Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 15 October 2020 · 11 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Barry Gardiner inquired about the eligibility criteria for the 100 million package to support zoos, noting that zoos with less than 12 weeks' reserves are eligible.
  • Andrew Bowie praised the Agriculture Bill for addressing the fair distribution of the meat levy across the United Kingdom, highlighting a long-standing issue for Scottish farmers.
  • Emma Hardy questioned the Secretary of State about plans to allow the UK distant waters fishing fleet to continue fishing for Arctic cod if no deal is concluded by December 31.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Gardiner Lab Brent West
Climate Environment
Context

Next year is crucial for the environment internationally, with COP26 on climate change and the Convention on Biological Diversity meetings.

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Next year is important for the environment internationally, including COP26 on climate change in October and the Convention on Biological Diversity where biodiversity targets to replace the Aichi targets will be agreed.

Answer from George Eustice

Next year is a really important year for the environment internationally, with the UK hosting COP26 on climate change in October, but also with the convention on biological diversity taking place, where biodiversity targets to replace the Aichi targets will be agreed. The UK has been working on a leaders' pledge for nature, which over 70 world leaders have now signed. We are also working to secure better targets on biodiversity and to make nature-based solutions a key part of our approach to tackling climate change.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Barry Gardiner Lab Brent West
Environment
Context

The government announced a £100 million package to support zoos, but the eligibility criterion is that they must have less than 12 weeks' reserves.

Question

I applauded when the Government announced their £100 million package to support zoos and the vital conservation work they do, but then I discovered the eligibility criterion that they must have less than 12 weeks' reserves. The trustees of any zoo with less than 12 weeks' reserves would already have declared voluntary liquidation, so will the Secretary of State look again at the criterion, replace it with one based on percentage of revenue lost and—

Answer from George Eustice

I understand the point the hon. Gentleman was making. It is important to note that we had a smaller zoo fund to support small zoos, which was announced earlier. This fund is for the very large zoos, and many of them do have large reserves. It is right that we expect them to use those reserves before they come to us, but they can apply for the fund before those reserves run out, and we have increased it from six weeks to 12 weeks.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Agriculture Bill has prompted discussions, but the Scottish livestock sector calls for fair distribution of the meat levy.

Question

The Agriculture Bill has prompted a lot of discussion within parties, but does my right hon. Friend not agree with me—surely the whole House agrees—that the creation of a framework to allow the fair distribution of the meat levy across the United Kingdom is a very good thing? The Scottish livestock sector has been calling for it for many years.

Answer from George Eustice

There has been a problem for some years in the fact that the levy is collected at the point of slaughter, and Scottish farmers have raised with us a concern that animals crossing the border meant they did not capture all of the levy. We have now put in place the powers to address that, which is indeed very good news for our Scottish farmers.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Concern about potential lower standard food entering the country under tariff protection.

Question

Can the Secretary of State confirm that he has a plan to let food produced to lower standards in to Britain if a few extra pence is charged on tariffs, meaning that our farmers will still be undercut if tariff protection is introduced as an excuse to allowing lower quality food into our country?

Answer from George Eustice

I think the hon. Gentleman perhaps misunderstands the current situation in that it is already possible for these countries to sell us goods at a particular tariff provided they meet our sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and that will not change. However, tariff policy is the best tool in the box to address issues such as animal welfare.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specifics of allowing lower standard food under tariff protection

How: Understand

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Damien Moore Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Concerns about maintaining food standards at the end of the transition period.

Question

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to maintain food standards at the end of the transition period, so that there is no cliff edge in food standards?

Answer from George Eustice

At the end of the transition period, the existing animal welfare regulations and the prohibition on sale, for instance, of hormones in beef will be retained in UK law, but our new Agriculture Bill will also strengthen animal welfare and reward farmers for high systems of animal welfare.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Concerns about UK distant waters fishing fleet's ability to continue fishing for Arctic cod post transition period.

Question

Will the Secretary of State explain what the Government are putting in place, in the event of a deal not being concluded by 31 December, to allow the UK distant waters fishing fleet to continue to fish for Arctic cod?

Answer from George Eustice

There has been a long-standing arrangement between Norway and the EU under which, broadly speaking, Norway has some access to blue whiting in the North sea and in return the EU—we have a share of this—has some access to Arctic cod. Those negotiations are about to commence again. This year there will be an EU-Norway bilateral to decide these matters.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Paul Girvan DUP
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

Concern about potential requirement for pet passports after the transition period.

Question

Concerns have been raised about the possible requirement for pet passports after the transition period. People from Northern Ireland want to know that, as part of the United Kingdom, they will have the same right to travel to the UK with their dogs, particularly guide dogs, without additional documentation or pet passports.

Answer from George Eustice

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. We are aware of this, and it is one of the issues that we are seeking to address at a technical level and through the Joint Committee process for resolving how these finer details of the Northern Ireland protocol will work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specifics of pet passport requirements post-transition

How: Aware, Seeking To Address

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Jane Hunt
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers are being sold short on milk prices, destabilising the market and not providing a fair price.

Question

Farmers are being sold short on payments for their milk. That is destabilising the market and is not providing a fair price to farmers from processors. Please will the Secretary of State say what he plans to do to rectify this, and please will he have a meeting with one of my dairy farmers, Mr Andrew Birkle?

Answer from George Eustice

Earlier this summer, we issued a consultation on having mandatory contracts in the dairy sector. That is something that I have long felt is important, since dairy farmers, perhaps more than any others, all too often are price takers. We will be considering that consultation and the responses we received, and we intend to bring forward legislation under the future agriculture Bill. I will of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend's constituent.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q9 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Brexit Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Concern about food price increases due to harvests and Brexit combined with cuts in support for those needing help.

Question

Food price increases due to harvests and Brexit, combined with cuts in support for those needing help in the pandemic, will hit the poorest families in our communities hardest. In the light of Louise Casey's comments this morning, what is the Government's plan to tackle food poverty, and will they follow the Welsh Government in guaranteeing free school meals during holidays until Easter 2021?

Answer from George Eustice

We introduced a number of measures to support those struggling to afford food during the initial lockdown and over the summer months. It is the case that, as unemployment rises, we are likely to see more such need, so the Government keep this under review. Obviously, through projects such as FareShare, we do support the redistribution of food to help those people, but we keep all these matters under review.

Not addressed: Specific plans for tackling food poverty

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q10 Jonathan Gullis
Environment
Context

The air quality directive from the Department has led to road closures in Stoke-on-Trent. The levels of dangerous emissions at key locations have dropped, and the area is no longer above the Government's threshold.

Question

Cleaner air for residents in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke is a priority. However, the directive to close roads is not the solution. We recently saw a drop in dangerous emissions at key locations, and we are no longer above the Government's threshold. Will my right hon. Friend meet me urgently to discuss a review of this project and enable Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to offer alternative methods?

Answer from George Eustice

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Of course I would be happy to meet him to discuss this matter. The Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already met him and others to discuss it, but we are happy to meet again.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not commit to reviewing the directive or endorsing alternative methods from local councils. The meeting is proposed without specific details on what will be discussed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q11 Alan Brown SNP
Immigration Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Fruit and vegetable growers have relied on skilled European seasonal workers. The UK's current idea to fill vacancies with unemployed domestic workers is being questioned.

Question

Fruit and vegetable growers rely on skilled European seasonal workers to harvest produce. The Secretary of State's idea to use the unemployed in the UK to fill these roles is impractical given the need for specific skills and experience. How does he think people without horticultural training can perform this work?

Answer from George Eustice

I am familiar with this challenge from running a strawberry farm. Training is necessary for both foreign and domestic workers to do this type of work. We are looking at the mix of potential solutions and discussing arrangements with the Home Office for next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not provide specifics on how untrained people will be able to perform horticultural work effectively or the nature of the training programme.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email