Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 1 February 2024 · 12 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mark Menzies inquired about financial support for farmers affected by recent storms, with the Government offering up to 25,000 per farmer.
  • Steven Bonnar questioned the Government about plans to address issues faced by farmers with wheat crops due to poor weather conditions, including crop rotting and seed shortages.
  • Alistair Strathern asked about funding for the Environment Agency and internal drainage boards to reflect changing flood risk profiles due to housing growth in his constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Menzies Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question follows an update on the government's plan to support British farmers and their environmental farming payments.

Question

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.

Answer from Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific action plans related to flooding were not detailed.

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Q2 Mark Menzies Con
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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.

Not addressed: Commitment to food price controls was not addressed; focus shifted to labelling and animal welfare standards.

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Q3 Steven Bonnar
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Reports indicate that a third of the UK wheat crop has rotted in wet conditions, and supplies of spring seed are tight.

Question

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?

Answer from Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We need to look at what we can do constructively, working with plant breeders. The issue is legitimate and requires constructive consideration.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific plan or action was detailed.

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Q4 Robert Goodwill Con
Environment
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.

Question

The recent report highlights significant issues with hitting environmental targets including restoring waterways. What will the Government do to improve their performance?

Answer from Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions were detailed; response is general.

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Q5 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Environment
Context

The Select Committee has been addressing illegal sewage dumping in waterways and is calling for more action.

Question

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?

Answer from Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions or details on additional steps were provided.

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Q6 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Regular flooding at Springwater Park causes landslip and movement near the highway, falling outside established funding schemes like Bellwin.

Question

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?

Answer from Robbie Moore

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on Springwater Park were not addressed; general flood projects mentioned instead.

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Q7 Steve Tuckwell
Business & Trade
Context

The constituency includes major food and drink companies like General Mills and Coca-Cola, both looking to expand in the UK.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on how the government is supporting expansion of food and drink manufacturers were not provided.

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Q8 Alistair Strathern Lab Hitchin
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Local areas such as Maulden and Shefford have seen their flood risk profile change due to housing growth.

Question

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?

Answer from Robbie Moore

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.

Answered
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Q9 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The current ban on drift net fishing for bass was introduced as a temporary measure.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A specific commitment on reconsidering the ban was not given.

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Q10 Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington
Environment
Context

Since April last year, thousands of homes have suffered from a fly infestation assumed to originate from a recycling plant.

Question

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?

Answer from Robbie Moore

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on resolving the fly infestation were not provided.

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Q11 Jo Gideon
Environment
Context

Walleys Quarry is causing significant complaints due to high levels of hydrogen sulphide detected by monitoring stations.

Question

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?

Answer from Steve Barclay

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions regarding permit revocation or prosecution were not addressed.

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Q12 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy Climate
Context

Food price inflation is currently twice as high as general inflation in the UK, with warnings of further increases next year.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures or assessments on mitigating the impact were not provided.

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