoos during the covid-19
outbreak. [909308]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
In addition to the full range of financial support available to
all businesses and employers, we have established an extra £100
million support fund for those who are facing severe financial
difficulty, and the deadline for applications to the fund has
been extended to the end of January.
On a recent visit to Chester zoo, I saw its excellent
conservation work and learned at first hand about the remarkable
way it is coping with the coronavirus pandemic. However, the zoo
animal fund criteria for access seem to be very peculiar, because
zoos seem to have to be on the verge of closure before they can
get any money. Surely that is wrong. Will my hon. Friend look at
those criteria again, please?
We listened to concerns following the roll-out of the initial
support scheme and we have made changes to reflect that. The zoos
animal fund, which is simpler to apply for, is now open to zoos
that have up to 12 weeks of reserves left. It can be applied for
in advance of that and can include applications for essential
planned maintenance.
As we have just heard, zoos have an important conservation role
to play. The white-tailed eagle is listed in our 25-year
environment plan as a species whose reintroduction we could
support as we develop our nature recovery network. Cumbria is at
the forefront of nature recovery, as we have a local nature
recovery strategy pilot and, separately, we are in a group that
has submitted a bid for feasibility work on the white-tailed
eagle’s reintroduction. Will my hon. Friend meet me to discuss
how her Department might assist with that proposal?
The 25-year environment plan encourages the reintroduction of
species such as the white-tailed eagle. I know that my hon.
Friend is aware of the funding pots on offer, and Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials would be very
pleased to meet him and the project scheme to discuss what
further action could be taken.
Mr Speaker
We go now to , but I found that a very strange grouping.
Sheep Farmers
(Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support sheep farmers. [909300]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Lamb producers have enjoyed a very good year in 2020. A
significant increase in lamb imports by China, combined with
tighter supply globally, has contributed to high prices and
confidence in the sector, with prevailing market prices typically
10% to 15% higher than last year. However, we recognise that
historically the lamb sector has been more reliant on the EU
market than most other farming sectors, so we stand ready to help
it identify new markets in future.
I hope you did not find me very strange, Mr Speaker. Upland sheep
farming is hugely important to my constituency, which is why, I,
like those farmers, very much welcomed the Secretary of State’s
comments yesterday at the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and
Connectivity Committee that he does have well-developed plans in
place to support upland sheep farming in the event that a deal is
not possible with the EU. Perhaps he could set out some further
reassurance to those farmers today, because many of them have to
take decisions right now about their forward planning and what
would be in place if there is no deal with the EU.
I can say that 18 months ago, in preparation for the first
potential no-deal, the Government, working with the Rural
Payments Agency, had developed detailed plans to be able to
support the sector in the short term. Those plans are still there
and still ready to be activated, but in the medium term, in the
event of there being no further negotiated outcome, we will be
helping the sector identify new markets.
Air Quality
(Bolton North
East) (Con)
What steps he is taking to improve air quality. [909301]
(Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
What steps he is taking to improve air quality. [909318]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Our clean air strategy sets out an ambitious programme of action
to reduce air pollution from a wide range of sources. We have
also put in place a £3.8 billion plan to tackle roadside nitrogen
dioxide concentrations, and our Environment Bill, which I am
pleased to say is making huge progress in Committee, makes a
clear commitment to set a legally binding target to reduce fine
particulate matter and enables local authorities to take more
effective action to tackle air pollution in these areas.
How can Bolton avoid a future of £15 congestion taxes? How can
Bolton deal with being in a clean air zone akin to the distance
between Westminster, where we are standing, and Watford, of
almost 500 square miles?
My hon. Friend has engaged continuously on this issue and is
really standing up for his Bolton North East constituency. I
assure him that only the most polluting older vehicles are
charged in a clean air zone, and it is not a congestion charge;
the Greater Manchester plan does not include charging private
cars, and the evidence provided by Manchester authorities to date
shows that this is not needed. We have provided £41 million in
advance of the zone to help drivers and businesses in Greater
Manchester that are least able to upgrade their vehicles, with
further funding to be allocated. Manchester authorities are
consulting on their plan until 3 December, and I encourage people
to engage with the consultation.
In Harrogate and Knaresborough there are three air-quality
management areas. The one at Bond End in Knaresborough saw
junction improvements a couple of years ago that improved the
situation, but another, at Woodlands junction in Harrogate,
continues to break NOx levels, and that must change. What help is
my hon. Friend giving to local authorities to help them to reduce
NOx levels?
I thank my hon. Friend for putting the case for those roads.
Local authorities have a range of tools that they can use to
reduce air pollution, and we are building on them through the
Environment Bill to ensure that local authorities have a clear
framework and simple-to-use powers to tackle air-pollution issues
in their areas. We are also broadening the range of bodies
required to take action to improve air quality. As a former
Transport Minister, my hon. Friend will understand what I mean by
getting other bodies involved—we want them to work closely on the
air-quality management plans. We will also continue to provide
support through the air-quality grant.
Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles
(Ealing
Central and Acton) (Lab)
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect
of the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions in August 2020 on
the level of air pollution from motor vehicles. [909302]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Average roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations remain below
levels observed in the previous three years, despite some
increases as the March lockdown measures were eased. Working
closely with Ministers in the Department for Transport, we
continue to drive forward our ambitious plans to improve air
quality, and we are delivering our clean air strategy and working
in partnership with local authorities to deliver measures to
tackle nitrogen dioxide pollution. The Environment Bill will
enable greater local action to tackle air pollution.
Dr Huq
As we hopefully exit a respiratory pandemic, technology grants
for home-working, public transport vouchers and the cutting of
staff parking permits could all be part of a joined-up strategy
for employers to make driving into the office a thing of the past
in the new normal, or at least radically reduced, with things
such as vehicle scrappage, all-electric fleets and a proper
charging network for those who cannot avoid driving. Will the
Government adopt a proper, joined-up, cross-governmental
strategy, rather than the piecemeal, far-off future targets that
they have now?
The hon. Lady gives some examples, but she is somewhat aggressive
in her approach, in that I work so closely with the Department
for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care so
that we do have a joined-up approach on air quality, and our
clean air strategy goes right across all Departments. Some £1.2
billion from the Department for Transport is being devoted to
cycling and walking investment, and the bike vouchers literarily
went like hot cakes in the summer. We do work closely together.
The hon. Lady raises some important points, and we are looking
into all the options because we know that times are changing and
work patterns are changing.
(Newport West) (Lab)
We are one United Kingdom, so I know that the Minister will have
paid keen attention to the work happening, albeit devolved, in
other parts of the country to tackle toxic air quality and
pollution. Will the Minister confirm that she has read the Welsh
Government’s clean air plan and share with the House some of the
tips she has picked up?
I thank the hon. Lady for bringing Wales into the discussion, but
of course air quality is a devolved matter—she serves on the
Environment Bill Committee, in which we have said so many times
that it is a devolved matter. I hope that she and the Welsh
Ministers have read our clean air strategy, because it is
considered a global leader, but I am always open to ideas. If we
can pick up tips from other places, I am all for it.
Poor Air Quality: BAME Communities
(Putney) (Lab)
What assessment his Department has made of the extent to which
poor air quality may disproportionately affect BAME communities.
[909304]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Air pollution can be harmful to everyone; however, some people
are more affected than others. My Department has commissioned
research into inequalities of exposure to air pollution, and
monitors emerging evidence investigating air-quality impacts on
BAME communities. That research has shown that those BAME groups
are disproportionately affected by poor air quality, partly
because larger numbers of BAME people live in urban areas where
air pollution tends to be worse.
I am the MP for one of those urban areas where black and ethnic
minority constituents are disproportionately affected by both
covid-19 and air quality. Has the Secretary of State held recent
discussions with his colleagues in the Department of Health and
Social Care? Will he make a statement about specific actions that
will be taken on this issue?
Of course we talk with our colleagues in the Department of Health
and Social Care, the Department for Transport and the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government on all matters relating
to air quality in some urban areas. We intend to take action
through the Environment Bill by setting new targets on air
quality. One of the targets that we are investigating relates to
the impact on particular populations in particular areas.
Flood Defences
(Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)
What steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities have the
resources to build adequate flood defences. [909305]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The Government are currently investing £2.6 billion between 2015
and 2021, approximately £650 million of which will be allocated
to local authorities. Between 2021 and 2027, we will invest £5.2
billion in flood and coastal defences, in addition to a £200
million resilience innovation fund, which were all mentioned
yesterday in the spending review. In July 2020, we announced an
additional £170 million to accelerate shovel-ready flood defence
schemes. Funding for projects is allocated according to the rules
governing DEFRA’s existing six-year capital programme.
Dr Mullan
Maw Green Road in my constituency has been hit by severe
flooding. In fact, residents have been seen canoeing their way
out. Cheshire East local authority has not been successful in its
applications for financial support to tackle this issue. Will the
Minister agree to meet me to look at its proposals to see what we
can do to support it financially so that it can tackle this
matter?
We all understand the difficulties that flooding can bring and my
hon. Friend is right to raise it. I understand that the
Environment Agency recently attended a meeting with the Lead
Local Flood Authority to address the surface water flooding in
Maw Green Road, and that the LLFA is pursuing specific actions to
address the situation, including seeking Department for Transport
funding to alleviate flooding under the railway bridge upstream.
Therefore, no DEFRA floods funding has been applied for in this
location, but, obviously, I am happy to have a chat with him and
look into this matter.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee, .
(Tiverton and Honiton) (Con)
The environmental land management scheme could do much to help
stop flooding, especially flash flooding. How advanced is the ELM
scheme, and when will we hear about it? In the future, can we
ensure that the payments are enough, so that people can farm
water as part of their farming practice?
My hon. Friend, I know, speaks from experience as he has a farm
right by a lot of water, so he raises a very important point. May
I just say, Mr Speaker, that we have tremendous support on the
Conservative Benches today, which, I think, demonstrates the
understanding of these issues. My hon. Friend was right to raise
the ELM scheme. Our future farming policy will be centred around
support aimed at: incentivising sustainable farming practice;
creating habitats for nature recovery; and establishing new
woodland ecosystem services to help tackle climate change. We
will help farmers to deliver environmental public goods, which,
of course, bring in things such as natural flood management,
which he has mentioned. They will be an important part of our new
future, with things such as leaky dams, slowing the flow and, of
course mixed in there, good soil management, which is something
that is very dear to my heart.
Raw Sewage and Storm Water: Discharge into Waterways
(Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
What recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the
discharge into waterways of raw sewage and storm water by water
companies. [909306]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Water companies are committed over the next five years to a
significant programme of improvements and to the monitoring and
management of storm overflows, costing around £1.2 billion.
However, there is more to do, and I met the chief executive
officers of water companies in September and made it clear that
sewage discharges must be reduced. To achieve that, I have set up
a taskforce bringing together the Government, the water industry,
regulators and environmental non-governmental organisations to
develop actions to address the issue.
[V]
It is good to hear that a taskforce has been set up. In 2019,
Yorkshire Water spent 616,643 hours discharging raw sewage into
local rivers, which is the worst figure in England. It posted
profits of more than £212 million in 2018-19—very much a case of
private affluence and public effluence. We need to raise
standards, and the Environmental Audit Committee Chair has
proposed measures to do that. Will the Government be supporting
the proposals of the right hon. Member for Ludlow ()?
The hon. Lady touches on an issue to which the Department is
giving a great deal of attention. As I said, I have recently met
water companies to say that that is not good enough and that they
need to improve. The Environment Agency carries out a lot of
monitoring on the issue, but the situation is not good enough.
The taskforce that I mentioned will be developing short and
long-term actions to increase water company investment in
tackling storm overflows. The Government are very supportive of
the aims of the private Member’s Bill of my right hon. Friend the
Member for Ludlow (); some measures in the Bill could be helpful in
reducing storm overflows, and I have asked the taskforce to look
at some of those measures. I thank the hon. Lady for her
question.
(Rother
Valley) (Con)
Whiston in Rother Valley has repeatedly been flooded, most
recently last year; and people are still out of their homes. In
part, this has caused overflow of sewage into the Whiston brook.
Indeed, raw sewage went into Whiston brook 43 times last year.
However, Rotherham Council has just granted planning permission
for 450 homes off Worrygoose Lane, which is directly above the
brook. That is going to have a huge impact on Whiston brook. Will
my hon. Friend speak to Rotherham Council to convince it that
building an extra 450 homes in Whiston is going to flood the
brook and bring misery to so many people’s lives?
I thank my hon. Friend for his impassioned question. The national
planning policy framework makes it very clear that new
developments should be made safe and resilient without increasing
the risk of floods elsewhere. The Environment Agency and
Rotherham Council have been working together in partnership to
find a solution to flood risk in the area. Early studies of the
proposed Whiston flood alleviation scheme indicate that the
scheme could better protect about 60 houses.
Topical Questions
(Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[909254]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Since the last session of DEFRA oral questions, Royal Assent has
been granted to both the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill.
The Agriculture Act 2020 gives us the powers to transform the way
in which we support farmers and build back nature in the farmed
landscape, while the Fisheries Act 2020 gives us powers to become
an independent coastal state, and decide who can fish in our
waters and under what terms. We will be bringing forward new
policies under both Acts in the weeks and months ahead.
My right hon. Friend’s Department is a very busy one right now,
but may I ask him to look at the issue of animal cruelty
sentences? I know that the Government are looking to legislate to
increase sentencing. Animals feel pain and emotion, and all of us
in this House have probably had terrible cases of animal cruelty
in our constituencies, which can be upsetting for all our
communities. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure
that there is a good level of enforcement for animal cruelty
offences?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Government
support extending maximum penalties and offences for animal
cruelty. We are supporting a private Member’s Bill currently
going through this House to achieve that. Should that not go
through, we will introduce legislation in a later Session in this
Parliament in order to do that. We are also working with local
authorities and others to improve the enforcement of the current
animal welfare legislation.
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
After the “News at Ten” exposé of foxhunters discussing how to
put up the smokescreen of trail hunting when foxhunts break the
law—exemptions that they describe as a “good wheeze”—is the
Environment Secretary satisfied that the Hunting Act 2004 is as
strong as it needs to be to stop illegal hunting? I am not.
The Hunting Act was brought forward by the Labour party, and
there is now a consensus across this House that it should remain.
Where there is a breach of that legislation, obviously the police
can investigate, and they do.
No, that is not a good enough answer. We support the
strengthening of that Act and I hope that the Environment
Secretary will too. Forestry England has just announced a ban on
hunts using its land in response to the exposé. Should not other
landowners now follow this lead and ban trail hunters from their
land as well?
(Gainsborough) (Con)
No!
Mr Speaker
Sorry, is someone shouting at the back? Sir Edward, silence a
little more—come on.
I apologise, Mr Speaker.
The Government believe that the Hunting Act is sufficient. Where
there are breaches, it should be enforced. It is for individual
landowners to choose, as they always have done, whether they
would like hunts on their land.
(Waveney) (Con)
Ahead of 1 January, the Renaissance of the East Anglia Fisheries
is stepping up its plans to revitalise the East Anglian fishing
industry. Investment in port and processing infrastructure is
vital, and I would be grateful if the Minister could outline the
role of fishing in the national infrastructure strategy, what
funds will be available and when they will be announced [909255]
For now, the residual bit of the European Maritime and Fisheries
Fund continues to be something that fishing communities can
access, but we will be replacing the EMFF with a domestic fund,
and we will say more on this in due course. I am aware of the
REAF project in my hon. Friend’s constituency. There are great
opportunities for fishing communities along the east coast to
benefit from our departure from the EU.
(Twickenham) (LD)
Air pollution is estimated to lead to 40,000 early deaths per
year, and here in London, in normal circumstances, some 2 million
people are living with illegal levels of air pollution. So will
the Secretary of State please commit today to accepting the
Environment Bill amendment that would require him to produce an
annual report on air quality that includes the work of public
authorities and Government Departments in tackling air pollution?
[909256]
Under the Environment Bill, we will have a 25-year environment
improvement plan that addresses issues such as air quality. There
will also be targets set for air quality under the Bill.
(Truro and
Falmouth) (Con)
First, I very much associate myself with the Secretary of State’s
remarks regarding the tragic loss of the Joanna C. The brilliant
fishermen who come out of St Mawes and Falmouth and along the
whole Fal estuary—indeed, around the entire Cornish coast—are
delighted that the Fisheries Bill finally got it Royal Assent
this week. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that this landmark
Act will better the lives of these fishermen, as well as ensuring
that our sea are sustainably managed to allow future generations
of fishing families to prosper? [909257]
My hon. Friend and neighbour in Cornwall makes a very good point.
As a fellow Cornish MP, of course I want to see the interests of
the Cornish fishing industry prosper in the future. In many
cases, we have had a profoundly unfair share of stocks in the
Celtic sea, and that will now change.
(Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab) [V]
After the 2007 floods in Hull, I campaigned for many years to get
the Flood Re scheme introduced. However, there are problems with
the Flood Re scheme, and I wonder whether the Government need to
consider again their message about encouraging house building
through schemes such as Help to Buy on areas that are prone to
flooding at the same time as saying that house building should
not take place in those areas. [909258]
We are in discussions on this matter with ministerial colleagues
in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The
hon. Lady will be aware that a planning Bill is coming forward,
and one of the things we have already said we would like to do is
strengthen the role of the Environment Agency as a statutory
consultee on future planning developments.
(Derbyshire Dales) (Con)
Many of my constituents farm some of the most visited countryside
in the UK. Much of Derbyshire Dales lies in the Peak District
national park. Those farmers understand that future Government
support will be based on public money for public good. They view
producing high-quality food such as milk for Stilton, beef and
high-quality lamb as a public good. This goes hand in hand with
delivering access to clean air and water, biodiversity, and soils
that store carbon. It is a case, is it not, of how food
production sits alongside the environment—a case not of
either/or, but of both? Can I please have reassurance— [909261]
Mr Speaker
Order. We have got to get through these questions.
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Our future policy
will be about incentivising, encouraging and supporting
sustainable agriculture so that we have sustainable food
production but also environment improvement.
(Nottingham East) (Lab)
The Chancellor did not pledge a single extra penny yesterday
towards a green economic recovery, while wasting tens of billions
on polluting new roads. Will the Secretary of State explain how
that fits with the Government’s so-called green industrial
revolution and net zero strategy? [909259]
Last week the Prime Minister announced a new round for the green
recovery challenge fund—an additional £40 million—and the
Chancellor yesterday confirmed the spending that we intend to put
through the nature for climate fund as well.
(Delyn) (Con)
This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to
maintain agricultural funding across all four nations. Despite
the disingenuous political games being played by the Welsh
Government and the farming unions in Wales, can my right hon.
Friend confirm that yesterday’s statement from the Chancellor
delivers on that commitment and safeguards funding levels for all
our farmers in Wales? [909262]
Yes.
(Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab)
Like the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (), primary
schoolchildren across my constituency have also raised the issue
of plastic, so why is the Government’s plan to eliminate all
avoidable plastic waste by 2042 years behind schedule, and why
does it have such weak proposals? Is the Minister kicking
Britain’s plastic waste crisis into the long grass? [909260]
I do not accept the point that the hon. Lady makes. We have
recently banned plastic stirrers, plastic straws and plastic
cotton buds. We are considering other bans on single-use items,
and the Environment Bill brings forward extended producer
responsibility.
