Topical Questions 2020-11-26

2020-11-26

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
Following DEFRA oral questions, the Department is currently dealing with significant legislative activity.
Since your last session of DEFRA oral questions, Royal Assent has been granted to both the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill. What steps will be taken under these Acts in the coming weeks and months?
Since the last session of DEFRA oral questions, Royal Assent has been granted to both the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill. The Agriculture Act 2020 gives us the powers to transform the way in which we support farmers and build back nature in the farmed landscape, while the Fisheries Act 2020 gives us powers to become an independent coastal state, and decide who can fish in our waters and under what terms. We will be bringing forward new policies under both Acts in the weeks and months ahead.
Assessment & feedback
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Q2 Direct Answer
Context
The Government are currently looking to legislate for increased penalties and offences related to animal cruelty.
My right hon. Friend's Department is a very busy one right now, but may I ask him to look at the issue of animal cruelty sentences? Animals feel pain and emotion, and all of us in this House have probably had terrible cases of animal cruelty in our constituencies, which can be upsetting for all our communities. What steps are being taken to ensure there is a good level of enforcement for animal cruelty offences?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Government support extending maximum penalties and offences for animal cruelty. We are supporting a private Member's Bill currently going through this House to achieve that. Should that not go through, we will introduce legislation in a later Session in this Parliament in order to do that. We are also working with local authorities and others to improve the enforcement of the current animal welfare legislation.
Assessment & feedback
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Q3 Partial Answer
Luke Pollard Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Context
There has been an exposé on foxhunters discussing ways to circumvent the Hunting Act 2004.
After the “News at Ten” exposé of foxhunters discussing how to put up the smokescreen of trail hunting when foxhunts break the law—exemptions that they describe as a “good wheeze”—is the Environment Secretary satisfied that the Hunting Act 2004 is as strong as it needs to be to stop illegal hunting? I am not.
The Hunting Act was brought forward by the Labour party, and there is now a consensus across this House that it should remain. Where there is a breach of that legislation, obviously the police can investigate, and they do.
Assessment & feedback
Whether the current legislation is sufficient to prevent illegal foxhunting
Under Review Police Investigation
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Luke Pollard Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Context
The Minister was not satisfied with the current level of enforcement for illegal foxhunting.
No, that is not a good enough answer. We support the strengthening of that Act and I hope that the Environment Secretary will too. Forestry England has just announced a ban on hunts using its land in response to the exposé. Should not other landowners now follow this lead and ban trail hunters from their land as well?
The Government believe that the Hunting Act is sufficient. Where there are breaches, it should be enforced. It is for individual landowners to choose, as they always have done, whether they would like hunts on their land.
Assessment & feedback
Whether other landowners should ban trail hunters from their land
Individual Choice Current Legislation
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Q5 Partial Answer
Context
The Renaissance of the East Anglia Fisheries is planning to revitalise the East Anglian fishing industry with investment.
Ahead of 1 January, the Renaissance of the East Anglia Fisheries is stepping up its plans to revitalise the East Anglian fishing industry. Investment in port and processing infrastructure is vital, and I would be grateful if the Minister could outline the role of fishing in the national infrastructure strategy, what funds will be available and when they will be announced
For now, the residual bit of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund continues to be something that fishing communities can access, but we will be replacing the EMFF with a domestic fund, and we will say more on this in due course. I am aware of the REAF project in my hon. Friend's constituency. There are great opportunities for fishing communities along the east coast to benefit from our departure from the EU.
Assessment & feedback
Specific funds and timeline for announcements
Domestic Fund Future Announcement
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Munira Wilson Lib Dem
Twickenham
Context
Air pollution leads to an estimated 40,000 early deaths per year and London has illegal levels of air pollution.
Air pollution is estimated to lead to 40,000 early deaths per year, and here in London, in normal circumstances, some 2 million people are living with illegal levels of air pollution. So will the Secretary of State please commit today to accepting the Environment Bill amendment that would require him to produce an annual report on air quality that includes the work of public authorities and Government Departments in tackling air pollution?
Under the Environment Bill, we will have a 25-year environment improvement plan that addresses issues such as air quality. There will also be targets set for air quality under the Bill.
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to the amendment
Environment Bill Targets
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Context
The Fisheries Bill received Royal Assent, providing opportunities for the Cornish fishing industry to prosper.
First, I very much associate myself with the Secretary of State's remarks regarding the tragic loss of the Joanna C. The brilliant fishermen who come out of St Mawes and Falmouth and along the whole Fal estuary—indeed, around the entire Cornish coast—are delighted that the Fisheries Bill finally got it Royal Assent this week. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that this landmark Act will better the lives of these fishermen, as well as ensuring that our sea are sustainably managed to allow future generations of fishing families to prosper?
My hon. Friend and neighbour in Cornwall makes a very good point. As a fellow Cornish MP, of course I want to see the interests of the Cornish fishing industry prosper in the future. In many cases, we have had a profoundly unfair share of stocks in the Celtic sea, and that will now change.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Diana R. Johnson Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Context
The Flood Re scheme has had problems, and there are concerns about building houses in flood-prone areas.
After the 2007 floods in Hull, I campaigned for many years to get the Flood Re scheme introduced. However, there are problems with the Flood Re scheme, and I wonder whether the Government need to consider again their message about encouraging house building through schemes such as Help to Buy on areas that are prone to flooding at the same time as saying that house building should not take place in those areas.
We are in discussions on this matter with ministerial colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The hon. Lady will be aware that a planning Bill is coming forward, and one of the things we have already said we would like to do is strengthen the role of the Environment Agency as a statutory consultee on future planning developments.
Assessment & feedback
Specific reconsideration of policies
Planning Bill Discussions
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
Farmers in Derbyshire Dales, part of the Peak District National Park, are concerned about future government support based on public money for public good.
Many of my constituents farm some of the most visited countryside in the UK. Those farmers understand that future Government support will be based on public money for public good. They view producing high-quality food as a public good alongside delivering access to clean air and water, biodiversity, and carbon storage. Can I please have reassurance?
Our future policy will be about incentivising, encouraging and supporting sustainable agriculture so that we have sustainable food production but also environment improvement.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific policies or mechanisms for sustainable agriculture
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Nadia Whittome Lab
Nottingham East
Context
The Chancellor's recent statement did not include additional funds for a green economic recovery, despite spending on polluting new roads.
The Chancellor did not pledge a single extra penny yesterday towards a green economic recovery, while wasting tens of billions on polluting new roads. Will the Secretary of State explain how that fits with the Government's so-called green industrial revolution and net zero strategy?
Last week the Prime Minister announced a new round for the green recovery challenge fund—an additional £40 million—and the Chancellor yesterday confirmed the spending that we intend to put through the nature for climate fund as well.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the lack of funding and only provided information on existing funds.
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
The Government made a manifesto commitment to maintain agricultural funding across all four nations, despite the situation in Wales.
This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to maintain agricultural funding across all four nations. Despite the disingenuous political games being played by the Welsh Government and the farming unions in Wales, can my right hon. Friend confirm that yesterday's statement from the Chancellor delivers on that commitment and safeguards funding levels for all our farmers in Wales?
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide any specifics or explanation about the commitment to funding in Wales, only replied with 'yes'.
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Ruth Cadbury Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Context
Primary schoolchildren across the constituency have raised concerns about plastic waste, but the Government's plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 is behind schedule.
Like the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott), primary schoolchildren across my constituency have also raised the issue of plastic. So why is the Government's plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 years behind schedule, and why does it have such weak proposals? Is the Minister kicking Britain's plastic waste crisis into the long grass?
I do not accept the point that the hon. Lady makes. We have recently banned plastic stirrers, plastic straws and plastic cotton buds. We are considering other bans on single-use items, and the Environment Bill brings forward extended producer responsibility.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address why the plan is behind schedule or weak, only listed recent actions.
Response accuracy