Topical Questions 2024-02-01
2024-02-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows an update on the government's plan to support British farmers and their environmental farming payments.
Since your last update, the Government have been delivering a plan to back British farmers with an average increase of 10% in environmental farming payments. In light of recent storms that have affected many farmers, financial support of up to £25,000 has been announced for those suffering uninsurable damage to their land.
I am familiar with the Fylde and the issues there. I am always happy to meet him to discuss the issues he mentions. I am in contact with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about new developments and some of the wider issues that my hon. Friend has been raising.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific action plans related to flooding were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK ended the year with food price inflation over 10%, and new Brexit red tape poses a risk of further increases. Previous discussions have not addressed these issues.
New reports suggest that EU farmers are striking and causing supply chain disruptions, leading to concerns about rising food prices due to Brexit-related regulations. May I again ask the Secretary of State to commit himself to implementing food price controls if such hikes occur?
The hon. Gentleman seems not to have noticed the rapid review of labelling that we are conducting, which is about empowering consumers and ensuring high animal welfare standards in England.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to food price controls was not addressed; focus shifted to labelling and animal welfare standards.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Reports indicate that a third of the UK wheat crop has rotted in wet conditions, and supplies of spring seed are tight.
Many farmers face significant challenges with their wheat crops due to poor weather conditions, leading to both rotting crops and shortages of certain varieties of seeds. Is there any plan or solution that addresses these issues?
We need to look at what we can do constructively, working with plant breeders. The issue is legitimate and requires constructive consideration.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific plan or action was detailed.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
A report from the Office for Environmental Protection suggests that the Government are off track with their environmental targets, particularly those related to waterway restoration.
The recent report highlights significant issues with hitting environmental targets including restoring waterways. What will the Government do to improve their performance?
The report was based on a short period of data within a 25-year plan. The Government has legally binding targets to reverse nature decline, and more proposals have been set out.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions were detailed; response is general.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Select Committee has been addressing illegal sewage dumping in waterways and is calling for more action.
While the Select Committee holds water companies accountable, more needs to be done. Given our investment levels and unlimited fines for violations, does my right hon. Friend agree that this Government are effectively tackling the issue?
My hon. Friend is correct; we have a plan and much has been done, but more can be done and I am committed to doing it.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or details on additional steps were provided.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Regular flooding at Springwater Park causes landslip and movement near the highway, falling outside established funding schemes like Bellwin.
Springwater park suffers from regular flooding causing landslips and movement approaching the highway. Despite being outside existing funding pots, will the Minister meet me to see what can be done?
The Government are investing in ongoing flood projects in the constituency, including the Radcliffe and Redvales scheme. We are doubling investment from £2.6 billion to £5.2 billion over six years. I am happy to meet him.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details on Springwater Park were not addressed; general flood projects mentioned instead.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The constituency includes major food and drink companies like General Mills and Coca-Cola, both looking to expand in the UK.
My constituency is home to many international food and drink manufacturers, including General Mills and Coca-Cola, both of which are seeking to expand their operations here in the UK. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on the work being done to help such manufacturers to expand and grow for the benefit of our local and national economies?
We have regular meetings with the food and drink sector to ensure that we are in tune with its concerns and aspirations. Those discussions will continue, and we will continue to support great businesses such as Coca-Cola in my hon. Friend's constituency, support British jobs and generate benefit for the UK economy.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details on how the government is supporting expansion of food and drink manufacturers were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
Local areas such as Maulden and Shefford have seen their flood risk profile change due to housing growth.
Towns and villages such as Maulden and Shefford in my constituency have seen their flood risk profile change dramatically over the years, partly owing to housing growth. How will the Minister ensure that funding for the Environment Agency and internal drainage boards adequately reflects the way in which that risk has evolved?
Improving our flood alleviation schemes and our flood resilience is incredibly important, which is why the Government are recognising the amount of investment we need to put into it. We are doubling that investment from £2.6 billion to £5.2 billion over the next six-year period. The sorts of schemes we are helping will assist projects across the country to deal with those problems.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The current ban on drift net fishing for bass was introduced as a temporary measure.
Does my right hon. Friend recognise that drift net fishing for bass is more sustainable, targeted and efficient than fishing with set nets? Will he reconsider the ban, which was introduced as a temporary measure, in order to allow those with an existing bass entitlement to undertake drift net fishing?
Bass stocks are still recovering from poor spawning periods and overfishing. The bass fisheries management plan commits to review existing commercial access, including gear types such as drift nets, which pose a higher risk to sensitive species and bass fishes. A careful balance must be struck between increasing fishing opportunities and protecting vulnerable bass stocks, but I assure my right hon. Friend that these matters will remain open.
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Assessment & feedback
A specific commitment on reconsidering the ban was not given.
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Since April last year, thousands of homes have suffered from a fly infestation assumed to originate from a recycling plant.
Since April last year, thousands of homes in my constituency have suffered from a fly infestation assumed to originate from a recycling plant. Will the Minister meet me and the Environment Agency to get this resolved?
I am more than happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to try to deal with these issues, because for this Government dealing with waste and recycling is incredibly important. If the challenges are having an impact on householders, we need to get on top of this, and I am to meet him to discuss it.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details on resolving the fly infestation were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
Walleys Quarry is causing significant complaints due to high levels of hydrogen sulphide detected by monitoring stations.
Walleys Quarry, in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Aaron Bell), is stinking again, with monitoring stations showing high levels of hydrogen sulphide and with complaints soaring. The site is blighting my constituents too, and the Environment Agency now says the owner is no longer working towards compliance. It is long past time that the permit was revoked and the company prosecuted. Will the Minister come to Staffordshire to witness the stink and see the sorry sight for himself?
I always listen closely to your steer, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend raises an extremely important issue, which I know is very troubling to those affected. The Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Robbie Moore) is going there in the coming days, and I can assure her that this is being discussed and actively followed up.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions regarding permit revocation or prosecution were not addressed.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Food price inflation is currently twice as high as general inflation in the UK, with warnings of further increases next year.
Food price inflation remains twice as high as general inflation in the UK, and the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warns that it could rise even higher next year. What assessment has the Secretary of State made, with his colleagues, of the impact of soaring food prices on those we represent?
Of course, we continue to monitor food price inflation and work with the sector to reduce it as much as possible. We co-operate with not only farmers, processors and retailers, but all those involved in the sector to try to make sure that we provide a reasonably priced food basket for our constituents. The good news is that the cost of our food basket in the UK is lower than that found in many parts of the European Union.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures or assessments on mitigating the impact were not provided.
Response accuracy