All 2 Debates between Ian Lavery and Caroline Spelman

Mon 25th Jun 2012
Flooding
Commons Chamber
(Urgent Question)

Flooding

Debate between Ian Lavery and Caroline Spelman
Monday 25th June 2012

(12 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

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Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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Through my hon. Friend, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to those communities. I know how they feel, having had to evacuate my home for 10 months after flooding. It takes a long time and a great toll on people’s mental health to get things back to the state that they were in before the flood occurred. There are two practical things to say. First, the completion of the third phase of the flood defences in Todmorden will help to protect more properties. Secondly, the community in Hebden Bridge might like to consider the partnership funding model, which might bring useful assistance. My hon. Friend is right that when a month’s rain falls in 24 hours, virtually no infrastructure can prevent flooding completely.

Ian Lavery Portrait Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
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Is the Secretary of State confident that post-2013 flood risk insurance will be available and affordable to those who are most affected by the floods?

Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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Yes, I am confident of that because we have reached an advanced stage of negotiation with the insurance industry to secure universal and affordable flood insurance. It is often misunderstood, but the statement of principles was no guarantee of the affordability of insurance. We understand how important that is, and will make a statement shortly.

Public Forest Estate (England)

Debate between Ian Lavery and Caroline Spelman
Wednesday 2nd February 2011

(13 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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I will give way in a minute.

The hon. Lady claimed that we were planning to sell the forests for short-term gain. In fact, we are proposing to end the last Government’s policy of selling land and replace it with a leasing policy, specifically to secure access to rights for all—including horse riders, cyclists and other recreational users. The hon. Lady claimed that that was environmental vandalism. In fact, we are introducing more environmental safeguards than existed before. We are providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate the recovery of plantations on ancient woodland sites, and enforcing replanting in other woodlands.

Ian Lavery Portrait Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
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Will the Secretary of State give way?

Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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In a minute.

The Forestry Commission was previously commended for the restoration of ancient woodland sites. It pledged to restore 20,000 hectares of plantations on such sites; it has managed to restore just 2,000 hectares. I have a greater ambition in regard to the restoration and enhancement of biodiversity than the last Government ever entertained.