Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 18 Mar 2026 Trail-hunting
"My Lords, our rural police forces are already overstretched, and banning a harmless country pursuit will simply stretch them further and alienate them from the community they protect. As has been discussed, hunting with dogs has already been banned by Parliament. This has resulted in only 52 convictions for organised …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"The new SFIs offer some reduced payment rates per acre and remove management payments—winter bird food falls by 24% and herbal leys by 41%. SFIs require substantial expenditure by the recipients in order to claim these payments, and reducing payment rates dramatically reduces the potential for profit and the incentive …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, we are concerned that the plan promises high-level actions without clear timelines for phase-outs or mechanisms for delivery. In addition, companies need sufficient time to explore safe alternatives and for the supply chain to adapt accordingly. What are the Government doing to support the private sector in innovating …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, the Government have said that they do not expect the EU–Mercosur trade deal to impact UK food production, supply or security, or indeed UK imports of agricultural products from the bloc. However, the British Agriculture Bureau has taken a market-wide view and has warned that the deal risks …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, while it is right to take steps to protect forests overseas, I point out that Brazil and Indonesia, for example, have 50% forest cover, versus only 13% here. These countries already protect their forests through the Brazilian forest code and the Indonesian timber legality assurance scheme. Can we …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures aims to bring nature into the core of business and financial decision-making, recognising that the health of our natural environment is crucial to the long-term health of our economy. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to accelerate adoption of TNFD reporting to …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, to follow my noble friend’s question, the Government have announced that water company fines will help fund environmental restoration, including 100,000 new trees. To put that in context, a block that size would be only 50 hectares and cost £200,000. That seems a token effort. Will the Minister …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, following on from the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust have produced excellent research on the water-related benefits of tree planting, peatland restoration and rewetting wetlands. This demonstrates that reductions in peak flow rates during high rainfall events alleviate flood …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"My Lords, data from the Food Standards Agency revealed that in the last decade 27% of inspections of slaughterhouses permitted to perform religious non-stun slaughter concluded with a rating of improvement necessary or urgent improvement necessary. This compares with just 10% of all other establishments. Can the Minister clarify what …..." Lord Roborough - View Speech
"The Cunliffe report highlighted eroded trust in water industry regulators among stakeholders and has recommended a new integrated regulator. Can the Minister confirm that this new regulator will be fully accountable to the Secretary of State and, by extension, will be fully exposed to parliamentary scrutiny?..." Lord Roborough - View Speech