Topical Questions 2024-03-14
2024-03-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question arises from ongoing measures to address food production and security in the UK.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities, focusing on actions taken since the last update to the House including the delivery of National Farmers Union asks, consultations on fairer food labels, TB eradication strategy, water companies accountability, wet wipes ban, XL Bully dog neutering deadline extension, and species restoration grants.
Since last updating the House, we have continued to bring forward measures to place greater prioritisation on food production and food security. That includes delivering a key National Farmers Union ask for a food security index, committing to the Farm to Fork summit as an annual event, and the largest ever round of grants for farmers, worth £427 million, announced by the Prime Minister to drive greater productivity. We are also consulting on fairer food labels to ensure that our British farmers are fairly rewarded. We are announcing today a consultation on the next phase of our tuberculosis eradication strategy, which includes culling in high-risk areas, and this week I announced that my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince) is conducting a review into public sector food procurement. Furthermore, we are taking action to hold water companies to account more strongly, which includes a fourfold increase in inspections and consulting on banning bonuses for companies that commit serious criminal breaches. We are working at pace with the devolved Administrations on the banning of wet wipes. As we covered earlier, we continue to address the threat from the bluetongue virus. I can confirm to the House that I have acted on the representations of my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border (Dr Hudson) on extending the neutering deadline for XL Bully dogs by some months, from 30 January 2024 until 30 June 2025. Finally, tomorrow the Minister responsible for nature will announce the successful bids for species restoration grants, building on the progress on biodiversity net gain.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Kelly Turkeys in Maldon faces prohibitive bureaucracy and costs under the seasonal poultry workers scheme, making it difficult to hire labour for a few weeks before Christmas.
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the inflexibility, bureaucracy and cost of the seasonal poultry workers scheme make it prohibitive for businesses such as Kelly Turkeys in my constituency to hire labour for just a few weeks in the run-up to Christmas? Will he urge the Home Office to include it within the existing seasonal agricultural workers scheme, thus allowing producers to use labour that is already in the country?
My right hon. Friend raises an important point. Of course, there are 2,000 seasonal worker visas to meet the demand in the run-up to Christmas. He will know that from my time as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when I dealt with the issue of turkey supplies before Christmas, I am happy to look at that issue. He is talking about a finite period, and I will make those representations to Home Office colleagues.
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Assessment & feedback
specific commitment from Home Office
Looking At The Issue
Finite Period
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme are complaining about toxic fumes from Walleys Quarry, with over 10,000 residents affected and a five-year-old child hospitalised.
Last month, I visited Newcastle-under-Lyme with local campaigner Adam Jogee to meet residents who are literally choking on toxic fumes from the Walleys Quarry landfill site. More than 10,000 residents have complained about the stench, and a five-year-old child ended up in hospital. Will the Secretary of State publish all correspondence between DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the operator, so that residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme can see why the site has not been closed down?
No one could have done more to highlight the issue than the constituency MP. Indeed, the Minister with responsibility for water has already been to Walleys Quarry to look at first hand. Having spoken directly to the chief executive of the Environment Agency, I know that everything that can be done within the law is being done. That is the assurance that the Minister and I have had from the chief exec of the Environment Agency. Indeed, enforcement action was taken recently at that specific site.
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Assessment & feedback
full publication of correspondence
Within The Law
Assurance
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Fishermen in the constituency rely on pollack stocks, which have been affected by current restrictions.
I chair the all-party parliamentary group on fisheries. I welcome the limited help that the Department is giving to a few pollack-catching hand-liners, but it will not help the vast majority of fishermen in my constituency who rely on that stock. Will the Minister speak to the Treasury to see whether there is any way to look at compensation for those boats, or at least at decommissioning help?
The Government recognise the huge challenge faced by pollack fishers. We are trying to offer funding to help those most affected. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's campaign and that of my hon. Friends the Members for Truro and Falmouth (Cherilyn Mackrory) and for St Austell and Newquay (Steve Double) in raising the issues. We are helping those fishermen through the fisheries and seafood scheme, as well as with a new scientific study, but the Secretary of State and I are personally looking at what other options may be available to help and support. I know that my hon. Friend the Member for South East Cornwall (Mrs Murray) will continue her pursuit of this issue and support for her constituents.
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Assessment & feedback
specific compensation offer
Looking At Options
Personally Looking
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Public support for extending the right to roam across England is growing, with polls showing over 62% public approval.
The public have the right to access just 8% of land in England, including thousands of access islands that can only be reached by trespassing. With polling now showing that 62% of the public support the extension of the right to roam through England, are the Government now prepared to commit to overhauling our outdated system of access rights and to follow Scotland in enshrining the right to roam in law?
The hon. Gentleman's question merely highlights a fundamental difference between the Front Benchers of the two parties: I want to work with farmers, which is why through SFI—the sustainable farming incentive—we are looking at permissive access, where we pay incentives to farmers to provide access to their land; but Labour would impose a top-down requirement with the right to roam, rather than work constructively with our farmers and landowners, which is the approach that the Conservatives are taking.
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Assessment & feedback
commitment to right to roam extension
Fundamental Difference
Work Constructively
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The tidal barrier project in Lowestoft is on hold due to cost increases, raising concerns about property protection and development opportunities.
Lowestoft is the largest town in the UK without formal flood defences, with the tidal barrier project on hold due to cost increases. I am most grateful to Ministers for considering the compelling case to fill the funding gap that would enable a scheme to proceed that will protect property and unleash the provision of new homes and business opportunities. Will the Secretary of State assure me that he will leave no stone unturned in working across Government so that the project can restart?
I pay tribute to the amazing campaign led by my hon. Friend on behalf of those in his constituency. Already, £80 million of support has been secured from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for that scheme. He will be aware that the local authority has changed the scope and driven the cost, so there is a question as to what contributions are made by partners, but he is a formidable champion of the scheme and £80 million has already been allocated.
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Assessment & feedback
specific commitment beyond existing funding
Awareness Of Local Authority Scope Changes
Champion
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Long-standing legal protections for agricultural hedgerows ended on January 1, leaving gaps in their protection.
Hedge-rows provide a crucial habitat for nearly 130 priority species. When cross-compliance ended this year, the Government committed to reinstating important protections. Will Ministers explain when legislation will be laid to close these gaps urgently?
We have committed to protecting our hedgerows in law. We carried out a consultation, which was popular among farmers. Regulations including the 2 metre buffer strip will be implemented.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific timeline for laying legislation
Behind The Times
Extremely Popular
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The Minister visited Colwick to meet residents affected by recent flooding.
Will the Minister continue working with me to improve flood defences in Colwick and Nottinghamshire?
I will continue to work with my hon. Friend. This includes £51 million allocated to Nottinghamshire County Council, protecting 15,000 properties.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify plans for further improvements
Working On The Fight To Protect Nature
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Food prices have risen by 19.1%, making it difficult for families to make ends meet.
The Tory Government failed over 14 years to implement a proper food strategy, damaging trade with Europe. What does the Minister say about this?
We are sticking to the plan to bring inflation down as set out by the Chancellor in the Budget.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address specific issues related to food strategy and trade
Sticking To The Plan
Not Risking Going Back
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The seafood processing and catching sectors are concerned about proposals from the Migration Advisory Committee.
What engagement has the Minister had with the Home Office to support occupations crucial for food security and coastal communities?
We continue to work with our friends in the Home Office to ensure that the fishing sector gets the labour it requires.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on engagement or support measures
Pay Tribute
Campaigning
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The Animals Act was passed to ban activities involving captive wild animals in tourist entertainment.
Will the Minister assure that the conversation will launch soon, including a ban on advertising and selling of elephant tourism?
Future decisions will need to be evidence-based and subject to parliamentary scrutiny. We are exploring options for progress.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline or assurance
Exploring Options
Subject To Scrutiny
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
A new EPR system is being brought forward to make brand owners responsible for recycling packaging.
The cost of the new system could be 10 times higher than under the current system. Will it contribute to food price inflation?
We are reviewing EPR and have a dedicated roll-out plan, but we are keen to hear from the industry.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address concerns about potential impact on food prices
Reviewing
Dedicated Roll-Out
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government promised to ban plastic in wet wipes nearly a year ago, but there is still no ban.
There is still no ban on plastic in wet wipes. Will the Minister protect nature by banning plastic now?
I am extremely keen to get the ban delivered, and hope to have something to announce very soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline for implementation
Extremely Keen
Very Soon
Response accuracy
Q14
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP notes the success of her quarterly water summits which have pushed Anglian Water to beat government targets for reducing storm overflows, but expresses concern that the Environment Agency has consistently failed to attend these events.
Ministers are already aware of the success of my quarterly water summits, which have caused Anglian Water to beat the Government target for reducing storm overflows by five years and to pilot all-year-round testing of our bathing waters. However, one agency consistency failed to attend: the Environment Agency. Will the Minister come to the next summit and bring the Environment Agency with him?
There is no doughtier champion than my hon. Friend, who has been lobbying me on this issue. I am happy to commit to the Environment Agency attending her next summit, and I will also attend in person.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP raises concerns about the trend of supermarkets selling British produce, which he believes is going in the wrong direction.
British farmers produce some of the very best produce in the world, but the trend in supermarkets selling it is going in the wrong direction. Will the Minister support Liberal Democrat proposals to invest an additional £1 billion in British farming, and reform environmental land management schemes so that they genuinely incentivise sustainable farming?
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that British farmers produce among the best food in the world, but I do not agree that the trend is deteriorating—quite the opposite. We have the Buy British campaign, which a number of supermarkets have already signed up to; the public sector review—the Quince review—is under way; and we are looking at labelling, and how we better empower consumers to buy food with good animal welfare standards.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to the £1 billion investment or reforms to environmental land management schemes proposed by the Liberal Democrats.
Not Agree That The Trend Is Deteriorating
Looking At Labelling
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about responses to a recent consultation regarding 27 bids for new or improved bathing water statuses, including one bid from the River Nidd and the lido in Knaresborough.
Can my hon. Friend update the House on the responses to the consultation on the 27 bids for bathing water status—one of which, of course, is for the River Nidd and the lido in Knaresborough?
My officials have been inundated with a huge number of responses to the consultations on the 27 bathing water sites. My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for the River Nidd; I cannot say anything at the moment, but he will not have to wait too long before hearing the outcome.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific information or timeline regarding updates on the consultations.
Cannot Say Anything At The Moment
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP praises Lidl's initiative to roll out a deposit return scheme across Glasgow, and contrasts this with the Scottish Government's blocked attempt at a wider rollout.
Lidl has become the first supermarket to roll out a deposit return scheme across the whole city of Glasgow. Will the Secretary of State commend Lidl on doing what he blocked the Scottish Government from rolling out across Scotland?
I always commend supermarkets that are being innovative, but part of the problem with the initiative in Scotland was the amount of push-back from industry. That is why the Scottish Government pulled it.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not explicitly commend Lidl's scheme and instead highlighted issues faced by the Scottish Government's attempt at a rollout.
Amount Of Push-Back From Industry
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP raises concerns about extended producer responsibility adding financial burdens to British food producers, particularly highlighting the case of Wilkin & Sons in Tiptree.
Extended producer responsibility will add financial burdens to amazing food producers, such as Wilkin & Sons in Tiptree in my constituency, so can the Secretary of State say what he is doing to keep financial costs down and reduce red tape for great British food manufacturers?
As my right hon. Friend knows, we are kindred spirits in trying to keep the amount of red tape and regulation down. Indeed, on a visit to Tiptree just a couple of weeks ago, I looked at methods of automation that bring the cost of food production down. My right hon. Friend will have heard the comment from the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Robbie Moore), who has responsibility for water: a consultation on these issues is live, and as a formidable constituency champion, I know that my right hon. Friend will ensure that any concerns about costs are raised in that consultation.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to specific measures addressing financial burdens or regulatory red tape for food producers.
Keep The Amount Of Red Tape And Regulation Down
Consultation On These Issues Is Live
Response accuracy