Commons Chamber
09:33
09:34
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The sustainable farming incentive scheme we inherited from the Conservatives was complicated and skewed towards the biggest farms. We've made it fairer and more focussed, and this year we run two application windows, received application windows, received nearly 19,000 applications and allocated 310 million per year. For the next three years, we will open SFI 27 as early as we can, and we will work with farmers to see what we can do to change it, including alternatives to the first come, first served basis of it.
09:34
Martin Wrigley MP (Newton Abbot, Liberal Democrat)
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Martin Wrigley MP (Newton Abbot, Liberal Democrat)
Martin Wrigley thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we heard in this chamber many of the shortcomings of chamber many of the shortcomings of this year's SFI window. Two just one week after that closed, I visited Ross and Ginny Thompson at visited Ross and Ginny Thompson at Small Smallacombe Farm in my Newton Abbot constituency and their successful herd of milking goats, and they described the SFI process as a fiasco. With 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the driest summer on record, multiple heatwaves, plagues of midges, spreading bluetongue and now severe drought and yellow warnings of our first named storm.
What will the government do to help farmers adapt to the changing climate here?
What will the government do to help farmers adapt to the changing climate here?
09:35
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Mr. Speaker, farmers are bearing >> Mr. Speaker, farmers are bearing the cost of extreme weather, which is why we are supporting them with 600. With 65 million extra to tackle drought, protect crops and build resilience alongside grants for new technology to boost productivity in order for as many farmers as possible to benefit from SFI, we gave small farms a priority in window one. This year, we've allocated £310 million per year. That's nearly £1 billion for the next three years. For the SFI scheme, the government will also invest up to £15 million to help farmers and growers build on farm reservoirs.
09:35
Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)
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Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)
Terry Jermy thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow more than 50 farmers will be joining me in the farmers will be joining me in the South West Norfolk constituency for the first ever farming conference that I've been pleased to organise, that I've been pleased to organise, and we will no doubt be discussing concerns related to this year's SFI. It highlights that farmers want to do more to support the environment, but it also highlights concerns around financial resilience and also profitability. So can my hon. Friend, talk more about what the government is doing to help improve profitability for farmers in South West Norfolk and across the country?
09:36
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My >> Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend does a great deal of outreach to the farming community, outreach to the farming community, and I. I commend him for it. We have launched the farming Roadmap, which is the first 25 year plan for farming, to give certainty and direction in a very long time. We've set up the Farming and Food Partnership Board, which is looking at the moment about how we can improve productivity and profitability, and is currently working on a horticulture growth plan and a poultry growth plan. There will be more to come.
09:37
Aphra Brandreth MP (Chester South and Eddisbury, Conservative)
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Aphra Brandreth MP (Chester South and Eddisbury, Conservative)
Aphra Brandreth shadow Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After 18 months of dither and delay and cuts to the farming Budget, Labour's shambolic SFI scheme closed within hours, leaving farmers unable to access funding to protect and restore nature. We now know that Freedom of Information requests that Defra knew the scheme could collapse within hours, yet the government pressed ahead regardless. Now environmental charities, including the Rivers Trust, are warning that this will undermine nature recovery. Does the Secretary of State recognise that by failing the custodians of our countryside, she is failing nature to.
Yeah.
Yeah.
09:37
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
I would I would argue with the >> I would I would argue with the hon. Lady's characterisation of collapse for the scheme. I think we shouldn't forget that SFI 20, 20 2026 has made nearly £1 billion of support available for the next three years for environmentally sustainable farming, and we have now 70,000 multiyear Elm agreements in place, which is making sure that we support environmentally friendly farming. I would not characterise that as collapse. Mr. speaker, I note that the Tories didn't spend the whole farming project when they were in government. They botched Brexit, which led to a 22% fall in trade.
And they concluded an Australian trade deal which Tory Secretary of State now admit has sold out. British farmers.
And they concluded an Australian trade deal which Tory Secretary of State now admit has sold out. British farmers.
09:38
Q2. What steps she is taking to help reduce sewage discharges into waterways. (901642)
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Q2. What steps she is taking to help reduce sewage discharges into waterways. (901642)
Dan Aldridge. Question number two, Mr. Speaker. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have strengthened regulation and enforcement, driving record water enforcement, driving record water company investment into wastewater infrastructure to improve nearly 3000 storm overflows across England and Wales, and the strengthened Water Bill will go further in tackling sewage pollution from water companies, private sewage and water companies, private sewage and catchment, wide pipe and source control conditions.
09:38
09:39
Dan Aldridge MP (Weston-super-Mare, Labour)
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Dan Aldridge MP (Weston-super-Mare, Labour)
report more than 50,000 sewage spills within the legally required time frame just in the first half of this year. Like many residents of this year. Like many residents across Western World and the villages, I'm deeply concerned about the impact of sewage pollution and will always urge the pollution and will always urge the government to go faster and harder to tackle the crisis. Could the Minister tell us what more the government will do to hold water government will do to hold water companies to account in coastal communities like mine? So constituencies have confidence that
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our much loved waterways and coastlines are protected? My hon. Friend is quite right to be angry about the failure of water companies to report sewage pollution on time, and our Water Special Measures Act will be enacting automatic penalties for companies who fail to report sewage pollutions within four hours. And pollutions within four hours. And as he will have seen from the recent £8 million fine to South west water for sewage pollution west water for sewage pollution incidents, this government takes enforcement seriously.
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our much loved waterways and coastlines are protected? My hon. Friend is quite right to be angry about the failure of water companies to report sewage pollution on time, and our Water Special Measures Act will be enacting automatic penalties for companies who fail to report sewage pollutions within four hours. And pollutions within four hours. And as he will have seen from the recent £8 million fine to South west water for sewage pollution west water for sewage pollution incidents, this government takes enforcement seriously.
09:39
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Wera Hobhouse thank you, Mr. Speaker. Desperately need to reduce rainwater runoff into our sewage system in order to prevent storm overflows, and Wessex Water in Bath runs, community water schemes and flood mitigation projects which prevent rainwater runoff entering our sewers, ensuring they're not overwhelmed. What steps does the overwhelmed. What steps does the government taking so that more customers and householders can actually have access to water bugs? actually have access to water bugs?
09:40
Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)
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Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)
The hon. Lady raises one of my favourite things, Mr. Speaker, which is talking about pre pipe solutions, which is in a nutshell, how do you prevent. It's very exciting, very exciting. It's how do you prevent so much of the water from entering the sewage system in the first time and becoming overwhelmed? It links perfectly with nature based solutions. It with nature based solutions. It helps mean our soils are wetter, it helps against drought. So in this, I'm in agreement with the hon. Lady I'm in agreement with the hon. Lady that we need to see more of it.
And that includes water companies providing water for all of their customers, which helps overwhelming customers, which helps overwhelming the sewage system and helps to water their gardens when there's less rain.
And that includes water companies providing water for all of their customers, which helps overwhelming customers, which helps overwhelming the sewage system and helps to water their gardens when there's less rain.
09:40
09:41
Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)
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Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)
spills across our country. 4000 of those spills happened in the precious waters of Cumbria's Lakes precious waters of Cumbria's Lakes and Dales. Meanwhile, last year, companies rewarded their shareholders for that failure with shareholders for that failure with increased dividends of £845 million. So isn't it time instead, to put So isn't it time instead, to put failing water companies into administration in the forthcoming water bill? And it will be good if she could tell us when we might expect that. Will she bring forward a plan to create a watchdog, a new one with teeth, and transform our water companies from being mutually owned so that money stops leaking out of the system and instead funds a clean up of our waterways and of our water industry?
09:41
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Yeah. >> And the hon. Gentleman will have noticed, I am sure, that since we came into power, we are taking enforcement seriously. Fines just enforcement seriously. Fines just this year include £7.1 million fine and a £2.4 million fine for illegal sewage pollution against Southern Water, a £7.87 million fine against South West Water. And I haven't even included all of the enforcement undertakings and all the fines that are included there. He will have heard what our Prime Minister said that we are strengthening our water bill. We will bring that forward soon. We are not taking options off the table, and we are serious about fixing the mess that we were left to deal with when we came into power.
09:42
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Waste crime is fuelled by serious organised crime and it's blighting our communities. We are tackling it. Since April, we've made 21 arrests and shut down 339 illegal waste sites. Police operations have triggered over 30 criminal investigations, and we're strengthening enforcement and disrupting those who are profiting from waste crime.
09:42
Ashley Dalton MP (West Lancashire, Labour)
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Ashley Dalton MP (West Lancashire, Labour)
Mr. speaker, illegal waste dumping at the Simon Lightwood Industrial Estate in my constituency has long blighted the constituency has long blighted the residents in West Lancashire and in Kirby. My hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley and I have worked together on tackling the simonswood stink. But. And we welcomed the EA's permit revocation earlier this year. But the mound remains, as does the odour and the dust. What assurances can the government give that Simmons Wood will be considered in the next phase of the Illegal Waste site clearance scheme?
09:43
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I >> Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know how tirelessly my hon. Friend and her neighbour, the right hon. and her neighbour, the right hon. Member for Knowsley, have campaigned on this issue. Waste crime blights local communities and the government is committed to tackling it. The Environment Agency continues to investigate activity at Simonswood and the site will be considered for clearance alongside other illegal waste sites.
09:43
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> As the Secretary of State said, increasingly linked to organised crime. So I commend Ministers for building on the work of the last government to increase penalties, tighten up restrictions on carriers but also speed up digital tracking of waste. But communities play their part too. So can I ask the Secretary of State to join me in
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Hambleton? Yeah. Volunteers do an excellent job organising monthly litter picks, organising monthly litter picks, collecting hundreds of bags of rubbish and ensuring that North Yorkshire remains the most beautiful part of the country.
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Yes. Well, Mr. Mr. speaker, as a
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Well, Mr. Mr. speaker, as a Yorkshire woman myself, I, I, I I'm not going to disagree, although it might get me into trouble about the
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Hambleton? Yeah. Volunteers do an excellent job organising monthly litter picks, organising monthly litter picks, collecting hundreds of bags of rubbish and ensuring that North Yorkshire remains the most beautiful part of the country.
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Yes. Well, Mr. Mr. speaker, as a
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Well, Mr. Mr. speaker, as a Yorkshire woman myself, I, I, I I'm not going to disagree, although it might get me into trouble about the
09:44
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
might get me into trouble about the beauty of Yorkshire and I'm. I'm happy to join him in praising the Wombles of Hambleton. I need him to show me a photograph of them out doing this job. Next time we bump into each other. But there are many, many community organised litter picks and cleanups that are going on in all our communities, including one that happened in in my own constituency a couple of weekends ago in Seacombe. So much litter has picked up, but we have a lot of work to do to persuade people to be more responsible at that level of of littering, not to drop it in the first place.
09:45
09:45
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
agreement with the EU to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier by market cheaper and easier by removing trade barriers for British producers. And SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major primary agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16%. A regulatory impact assessment will A regulatory impact assessment will be prepared as part of the normal process. Details are subject to ongoing negotiations and we will
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ongoing negotiations and we will not be providing commentary on those. Charlie Dewhirst. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now England has become a world leader in gene editing and precision breeding. This has increased crop yields and eradicated diseases. It helps to protect domestic food security and potentially global food security. But much of this technology is banned in the European Union, and dynamic alignment will mean we cannot use it. So what representations representations has the Minister made to the Cabinet Office and to Ministers in negotiations with the European negotiations with the European Union, to ensure that gene editing and our world leading technologies are protected?
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ongoing negotiations and we will not be providing commentary on those. Charlie Dewhirst. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now England has become a world leader in gene editing and precision breeding. This has increased crop yields and eradicated diseases. It helps to protect domestic food security and potentially global food security. But much of this technology is banned in the European Union, and dynamic alignment will mean we cannot use it. So what representations representations has the Minister made to the Cabinet Office and to Ministers in negotiations with the European negotiations with the European Union, to ensure that gene editing and our world leading technologies are protected?
09:46
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
I thank the hon. Member for his question. I am committed to the Precision Breeding Act, and details Precision Breeding Act, and details of the agreement are subject to negotiation and the common understanding between the EU. UK sets out the agreement, which will sets out the agreement, which will include a short list of exceptions. I can confirm that the UK has been clear about the importance of being able to support the use of new and innovative technologies.
09:46
John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway, Conservative)
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John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway, Conservative)
Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Croplife UK warned that the heedless rush to align with the EU could cost British farming £810 million. That is £810 million off bottom lines, which are already very marginal. Further, it could also hit production in this country, so we cannot export what we are not even growing. What assessment is the government making of Croplife report that says that this EU alignment could be very dangerous for farming?
09:47
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
The Croplife report is clear that the numbers presented are a that the numbers presented are a worst case scenario. We are building a new pragmatic relationship with the EU, markedly different to what has gone before, which will bring clear benefits with closer alignment. But negotiations are in their final stages and the government will set out further details as they conclude.
09:47
Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)
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Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)
Mr. speaker, my Carlisle >> Mr. speaker, my Carlisle constituency is home to one of only two herds of European bison in the two herds of European bison in the country, and in order to expand the that that herd and maintain a healthy breeding population, they will require access to high quality genetic material. I'll leave it to your imagination as part of that. As part of the assessment on the SPS, will the Minister ensure that we have access, that the UK's import regime supports the access that her needs?
09:47
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I thank my hon. Friend for her question. She's a real champion on these issues, especially innovation that her industry are carrying that her industry are carrying forward. We recognise the importance of access to high quality genetic material for maintaining healthy breeding populations. Zoo technical arrangements facilitate trade in breeding animals and genetic material, but the details of future arrangements will depend on the outcome of the ongoing UK, EU SPS negotiations.
09:48
Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)
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Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)
Robbie Moore Shadow Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The EU summit is to take place in just 28 days time, but yet the Farming Minister cannot answer key Minister cannot answer key questions not just from us but from our farming community. We still have no confirmation that the Precision Breeding Act, widely recognised as a huge success, will be 100% protected. We have no reassurance that our current freedom to innovate in gene editing and in bovine TB vaccine development will be a red line, and we have no acknowledgement that the alignment with the EU on plant protection products could slash £810 million from farming incomes in the first year alone.
So I ask the farming Minister, what guarantees can he give our farmers right now that this Labour government won't sell them out to the EU, just like they sold out our British fishermen last May when they previously negotiated with Brussels?
So I ask the farming Minister, what guarantees can he give our farmers right now that this Labour government won't sell them out to the EU, just like they sold out our British fishermen last May when they previously negotiated with Brussels?
09:49
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
I mean the brass neck of the shadow Minister. Mr. speaker, with shadow Minister. Mr. speaker, with all the deals that they did and tried to get over the line and sold out our British farmers. Now, you out our British farmers. Now, you know, DEFRA continues to work closely with industry, and when negotiations will conclude, we will be able to provide more definitive answers on the exact nature of any alignment. I cannot comment on the specifics of the agreement, but we have been clear that we will only pursue an agreement which has the British interests at their heart.
09:49
Q5. What steps she is taking to help tackle fly-tipping. (901645)
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Q5. What steps she is taking to help tackle fly-tipping. (901645)
Melanie Onn Preston. Number five. >> Thank you. Mr. With permission, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to group questions five, seven and 13 together. Fly tipping is unacceptable. It blights communities, harms the environment and imposes significant costs on taxpayers and businesses. Those responsible should be cleaning it up and paying for it. That is why we have strengthened the powers and we have strengthened the powers and the penalties available to councils to ensure vandals face real consequences, and we are consulting consequences, and we are consulting and making them clean up their own mess.
09:50
09:50
Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)
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Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)
alleyways or local beauty spots. It is so disappointing, especially is so disappointing, especially when so many members of the community are involved in doing community cleanups. Now the government, as the Minister says, government, as the Minister says, has done a huge amount of work to increase fines to £5,000 and give increase fines to £5,000 and give powers to scrap vehicles once they are seized. But these powers are are seized. But these powers are only effective if they are used. So would she join me in urging? My reform led North East Lincolnshire Council to make greater use of these enforcement powers?
Yeah.
Yeah.
09:50
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
My hon. Friend is right to raise >> My hon. Friend is right to raise this, and her constituents are understandably frustrated, and I share her confusion as to why her share her confusion as to why her council doesn't want to use the powers that they have been given to find fly tippers, seize their vans and prosecute her. And I absolutely join her in urging her council to do the job that they have been elected to do. And I hope her residents remember this lack of election.
09:51
Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)
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Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)
Adam Thompson Mr Speaker Trafalgar Square. Not the one down the road, but there's the much, much smaller one. Back home in much smaller one. Back home in Erewash is a private road with a persistent fly tipping problem. There are signs up that ask people to stop doing it. I've reported it loads of times. The councils so have local people all of the time, but the piles of bulky waste in the area, if they get cleared, they come back almost immediately. So today I'm escalating. Mr Speaker please, could the Minister elaborate on how the government is working to get a grip on fly tipping, particularly in hotspots like Trafalgar Square in Long Eaton?
09:51
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
I completely understand the frustration that my hon. Friend frustration that my hon. Friend constituents have, where you have rows which are repeatedly fly tipped and they are private roads, tipped and they are private roads, we are taking this seriously. We've increased the maximum fine for offenders to £5,000, but we are also working on advising landowners who obviously the owners of private land on land security through the National Fly Tipping Prevention Group. So we're happy to sort of give that advice out there to private landowners. But where we find out who is responsible, Mr. Speaker, we won't hesitate in going after them.
09:52
Kevin Bonavia MP (Stevenage, Labour)
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Kevin Bonavia MP (Stevenage, Labour)
Gagan Mohindra Mr. Speaker. >> Like many. >> Other MPs, I'm often reporting the worst examples of fly tipping to our local councils. My most to our local councils. My most recent case is Mary Mee Drive, with boards and tarpaulin thrown under trees and with walls graffitied. I know and expect Stevenage Borough Council staff will be on to this as quickly as possible, but they shouldn't have to be doing this in the first place. So what assurances could the Minister give me and the House about the government's war on waste crime, and whether it will extend to graffiti and reduce these instances of fly tipping?
09:52
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
I thank the hon. Friend, and it's good to hear about a council being proactive and going after and being proactive and going after and cleaning up some of this mess. And I agree that graffiti and fly tipping offences are unacceptable. Graffiti, of course, is a separate Graffiti, of course, is a separate offence from fly tipping, but local councils can issue fixed penalties of up to £500 for a graffiti offences, and we are consulting on powers for councils to use conditional cautions requiring offenders to clean up their mess and cover the clean up costs, instead of simply walking away from the damage they caused.
09:53
Rt Hon John Glen MP (Salisbury, Conservative)
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Rt Hon John Glen MP (Salisbury, Conservative)
John Glen thank you, Mr. Speaker. me last week to point out that farmers are often left to be the ones who have to deal with fly fly ones who have to deal with fly fly tipping. But I note in the government's response on Tuesday that insurance is one option that could be available. Could the Minister say what progress she's making in talking to insurance companies about making fly tipping part of a routine farm policy that farmers could take out against this scourge?
09:53
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
The right hon. Gentleman raises >> The right hon. Gentleman raises an important point, and I absolutely sympathise with farmers. It is, as he's quite rightly highlighted quite often, the highlighted quite often, the farmers that see the repeated dumping onto their private land. There is that national fly tipping prevention group. I meet with insurers regularly. In fact, I met with them all last week and I was certainly raised that issue of how we can ensure that farmers get the support they need for having to deal with a problem that was, quite simply, not of their making.
09:54
Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)
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Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)
Andrew George Madam Speaker. Local authorities will be looking Local authorities will be looking to the Environment Agency to set standards as far as enforcement action is is concerned, travel more action is is concerned, travel more in my constituency is the fifth largest illegal dump in the country, affecting a nature reserve. But they've decided not to take enforcement action. And when I've discussed it with them, they've said that they deal with these matters on a on a case by case basis. So would the Minister ensure that the guidance which the Environment Agency use is published so we can properly understand where and why they make these decisions?
09:54
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue, and we have some important issue, and we have some of these illegal sites around the country, which is why we're focusing heavily on the prevention focusing heavily on the prevention side, so we can go after them before these crimes are have been taken. We've already published the toughest effort ever Waste Crime Action plan. We've given £45 million extra to the Environment Agency for frontline enforcement. We've given new powers. We've expanded the Joint Unit for Waste Crime. We are going after the prevention. We are trying to clean up as many of these sites as possible.
But fundamentally, we believe it is the polluter who should pay for the green clean up and not the taxpayer. And that is always the first thing we will pursue.
But fundamentally, we believe it is the polluter who should pay for the green clean up and not the taxpayer. And that is always the first thing we will pursue.
09:55
Sir Ashley Fox MP (Bridgwater, Conservative)
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Sir Ashley Fox MP (Bridgwater, Conservative)
So, Ashley Fox. crime and fly tipping affect rural communities across Somerset. Now, I welcome the action that the government is taking on this. Does the Minister agree with me that the very substantial increases that we have seen in landfill tax enable rogue waste operators to undercut legitimate businesses? And does she accept that the substantial tax increases are fuelling waste crime? And will she join with me in asking the Chancellor to cut those landfill taxes?
09:56
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Well, the main problem that we have in the country is, is serious organised crime behind some of organised crime behind some of these criminal activities that we see. And that's exactly what we are going after through the new crackdown group, which we're working with the National Crime Agency as well. We are escalating this and taking it extremely seriously because, as the hon. Gentleman said, we quite rightly want to support legitimate businesses who are doing the right thing, and we want to get the criminals out of this industry.
09:56
Q8. What steps her Department is taking to support the wine production industry. (901648)
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Q8. What steps her Department is taking to support the wine production industry. (901648)
So. John Whittingdale number eight, Mr. Minister. >> The UK sector is a British success story and we want to grow it further. We are supporting innovation, ensuring vineyards can access essential labour and through helping British producers access new export markets through our global network of agri food and drink attachés.
09:56
09:57
Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP (Maldon, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP (Maldon, Conservative)
Danbury Ridge, Missing Gate, Newhall, Crouch Valley, Crouch Ridge all producing in my constituency and a number of those also offer vineyard tours, which also offer vineyard tours, which are an important source of revenue. So will the Minister support the campaign of wine GB to introduce a campaign of wine GB to introduce a wine tourism relief to reduce the amount of excise duty on cellar
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amount of excise duty on cellar door sales? Mr. speaker, I think I was waiting for the invitation to come and visit those vineyards, but supporting trade and exports is a priority of this government, which is why Defra supports the UK wine industry to succeed both at home and abroad. He mentions the campaign obviously matters for duty campaign obviously matters for duty relief are matters for Treasury, but Defra recognises the growth potential of the wine tourism industry, including the industry, including the contribution to rural jobs and rural communities.
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amount of excise duty on cellar door sales? Mr. speaker, I think I was waiting for the invitation to come and visit those vineyards, but supporting trade and exports is a priority of this government, which is why Defra supports the UK wine industry to succeed both at home and abroad. He mentions the campaign obviously matters for duty campaign obviously matters for duty relief are matters for Treasury, but Defra recognises the growth potential of the wine tourism industry, including the industry, including the contribution to rural jobs and rural communities.
09:57
09:58
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is working hard to prepare communities for flooding this winter. Last week was Flood Action Week and it communicated a wide range of information to citizens on how to protect themselves, their homes and their business. And my personal favourite, which is the new Scout badge. So if you've got children who are in the Scouts, they can now earn a badge saying be prepared, which I thought was brilliant. And so the communication targeted young adults, renters, householders, children, rural communities and quite frankly, everyone.
09:58
Adrian Ramsay MP (Waveney Valley, Green Party)
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Adrian Ramsay MP (Waveney Valley, Green Party)
I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I do thank the Minister for her reply do thank the Minister for her reply this year. We have already seen the unprecedented climate impacts that we've had this summer, and with the super El Nino on its way, we will see threats to global weather patterns, including a forecasted colder, wetter and stormier winter for the UK. So how is the Minister working across government to ensure that preparedness for flooding risks this winter are stepped up to keep our communities safe?
09:58
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman raises a really important point. So just last week we held the new flood. We have previously had the flood task have previously had the flood task force. Now it's the Flood and drought Task Force. In that meeting, there were four Ministers from Defra, from the Cabinet Office, Defra, from the Cabinet Office, MCHLG and the Department for transport. And the focus of that meeting absolutely was on how can we be the most prepared? Because I'm determined that this year, because, quite rightly, of El Nino and the concerns that he's raised, we need to be more prepared than we've ever been before, which is why we've sort of targeted sort of from children to families to homes all the way through to looking at our transport system, looking at resilience across government, looking at local resilience forums, are they ready if the worst should happen?
So we're going out to every area, talking to Ministers across government so they can contact their organisations. They're responsible for asking them if they're prepared and ready is my determination. Although I can't stop it raining, I want us to be as prepared as possible for when it comes.
So we're going out to every area, talking to Ministers across government so they can contact their organisations. They're responsible for asking them if they're prepared and ready is my determination. Although I can't stop it raining, I want us to be as prepared as possible for when it comes.
09:59
Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)
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Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)
Fuchs. >> Mr. Speaker, you'll remember it's almost a year since the devastating floods hit Monmouth, and parts of the town have flooded and parts of the town have flooded several times in the last few years. I spoke to a constituent yesterday who actually flooded at a previous flood, and that person hasn't been back in their house for two years, such was the damage. So could the Minister please look at upstream flood resilience measures over the border in England to reduce the risk of communities like mine in Monmouth flooding?
10:00
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
My hon. Friend, raises an important point. And I remember important point. And I remember when the flood happened, and I commend her now, as I did then, on the compassionate, caring and the compassionate, caring and supportive way she went out there to help her constituents, and I know how much it affected her, too. She's quite right to sort of talk about catchment based flooding, how you can look upstream, how you can use more nature based solutions. And I know the Environment Agency is working well with its Welsh counterparts to see what more can be done in this area.
10:00
10:01
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
Douglas McAllister. comply with the English whisky G. I can still call their products single malt, leading to the possibility of three single malts, with three differing production processes being on the shelves as a processes being on the shelves as a result of this decision. How does this align with the Minister's previous statement, asserting that the definition of single malt the definition of single malt whisky will not be watered down.
10:01
Douglas McAllister MP (West Dunbartonshire, Labour)
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Douglas McAllister MP (West Dunbartonshire, Labour)
Thank my hon. Friend for his question. The English whisky G has no effect on single malt Scotch whisky, which retains its own definition. Set out in Scotch whisky product Specification and Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Other whisky definitions, including Welsh, Irish EU definitions, already co-exist with the Scotch whisky definition affecting its without affecting its protected status.
10:01
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
Seamus Logan Mr. speaker, I hear the Minister saying that the decision had no impact. But in a written response to a question from a colleague recently, the Minister failed to clarify whether an impact failed to clarify whether an impact assessment had been carried out. So can he confirmed today whether such an impact assessment was carried out and what its impact on the Scotch whisky industry was. Yeah.
10:02
Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)
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Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)
We recognise that stakeholders may have different views and legislation provides a process for objections and appeals. I understand that the Scottish Whisky Association have appealed to the first tier tribunal, which will be determined in due course, but I will say politely to the hon. Member that due process has been followed and a rigorous scrutiny followed and a rigorous scrutiny processes have been adhered to.
10:02
10:02
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
prolonged period of no rain. This has put enormous stress on our landscapes, our farms and our landscapes, our farms and our natural resources are under increased pressure due to climate change. The Prime Minister has asked me to ensure that communities have more of a say in how water is managed, and this is all the more important given the summer we've had. The warnings are clear if we're going to be resilient in water and food security, we have to help farmers farm differently. Resilience is also, Mr. Speaker, about ensuring that the poorest in our communities can have access to good, nutritious food.
10:03
Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)
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Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)
Callum Anderson Mr Speaker Hampshire. >> Input costs and pressures on global on global pressures, on grain prices are eroding their profit margins and their ability to produce food, which is why they welcome the government's food roadmap. So my right hon. Friend, explain how she's working with farmers to boost profitability, and might she consider a trip to North Buckinghamshire here for my farmers directly?
10:03
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
I think my hon. Friend the water Minister went last week, so he's Minister went last week, so he's obviously trying to get a brace. The government's backing farm profitability through £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production, investment in productivity and innovation and action to make supply chains fairer. We're also working to open up new trading opportunities. The farming roadmap sets out how government will support farmers to cut costs, businesses.
10:04
Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP (Louth and Horncastle, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP (Louth and Horncastle, Conservative)
The Secretary of State, Victoria. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The conservative DEFRA team met more than 100 farmers in Berkshire this than 100 farmers in Berkshire this week ahead of Budget to continue our two year campaign against the family farm and the family business family farm and the family business taxes, one farmer told us. I'm sat with a ticking time bomb and it's unsurvivable for me. I will have to sell the farm to pay the bill. This is despite the government's humiliating partial U-turn. With six days to go before Budget, can the Secretary of State explain why this Labour government is putting families through this?
10:04
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Well, Mr. Speaker, the issues around I were dealt with by my predecessor, and there were. It wasn't a humiliating U-turn. It was actually the result of listening to what people were telling us. And if she's wanting change. And then she she's wanting change. And then she gets up here and describes a government change as a humiliating government change as a humiliating U-turn, then I'm not quite sure whose side she's on.
10:05
10:05
Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP (Louth and Horncastle, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP (Louth and Horncastle, Conservative)
can tell her that now. Now, while Labour were complaining about black Labour were complaining about black labradors and pubs at party conference, the Conservatives were listening to rural business owners. listening to rural business owners. They are being squeezed at every turn energy, water, heating oil,
10:05
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
turn energy, water, heating oil, petrol, diesel, food prices, red tape and taxes are all up under this government. Now. The Secretary this government. Now. The Secretary of State may have heard of two of them, Jeremy Clarkson and Cheerful Charlie. In fact, she stood cheerful Charlie up three times. They asked the question at our conference that I hear in market towns and villages across the country under this government. Why would anyone start a business in
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this country right now? Yeah. Well, I think the right hon. Lady has a bit of brass neck to stand up when she was in the Treasury and food inflation was at 19.1%. We know that some of the pressures on energy and power, pressures on energy and power, which is putting such pressure on everybody across all aspects of our economy, are due to global
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this country right now? Yeah. Well, I think the right hon. Lady has a bit of brass neck to stand up when she was in the Treasury and food inflation was at 19.1%. We know that some of the pressures on energy and power, pressures on energy and power, which is putting such pressure on everybody across all aspects of our economy, are due to global
10:06
Patrick Hurley MP (Southport, Labour)
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Patrick Hurley MP (Southport, Labour)
economy, are due to global instabilities and what's happening in the Middle East. And instead, and on Chapel Charlie, I met Chapel Charlie. And by the way, I didn't stand him up three times. There were some holds in the diary which they put in. So I've met him. He's a reasonable man. I spend my time listening to farming communities, and I'm not going to take any lessons from her.
10:06
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Patrick Hurley thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. >> Flooding has caused damage to farmland in my constituency this year, affecting crop yields and threatening food security. The NFU understands that the Statutory Instrument needed to establish a Instrument needed to establish a new internal drainage board will come before the House by the end of this year. So can the Minister confirm that timetable and commit to getting this resolved?
10:07
10:07
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
Rebecca Smith thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Iraq War began, fishermen have seen their fuel costs roughly double, but the costs roughly double, but the Minister has offered no tailored support, instead pointing to schemes that existed long before the conflict began, including rebated Red diesel, Marine Voyagers Relief and the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. Meanwhile, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and Germany have provided millions in fuel support to help fishermen catching food for their tables. When will the government stop making excuses and back Britain's farming industry? and back Britain's farming industry?
10:07
Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )
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Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )
As a member of Parliament that represents a coastal community, engaging with our fishing community is a priority of mine, and that's why I visited Cornwall and the southwest on a number of occasions. Now we are working with our fishing and seafood sectors to secure a vibrant, profitable and sustainable future and to make sure that I future and to make sure that I continue to listen to industry on their demands and concerns.
10:08
Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
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Emma Hardy MP, The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)
Baggy Shanker thank. failures of the privatised water model to put interests of people and communities first, what steps is the department taking to explore alternative ownership models, such as Mutualisation, that would give communities a meaningful stake in the governance and accountability of water companies to ensure that people are put first and not profit.
10:08
Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP (Maldon, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP (Maldon, Conservative)
Our Prime Minister has committed to introducing public control to the water sector, and just last month we announced that we will remove Thatcher's outdated cap on government ownership of water companies, and later this year, our ten year plan for Britain will set out plans for stronger public control over the water sector, making it work for people and places again. John Whittingdale. excellent oysters, and I'd be delighted to welcome any of the delighted to welcome any of the ministerial team to visit. But will the department do more to promote the shellfish industry, and in the shellfish industry, and in particular, will they look to introduce a specific aquaculture qualification to try to attract more apprentices into the industry?
10:09
Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)
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Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)
Yeah. what I said earlier around the value of the SPS agreement. But more broadly, obviously, Seafish has a role to promote seafish has a role to promote seafish around the world, and it was a real pleasure to be in Paris earlier this week at one of the largest food and drink expos promoting food and drink expos promoting British products, including oysters.
10:09
10:09
Olly Glover MP (Didcot and Wantage, Liberal Democrat)
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Olly Glover MP (Didcot and Wantage, Liberal Democrat)
And I thank my hon. Friend and many of our older constituents, including my mum, remembers returning bottles to the recycling bank and receiving money for them. It made sense then and it makes sense now. Significant progress has been made on the deposit return scheme, but of course there's still lots of work to do. lots of work to do.
10:10
Dr Sam Rushworth MP (Bishop Auckland, Labour)
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Dr Sam Rushworth MP (Bishop Auckland, Labour)
Sorry, Olly Glover. sometimes year long delays in obtaining permits from the Environment Agency to undertake de-silting and other critical watercourse flood prevention work. So will the Minister meet with me to understand these issues and ensure resources are getting to where they are needed to keep our homes and businesses safe?
10:10
Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
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Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Portsmouth South, Labour)
I thank the gentleman for his question, and I'll make sure that the relevant Environment Agency Area director meets with him to
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look at the concerns he's raised. There's lots of Sam Rushworth. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Farmers in my Bishop Auckland. Constituency are concerned about
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Constituency are concerned about the rising cost of fertiliser, which risks making them uncompetitive. So could I ask the uncompetitive. So could I ask the Minister on their behalf if she'll engage with the Treasury to consider delaying the carbon border
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adjustment mechanism, and also doing more to ensure that we can develop domestic fertiliser? That's low carbon. Yeah.
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Yeah. I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The government recognises the pressures facing farmers and the food and farming sector. Fertiliser Cbam liabilities are expected to be below 1% of current prices, with impacts on farmers very limited over time. Cbam, alongside domestic farming policy, alongside domestic farming policy, will support the transition towards more resilient low carbon supply chains while maintaining food production. production.
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look at the concerns he's raised. There's lots of Sam Rushworth. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Farmers in my Bishop Auckland. Constituency are concerned about
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Constituency are concerned about the rising cost of fertiliser, which risks making them uncompetitive. So could I ask the uncompetitive. So could I ask the Minister on their behalf if she'll engage with the Treasury to consider delaying the carbon border
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adjustment mechanism, and also doing more to ensure that we can develop domestic fertiliser? That's low carbon. Yeah.
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Yeah. I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The government recognises the pressures facing farmers and the food and farming sector. Fertiliser Cbam liabilities are expected to be below 1% of current prices, with impacts on farmers very limited over time. Cbam, alongside domestic farming policy, alongside domestic farming policy, will support the transition towards more resilient low carbon supply chains while maintaining food production. production.
10:11
10:11
10:12
Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)
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Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)
So struggle. >> Speaker, yesterday I attended an event on fixing the sewage in Lake Windermere. Would the Minister agree with me that United Utilities agree with me that United Utilities need to address the long overdue flooding issues at Ulverston, before they add additional pressure
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to that area of the system? I thank the honourable, my hon. Friend for her question, and she's quite right that we need to start thinking about flooding and water management in a more holistic way. We're looking at early rollout of regional planning systems, which means we'll start to address the issues around water quality, flooding and water scarcity in the same area. And she's quite right to hold water companies to account, excuse me, to deliver on the commitments that they have already made.
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to that area of the system? I thank the honourable, my hon. Friend for her question, and she's quite right that we need to start thinking about flooding and water management in a more holistic way. We're looking at early rollout of regional planning systems, which means we'll start to address the issues around water quality, flooding and water scarcity in the same area. And she's quite right to hold water companies to account, excuse me, to deliver on the commitments that they have already made.
10:12
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
The Select Committee. Alistair Carmichael Mr. Speaker, as the government starts the process of redesigning the SFI, can I draw their attention to an initiative launched today by Aldi and AVP processors grounded in goodness, which is paying a premium to their beef producers? It is only £4.5 million and it's one supermarket, so it's not a panacea, but it's a good start. It's rooted in the principles of simplicity, accessibility and food production as she redesigns the SFI, would that not be a good model to follow?
10:13
Dr Marie Tidball MP (Penistone and Stocksbridge, Labour)
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Dr Marie Tidball MP (Penistone and Stocksbridge, Labour)
Mr. speaker, we did simplify the >> Mr. speaker, we did simplify the SFI this year, after having inherited a scheme that had not only no Budget control, but over 140 different actions. I am certainly looking and more than certainly looking and more than happy to talk to the right hon. Gentleman about the principles that he has outlined as we work towards introducing a simpler, easier to use scheme in 2027.
10:13
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Suffolk Coastal, Labour)
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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Suffolk Coastal, Labour)
Marie Tidball thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Of my. >> Farm, is currently included in the Sheffield Local Plan. >> And wants to see it taken out,
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And wants to see it taken out, especially because inspectors recent report says that that land is of higher quality than the plan currently rates it. Given the further main modifications. Consultation closes next week. Does the Minister agree with me that the quality of agricultural land should always be taken into account when considering local plan site allocations?
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And wants to see it taken out, especially because inspectors recent report says that that land is of higher quality than the plan currently rates it. Given the further main modifications. Consultation closes next week. Does the Minister agree with me that the quality of agricultural land should always be taken into account when considering local plan site allocations?
10:14
Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hunt MP (Godalming and Ash, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hunt MP (Godalming and Ash, Conservative)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my hon. Friend for her question. The land use framework will help deliver faster, clearer and more coordinated decisions on housing and infrastructure, ensuring that our most productive farmland is safeguarded as part of the implementation of the Land Use Framework will complete a technical review of the Agricultural Land Classification System by 2028.
10:14
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
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Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Wallasey, Labour)
Final questions to Jeremy Hunt. squeezing me in. >> On the 7th of September, Natural England submitted the legal orders for a 30.5% expansion of the Surrey Hills national landscape, which would transform biodiversity and nature protection in my area. That decision is now on the Secretary of State's desk. When will she make that decision, and would she like