My Lords, I speak first to Amendment 35 in my name. The Government are keen to strike deals with countries with which we have not previously had economic trade, especially in farming. While it is important for the economy of both countries involved, it is also important to ensure that our UK producers, farmers and industry are not disadvantaged by these trade deals. A published impact assessment is essential for public confidence to be maintained.
Currently the UK farming industry is undergoing a period of considerable change. It is being weaned off the basic payment scheme, which was based on the amount of land owned, and on to ELMS, which should see greater benefits for the environment and biodiversity. Both these steps will eventually be good, but the current state of flux around the funding under ELMS is unsettling at a time when the BPS is being phased out quite rapidly, as some farmers believe.
Our UK farmers produce their crops and raise their animals to extremely high standards. These standards are not necessarily replicated in other member countries of the CPTPP. Sow stalls, which are banned in the UK, are used by CPTPP members. This is just one example where, if the British public were aware of it, it would lead to an outcry. The animal and horticulture imports that are likely to come under the new trade deals may have been exposed to pesticides and fertilisers which are banned in this country—I will speak more on this later. These imports will have been produced at a lower cost than the UK farmer can meet, and our farmers will be at a disadvantage as a result of being undercut.
There is an impression among some people that farmers are all wealthy landowners. This is not the case. There are many smaller farmers who struggle to make a decent living out of the land. In the days before universal credit, I knew a farmer who earned so little from his land that, had he chosen to claim, he would have been entitled to income support.
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The price of food is important, especially when households are making choices about food or heating through the winter months. However, a healthy, nutritious diet is vital to everyone, especially children, if they are to thrive. A fair price for the food that farmers produce is essential if farmers are not to leave the land, which, in some areas, would then be snapped up for pony paddocks by those who are better off.
Farming is not an easy career choice. It is a way of life. Whether you are a large farmer with lots of staff, or a single-family farmer, someone has to get up in the dark and cold at this time of year to tend to their stock, often not finishing until late in the evening. The Government should be supporting these men and women and ensuring that they are able to continue to manage the land and their crops and herds for the benefit of the whole country. The farming industry should not be undermined by imports of an inferior quality. A farming impact assessment should be conducted for any trade deal as a matter of urgency, but especially one set up under the CPTPP.
I speak in support of Amendments 15, 16 and 27, in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Boycott, Lady Willis and Lady McIntosh of Pickering, respectively.
The noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, has detailed her arguments in support of Amendment 27 for an impact assessment for environmental protection, animal welfare, health, and hygiene under CPTPP procurement. I support her comments. Amendment 15 looks for protection for trees and the prevention of deforestation. In a letter received yesterday from the noble Lord, Lord Benyon, on Government’s measures to alleviate and prevent deforestation—which are welcome—he said that deforestation is now the second leading cause of climate change globally, after the burning of fossil fuels, and is responsible for around 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions. He said that forests host around 80% of the world’s wildlife on land and are home to many species found nowhere else—and it is therefore really important that we tackle this issue.
The loss of habitat for animals and homes for indigenous people is progressing at an alarming rate. Everything that can be done should be done to prevent further loss. I fully support this amendment and look forward to a positive response from the Minister, as requested by the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott.
Amendment 16 deals with sanitary and phytosanitary measures on contamination from pesticides in food and feed of plant and animal origin, which is dear to my heart. During the passage of the agriculture and environment Bills, I and the noble Lord, Lord Whitty, spoke about the need to regulate the use and type of pesticides on agricultural land, especially near centres of population where children might be playing, such as school playing fields. I have considerable concerns that goods will be imported into the country which will have been contaminated by pesticides, the use of which is not permitted here. As the noble Baroness, Lady Willis, has said, 119 pesticides that are banned in the UK are permitted across CPTPP members for agricultural use. A large proportion of these are deemed extremely hazardous and some are known to kill bees. The noble Baroness, Lady Willis, has given details of the effects of these pesticides, and they are pretty drastic.
I acknowledge that it may be difficult to pick up residues of these pesticides, but surely this is what border control is all about. As the noble Baroness, Lady Willis, so eloquently explained, alongside risk-based surveillance we need border control to take extra steps. Both checks are needed before food and feed enter the country and into our domestic food streams. I support the need for a published report on this matter within 12 months of the passing of the Bill, followed by a yearly update thereafter.
Those who have spoken on these measures are extremely knowledgeable and understand the risks for our own safety and that of our animals. Border control is clearly not fit for purpose at the moment. I fully support the comments of those who spoke before me, and I look forward to the Minister’s positive response.