Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) clear and (b) transparent labelling of genetically modified foods.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom

Genetically modified organism (GMO) labelling rules stipulate that foods sold in Great Britain that contain genetically modified ingredients must be labelled. This labelling gives consumers the choice on whether to consume such foods containing, or consisting of, GMO ingredients, and the choice to avoid such foods, should they wish to do so. In the case of food sold loose, or where food has been cooked in genetically modified products such as cooking oil, this must appear on a notice, menu, ticket, or label which can be easily read by customers.

Information about any characteristic or property which renders a food consisting of or containing genetic modifications different from its conventional counterpart, such as its composition, nutritional value, the intended use of the food or feed, or any health implications for certain sections of the population, must also be included.

The Government maintains a list of GMOs authorised for use in food and feed. It is compulsory that the product adheres to mandatory traceability and labelling requirements, and that the product developer provides monitoring reports to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland on an annual basis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure traceability in the food chain for foods that contain genetically modified ingredients.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom

Genetically modified organism (GMO) labelling rules stipulate that foods sold in Great Britain that contain genetically modified ingredients must be labelled. This labelling gives consumers the choice on whether to consume such foods containing, or consisting of, GMO ingredients, and the choice to avoid such foods, should they wish to do so. In the case of food sold loose, or where food has been cooked in genetically modified products such as cooking oil, this must appear on a notice, menu, ticket, or label which can be easily read by customers.

Information about any characteristic or property which renders a food consisting of or containing genetic modifications different from its conventional counterpart, such as its composition, nutritional value, the intended use of the food or feed, or any health implications for certain sections of the population, must also be included.

The Government maintains a list of GMOs authorised for use in food and feed. It is compulsory that the product adheres to mandatory traceability and labelling requirements, and that the product developer provides monitoring reports to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland on an annual basis.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of genetically modified foods on public health; whether he has had discussions with corporations involved in the manufacture of genetically modified foods about indemnities for potential future harms; what the annual budget is for the Genetic Modification Inspectorate (GMI); and what plans he has for future funding for the GMI in the context of the potential impact of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022 on the planting of genetically modified crops.

Answered by Mark Spencer

i) All GM food and feed products must undergo an extensive and robust risk assessment process under the Food Standards Agency’s GM regulatory framework to ensure they are safe. The risk assessment involves a thorough assessment of whether the food could be toxic, its nutritional value and whether it could cause allergic reactions. GMOs will only be approved to enter the food chain if they are judged to not present a risk to health, not mislead consumers, and not have less nutritional value than existing equivalent products.

After an authorisation has been issued in accordance with the GM food and feed regulations, authorisation holders are required to inform government of any new scientific or technical information which might influence the evaluation carried out of the safety in use of the food or feed.

ii) The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not had discussions or been approached by corporations interested in exploring indemnities for future harms, should they occur and are revealed to have proven links to GMO foods.

iii) The current annual budget for the Genetic Modification Inspectorate (GMI) is covered within the gross funding model under the Animal and Plant Health Agency commission from Defra, and as such it is not possible to draw out any specific amount relating to this. As of May 2024, there have been 16 field trials using the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022. The GMI has not reported any additional demands as a result.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of factory farms; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

Answered by Mark Spencer

There are a number of different farming systems within the UK and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable UK agriculture. The Government promotes efficient, competitive farming, but does not seek to favour large- or small-scale farms.

All farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary medicines and environmental legislation. Stockmanship and high husbandry standards are key to ensuring appropriate welfare standards for all farmed animals.

We are committed to supporting farmers to exceed our existing world-leading animal welfare standards, including through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

A full monitoring, evaluation and learning plan for the Pathway is in place to help assess the impact of financial support being offered to farmers. This is being implemented gradually as more Pathway offers are launched.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has taken steps with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase the offshore wind capacity delivered in the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6 compared to Allocation Round 5.

Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)

On 6 March 2024, the Government confirmed over £1 billion of budget will be available in the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6 auction, including £800 million allocated to offshore wind. This followed the announcement in November that the administrative strike prices for fixed and floating offshore wind had been increased by 66% and over 50% respectively, since the previous allocation round.

This budget announcement makes this the largest round yet, with four times more budget available to offshore wind than in the previous round.

Found: Wednesday 2 1 February 202 4 Members present Stephen Crabb, in the Chair Virginia Crosbie Rob

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Stephen Crabb (Chair); Tonia Antoniazzi; Virginia Crosbie; Ben Lake

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Stephen Crabb (Chair); Tonia Antoniazzi; Virginia Crosbie; Ruth

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Sir Philip Davies Brendan Clarke-Smith Greg Smith James Grundy Sir John Whittingdale Virginia Crosbie

Found: Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, and local MP for Ynys Môn Virginia Crosbie

Found: Minister Mordaunt, UK Minister of State for Trade Policy 2022-05-24 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Virginia Crosbie

Found: 00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Shadow Social Partnership Council 2022-01-20 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Virginia Crosbie

Found: Quoting Virginia Crosbie: “Investigations by both Welsh and UK Governments have established there is

<p>Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. 'Atomic Kitten', 'Pocket Rocket', Virginia Crosbie—one and the same, the woman who, over the past four and a half years, as the MP, who should be returned again, has worked so hard, with residents, business owners and the UK Conservative Ministers, to bring nuclear energy and thousands of jobs to Ynys Môn. The energy that she has put into this initiative could itself split the atom, and she has succeeded in her aims. Now, contrast that with the silly shambles of Plaid Cymru, who have claimed they don't oppose nuclear energy, but yet Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid's group leader in Westminster, stated at the ITV <em>Leaders' Debate</em>: 'You know as well as I that Plaid Cymru's policy is no new sites for nuclear. That would include Wylfa and it would include Trawsfynydd.'</p>
<p>Ironically, here we have a political party in Wales whose ultimate aim is for independence, but wanting to scrap the actual nuclear deterrents that have kept our country safe for so many years. It is well known that nuclear isotopes now have a part to play in health treatments, eradicating cancer almost instantaneously, yet Plaid Cymru have supported Labour and the huge cut in funding to Cwmni Egino, and ultimately Trawsfynydd, where these isotopes could be manufactured. How can the people trust Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru on nuclear when you've cut funding for Trawsfynydd? And you've also chosen today to delete the line in the motion that reads, and I quote:</p>
<p>'Welcomes the UK Government's continued commitment to the UK's Trident deterrent.'</p>
<p>So, there we have it: clear evidence that not only Plaid Cymru, but Welsh Labour under Vaughan Gething, does not welcome the UK Government's continued commitment to Trident. In fact, if you look at the manifestos, it is only the Conservatives who have made a written commitment to deliver a new gigawatt power plant at Wylfa. Labour hope to pull the wool over the eyes of their voters. In Plaid's 2024 manifesto, it states:</p>
<p>'Plaid Cymru opposes the development of new sites for nuclear power stations',</p>
<p>however the leader of Plaid, Rhun ap Iorwerth, on our screens, has spoken out many times in favour of investing in nuclear energy. So, I do ask the party opposite, with only one Member on the bench—well, one: what is your exact position? Tell us, and tell us ahead of the election, so that the electorate know. Thankfully for us—</p>

<p>No, absolutely no misleading on my part.</p>
<p>Thankfully for us, Conservatives have made great strides in bringing investment for nuclear energy into north Wales. In the March 2024 spring budget, our Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced that the Government would be purchasing the Wylfa site for £160 million. That is showing a commitment to not only future UK energy security, but also the future of Wales as an industrial leader in nuclear energy. They announced only last month that plans are now being drawn up to use Wylfa as the preferred site for a large-scale nuclear power plant, firmly cementing Wales as part of future nuclear energy production in the UK. This is excellent news for Wales.</p>
<p>A study by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the nuclear industry, shows that the UK's existing civil nuclear industry contributed £700 million to the Welsh economy in 2021, directly employing 800 people and supporting nearly 11,000 jobs. According to Prospect, the nuclear sector is crucial for meeting our future energy needs and enhancing energy security. It plays a vital role alongside the expansion of renewables and other technologies, whilst also providing highly skilled, well-paid jobs. Rolls-Royce have stated that each small modular reactor will create 400 to 500 local jobs during its operation.</p>
<p>Looking at the wider potential benefits, each nuclear sector employee contributes an average of £102,300 in gross value added to GB—nearly twice the national average. The UK Conservative Government have made it clear that they want these projects to remain localised, with Rolls-Royce shortlisting three potential factory sites, including Deeside in north-east Wales, aiming for up to 80 per cent UK content to maximise local employment and supply chains.</p>
<p>Additionally, the development and maintenance of nuclear power requires highly skilled professionals, necessitating the training of future engineers and scientists. And we want to see more women in these types of industries. This gives potential to higher education centres, such as Bangor University, and we're all very proud of Bangor University. They will enjoy access to on-site training and expertise—[<em>Interruption</em>.] Yes. This commitment would also signal Wales—[<em>Interruption</em>.] They're doing the Llywydd's job here. [<em>Laughter</em>.] In science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with apprenticeship uptake in decline for the past five years, and 43 per cent of vacancies in STEM roles, there is a desperate shortage of applicants, so it's vital that we encourage individuals to pursue and remain in STEM careers, whilst contributing to our local job growth and stability.</p>
<p>As usual, the Welsh Government are failing to recognise this potential. As the Cabinet Secretary for the economy and energy outlined only last month, the Welsh Government, assisted by Plaid Cymru, made a £1.5 million cut to the budget of its major nuclear project in Trawsfynydd. After investing over £2 million in 2023, and with the Welsh Government slashing this budget, we now face the prospect of losing momentum for here. It is only Virginia Crosbie and the Conservatives—</p>

<p>Do you know it's not that long ago that the leader of Plaid Cymru was actually saying how much against nuclear power they were? The doom and gloom coming from those benches is just—. On a more cheery note, what a fantastic announcement there has been today that Wylfa on Ynys Môn has been chosen as the UK's next nuclear power station, an announcement that we on these benches certainly welcome. The UK Conservative Government, and, indeed, the pocket rocket Member of Parliament, Virginia Crosbie, they're delivering for Ynys Môn, they're delivering for north-west Wales in terms of the massive economic benefit coming to Anglesey.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This project could lead to 8,000 construction jobs, 800 steady, quality careers, hundreds of secondary and supply chain employment opportunities, but—and I will agree with Rhun on this—there is an immense skills shortage. I've been here 13 years and the Welsh Government were supposed to be actually making sure that those skills were in place. And as has been mentioned, those people are not even born yet that are needed.</p>
<p>Now, Bangor University have started a general engineering degree, new training facilities have been provided—new, very recent—at Coleg Menai, to offer courses in engineering, fabrication, welding, mechanical engineering and power engineering. However, apprenticeship uptake has been in massive decline, with no focus on this issue whatsoever by the Welsh Labour Government. So, in light of this exciting and transformational announcement, what steps will you be taking, Minister, to ensure that local young people here—well, there—in north-west Wales have the best possible opportunities to secure those all-important STEM careers and massive opportunities? Diolch.</p>