Bovine TB

Debate between Owen Paterson and Jeremy Lefroy

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Paterson]

The hon. Gentleman will know that this is a devolved issue, so it is up to him to discuss elsewhere whether the catch, trap, test and eliminate policy is introduced in Northern Ireland. We are not proposing to do that in England. He makes the valid point, however, that trapping badgers is not easy. We estimate that about a third of badgers are trap-shy, which presents real practical problems for those who are enthusiastic about vaccination.

[Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)]

In my area, we also have TB in dairy goats, but the farmers involved are not covered by the compensation scheme. Will the Secretary of State consider changing that rule, because it is causing desperation among those farmers?

[Mr Paterson]

I was talking to farming representatives who had come over the border into my own patch last Friday, and I am aware that there is a bad case in Staffordshire involving goats. We need to look at this issue. We have made it clear that we are going to consult on bringing alpacas into the regime, and we should look at goats as well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Owen Paterson and Jeremy Lefroy

Thursday 16th May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Paterson]

That is complete nonsense. The Chief Secretary and senior Ministers are all working closely together on this issue. I am sorry that we may have nearly shot the Labour party’s fox. We are working closely with the Association of British Insurers and we will deliver a good deal.

[Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)]

T4. What is my right hon. Friend doing to make sure that the new single farm payment forms are as short as possible?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Owen Paterson and Jeremy Lefroy

Thursday 24th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Paterson]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. It is declared coalition policy to have a free vote on this issue at the appropriate time.

[Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)]

T8. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for launching the global food IF campaign yesterday. The UK runs a large deficit in food, so what can the UK do to increase food production and make its contribution to the global situation?

Flooding

Debate between Owen Paterson and Jeremy Lefroy

Monday 26th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Paterson]

Probably the best thing would be for my hon. Friend to have a meeting with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to go into the detail of the case.

[Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)]

What consultations is my right hon. Friend having with local councils and the Highways Agency to ensure that existing roads that do not have sufficient surface water drainage capacity will be made a priority for investment?

[Mr Paterson]

As I said, we are having daily meetings with other Ministries such as the Department for Transport. I talked to the Secretary of State for Transport this afternoon, and we will continue in that vein. If my hon. Friend is concerned about a particular road, he should write to the Secretary of State to take it up directly with him.