Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 9 May 2024 · 13 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial focus includes improving food security, water quality, and environmental protection.
  • Government plans to introduce legislation banning wet wipes with plastic and address forest risk commodities.
  • Response to Labour's plan includes banning bonuses for companies guilty of serious pollution and quadrupling inspections.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Therese Coffey Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The MP is asking about the government's recent activities and future plans under her department.

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities, focusing on food security, water quality improvements, environmental protection measures such as banning wet wipes with plastic, investment in schemes like the River Wye project, and global supply chain actions.

Answer from Steve Barclay

Since last updating the House, we have remained focused on delivering our plan to improve food security, on improving our water quality, and on leading the way both at home and abroad in protecting the environment. We are introducing legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic, launching a £35 million scheme on the River Wye as part of our catchment plan, and reinvesting £11.5 million in water company fines and penalties into restoration schemes.

Answered
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Q2 Therese Coffey Con
Climate Environment
Context

The MP references the Environment Act 2021 and focuses on its global supply chain measures, particularly forest risk commodities.

Question

The environment act 2021 introduced regulations for forest risk commodities. What further actions will the government take through their global supply chain measures?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Our flagship announcement at COP28 was taking leading action on forest risk commodities. Many who have watched nature documentaries can see how important that is to particular species. I hope to table legislation on that later this month.

Answered
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Q3 Steve Reed Labour (Co-op) Streatham and Croydon North
Environment
Context

The environmental regulator has condemned the state of UK waterways due to raw sewage being pumped into them by water companies.

Question

Will the Government back Labour's plan making water bosses personally criminally liable for illegally dumping sewage?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We have already banned bonuses for those companies guilty of serious pollution, quadrupled the number of inspections as part of a tougher enforcement scheme, and brought record investment into the water industry.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Labour's plan to make water bosses personally criminally liable was not addressed

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Q4 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP raises the issue of food security in relation to land use, specifically questioning if Minister's ever met a farmer who denied that 3b land is just as good for growing crops as 3a land.

Question

Has any Agriculture Minister ever met a farmer denying that 3b land is just as suitable for arable crops as 3a land?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We recognise the importance of food security and the clustering of solar sites on farmland. The right hon. Friend can see the shift in focus to our environmental schemes that align with food security because I believe that food security is instrumental to national security.

Not addressed: The issue about land quality was not addressed directly

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Q5 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report recommended supporting the request of UN special rapporteur on right to food to undertake a UK visit before 2023. The Government initially indicated they would facilitate it.

Question

Why is it not feasible to invite the special rapporteur this year despite initial indications?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are clear about the importance of food production, food security and backing our farmers. It is left-wing councils around the country that are banning meat and acting contrary to the interests of many of our farmers.

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Q6 Jane Hunt
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP asks about improving compensation payments to cattle farmers following a TB outbreak.

Question

What can be done to improve compensation payments for cattle farmers following a TB outbreak?

Answer from Mark Spencer

We are constantly working with those farmers facing the misery of a TB outbreak. I am aware of an outbreak in my hon. Friend's constituency in Leicestershire, which is very painful for the individual farmers concerned.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific improvement measures or compensation amounts were provided

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Q7 George Galloway
Environment
Context

The MP criticises the use of plastic and its environmental impact, referencing a global plastics treaty campaigned for by Greenpeace.

Question

Will the Minister support the global plastics treaty campaigned for by Greenpeace?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are taking action on plastics. There has been a 93% reduction in the use of plastic bags as a result of measures that this Government have introduced. We were supporting action on plastics at the G7 in Turin.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support for Greenpeace's global plastics treaty was not addressed

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Q8 Steve Double Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP discusses flood risks faced by the village of Mawgan Porth and requests a meeting to look at ways to reduce flood risk.

Question

Will the Minister meet me to discuss what we can do to protect Mawgan Porth from both river and coastal flooding?

Answer from Robbie Moore

Having been to Cornwall to meet my hon. Friend and see the StARR project for myself, I am more than happy to meet to discuss what more we can do.

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Q9 Samantha Dixon Lab Chester North and Neston
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP noted predictions that 17% of crops will be lost due to wet spring conditions. She asked about the number of farming businesses potentially stopping production.

Question

Given the prediction that 17% of crops will be lost, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of the number of farming businesses that will stop producing food? How will he ensure that the farmers flood fund reaches all those in need?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are continually engaging with the sector, had a farm to fork summit as part of engagement, and are looking at easements in schemes like the sustainable farming incentive. More details will be shared shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment on the number of businesses stopping production was not provided.

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Q10 Damien Moore Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP highlighted the lack of investment in villages like Tarleton, Hesketh Bank and Banks affected by flooding. A report has been submitted to the Department.

Question

Southport has seen millions of pounds of investment into drainage capacity but not in the affected villages. After meeting with the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, what more can be done to set up an internal drainage board at pace?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are a huge supporter of internal drainage boards and have allocated £75 million. We will look constructively at what more can be done through the focus of drainage boards, including flexing regulations in response to storms like Storm Henk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The timeline for setting up an internal drainage board was not provided.

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Q11 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP stated that Scotland provides funding surety beyond 2027, unlike Labour-run Wales and Tory-run England. The SNP's approach is contrasted.

Question

Brexit has been a disaster for UK farmers but Scotland offers certainty beyond 2027 while Wales and England do not. What steps will the Government take to provide similar surety for English farmers?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We can tailor our response with specific legislation such as gene editing and procurement/labelling laws, and through schemes like the SFI where more than 20,000 farmers are signed up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The steps for funding certainty were not specified.

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Q12 Mary Robinson Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Flooding from the Lady brook and Micker brook caused devastation to homes in Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, and Cheadle. The MP asked about joint working across the region.

Question

The flooding of the Lady brook and Micker brook has devastated homes. Does my hon. Friend agree that joint working is part of the solution? Will he continue support for the upper Mersey catchment partnership?

Answer from Robbie Moore

I am more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss at speed because projects such as flood alleviation schemes are valuable in better protecting homes.

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Q13 Andrew Bridgen Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP highlighted North West Leicestershire's role in the national forest, with millions of trees planted over 40 years. The need to balance this against food production was raised.

Question

North West Leicestershire has benefited from being at the heart of the national forest with millions of trees planted on degraded land. Must tree planting be balanced against food security? Does the Minister agree good agricultural land must be protected for food production?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

I commend the national forest achievements. The Forestry Commission's map shows best places for tree planting are not on what we call best available land, prioritised for food production.

Answered
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