Oral Answers to Questions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateSamantha Dixon
Main Page: Samantha Dixon (Labour - Chester North and Neston)Department Debates - View all Samantha Dixon's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(6 months, 3 weeks ago)
Commons ChamberMy hon. Friend is a great champion for his local area. He is absolutely right; we are working with a range of local partners and people to put nature at the heart of what we do. I cannot commend Harrow council and the Hatch End Association enough for their work—they are putting in an apple orchard, wetlands and wildflower meadows, which are a superb addition to his already beautiful constituency.
Environmentalists such as those at Chester zoo were shocked to see that the Government have ignored the advice of their own experts and authorised the use of neonicotinoid pesticides for the fourth year in a row. Will the Minister tell me how that is line with our national and international obligations to reduce the overall risk from pesticides, and how it reduces our biodiversity loss?
The hon. Lady will know from reading the details of the derogation that those pesticides will be used only if they hit the criterion; in many cases, they never do.