Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 17 June 2021 · 10 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 7 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government are working on a new targets framework for air quality and a range of policies to improve air quality, including a ban on horticultural peat and heather burning on blanket bog.
  • Government set out proposals in the England tree strategy, including a new urban tree challenge fund and a new treescapes fund for local authorities.
  • Government are increasing the rate of peatland restoration and will be setting targets for clean air in the Environment Bill.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Parliamentary Procedure Environment
Context

Today is Clean Air Day, and a recent coroner's inquest highlighted the importance of making progress on delivering clean air.

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. 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.

Answer from George Eustice

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.

Answered
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Q2 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Environment
Context

In 2007, Sheffield faced major floods affecting homes and industrial areas. Flood defences have been improved with support from the council and private sector.

Question

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?

Answer from George Eustice

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.

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Q3 David Evennett Con
Environment
Context

Bexley is one of the greenest boroughs in London with great parks and open space.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend explain what action is being taken to increase the number of trees planted in urban areas?

Answer from George Eustice

The Government set out proposals in our recent England tree strategy, including a new urban tree challenge fund and a new treescapes fund for local authorities.

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Q4 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Rumours suggest the Secretary of State may be due for a job change.

Question

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?

Answer from George Eustice

Ministers never comment on reshuffle speculation. 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 also got an increase in quota of around 25%, with 15% of that coming this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How he will spend his next few weeks ensuring a positive legacy

How: Ministers Never Comment On Reshuffle Speculation

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Q5 Robert Largan
Climate Environment
Context

The Dark Peak area has some of the most depleted peat moorlands in Europe, which are vital for biodiversity and flood risk mitigation.

Question

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?

Answer from George Eustice

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.

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Q6 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Climate Environment
Context

The Climate Change Committee warned that uplands suitable for peat-forming vegetation could decline significantly by the 2050s due to climate change.

Question

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?

Answer from George Eustice

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.

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Q7 Richard Fuller Con North Bedfordshire
Environment
Context

Central Bedfordshire issued 400 penalty notices last year for fly-tipping, with a fine of £400.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the fine is too low? What other efforts can he take to improve deterrence?

Answer from George Eustice

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.

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Q8 Beth Winter
Wales Environment
Context

Today is Clean Air Day aiming to raise awareness of air pollution damage. The Welsh Government has committed to introduce a clean air act in line with WHO guidance.

Question

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?

Answer from George Eustice

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to follow Welsh Government's lead on Clean Air Act

How: This Issue Is Very Much The Subject Of Debate In The Environment Bill

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Q9 Ian Liddell-Grainger Con
Business Compliance Business & Trade
Context

West Somerset Garden Centre faces significant customs paperwork issues impacting their operations. Customs forms are done in Minehead regardless of actual offloading location, leading to inefficiencies.

Question

We need an answer to this fairly quickly, because the paperwork is swamping a small garden centre in Somerset. The Secretary of State is aware that when these plant trays come off even if only three plants are coming off in Minehead, the rest still have to go through customs forms there, and customs officers either do not get to Minehead or do not know where it is.

Answer from George Eustice

I will be brief. I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this particular issue in relation to customs.

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Q10 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Cumbria's farmers feel betrayed by the Australian trade deal due to lower production costs from worse animal welfare and environmental standards in Australia compared to Britain.

Question

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. 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.

Answer from George Eustice

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to ensuring farmers' representatives have a veto over signing the trade deal

How: Under The Provisions That We Have To Ratify Treaties, Of Course This House Will Have The Ability To Decline To Ratify Any Treaty

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