My hon. Friend is making an incredibly important and powerful speech. He has mentioned a building company. I want him to know that all over the country, many colleagues on both side of the House have the same experience with building companies. They bang on until the cows come home...
My hon. Friend is making an incredibly important and powerful speech. He has mentioned a building company. I want him to know that all over the country, many colleagues on both side of the House have the same experience with building companies. They bang on until the cows come home...
I was born and brought up on a farm where we had Ayrshire cows. They were fine—the greatest export Scotland has ever made. However, that is where any agreement with my Scottish colleagues ends in this debate.
I am very proud to represent the largely rural constituency of Taunton Deane, where...
I was born and brought up on a farm where we had Ayrshire cows. They were fine—the greatest export Scotland has ever made. However, that is where any agreement with my Scottish colleagues ends in this debate.
I am very proud to represent the largely rural constituency of Taunton Deane, where...
According to data on the EU’s Eur-Lex database, there are at present around 19,000 EU legislative acts in force. These are mainly directives, regulations, decisions and external agreements, but they include a range of other instruments.
As Commons Briefing Paper Legislating for Brexit: the Great Repeal Bill, CBP7793, 21 November 2016, explains, a major issue for Brexit is what to do about EU legislation that has been incorporated into UK law.
Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (ECA) provides a power for subordinate legislation to be made where the EU Treaties require Member States to make provisions in their domestic law, such as for the implementation of EU directives. It also provides that other powers to adopt subordinate legislation in other Acts are interpreted as enabling them to be used to implement EU law.
Most EU directives and a small number of EU regulations and decisions are implemented in the UK by SI under the authority of the ECA - the majority - or another enabling Act.
Some EU directives are implemented by primary legislation (Act of Parliament). These will be examined in a separate briefing paper.
Repealing the ECA will have the effect of rendering the law as if the repealed Act had never existed, which would mean that secondary legislation made under the ECA (but not under other enabling Acts) would no longer be legally valid on Brexit day.
Although the aim of the Government’s proposed 'Great Repeal Bill' is to legislate to leave the EU, for practical reasons and to avoid legal gaps, the Government has said the Bill will “convert” EU law into UK law where it is practical. The Government and Parliament will then decide whether to repeal, amend or keep them. It is not yet clear what role Parliament will have in such a process.
The ECA applies to the whole of the UK and to different degrees in Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies. Under the Devolution Statutes the devolved authorities may observe, transpose and implement EU law, and are obliged not to legislate or act in a way that is contrary to EU law. Brexit means they too will need to address the matter of EU-derived laws.
Briefing Paper 7863, Legislating for Brexit: directly applicable EU law, 12 January 2017, looks at EU regulations, which will cease to have effect in the UK if the ECA is simply repealed without a saving provision, pending decisions on their future status.
Briefing Paper 7850, Legislating for Brexit: EU external agreements, 5 January 2017, looks at the EU’s external agreements, stating whether they are exclusive EU competence or mixed competence agreements.
According to data on the EU’s Eur-Lex database, there are at present around 19,000 EU legislative acts in force. These are mainly directives, regulations, decisions and external agreements, but they include a range of other instruments.
As Commons Briefing Paper Legislating for Brexit:...
Directly applicable EU law does not need further domestic transposition in order to apply in the Member States. It applies as soon as it enters into force (either on the date stipulated in the act or, failing this, on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series).
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) states in Article 288 that EU regulations are binding and directly applicable. EU directives are in principle not directly applicable, but they may be so, and EU decisions may be directly applicable on the same basis as directives.
In 1963 the EU Court of Justice established the principle of “direct effect” of EU Treaty obligations, provided they are intended to confer rights on individuals, are precise, clear and unconditional, and do not entail any additional national or European measures (i.e. are directly applicable).
According to the EU’s Eur-lex website there are at present nearly 20,000 EU legislative acts in force. These are mainly directives, regulations, decisions and international agreements, but they include a range of other instruments. Of these, around 5,000 EU regulations are directly applicable in all EU Member States.
Section 2(1) of the European Communities Act 1972 (ECA) gives the authority for directly applicable EU law to have legal effect in UK law without needing further UK enactment. Sometimes the effects of directly applicable law do need further UK implementation. EU regulations are often implemented in the UK by non-legislative or ‘soft law’ measures such as administrative rules and regulations.
As Commons Briefing Paper Legislating for Brexit: the Great Repeal Bill, CBP7793, 21 November 2016, explains, a major issue for Brexit is what to do with the thousands of EU laws that are directly applicable. This is because if there is no specific provision for them, they will no longer apply in the UK as soon as the European Communities Act 1972 is repealed.
According to the Government, the proposed ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will make provision for the EU acquis – the body of existing EU law and obligations - to be “converted” into UK law “wherever practical”. Directly applicable laws will need to be ‘saved’ to ensure that they continue to operate until the Government (and Parliament?) decides what to do with them (which will depend largely on the outcome of the EU-UK withdrawal negotiations and the UK’s future relationship with the EU).
Directly applicable EU law does not need further domestic transposition in order to apply in the Member States. It applies as soon as it enters into force (either on the date stipulated in the act or, failing this, on the twentieth day following its...
MIT has some provisions in its statutes that ensure that the money is fed back into MIT for research at the highest level. If that were part of the standards that we expect of the new private universities, one might feel rather differently. But my concern is that, if you...
MIT has some provisions in its statutes that ensure that the money is fed back into MIT for research at the highest level. If that were part of the standards that we expect of the new private universities, one might feel rather differently. But my concern is that, if you...
My interest in this important topic stems from two long-running cases in my constituency. They relate to two right-to-manage properties housing mainly elderly and retired residents: Elim Court and Regent Court. My hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley), who is also interested in the matter, has...
My interest in this important topic stems from two long-running cases in my constituency. They relate to two right-to-manage properties housing mainly elderly and retired residents: Elim Court and Regent Court. My hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley), who is also interested in the matter, has...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what organisations received UK Aid Direct International Development funding for projects in Uganda in each of the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what organisations received UK Aid Direct International Development funding for projects in Uganda in each of the last three years.
The following organisations received UK Aid Direct funding to support projects in Uganda in each of the last 3 years (2014 – 2016): AbleChildAfrica; Lively Minds; Living Earth Foundation (LEF); International Rescue Committee UK; Act4Africa UK; Hospice Africa Ltd; War on Want NI; KwaAfrica (Africare); and Signal (Sensory Impairment Globally Nationally and Locally).
In addition:
I congratulate the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Matt Warman) on securing this important and timely debate. I was struck by the speech made by the hon. Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), who underlined some of the points that I want to make quite firmly about the position...
I congratulate the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Matt Warman) on securing this important and timely debate. I was struck by the speech made by the hon. Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), who underlined some of the points that I want to make quite firmly about the position...
I welcome the report. I serve on the Environmental Audit Committee, which has proposed a clean air Bill that, in essence, calls for the development of sustainable public, private and commercial transport by road, rail, air and sea. Obviously, the background is diesel pollution. The Clean Air Act 1956 was...
I welcome the report. I serve on the Environmental Audit Committee, which has proposed a clean air Bill that, in essence, calls for the development of sustainable public, private and commercial transport by road, rail, air and sea. Obviously, the background is diesel pollution. The Clean Air Act 1956 was...
My Lords, we could disagree on this issue until the cows come home but the basic point, which I think the noble Lord would accept, is that some matters are rightly retained as reserved matters for the United Kingdom Government
while other matters are appropriate for the Welsh Government. It...
My Lords, we could disagree on this issue until the cows come home but the basic point, which I think the noble Lord would accept, is that some matters are rightly retained as reserved matters for the United Kingdom Government
while other matters are appropriate for the Welsh Government. It...
My Lords, I believe that in practice this welcome Bill will be one of the most pervasive in its impact of any legislation we are currently considering in this House. It is in a sector where the world is probably changing as fast as anywhere. Indeed, these days, the future...
My Lords, I believe that in practice this welcome Bill will be one of the most pervasive in its impact of any legislation we are currently considering in this House. It is in a sector where the world is probably changing as fast as anywhere. Indeed, these days, the future...
I am very grateful to you, Mr Speaker—you have managed our debate—for allowing me to speak, because we have had lots of interventions.
I want to say a few things about this debate. First, nothing could have been clearer than the vote on 23 June. It was the largest vote that...
I am very grateful to you, Mr Speaker—you have managed our debate—for allowing me to speak, because we have had lots of interventions.
I want to say a few things about this debate. First, nothing could have been clearer than the vote on 23 June. It was the largest vote that...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the furthest distance is in (a) time and (b) mileage that a TB reactor cow has travelled to a UK abattoir which processed TB reactor cattle in the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the furthest distance is in (a) time and (b) mileage that a TB reactor cow has travelled to a UK abattoir which processed TB reactor cattle in the last three years.
The furthest journey recorded in the last three years was agreed for six cattle, in December 2015.
a) The estimated journey time was 4.5 hours.
b) The furthest reported distance travelled by a reactor in the last 3 years is 260 miles.
This was agreed as the nearest contracted abattoirs were unable to take the reactors within the ten working day target for removal.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the longest time is that a TB reactor cow has spent in lairage before its destruction.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the longest time is that a TB reactor cow has spent in lairage before its destruction.
The Food Standards Agency does not routinely record this information however it is usual industry practice that TB reactor animals are slaughtered on the same day of arrival at the abattoir.
I do not quite agree with what the hon. Gentleman says about councils not using car parking as a cash cow, but I hope he agrees with me that the Bill, which includes provision for a consultation when councils raise car parking charges, will give individual residents and businesses the...
I do not quite agree with what the hon. Gentleman says about councils not using car parking as a cash cow, but I hope he agrees with me that the Bill, which includes provision for a consultation when councils raise car parking charges, will give individual residents and businesses the...
My hon. Friend makes a timely intervention because today is what is now called “Black Friday”, when many people take to high streets, town centres and out-of-town shopping centres or go on the internet. At a time when we are all starting to think about Christmas shopping—some of us have...
My hon. Friend makes a timely intervention because today is what is now called “Black Friday”, when many people take to high streets, town centres and out-of-town shopping centres or go on the internet. At a time when we are all starting to think about Christmas shopping—some of us have...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of zero-grazing on the welfare of dairy cows; and what steps she is taking to discourage zero-grazing in the dairy sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of zero-grazing on the welfare of dairy cows; and what steps she is taking to discourage zero-grazing in the dairy sector.
The Department has not made a direct comparative assessment of the animal welfare, environmental and human health benefits of grass-fed against grain-fed diets, although we are aware of various research reports and industry initiatives which support the view that grass feeding can have benefits for animal welfare and the environment, and play a part in determining meat quality.
Let me just make this one point, then I will give way to the fabulous array of choices I have in front of me.
It is worth standing back for a moment and asking ourselves why we have boundary changes and why we in this country have chosen, unlike other countries,...
Let me just make this one point, then I will give way to the fabulous array of choices I have in front of me.
It is worth standing back for a moment and asking ourselves why we have boundary changes and why we in this country have chosen, unlike other countries,...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the fact that the percentage of fat in cow's milk and human milk is the same at 3.5 per cent, what advice they have given to the public on whether they should consume whole milk, skimmed milk or semi-skimmed milk.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the fact that the percentage of fat in cow's milk and human milk is the same at 3.5 per cent, what advice they have given to the public on whether they should consume whole milk, skimmed milk or semi-skimmed milk.
Milk is a valuable source of a range of nutrients, including calcium and protein. The Government recommends the consumption of lower fat milks for the general population aged over five years. This is because dairy products are a source of saturated fat which raises blood cholesterol and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
I return to the theme of the importance of mobile connectivity. I was about to mention the transformative potential of what is generally known as the internet of things, which we see on the horizon. It is becoming more of a reality day by day, and will involve a tremendous...
I return to the theme of the importance of mobile connectivity. I was about to mention the transformative potential of what is generally known as the internet of things, which we see on the horizon. It is becoming more of a reality day by day, and will involve a tremendous...
My Lords, Amendment 214B is the product of some 30 years of discussions I have had with successive Governments, numerous reviews and ministerial answers, during which time many countries have now overtaken us and introduced legislation to criminalise the worst effects of doping in sport. So at least I am...
My Lords, Amendment 214B is the product of some 30 years of discussions I have had with successive Governments, numerous reviews and ministerial answers, during which time many countries have now overtaken us and introduced legislation to criminalise the worst effects of doping in sport. So at least I am...
Q12
.
David Warburton (Somerton and Frome) (Con):
As I am sure the Prime Minister is aware, my constituency apparently contains more cows than any other. That means world-class cheese, from Godminster and Barber’s to Montgomery’s Cheddar, Wkye Farms and many more. Can my right hon. Friend assure the west country’s farmers that in negotiating the best deal for Britain in the coming weeks and months, the interests of our agricultural industry and farming community will be foremost in her mind? Will she pop down to Somerset soon for a chunk of Cheddar and perhaps a drop of cider?
Q12
.
David Warburton (Somerton and Frome) (Con):
As I am sure the Prime Minister is aware, my constituency apparently contains more cows than any other. That means world-class cheese, from Godminster and Barber’s to Montgomery’s Cheddar, Wkye Farms and many more. Can my right hon. Friend assure the west country’s farmers that in negotiating the best deal for Britain in the coming weeks and months, the interests of our agricultural industry and farming community will be foremost in her mind? Will she pop down to Somerset soon for a chunk of Cheddar and perhaps a drop of cider?
My hon. Friend’s invitation for some west country cheese and cider is difficult to refuse, so I look forward at some stage to coming down to Somerset and being able to sample those products. He is absolutely right, as others in this Chamber have been, about the importance of our agricultural sector to economies across the UK. Particular parts of the UK rely heavily on the agricultural sector, and we will be taking their needs and considerations into account as we negotiate and deliver the best possible deal for this country in leaving the EU.
I praise my right hon. Friend for his outstanding leadership on this vital issue. Apprenticeships transform lives. Warren Shepherd, an apprentice in Erdington, moved into the house of his dreams as a consequence of gaining an apprenticeship and becoming a time-served engineer in the Jaguar factory. Erdington is rich in...
I praise my right hon. Friend for his outstanding leadership on this vital issue. Apprenticeships transform lives. Warren Shepherd, an apprentice in Erdington, moved into the house of his dreams as a consequence of gaining an apprenticeship and becoming a time-served engineer in the Jaguar factory. Erdington is rich in...
It is a pleasure to be called to speak in this debate, Mr Davies.
Whenever a ban is proposed, it is incumbent on us all to be certain about who that decision would impact on. To many, the image of the losers of a ban on grouse shooting seems clear: old...
It is a pleasure to be called to speak in this debate, Mr Davies.
Whenever a ban is proposed, it is incumbent on us all to be certain about who that decision would impact on. To many, the image of the losers of a ban on grouse shooting seems clear: old...
My Lords, the whole House will be grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Parminter, for giving us this opportunity for a timely debate, and timely it is. I agree with her that full parliamentary scrutiny will be very important as we implement national regulations in place of EU directives as...
My Lords, the whole House will be grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Parminter, for giving us this opportunity for a timely debate, and timely it is. I agree with her that full parliamentary scrutiny will be very important as we implement national regulations in place of EU directives as...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support dairy farmers as a result of reduced milk prices.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support dairy farmers as a result of reduced milk prices.
Although government cannot control market volatility, our aim is to give farmers improved tools to manage it. We have extended the period over which they can average their tax from two to five years. We are exploring opportunities for a dairy futures market as well as for better branding and labelling in supermarkets in order to improve profitability. We are also exploring opportunities to help farming businesses become more resilient and ready to take advantage of the growing demand for British dairy products both at home and abroad.
According to the latest forecast of Farm Business Incomes for 2015-16, average incomes on dairy farms are expected to fall to £46,500. This reflects the impact of lower milk prices which started to fall in March 2014, and the reduced prices for cull cows and heifers. While the number of dairy farms in England and Wales has also fallen from around 13,500 in 2006 to 9,500 today, the number of dairy cows has remained almost unchanged, which suggests consolidation within the industry.
We have seen an increase in the UK farmgate milk price for the second month in a row to 21.34p per litre in August 2016. The long-term picture for our dairy industry remains positive.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of falling milk prices on the UK dairy sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of falling milk prices on the UK dairy sector.
Although government cannot control market volatility, our aim is to give farmers improved tools to manage it. We have extended the period over which they can average their tax from two to five years. We are exploring opportunities for a dairy futures market as well as for better branding and labelling in supermarkets in order to improve profitability. We are also exploring opportunities to help farming businesses become more resilient and ready to take advantage of the growing demand for British dairy products both at home and abroad.
According to the latest forecast of Farm Business Incomes for 2015-16, average incomes on dairy farms are expected to fall to £46,500. This reflects the impact of lower milk prices which started to fall in March 2014, and the reduced prices for cull cows and heifers. While the number of dairy farms in England and Wales has also fallen from around 13,500 in 2006 to 9,500 today, the number of dairy cows has remained almost unchanged, which suggests consolidation within the industry.
We have seen an increase in the UK farmgate milk price for the second month in a row to 21.34p per litre in August 2016. The long-term picture for our dairy industry remains positive.
In East Cowes, as well, no doubt, as elsewhere, the Homes and Communities Agency appears to have forgotten that its brief includes delivering much-needed business premises as well as homes, thus threatening economic development and island homes. Will the Leader of the House consider scheduling a debate on this issue?
In East Cowes, as well, no doubt, as elsewhere, the Homes and Communities Agency appears to have forgotten that its brief includes delivering much-needed business premises as well as homes, thus threatening economic development and island homes. Will the Leader of the House consider scheduling a debate on this issue?
The hon. Gentleman makes an extremely good point. I hope that when he is considering sanctions, both economic and otherwise, the Foreign Secretary will have a view on that.
The international community faces a choice. Are we so cowed and so poleaxed by recent history in Iraq and Afghanistan that we...
The hon. Gentleman makes an extremely good point. I hope that when he is considering sanctions, both economic and otherwise, the Foreign Secretary will have a view on that.
The international community faces a choice. Are we so cowed and so poleaxed by recent history in Iraq and Afghanistan that we...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of violence against Dalits and minorities in India, and what discussions they have had with the government of India about that issue.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of violence against Dalits and minorities in India, and what discussions they have had with the government of India about that issue.
India has a strong democratic framework, robust and independent institutions and its constitution guarantees fundamental human rights. However, it also faces numerous challenges relating to its size and social and economic development. We welcome Prime Minister Modi’s comments on 6 August when he spoke against “cow vigilantes” attacking minority groups and urged state governments in India to investigate such attacks.
The UK discusses a wide range of matters with India, including religious tolerance and minority rights, both bilaterally and through the EU. The former Prime Minister (The Right Hon. David Cameron) discussed human rights with Prime Minister Modi in November 2015. Mr Modi reaffirmed his commitment and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and freedoms; points which he also stressed in his speech in Parliament on 12 November 2015.
The British High Commission in India discusses the treatment of minorities with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with state governments across India. They are in regular contact with civil society organisations working on the protection of minority rights across India, including key issues for minorities such as freedom of religious belief.
Thank you very much—and it is Cowan, as in cow, as in “moo”.
Thank you very much—and it is Cowan, as in cow, as in “moo”.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers there were in each of the last five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers there were in each of the last five years.
The number of dairy farms in England from 2011 to 2015 is shown below along with the number of cows in the dairy herd on these farms. The source of cattle population data is the administrative Cattle Tracing System (CTS) data.
Year | Number of dairy farms(a) | Number of cows in the dairy herd |
2011 | 9 041 | 1 112 459 |
2012 | 8 663 | 1 104 676 |
2013 | 8 342 | 1 098 610 |
2014 | 8 092 | 1 128 548 |
2015 | 7 982 | 1 148 089 |
(a) Sourced from Cattle Tracing System (CTS). Defined as the number of holdings with more than 10 female dairy cows over 2 years old in the milking herd (i.e. with offspring)
I thank my hon. Friend for that clarification.
The fact that the petition so easily reached 100,000 signatures, and the number of emails Members have received from constituents, remind us that Britain is a nation of dog lovers, as we saw in the public response to other campaigns, such as Pup...
I thank my hon. Friend for that clarification.
The fact that the petition so easily reached 100,000 signatures, and the number of emails Members have received from constituents, remind us that Britain is a nation of dog lovers, as we saw in the public response to other campaigns, such as Pup...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord. My noble friend Lord Alton has again raised a major question of conscience on a subject that I approach with trepidation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is so important that it needs to be read aloud like a...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord. My noble friend Lord Alton has again raised a major question of conscience on a subject that I approach with trepidation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is so important that it needs to be read aloud like a...
I totally understand the noble Lord’s point. Having been in government for a very short time, I believe that if all the Ministers are in one department the attitude can be that it is another department’s responsibility. Issues on disability, race equality and women’s equality should be cross-governmental; every department...
I totally understand the noble Lord’s point. Having been in government for a very short time, I believe that if all the Ministers are in one department the attitude can be that it is another department’s responsibility. Issues on disability, race equality and women’s equality should be cross-governmental; every department...
Nearly 17,500 people in Ealing Central and Acton signed this petition and 72% of my constituents wanted
to remain, so I am here on their behalf. When the enormity of the result set in on that night—I remember that the rest of the country did not go the same way—I...
Nearly 17,500 people in Ealing Central and Acton signed this petition and 72% of my constituents wanted
to remain, so I am here on their behalf. When the enormity of the result set in on that night—I remember that the rest of the country did not go the same way—I...
Badger culling, as a bovine TB policy measure, is a devolved matter.
In Scotland, cattle herds are officially TB-free and no badger culling takes place. In Northern Ireland a 5 year research project is being conducted to test the effects of culling infected badgers and vaccinating non-infected badgers. In Wales, the Welsh Government has rejected the culling of badgers.
The approach adopted by some of the devolved administrations contrasts with the approach taken by the UK Government in England, where badger culling has been conducted in a growing number of areas since 2013.
The previous UK Government’s long-term Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free status for England was published in April 2014. This set out the rationale for taking action to address the problem of bovine TB, and the range of measures intended to eradicate it by 2038. The UK Government believed badger culling should play a role in the strategy. This rationale has been disputed by some experts.
The Conservative Government announced that it intended to enable badger control to take place over a wider number of areas in 2016. Changes were made to the license conditions which may have enabled a greater number of license applications to be successful.
The Government confirmed on 30 August 2016 that 7 new culling areas would be permitted in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, in addition to the existing areas in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset. Culling in these new areas will be carried out over 4 years between 1 June and 31 January each year. The actual start date for the cull in each area will be decided by the licensed companies.
The effectiveness of badger culling as a means of controlling TB in cattle remains contentious.
Badger culling, as a bovine TB policy measure, is a devolved matter.
In Scotland, cattle herds are officially TB-free and no badger culling takes place. In Northern Ireland a 5 year research project is being conducted to test the effects of culling infected badgers and vaccinating non-infected badgers....
My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering, not only on securing the debate but on managing to cover such a lot of crucial questions in her excellent introduction. I must say I am relieved that we will continue to benefit from having the noble Lord,...
My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering, not only on securing the debate but on managing to cover such a lot of crucial questions in her excellent introduction. I must say I am relieved that we will continue to benefit from having the noble Lord,...
My hon. Friend raises an important topic, and as has been said in this House before, our thoughts are with all the people of France after the appalling attack that took place in Nice last week. We continue to work with the French authorities in the aftermath of that attack, and my hon. Friend is right to say that we must continue our security co-operation with France and other European countries. We will not be cowed by terrorists; we both face the same threats, and we need to work together to defeat those threats. I absolutely confirm that, yes, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, but the United Kingdom is not leaving Europe and our co-operation will continue.
My hon. Friend raises an important topic, and as has been said in this House before, our thoughts are with all the people of France after the appalling attack that took place in Nice last week. We continue to work with the French authorities in the aftermath of that attack, and my hon. Friend is right to say that we must continue our security co-operation with France and other European countries. We will not be cowed by terrorists; we both face the same threats, and we need to work together to defeat those threats. I absolutely confirm that, yes, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, but the United Kingdom is not leaving Europe and our co-operation will continue.
Q6
.
Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con):
We all stand with the people of France, and particularly Nice, following the appalling terrorist act there last week. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the security collaboration between our two countries can help to prevent such attacks in future, and will she reassure the French people that although we are leaving the European Union, the close links between our two countries will remain steadfast?
The noble Baroness reflects some of the comments that I heard in the light of some of the spikes in hate crime after the EU referendum. We should not let these sorts of events defeat us: France is a beautiful country that many people want—and will continue to want—to visit,...
The noble Baroness reflects some of the comments that I heard in the light of some of the spikes in hate crime after the EU referendum. We should not let these sorts of events defeat us: France is a beautiful country that many people want—and will continue to want—to visit,...
I beg to move,
That this House supports the Government’s assessment in the 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review that the UK’s independent minimum credible nuclear deterrent, based on a Continuous at Sea Deterrence posture, will remain essential to the UK's security today as it has for...
I beg to move,
That this House supports the Government’s assessment in the 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review that the UK’s independent minimum credible nuclear deterrent, based on a Continuous at Sea Deterrence posture, will remain essential to the UK's security today as it has for...
My Lords, I very much welcome the briefing that we received from Ministers last week on the questions we are debating. I was also impressed with the vision set out by the noble Lord, Lord Nash, and his ministerial colleagues about the need to achieve a high level of social...
My Lords, I very much welcome the briefing that we received from Ministers last week on the questions we are debating. I was also impressed with the vision set out by the noble Lord, Lord Nash, and his ministerial colleagues about the need to achieve a high level of social...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2016 to Question 41126, on shipping: energy, what penalties were given to each of the 24 vessels identified with deficiencies relating to energy efficiency; and how many Port State Control inspections have been carried out...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2016 to Question 41126, on shipping: energy, what penalties were given to each of the 24 vessels identified with deficiencies relating to energy efficiency; and how many Port State Control inspections have been carried out...
Deficiencies identified during an inspection are recorded on the port-State Control record of the respective vessel and are required to be rectified. No additional penalties were applied to any of the 24 vessels that were identified since 1 January 2013 as having a deficiency relating to energy efficiency.
The attached table shows the number of port-State Control inspections by port by year since 2013.
PQ 168040 Table :Number of PSC inspections | ||||
Port | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 (upto 30 June) |
Aberdeen | 89 | 86 | 80 | 42 |
Ardrishaig | 2 |
| 1 |
|
Avonmouth | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
Ayr | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Baltic Wharf | 1 | 1 |
|
|
Barking | 4 | 1 | 2 |
|
Barrow Haven | 1 | 2 |
|
|
Barrow in Furness | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Barry Dock | 1 |
| 1 |
|
Belfast | 57 | 69 | 55 | 27 |
Berwick upon Tweed | 2 |
| 1 |
|
Birkenhead | 17 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Blyth | 10 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
Boston | 5 | 1 | 1 |
|
Braefoot |
|
|
| 2 |
Bromborough dock | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Buckie |
| 2 |
|
|
Cairnryan |
| 4 | 2 |
|
Campbeltown | 2 | 1 |
|
|
Canvey Island | 3 | 1 | 1 |
|
Cardiff | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Chatham | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Corpach | 1 |
| 2 | 1 |
Coryton | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Cowes | 1 |
|
| 1 |
Denton |
| 1 |
|
|
Dover | 17 | 6 | 18 | 5 |
Dundee | 7 | 5 | 1 |
|
Dunoon | 1 |
|
|
|
Eastham | 3 | 3 | 1 |
|
Ellesmere Port | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Erith | 5 |
| 1 |
|
Falmouth | 30 | 26 | 6 | 8 |
Fawley | 23 | 27 | 9 | 5 |
Felixstowe | 41 | 51 | 27 | 29 |
Finnart | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Flixborough | 8 | 5 | 5 |
|
Fowey | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Fraserburgh | 1 |
|
|
|
Garston |
| 1 |
| 1 |
Glasgow | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Glasson Dock |
| 1 | 1 |
|
Glensanda |
| 1 |
| 1 |
Goole | 27 | 18 | 11 | 6 |
Grangemouth | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Grays | 7 | 3 | 1 |
|
Great Yarmouth | 21 | 22 | 14 | 13 |
Greenock | 9 | 14 | 15 | 3 |
Grimsby | 12 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
Grove Wharfs (Scunthorpe) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 8 |
Grovehurst Jetty | 1 | 1 |
|
|
Gunness Wharf (Scunthorpe) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|
Hamble |
|
|
| 4 |
Hartlepool | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Harwich | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Heysham | 1 |
| 1 |
|
Holyhead | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
Hound Point | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Howdendyke | 4 | 4 | 2 |
|
Hull | 64 | 38 | 32 | 19 |
Hunterston | 7 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Immingham | 120 | 105 | 83 | 47 |
Invergordon | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Inverkeithing | 1 |
|
|
|
Ipswich | 12 | 11 | 10 | 4 |
Isle of Grain | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
Keadby | 1 | 4 |
| 1 |
Killingholme |
| 1 | 2 | 2 |
Kilroot |
| 1 | 1 |
|
King's Lynn | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Kinlochbervie |
|
| 1 |
|
Kirkwall | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|
Kyle of Lochalsh | 2 | 1 |
|
|
Larne |
|
| 4 |
|
Leith | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
Lerwick | 21 | 19 | 16 | 5 |
Liverpool | 83 | 89 | 50 | 44 |
Londonderry | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Lowestoft | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Mallaig | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Manchester |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
Marchwood | 1 |
|
|
|
Milford Haven | 26 | 35 | 10 | 3 |
Mistley | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Montrose | 13 | 14 | 4 |
|
Mostyn | 3 | 3 | 1 |
|
Neap House (Scunthorpe) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
New Holland | 9 | 7 | 3 |
|
Newcastle upon Tyne | 1 |
| 4 |
|
Newhaven | 1 |
|
|
|
Newhaven |
| 1 | 3 | 4 |
Newlyn | 1 |
|
|
|
Newport (Gwent) | 16 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
North Shields | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Northfleet | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Oban | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Orpington (London) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Parkeston Quay | 3 | 1 |
| 1 |
Penzance | 1 |
|
|
|
Perth |
| 1 |
|
|
Peterhead | 13 | 26 | 27 | 6 |
Plymouth | 9 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
Poole | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
Port Talbot | 23 | 25 | 20 | 7 |
Portland | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Portsmouth | 11 | 10 | 16 | 19 |
Purfleet | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Redcar |
|
| 1 |
|
Ridham Dock | 4 | 1 | 2 |
|
Rochester | 1 | 1 |
|
|
Rosyth | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
Royal Portbury | 35 | 29 | 16 | 12 |
Runcorn | 9 | 1 |
| 4 |
Rye | 1 |
| 1 |
|
Scalloway | 1 | 3 | 7 |
|
Scarborough |
|
|
| 1 |
Scrabster | 1 |
|
|
|
Seaham | 1 | 3 |
| 1 |
Sharpness | 1 | 5 | 2 |
|
Sheerness | 10 | 10 | 4 | 3 |
Shellhaven | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
Shoreham By Sea | 5 | 3 | 2 |
|
Silloth | 1 | 1 |
|
|
Silvertown | 9 | 17 | 11 | 4 |
South Shields | 11 | 15 | 12 | 6 |
Southampton | 57 | 87 | 46 | 23 |
Southwold | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Stanlow | 1 | 2 |
| 1 |
Stornoway | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Sullom Voe |
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
Sunderland | 12 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
Sutton Bridge | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Swansea | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
Teesport | 83 | 70 | 47 | 24 |
Teesside |
| 1 | 1 |
|
Teignmouth | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|
Thames Haven |
|
|
| 1 |
Thamesport | 2 | 3 | 5 |
|
Tilbury | 61 | 27 | 24 | 3 |
Tranmere | 7 | 9 | 4 | 7 |
Troon |
| 1 | 2 |
|
Tyne | 18 | 25 | 25 | 10 |
Warrenpoint | 10 | 10 | 12 | 1 |
Wisbech |
|
| 1 |
|
Workington |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
TOTALS | 1398 | 1291 | 934 | 534 |
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, and congratulate him on initiating this debate, which is particularly timely in view of the Brexit decision 10 days ago, to which he alluded.
When I speak in the Chamber on rural issues, I am always conscious that I see things...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, and congratulate him on initiating this debate, which is particularly timely in view of the Brexit decision 10 days ago, to which he alluded.
When I speak in the Chamber on rural issues, I am always conscious that I see things...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, with his great experience of farming.
I declare an interest as a landowner who receives income from agricultural activities. The main question that we all want to ask the Minister is one that he will be unable to...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, with his great experience of farming.
I declare an interest as a landowner who receives income from agricultural activities. The main question that we all want to ask the Minister is one that he will be unable to...
My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord de Mauley, for bringing this very important subject to our attention today. I declare my interests as recorded in the register. My husband owns a small farm in Worcestershire, for which we receive about one-thirteenth of the £13,000 average...
My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord de Mauley, for bringing this very important subject to our attention today. I declare my interests as recorded in the register. My husband owns a small farm in Worcestershire, for which we receive about one-thirteenth of the £13,000 average...
My Lords, one of the most momentous decisions of our time has now been taken. Parliament agreed by an overwhelming majority that the people should decide in a referendum whether our country should stay in the European Union or leave. The people decided, on a massive poll, that we should...
My Lords, one of the most momentous decisions of our time has now been taken. Parliament agreed by an overwhelming majority that the people should decide in a referendum whether our country should stay in the European Union or leave. The people decided, on a massive poll, that we should...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, is to be greatly congratulated on his tremendous record of achievement in this area, and his advice this evening should be followed very carefully. I must declare my interest as a former director of Action on Smoking and Health. There is a consensus...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, is to be greatly congratulated on his tremendous record of achievement in this area, and his advice this evening should be followed very carefully. I must declare my interest as a former director of Action on Smoking and Health. There is a consensus...
It is a great pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) and my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill), the Chairman of the Justice Committee. The difficulty for me is that they have already covered all the issues I was going to...
It is a great pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) and my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill), the Chairman of the Justice Committee. The difficulty for me is that they have already covered all the issues I was going to...
Certainly, on any view, life imprisonment must remain the maximum sentence—that is the maximum in the United States for federal offences where second degree murder is charged—but the key point is that the judge should have discretion. The Sentencing Council has done a terrific job of laying down guidelines—not tramlines—and...
Certainly, on any view, life imprisonment must remain the maximum sentence—that is the maximum in the United States for federal offences where second degree murder is charged—but the key point is that the judge should have discretion. The Sentencing Council has done a terrific job of laying down guidelines—not tramlines—and...
I thank the Minister for attending the recent meeting in this place with the Freight Transport Association to discuss the future of the Severn bridges. I know that there is to be a consultation, but there is real concern about the issue, especially now that the bridges will continue to be seen as a cash cow for the Government. May I reiterate that we want the bridge tolls to come down further and an assurance that when they return to public ownership they stay that way?
I thank the Minister for attending the recent meeting in this place with the Freight Transport Association to discuss the future of the Severn bridges. I know that there is to be a consultation, but there is real concern about the issue, especially now that the bridges will continue to be seen as a cash cow for the Government. May I reiterate that we want the bridge tolls to come down further and an assurance that when they return to public ownership they stay that way?
I very much enjoyed that meeting and hearing the views of businesses in Wales and of Welsh Members. The concession will finish when £1.029 billion is returned from tolls to the public purse. We expect that to happen sometime in early 2018. We are working on the plans that will follow that transition. We will consult more broadly, but I entirely agree that keeping the tolls low will help businesses in the area.
We are here today to remember an extraordinary colleague and friend. Jo Cox was a voice of compassion, whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never ever met. Today, we grieve her loss and we...
We are here today to remember an extraordinary colleague and friend. Jo Cox was a voice of compassion, whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never ever met. Today, we grieve her loss and we...
My hon. Friend is right. Monday’s debate in Westminster Hall, to which the Minister replied, clearly hinted at such things. We all outlined examples where aid had not been focused on the sector that it should have been. My hon. Friend is right to highlight that point, as we did...
My hon. Friend is right. Monday’s debate in Westminster Hall, to which the Minister replied, clearly hinted at such things. We all outlined examples where aid had not been focused on the sector that it should have been. My hon. Friend is right to highlight that point, as we did...
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Madam Dirprwy Lefarydd. Am fod yn bowld, fe gymeraf y cyfle i ddweud rhyw frawddeg arall
yn Gymraeg. If I was braver, I would probably carry on, but it did seem appropriate to get more than the usual introduction and salutation in Welsh in today on...
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Madam Dirprwy Lefarydd. Am fod yn bowld, fe gymeraf y cyfle i ddweud rhyw frawddeg arall
yn Gymraeg. If I was braver, I would probably carry on, but it did seem appropriate to get more than the usual introduction and salutation in Welsh in today on...
My Lords, my noble friend will be aware that I and several hundred gay rugby players were partying in gay nightclubs in Florida only last week and the week before. We are therefore very conscious of the events of the last two days. However, it is a hate crime. The...
My Lords, my noble friend will be aware that I and several hundred gay rugby players were partying in gay nightclubs in Florida only last week and the week before. We are therefore very conscious of the events of the last two days. However, it is a hate crime. The...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Paula Sherriff) for securing this important debate. We both have a background of working in healthcare and we share an interest in health issues, particularly when it comes...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Paula Sherriff) for securing this important debate. We both have a background of working in healthcare and we share an interest in health issues, particularly when it comes...
It is ironic that the Conservative Members who have been complaining loudly about “Project Fear” hardly raised a peep when the same campaign was conducted against the Scottish people some two years ago, so I would claim over the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron) at least a...
It is ironic that the Conservative Members who have been complaining loudly about “Project Fear” hardly raised a peep when the same campaign was conducted against the Scottish people some two years ago, so I would claim over the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron) at least a...
I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I apologise that I slipped out for a while to attend the Oscars—I refer, of course, to the fantastic Oscar’s book prize, which was started by the journalist James Ashton and his wife, Viveka, in honour of their son, who sadly...
I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I apologise that I slipped out for a while to attend the Oscars—I refer, of course, to the fantastic Oscar’s book prize, which was started by the journalist James Ashton and his wife, Viveka, in honour of their son, who sadly...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the dairy crisis on (a) jobs in the industry, (b) local economies, (c) supply chains and (d) the environment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the dairy crisis on (a) jobs in the industry, (b) local economies, (c) supply chains and (d) the environment.
The dairy industry in Britain has had a very tough year. A slowdown in global markets, low farm-gate prices, and a strong pound increasing imports, have all contributed to this. The UK average farm gate milk price for March 2016 is 22.38p per litre. This represents a 10.5% decrease on March 2015 and continues the downward trend seen since November 2013.
There were 281 fewer registered dairy producers in England and Wales in April 2016 compared with April 2015 (a 2.8% reduction). This continues the long-term trend which has resulted in dairy producer numbers falling while the average herd size and annual yields per cow have increased. In the year ending February 2016, forecasts suggest that incomes on dairy farms in England fell by 45% to an average of £45,000 per farm. Average incomes on Welsh dairy farms fell by around 40% to £42,000 in the same period. Expert commentators such as Rabobank expect the current cycle of low prices to be maintained through most of 2016.
The Government continues to work closely with the UK farming unions, Dairy UK and Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) to assess the difficult market situation and what we can do to help the industry to recover. For example, we are currently drawing up practical options for creating new derivatives markets, co-operating closely with the AHDB’s volatility forum, farmers, processors and the finance sector.
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Best, on securing this debate at a particularly timely moment and for his Communications Committee’s first-class charter review. There is so much that I agree with that, if I were to talk about it, I would just say “Tick, tick, tick”—I am...
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Best, on securing this debate at a particularly timely moment and for his Communications Committee’s first-class charter review. There is so much that I agree with that, if I were to talk about it, I would just say “Tick, tick, tick”—I am...
They have plenty of cows in Ireland, as we do in this country, and my hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Had Magna Carta been written on paper, it would have been lost by around 1465, before the birth of Henry VIII—it would not have survived to his times. Let us...
They have plenty of cows in Ireland, as we do in this country, and my hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Had Magna Carta been written on paper, it would have been lost by around 1465, before the birth of Henry VIII—it would not have survived to his times. Let us...
I commend the hon. Gentleman on securing this debate. I must register a slight interest, as my husband runs an agricultural auctioneering business; he runs the Sedgemoor market, which many Welsh farmers come to. He has reported to me that there is a knock-on effect. It is not only the...
I commend the hon. Gentleman on securing this debate. I must register a slight interest, as my husband runs an agricultural auctioneering business; he runs the Sedgemoor market, which many Welsh farmers come to. He has reported to me that there is a knock-on effect. It is not only the...
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention.
I want the Minister to remember what I am about to say and to have these figures indelibly imprinted on his mind, in perpetuity. In Shropshire in 1997, we slaughtered 47 cows because of bovine tuberculosis; last year, the figure...
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention.
I want the Minister to remember what I am about to say and to have these figures indelibly imprinted on his mind, in perpetuity. In Shropshire in 1997, we slaughtered 47 cows because of bovine tuberculosis; last year, the figure...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ryan. I also want to thank the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate, which is important. I want to say a few words about the situation in Cumbria, where local farmers tell me it is the...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ryan. I also want to thank the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate, which is important. I want to say a few words about the situation in Cumbria, where local farmers tell me it is the...
It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate, Ms Ryan. I thank the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate and keeping a spotlight on dairy prices. May I offer him a little solace? I think a previous Minister, David Heath, from his party, was...
It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate, Ms Ryan. I thank the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate and keeping a spotlight on dairy prices. May I offer him a little solace? I think a previous Minister, David Heath, from his party, was...
Unfortunately, I have been asked for answers to 31 separate requests—I have written them down—and I have been allowed only seven minutes to respond, but I will do my very best.
Fundamentally, dairy matters deeply to the United Kingdom. The hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams), to whom I pay tribute...
Unfortunately, I have been asked for answers to 31 separate requests—I have written them down—and I have been allowed only seven minutes to respond, but I will do my very best.
Fundamentally, dairy matters deeply to the United Kingdom. The hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams), to whom I pay tribute...
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This pack contains relevant news items, press releases and parliamentary material, and links to further reading. For more detail, see Commons Library Briefing Paper 7564 UK Dairy Industry: Current Issues and Challenges |
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This pack contains relevant news items, press releases and parliamentary material, and links to further reading. For more detail, see Commons Library Briefing Paper 7564 UK Dairy Industry: Current Issues and Challenges |
The financial difficulties for farmers caused by low milk prices have put the spotlight on the UK dairy industry in recent years.
UK Dairy Industry Trends
Milk prices are generally at a very low level. This, as well as many other farming problems, prompted two farming crisis summits of the UK farming unions and Ministers (across the UK) in summer 2015 and a special meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in September 2015.
A number of global commodity factors are in play for all milk producers including the on-going Russian trade embargo, a weak Euro, high milk supply and weak demand from Chinese buyers due to China seeking to become more self-sufficient in dairy products.
Estimates for the cost of milk production vary from 25-30 pence per litre (ppl). Contract prices for liquid milk in February 2016 ranged between 32.34 pence per litre (ppl) and 19.02 ppl with an average farmgate price of 25.57ppl (including farm bonus payments). Farmers who are directly supplying supermarkets or providing milk for niche markets are tending to get the highest prices.
However, the long term prospects for the industry are seen as positive with strong export growth.
Global demand for dairy products is expected to grow by around 2% per annum over the next 10 years with the increase in demand mainly coming from developing economies in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe/Russia.
House of Commons Library Briefing, UK Dairy Industry Statistics (January 2016) provides information on a range of dairy industry trends and intra-UK comparisons.
Support measures
Farming unions have accepted that there are no quick fixes but have regularly highlighted government action that can help. Dairy UK (Northern Ireland) and the Ulster Farmers’ Union have organised a major conference in May 2016 to explore the role of government policy in helping dairy businesses to manage margins.
The European Commission and UK Government have put in place measures to support the industry through the current financial difficulties (e.g. €500m EU dairy package, UK tax measures) as well as looking ahead to increase its resilience to future volatility (EU/UK work on futures markets).
These measures have been welcomed by the farming unions and the dairy industry but they would like to see the further action or increased efforts in the following areas:
This view is supported by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on Farmgate Prices (March 2016) which follows up on its report on Dairy Prices (January 2015).[2]
The House of Lords EU Environment and Energy Sub-Committee is currently conducting an inquiry on price volatility – Responding to price volatility: creating more resilient agriculture.
The Dairy All Party Parliamentary Group has also produced a March 2016 report Putting Dairy Back on the Daily Menu highlighting the key role dairy plays in leading a healthy lifestyle and looks at how government can work more effectively with the UK dairy industry to ensure that dairy consumption is encouraged among all ages.
[1] NFU online, NFU takes farming issues to the Prime Minister, 16 March 2016
[2] EFRA Committee, Dairy prices, Fifth Report of Session 2014–15, 14 January 2015, HC 817
The financial difficulties for farmers caused by low milk prices have put the spotlight on the UK dairy industry in recent years.
UK Dairy Industry Trends
Milk prices are generally at a very low level. This, as well as many other farming problems, prompted two farming crisis summits of the UK farming unions...
We have an election coming and the call from the Labour party is now very different—it is very convenient. It has long called for the devolution of the tolls, but we were fearful that, as soon as the tolls were devolved, they would be used as a cash cow to support the income of the Welsh Government.
We have an election coming and the call from the Labour party is now very different—it is very convenient. It has long called for the devolution of the tolls, but we were fearful that, as soon as the tolls were devolved, they would be used as a cash cow to support the income of the Welsh Government.
I congratulate the Secretary of State and the Minister on their recent appointments. Labour Members look forward to working constructively with them, particularly on the new Wales Bill, whenever that may appear.
To clarify, in last month’s Budget the Chancellor made much of halving the tolls on the Severn crossings, but as we have since discovered that is not quite the bargain it appears to be. The 50% discount includes the 20% of VAT, which disappears anyway when the bridge reverts to public ownership, and of course businesses reclaim VAT. So instead of leaving businesses still paying thousands of pounds a year, why will not the Government do the right thing and scrap these tolls altogether?
This Finance Bill will go a long way to ensuring that there is no thumb on the scales that balance the interests of small businesses and multinational companies. In that sense, it is a Budget of direct redistribution, but there are ways of extending that principle further. The £9 billion...
This Finance Bill will go a long way to ensuring that there is no thumb on the scales that balance the interests of small businesses and multinational companies. In that sense, it is a Budget of direct redistribution, but there are ways of extending that principle further. The £9 billion...
My Lords, I welcome this opportunity to highlight concerns over the plight of minority faiths in India. Narendra Modi, leader of the nationalist BJP, won a landslide victory in the May 2015 Indian election, mainly on ostensibly economic issues, but after his election he has given increasing support to the...
My Lords, I welcome this opportunity to highlight concerns over the plight of minority faiths in India. Narendra Modi, leader of the nationalist BJP, won a landslide victory in the May 2015 Indian election, mainly on ostensibly economic issues, but after his election he has given increasing support to the...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Porter, and the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, are in agreement on this. They both oppose the fact that this levy will be solely on those authorities that have retained stock and a housing revenue account, and that it will be a very large sum...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Porter, and the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, are in agreement on this. They both oppose the fact that this levy will be solely on those authorities that have retained stock and a housing revenue account, and that it will be a very large sum...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the contribution of the Scotch whisky industry to the UK economy.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mrs Moon. I am delighted to have secured this debate and to see so many of my colleagues present, particularly as...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the contribution of the Scotch whisky industry to the UK economy.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mrs Moon. I am delighted to have secured this debate and to see so many of my colleagues present, particularly as...
Everyone here today understands that Scotch whisky is a huge player in the UK economy and overseas markets, and without the success of this industry Britain’s trade deficit of around £35 billion would be around 11% larger. This wonderfully popular product is the biggest net contributor to UK trade in...
Everyone here today understands that Scotch whisky is a huge player in the UK economy and overseas markets, and without the success of this industry Britain’s trade deficit of around £35 billion would be around 11% larger. This wonderfully popular product is the biggest net contributor to UK trade in...
My Lords, we are now deep into the debate on the implementation of the voluntary right to buy for housing association tenants. I did not feel able to add my name to the amendments in this group that seek to exclude some or all housing association tenancies from the grant...
My Lords, we are now deep into the debate on the implementation of the voluntary right to buy for housing association tenants. I did not feel able to add my name to the amendments in this group that seek to exclude some or all housing association tenancies from the grant...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research is taking place on the impact on milk quality of housing cows in large-scale indoor dairy sheds.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research is taking place on the impact on milk quality of housing cows in large-scale indoor dairy sheds.
There is no evidence to suggest that increasing the size of herds has any impact on milk quality. Other factors are more relevant such as nutrition and genetics.
My Lords, I have sat on my hands for a considerable while since we started in Committee this morning. I speak to an intriguing amendment, Amendment 41A. Before doing that, I will try to peel back some of the skins of the increasingly complex onion that we appear to be...
My Lords, I have sat on my hands for a considerable while since we started in Committee this morning. I speak to an intriguing amendment, Amendment 41A. Before doing that, I will try to peel back some of the skins of the increasingly complex onion that we appear to be...
This briefing explains the existing funding arrangements for police forces. It focuses on revenue funding for the territorial police forces of the United Kingdom. Police receive separate grants for capital purposes.
The briefing also examines the proposed new funding formula for police forces in England and Wales (now delayed until 2017/18) and briefly considers the reductions in funding experienced by forces since 2010/11.
Police funding is devolved in Scotland and partly devolved in Wales. Different arrangements are in place for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Section 1 considers arrangements in each part of the UK.
In England and Wales the main source of income for the 43 geographic police forces is central government grant made available through the annual Home Office Police Grant Report.
Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales can also raise additional revenue funding through council tax precepts. The two police forces in London also receive some funding through council tax precepts. In addition the two London forces receive an extra grant to reflect the extra burden placed on resources to police the capital.
In Scotland, the eight area forces were merged into a single force in 2013. Since then the Scottish Government has funded policing directly through the Scottish Police Authority. Local authorities are no longer required to fund area police forces and the Police Authority has no power to levy a council tax precept for households in Scotland. Local authorities in Scotland are still able to fund additional police officers to work on particular priorities within their local areas.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is funded by HM Treasury. The Northern Ireland Policing Board is responsible for bidding for funds from the Treasury.
All forces in the UK have been subject to reductions in funding. The scale of reductions and the impact on the number of officers is considered in section 2.
The Government has consulted on proposals for new funding arrangements for police forces in England and Wales. It is generally accepted that the existing formula is no longer appropriate and the Government wants to replace the existing funding formula with a simplified formula. However, following statistical errors having been discovered in the funding proposals, the Government has decided to delay changes to police funding for 2016/17. This is considered in more detail in section 3.
This briefing explains the existing funding arrangements for police forces. It focuses on revenue funding for the territorial police forces of the United Kingdom. Police receive separate grants for capital purposes.
The briefing also examines the proposed new funding formula for police forces in England and Wales (now delayed until...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers have gone out of business in each of the last five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers have gone out of business in each of the last five years.
The table below shows the net change in the number of dairy farms. Data is only available on the total number of dairy farms in June and December of each year, so the table only shows the net change, rather than the number entering and the number leaving dairy farming. The latest data available on the number of dairy farms in England is for June 2015. This is shown below with data for the previous 5 years. The change in the number of farms includes new holdings which have been registered with dairy cattle, holdings that have ceased to have cattle and holdings that have merged.
The number of dairy cows on these dairy farms is also shown below. This shows that despite a 16% decrease in the overall number of dairy farms between June 2010 and June 2015, the number of dairy cows has remained almost unchanged, suggesting consolidation within the industry.
Date | Number of dairy farms(a) | Number of cows in the dairy herd(b) |
Jun-2010 | 9 461 | 1 142 497 |
Dec-2010 | 9 287 | 1 147 450 |
Jun-2011 | 9 041 | 1 112 459 |
Dec-2011 | 8 823 | 1 105 290 |
Jun-2012 | 8 663 | 1 104 676 |
Dec-2012 | 8 503 | 1 107 045 |
Jun-2013 | 8 342 | 1 098 610 |
Dec-2013 | 8 197 | 1 124 368 |
Jun-2014 | 8 092 | 1 128 548 |
Dec-2014 | 8 051 | 1 150 007 |
Jun-2015 | 7 982 | 1 148 089 |
% change Jun15/Jun10 | -16% | 0.5% |
(a) Sourced from Cattle Tracing System. Dairy farms are defined as the number of holdings with more than 10 cows in the dairy herd.
(b) Cows in the dairy herd are defined as female dairy cows over 2 years old in the milking herd (i.e. with offspring).
My Lords, one way for dairy farmers to cut costs is to herd cows into huge sheds where they are given processed food, unable to go out and graze in fields. Do this Government accept mega-farms as the future face of our countryside?
My Lords, one way for dairy farmers to cut costs is to herd cows into huge sheds where they are given processed food, unable to go out and graze in fields. Do this Government accept mega-farms as the future face of our countryside?
My Lords, we certainly see the need for mixed farms. The most important thing is that animal husbandry and animal welfare are at their best whatever size of farming unit it is. SoI would not say that large units are bad and small units are good. The important thing is that there are high animal welfare standards across the piece.
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Earl on the lucid way in which he introduced this legislation. It is perhaps rather more complex than it appears at first sight and we look forward to his explanations when we reach both the Committee and Report stages.
I associate myself with the remarks...
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Earl on the lucid way in which he introduced this legislation. It is perhaps rather more complex than it appears at first sight and we look forward to his explanations when we reach both the Committee and Report stages.
I associate myself with the remarks...
I think my hon. Friend must have read my speech. I was about to say that people in Eastleigh felt locked out of the local planning process by a complacent council that is not listening to residents and taking them on the planning journey. No neighbourhood plans are being subjected...
I think my hon. Friend must have read my speech. I was about to say that people in Eastleigh felt locked out of the local planning process by a complacent council that is not listening to residents and taking them on the planning journey. No neighbourhood plans are being subjected...
I thank my hon. Friend for sharing with the House his superb knowledge of the vegetation on the Great Western main line in Devon and Cornwall. His point absolutely rams home the message that a tree falling over, a cow breaking out of a field, or a small amount of...
I thank my hon. Friend for sharing with the House his superb knowledge of the vegetation on the Great Western main line in Devon and Cornwall. His point absolutely rams home the message that a tree falling over, a cow breaking out of a field, or a small amount of...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward, and an honour to follow the right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller), who served with distinction as Minister for Women and Equalities. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Paula Sherriff) on securing this important debate....
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward, and an honour to follow the right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller), who served with distinction as Minister for Women and Equalities. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Paula Sherriff) on securing this important debate....
My Lords, it is a great privilege on behalf of the House to welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, and to thank her for an expert and excellent speech—a great harbinger of what she will bring to the House.
I feel connected with all the maiden speeches today. I was once...
My Lords, it is a great privilege on behalf of the House to welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, and to thank her for an expert and excellent speech—a great harbinger of what she will bring to the House.
I feel connected with all the maiden speeches today. I was once...
My Lords, it is a great honour to be with your Lordships today and to be making my maiden speech. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his debate. The welcome I have received from your Lordships but, more importantly, from the staff of the House, the doorkeepers, the...
My Lords, it is a great honour to be with your Lordships today and to be making my maiden speech. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his debate. The welcome I have received from your Lordships but, more importantly, from the staff of the House, the doorkeepers, the...
I am glad to be able to speak in this debate and hope that what I say will provide a different kind of insight into the debate on childhood obesity.
I am a great enthusiast for breastfeeding. Breast milk has many exceptional qualities, the most obvious being that it is exactly...
I am glad to be able to speak in this debate and hope that what I say will provide a different kind of insight into the debate on childhood obesity.
I am a great enthusiast for breastfeeding. Breast milk has many exceptional qualities, the most obvious being that it is exactly...
I absolutely agree with what my good friend says. Bottle feeding tends to be at a set time—“Is it time for the baby’s feed yet?”—rather than when the baby actually needs to be fed, whereas breastfed babies are fed little and often on demand, which is a slightly better habit...
I absolutely agree with what my good friend says. Bottle feeding tends to be at a set time—“Is it time for the baby’s feed yet?”—rather than when the baby actually needs to be fed, whereas breastfed babies are fed little and often on demand, which is a slightly better habit...
My Lords, 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the division of the Korean peninsula. That division was the prelude to the 1950-53 war, which led to the deaths of about 3 million people, including 1,000 British servicemen.
Throughout the intervening seven decades, the danger of a repetition of that carnage has...
My Lords, 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the division of the Korean peninsula. That division was the prelude to the 1950-53 war, which led to the deaths of about 3 million people, including 1,000 British servicemen.
Throughout the intervening seven decades, the danger of a repetition of that carnage has...
Exactly. We need to send market signals to potential investors to demonstrate that we have industries that link up with each other.
That brings me to defence. The future of sites such as Dalzell and Clydebridge in Scotland, which are linked to long products, is not certain. They produce the sonar-specific...
Exactly. We need to send market signals to potential investors to demonstrate that we have industries that link up with each other.
That brings me to defence. The future of sites such as Dalzell and Clydebridge in Scotland, which are linked to long products, is not certain. They produce the sonar-specific...
No.
Members of the House of Lords should be automatically forced to retire by the age of 80. Even members of the Roman Curia are forced to retire as cardinals of the Roman Church. Fundamental, real change requires abolition.
This is an issue in Scotland. It may not be seen as an...
No.
Members of the House of Lords should be automatically forced to retire by the age of 80. Even members of the Roman Curia are forced to retire as cardinals of the Roman Church. Fundamental, real change requires abolition.
This is an issue in Scotland. It may not be seen as an...
I would like to focus on a couple of areas that I find especially concerning.
First, on the planned extension to the right to buy scheme, Ministers have made much of it being agreed to voluntarily by the National Housing Federation. Given that it was accepted only with the clear knowledge...
I would like to focus on a couple of areas that I find especially concerning.
First, on the planned extension to the right to buy scheme, Ministers have made much of it being agreed to voluntarily by the National Housing Federation. Given that it was accepted only with the clear knowledge...
My Lords, we are getting to the stage in this debate when everything that could be said has been said, but not everybody
has yet said it, and there are about 10 more of us to go, so I imagine that we will be going on a little after 10...
My Lords, we are getting to the stage in this debate when everything that could be said has been said, but not everybody
has yet said it, and there are about 10 more of us to go, so I imagine that we will be going on a little after 10...
I find myself pained, because I disagree not only with the settlement, but with my hon. Friend. Although he is absolutely right to say that this should not become a new cash cow for local authorities, surely to goodness most planning applications are either for very large-scale schemes—I speak with...
I find myself pained, because I disagree not only with the settlement, but with my hon. Friend. Although he is absolutely right to say that this should not become a new cash cow for local authorities, surely to goodness most planning applications are either for very large-scale schemes—I speak with...
That is something my hon. Friend the Minister could consider.
There is also a problem with specialist schools, which are often a considerable distance away from where children live. Facilities can also be more difficult to get to. As well as having to travel many miles to the local swimming pool...
That is something my hon. Friend the Minister could consider.
There is also a problem with specialist schools, which are often a considerable distance away from where children live. Facilities can also be more difficult to get to. As well as having to travel many miles to the local swimming pool...
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