Microchipping of Cats
(West Lancashire) (Lab)
What his timescale is for introducing compulsory microchipping of
cats announced in the Animal Welfare Action Plan.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The Government have a manifesto commitment to introduce the
compulsory microchipping of cats, which was recently reaffirmed
in our action plan for animal welfare. We carried out a public
consultation and are analysing 33,000 responses. We will publish
a summary of them soon and the detail of our proposals later this
year.
[V]
That is good news from the Minister, as Cats Protection indicates
that a quarter of all domestic cats, 2.6 million of them, are not
microchipped. What support will the Government provide to ensure
that cats are microchipped as a priority?
I encourage the hon. Lady to feed in her views and those of her
constituents to our consultation. We are working up detailed
proposals now. I know how important this issue is—I have lost a
pet to a road traffic accident—and it is important that we get
this right, both legally and in support terms.
Shellfish Industry
(Totnes) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support the shellfish
industry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The European Commission’s ban on the import of live bivalve
molluscs from class B waters is wrong and unjustified. We have
repeatedly told the European Commission that and we will continue
to raise the issue. I am pleased to say that the Food Standards
Agency has recently revised its shellfish waters classification
process, ensuring that classifications are awarded in ways that
are proportionate and pragmatic, and provide high levels of
public health protection.
I thank the Minister for that incredibly helpful answer and for
visiting my constituency yesterday to see the fishermen and
shellfish industry of Brixham—it is deeply appreciated. She
mentions the FSA’s report, so in the light of the Prime
Minister’s answer yesterday, is there any chance that those
recommendations can be brought forward ahead of September 2021?
I can confirm that my hon. Friend represents one of the most
beautiful constituencies that I have visited, and it is full of
positive and innovative people involved in the fishing industry.
As he heard yesterday, the Prime Minister is doing everything he
can to accelerate the process, as are we in the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but it is important that the
process arrived at by the FSA is both robust and fair.
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op) [V]
The Government have got this one wrong and instead of blaming the
European Union, they should see that the responsibility sits
closer to home, with Ministers. Fishing businesses—shellfish
businesses—will go bust if a solution is not found soon, and
reclassifying waters is a partial fix at best. Being charitable
to the Minister, if she thinks she has a case that the EU has
acted unlawfully or incorrectly, why has she not begun legal
proceedings against it?
I do not need the hon. Gentleman’s charity; I would like his
support in representing our position to the European Commission.
There is a process for doing this and we intend to follow it
carefully. We have made it clear that we do not agree with its
analysis of the situation; our shellfish from class B waters is
fantastic to eat, and they have always done so. We will continue
to use the proper processes, through the new Specialised
Committee on Fisheries, and if necessary, we will continue to
consider when and if legal action should become appropriate.
However, I know, as a lawyer, that legal action is never a quick
fix and there may be a better way to do this.
(Tiverton and Honiton) (Con) [V]
First, may I correct the Minister? She did not go to the most
beautiful constituency in Devon when she visited Totnes, as she
had come to Axminster, in my constituency, previously. The point
about the shellfish is that the European Commission has acted
very badly. I have sympathy with the Ministers and huge sympathy
with the shellfish industry. The FSA can still move faster to
reallocate waters from B to A. We also need all the agencies
working together more quickly, and I would like to see some
direct support to the shellfish industry, because we are putting
shellfish businesses out of business, and no politician and no
Government want to do that.
Mr Speaker
Some might argue that the beer in his constituency is pretty good
as well.
I had the most lovely lunch in my hon. Friend’s constituency the
day before yesterday. It was unbelievably beautiful and the
weather favoured us at River Cottage. It was just magnificent in
every way and it was great to see him there. He also raises some
important points about shellfish and rightly says that this is a
very difficult issue. It is not one we wanted or would have
chosen. We want to export class B molluscs still to the EU, and
we think that that should be possible. However, we are looking in
a granular way at how we can best support the industry. I am very
involved in that work and have spoken to colleagues across
Government, including repeatedly to those in the FSA and the
Department of Health and Social Care. I reassure my hon. Friend
that we are dealing with the issue in a proportionate and
joined-up way.
Native Species and Wildlife
(Burton)
(Con)
What steps he is taking to protect native species and wildlife.
(North Thanet) (Con)
What steps he is taking to protect endangered native species.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
To support the recovery of native species in England, we have
tabled an amendment to the Environment Bill to require a new,
historic, legally binding target for species abundance by 2030,
aiming to halt the decline of nature. This is in addition to the
long-term, legally binding targets we are developing under the
Bill. We expect to publish a consultation on the proposed targets
in early 2022. We are looking at the action needed on the ground
and will launch at least 10 landscape-recovery projects to
restore wilder landscapes. In partnership with stakeholders, we
will determine the specific actions that will be paid for by our
new schemes to reward environmental land management. In addition,
the £80 million green recovery challenge fund has kick-started a
pipeline of nature-based projects, many of which relate to native
species.
[V]
The Washlands in my constituency is a fantastic place to visit:
an expansive piece of natural land that follows the river through
the heart of Burton upon Trent. Will my hon. Friend join me in
thanking East Staffordshire Borough Council, Staffordshire
Wildlife Trust and other organisations for their efforts in
transforming the Trent valley to create spaces that work for both
people and wildlife?
There is hot competition this morning for the best constituency,
and my hon. Friend’s area is an extremely interesting and diverse
landscape. I of course thank all organisations that are working
to transform the Trent valley, including East Staffordshire
Borough Council and the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Such
partnerships and collaboration between partners and the community
are absolutely key to the building of successful projects to
restore and enhance natural and cultural heritage. I visited the
Somerset levels yesterday, where similar partnership working is
going so well, with so many partners. I am grateful to all the
partners for their efforts towards goals for thriving plants and
wildlife right across England.
[V]
First, I would be grateful if my hon. Friend confirmed that her
Department will support the properly managed reintroduction of
beavers, which can contribute so much to the environment.
Secondly, endangered species suffer because of loss of habitat
more than anything else. If we rip out hedgerows and headlands
and build over all our agricultural land, the habitat will be
destroyed and wildlife will be destroyed, so will my hon. Friend
join me in campaigning against the use of agricultural land for
development?
I knew that my right hon. Friend was going to mention beavers, of
which he is a great champion. As he knows, we are to consult on
the reintroduction of beavers this summer. There are myriad
benefits, but we must also look carefully at the management and
mitigations that might be needed.
My right hon. Friend raises an important point about our precious
agricultural land. I absolutely reassure him that we on the
Government Benches are working hand in glove so that not only do
all our new schemes deliver for nature but we can produce the
sustainable food in this country that we want. This morning, I
went to New Covent Garden market, where I saw a whole lot of our
British produce. There were a lot of imports, but a lot of great
British fruit and vegetables, and particularly flowers—it is
British Flowers Week. Government Members are absolutely
supportive of not only productive agriculture but recovering
nature.
Mr Speaker
I welcome the new shadow Minister, , to the Front Bench.
(Sheffield, Hallam) (Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
The Government have made some grand claims about the
species-abundance targets that they will add to the Environment
Bill to protect our native species and wildlife. The Secretary of
State has said that the Government want
“not only to stem the tide”
of the loss of nature
“but to turn it around—to leave the environment in a better state
than we found it.”
However, last week the Government published their amendment; will
the Minister explain why the proposed legislation commits only to
“further the objective of halting a decline in the abundance of
species”
rather than reversing the decline?
I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. This is the first time that
we have had questions in the Chamber together.
This is a tremendous commitment by the Government to halt the
decline of nature by 2030. No other country has done anything
like this, so we are totally committed to the target. All the
framework that we are putting in place will build towards this
nature recovery: our local nature recovery strategies; our
national nature recovery strategies; our 30% of land and sea
protected; our 10 new large-scale landscape recovery schemes; and
the entire environmental land management system. I could go on
and on. I do not think that I could reiterate more the
Government’s commitment to that. We will be consulting on the
exact detail of the target in 2022, along with all the other
targets in the Environment Bill.
Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector: Competitiveness
(Carlisle)
(Con) [V]
What steps he is taking to help ensure the competitiveness of the
food and drink manufacturing sector.
As the Minister knows, the food and drinks manufacturing sector
is the largest in this country, employing more than 400,000
people directly. It is a major innovator and exporter. My concern
is that the sector may get too much red tape and regulation. If
we look at the obesity strategy, for example, there could be a
lot of regulation with very little gain. Can she reassure me that
there will be proper scrutiny of any legislation, and that the
minimum burdens will be put on this sector, which is vital to our
economy?
Mr Speaker
Can you pick up the substantive question, Minister? That was my
fault.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
Thank you, Mr Speaker; we will manage.
Our manifesto was clear that we want people at home and abroad to
be lining up to buy British. We are lucky to have, as my hon.
Friend referenced, a fantastic network of manufacturing
businesses, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises,
so we are very alive to the needs of those businesses and the
difficulty of excessive regulatory burdens. I am quite sure that
we will debate the new obesity strategy fully, both in this House
and outside. Some of the legislation can be made using powers in
the Food Safety Act 1990, and other parts in the health and care
Bill. We meet regularly with the sector and are keen to engage
with it on a practical level as to how regulation will affect its
businesses.
(Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP) [V]
Given that the Australian trade deal is predicted to save the
average household an incredible £1.23 per year in the long term,
while destroying agriculture and businesses and opening us up to
similarly lowered standards and bad deals with the US, Argentina,
Brazil and so on, perhaps the Government are counting on that
extra disposable income making up for an uncompetitive sector.
What protections are intended to be put in place to make sure
that our farmers are not undercut by cheap imports?
One thing that I have just said in reference to this question is
that we are very keen to promote the buying of British produce.
We have a plan to promote domestic products, and we are further
strengthening export support. On the other part of the hon.
Lady’s question, we will have a chapter in the new Australia deal
to deal with the protection of animal welfare standards. I
encourage her to get engaged with the details as they emerge in
the course of this year.
Trade Deal with Australia: British Food Standards
(Westminster North) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State
for International Trade on maintaining British food standards in
a future trade deal with Australia.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
I have had regular discussions with the Secretary of State at the
Department for International Trade and, indeed, other Cabinet
colleagues on the issue of food standards in the context of our
negotiations with Australia. The UK has a prohibition on the sale
of beef treated with hormones, and the agreement recognises our
right to regulate in this way.
Ms Buck
The Secretary of State will be aware that environmental, animal
welfare and farming groups have all expressed their concern about
both the small print in the deal and the precedent that it sets.
The Minister knows that trust is in very short supply, and that
deals have a habit of unravelling, as we have seen very clearly
in recent months.
Can the Minister give us a date by which the Trade and
Agriculture Commission will be fully operational, and the date on
which the analysis of this deal will be published?
The Secretary of State for International Trade will, I think, be
giving a statement later. The Government have now published the
key components of the agreement in principle, and some analysis
of the impacts of this agreement has already been cited.
Australia is a very important partner of ours, and it is
important that we get a trade agreement with it. It is, of
course, a smaller economy and the opportunities are therefore not
as large as they would be with a larger economy, but
nevertheless, Australia is an important ally and this is a good
agreement between us.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
I hardly need to explain to the Secretary of State the level of
disbelief and anger that there is as the betrayal of British
farming unfolds this week. The level of detail is unclear, but
The Daily Telegraph helpfully reports a major win for the
Secretary of State for International Trade—doubtless briefed by
her. The key losers in this situation are British farmers. Given
that we now know that there is going to be a huge increase in the
amount of beef and lamb coming in from Australia—produced to
lower standards at lower cost, disadvantaging our farmers—will
the Secretary of State tell the House what he is going to do to
help our farmers meet that challenge?
We secured some important mitigations to help the farming
industry, including the fact that a tariff rate quota will stay
in place for the first 10 years on both beef and sheep, and for
the subsequent five years there will be a special agricultural
safeguard that means that if volumes go above a certain trigger,
tariffs immediately snap back in. We have put in place
mitigations through the quota for the first 10 years and through
that safeguard.
Horse Tethering
(Harlow) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to tackle horse tethering.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The current legislation and guidance provides the right
safeguards and powers in respect of horse tethering. The code of
practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their
hybrids provides information on acceptable standards of
tethering. We want every owner to follow that guidance.
[V]
In my beautiful constituency of Harlow, we sadly see many horses
tethered by the roadside and in dangerous locations. These horses
often have no water and are left for days on end. Sometimes the
tether breaks, causing danger for the horses and passing cars.
Will my hon. Friend consider introducing not only tougher
measures to penalise individuals who mistreat their horses and
break the code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies,
donkeys and their hybrids, but a mandatory duty on local councils
to implement a licensing system to ensure that horses are
monitored and receive regular vet checks, and that the highest
animal welfare standards are upheld?
My right hon. Friend, from his beautiful constituency, has long
campaigned on this important issue. People who mistreat their
horses face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The
good news is that the maximum penalty under the Act increases
this month to five years’ imprisonment. Anyone who has concerns
about inappropriate tethering should report the matter to their
local authority. Local authorities have powers under the 2006 Act
to take action where a horse is suffering.
Agricultural Sector: Labour Supply
(Stockton North) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the
adequacy of labour supply for the agricultural sector.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
DEFRA is working closely with industry and wider Government to
ensure that UK growers get the labour they need. This year, the
seasonal workers pilot has been expanded from 10,000 to 30,000
visas. Many workers are among those who now have settled or
pre-settled status.
The Minister will be aware that the Government’s bizarre approach
to labour from the EU is causing chaos across all manner of job
roles, including in agriculture. Just this week, haulier Martyn
Levitt from Stockton told me that there is a huge shortage of
drivers as companies can no longer easily hire from the EU, and
goods are not being delivered. That needs to be sorted. Today,
the National Farmers Union and I would like to know whether the
Minister will extend the seasonal workers pilot scheme to
ornamentals to ensure that plants and flowers in fields and
nurseries get picked and are not left rotting, bringing joy to no
one and bankrupting businesses.
The Secretary of State is working actively on this issue and had
a meeting with several representatives of the ornamentals sector
only yesterday to discuss it. We are working hard across
Government to address these worker shortages. I am working with
the Department for Work and Pensions to promote picking and to
support the horticultural sector, as well as to recruit more UK
workers. Automation will be at least some of the solution to this
issue, and we are actively promoting new technologies.
Leaving the EU: Agriculture and the Food Industry
(Wellingborough)
(Con)
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK’s
departure from the EU on agriculture and the food industry.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Farm incomes are heavily influenced by exchange rates, and in the
aftermath of the 2016 referendum there was an immediate boost to
farm profitability and that has remained the case since. For the
first time in 50 years, we are also free to create an independent
agriculture policy that works for our own farmers. Our future
agriculture policy will support farmers to farm sustainably, to
make space for nature in the farmed landscape, and to improve
their profitability.
Mr Bone
I thank the most excellent Secretary of State for that response.
Is he as fed up as I am with doom and gloom from those on the
Opposition Benches when our farmers do such a good job? Coming
out of the EU allows them to turbocharge their exports. Get rid
of that lot and concentrate on the good stuff that we are doing.
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. British agriculture
in many sectors is world-beating, world-leading, competes
internationally and can export internationally. We will be
announcing plans to increase the support that we offer to
exporters, and there are important opportunities for our goods in
some of the Asian markets.
UK-Australia Trade Deal
(Edinburgh
West) (LD)
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State
for International Trade on safeguards for British agriculture in
a future trade deal with Australia.
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
(SNP)
What assessment his Department has made of the potential effect
of the proposed UK-Australia trade deal on (a) UK and (b)
Scottish agricultural producers.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
As part of the agreement with Australia, we secured a special
agricultural safeguard, which has a strict automatic volume
trigger. It means that for the first 10 years, Australian beef
and lamb will be subject to a tariff rate quota, and for the
subsequent five years it will be subject to a special
agricultural safeguard with a volume trigger.
[V]
This particular Opposition Member has no doubt about the
world-class nature of our crofting and farming sector and our
food production throughout the UK. However, I am aware of the
concerns expressed by those sectors about the lack of
consultation with the trade bodies and with Parliament before
this deal was announced. What can the Secretary of State do to
reassure these industries that a dangerous precedent is not being
set and we are not going to see a lack of consultation repeated
with trade deals, however important they might be, in future?
The Department for International Trade has a number of groups,
including one covering agri-food, that discuss the approach to
trade deals and help the Department to identify priorities.
Necessarily, when in the final stages of a negotiation, the
mandate the Government have is kept confidential, otherwise it
would undermine our negotiating position, but we do share as much
as we are able to with stakeholders, including the National
Farmers Union.
Will the Secretary of State confirm that there is tariff-free
access for Australian farmers from day one up to a meaningless
cap 60 times current levels of imported beef, and the same
applies to lamb up to a cap three times current import levels?
Does that not render promises of a 15-year protection period
absolutely redundant, and can we expect the same so-called
protections in future trade deals?
We have to look at this in the context of the fact that at the
moment Australia does not sell us any of these goods because, in
the case of beef, it has a minuscule tariff rate quota of only
about 1,400 tonnes. We also have to look at it in the context of
the fact that we already have a TRQ with New Zealand that is over
100,000 tonnes, and New Zealand does not fill that quota.
Shark Fins: Ban on Imports
(Angus) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on
enforcement of the proposed ban on importing shark fins.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
As we set out in the recently published action plan for animal
welfare, we will be bringing forward legislation to ban the
import and export of detached shark fins. DEFRA has been working
closely with the Home Office and Border Force officials. We need
enforceable legislation that will lead other nations to join us
in banning this dreadful trade.
I quite agree that we do need enforceable legislation, and not
just on whole shark fins but on shark fin products. I have asked
the Minister about this in a written parliamentary question and
in Westminster Hall, and I have not had a satisfactory response.
Can she confirm today that shark fins and shark fin products will
be proscribed from UK borders, which will be a great relief to my
Angus constituents?
We are in the process of preparing the legislation at the moment.
I would be very willing to meet the hon. Gentleman on the
detailed wording of how we do this. We are making good progress.
We need to make sure that our measures are as effective as
possible in delivering shark conservation measures globally.
UK Fishing Industry
(West Dorset) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support the UK fishing industry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs ()
The seafood sector has faced significant challenges over the past
18 months, but the situation is now improving as hospitality
opens up and we adapt to new export requirements. Sector support
worth £32.7 million is available this year, plus an additional
£100 million to help rejuvenate the industry and our coastal
communities.
[V]
Seafarers UK conducted a report in 2019 that found that most
small-scale fishermen often had few savings and reduced financial
resilience even before covid, and many have fallen through the
gaps of Government funding because they either changed vessels or
because their fishing opportunities and earnings in 2019 were not
enough to reach the threshold for the fisheries response fund.
What steps can the Minister take to address this issue and to
support the small fishing boats in my constituency in Lyme Bay?
That excellent report, which I was very pleased to provide a
foreword to, highlights that small-scale fishermen face not only
financial challenges but social pressures. The report’s
recommendations point to where industry and the Government might
tackle these challenges together, and we are currently
considering these in more detail.
Topical Questions
(Sheffield South
East) (Lab)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
()
Today is Clean Air Day. The recent coroner’s inquest into the
tragic death of Ella Kissi-Debrah highlighted the importance of
making progress on delivering clean air. The Government are
working on a new targets framework for air quality and a range of
policies to improve air quality, and in particular to reduce
particulate matter. We will also do more to raise awareness of
the risks of air quality in our urban areas.
Mr Betts [V]
In 2007 there were major floods in Sheffield, which not only
affected homes but destroyed large parts of industrial areas,
including Meadowhall shopping centre, Forgemasters and other
industries. A great deal of work has been done on flood defences,
with the council and the private sector working together, with
some Government support. However, one thing that would really
help is the preservation of the peat bogs in the moorlands above
Sheffield, which act as a massive sponge to stop the run-off and
the cascading of water down into Sheffield. Will the Minister
take action now to stop heather burning on the peat bogs and to
make sure that peat does not end up in unnecessary products, such
as compost for gardens?
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The Government are
clear that we will consult on a ban on horticultural peat, and we
will shortly bring forward the legislation that will implement a
new ban on the burning of heather on blanket bog. It is our
intention to treble the rate of peatland restoration, for all the
reasons he said.
(Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)
My borough of Bexley is one of the greenest in London, with great
parks and open space. Will my right hon. Friend explain what
action is being taken to increase the number of trees planted in
urban areas?
My right hon. Friend makes an important point. The Government set
out proposals in our recent England tree strategy. There will be
a new urban tree challenge fund and a new treescapes fund for
local authorities, and of course our policy of biodiversity net
gain absolutely intends to make space for nature in new
developments, which will including tree planting.
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op) [V]
I hope that today is not the Secretary of State’s last Question
Time, given the recent rumours from Downing Street that he is due
for the chop. If those rumours are true, how will he spend his
next few weeks ensuring that he is not remembered as the
Secretary of State who betrayed our fishing industry and who
rolled over and betrayed our farmers over an Australian trade
deal?
Ministers never comment on reshuffle speculation, particularly
when it is about oneself. In the context of fishing, we recently
got an agreement with the EU on how to approach shared stocks for
the remainder of this year. We of course got an increase in quota
of around 25%, with 15% of that coming this year, and we have
deployed that to almost double the fishing opportunities for our
inshore fleet in this year.
(High Peak) (Con)
The moors of the Dark Peak are staggeringly beautiful, but
unfortunately they remain some of the most depleted in Europe.
The case for restoring our peat moorlands makes sense on so many
levels. It enhances biodiversity and improves water quality,
helping keep water bills down. It reduces the risk of flooding
and of wildfire, and it helps tackle climate change. I am proud
that the Government are investing huge sums of money in
restoration already, but we do need to go further and faster. Can
I invite the Secretary of State to come up on the moors of the
High Peak with me, so he can see the excellent work being done
first-hand and so we can make the case for continued investment
in this vital restoration?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Our peat habitats
are vital for our biodiversity, can be a vitally important carbon
store and can also help with both drought and flood risk
mitigation. We will be dramatically increasing the funds
available for peatland restoration. I or one of my ministerial
colleagues would of course be delighted to visit his constituency
in the High Peak and see some of the work being done there.
(Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab) [V]
Further to the previous question, the Climate Change Committee
warned this week that the area of land suitable for peat-forming
vegetation in the uplands could decline by 50% to 65% by the
2050s through the effects of climate change alone, potentially
dramatically increasing UK carbon emissions. How is the Secretary
of State planning to amend the “England Peat Action Plan” to
bring forward plans for peat protection and restoration in light
of the Committee’s damning report?
We are dramatically increasing the rate of peatland restoration
to get to 35,000 hectares by the end of this Parliament. It will
be a big feature of the landscape recovery component of our
future agriculture policy. We have great ambitions to see the
natural hydrology of our deep peat habitats restored.
(North East
Bedfordshire) (Con)
Fly-tipping is a blight on rural areas. Central Bedfordshire
alone issued 400 penalty notices last year, but with the fine
only being £400—frequently discounted—it is treated really as
just a cost of doing business if someone gets caught, does my
right hon. Friend agree that the fine is too low? What other
efforts can he take to improve deterrence?
I know that fly-tipping is a challenge. My hon. Friend says that
£400 is too low. That is an immediate on-the-spot penalty fine,
which was introduced just a couple of years ago. Prior to that,
local authorities had to try to bring a prosecution, but we are
doing more to try to improve the traceability of waste, to
strengthen the waste carrier transfer system and to digitise the
notes to improve the traceability and track down the criminals
behind this fly-tipping.
(Cynon Valley) (Lab) [V]
Today marks Clean Air Day, which aims to improve public awareness
and understanding of the damage caused by air pollution and to
promote campaigning on this critically important issue. I am
proud to say that the Welsh Government’s “Programme for
Government” published this week included a commitment to
introduce a clean air Act for Wales consistent with World Health
Organisation guidance and to extend the provision of air quality
monitoring. Will the Minister commit to following the Welsh
Government’s lead at a UK level?
This issue is very much the subject of debate in the Environment
Bill, which is currently going through both Houses of Parliament.
We will be setting targets for clean air, and we will also be
looking at a population exposure target, since it is not just
about the absolute levels of particulate matter—we want to
continue to reduce those—but about looking at the issue of
population exposure, too.
(Bridgwater and West Somerset) (Con) [V]
The Secretary of State is fully aware that we have an issue at
the moment with customs. West Somerset Garden Centre in Minehead,
which is at the far end of most supply chains, is getting a lot
of these articulated lorries from across Europe, and they start
their drop in Minehead, which means that customs forms are done
in Minehead for the whole load, regardless of whether only a
third of it is coming off there. The other problem is that when
these plant trays come off—the Secretary of State knows what I am
talking about—even if only three of those plants are coming off
in Minehead, the rest still have to go through the customs
rigmarole there. The customs officers either do not get to
Minehead or do not know where it is, and there is a huge problem
with this, as the Secretary of State is aware. We need an answer
to this fairly quickly, because the paperwork is swamping a small
garden centre in Somerset.
Mr Speaker
Topicals are meant to be brief, so you will have a brief answer,
Secretary of State.
I will be brief. I would be more than happy to meet my hon.
Friend to discuss this particular issue in relation to customs.
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD) [V]
The reason why Cumbria’s farmers feel betrayed is that the
Australian trade deal gives Australian farmers an unfair
advantage over British farmers, because their production costs
are lower due to significantly worse animal welfare and
environmental standards in Australia compared with those in our
country. Given that this sets an appalling precedent for all
future deals, will the Secretary of State ensure that farmers’
representatives in this House get the final say and a veto before
this deal is signed off.
Under the provisions that we have to ratify treaties, of course
this House will have the ability to decline to ratify any treaty,
including this particular one. On the issue of animal welfare, it
is the case that we have a chapter on animal welfare
co-operation. Of course, we will be seeking to address some of
the welfare deficiencies in Australia and, for instance, to get
it to follow New Zealand’s lead on the issue of mulesing. It is
also important to recognise that this agreement does not cover
pork and poultry, on which its standards also have problematic
approaches.
