My Lords, it is surely obvious to everyone—at least, I hope it is—that the Iranians are completely behind all these Houthi operations, with their advisers crawling all over northern Yemen and Sanaa. Indeed, some of their advisers may be actively helping to launch the rockets. It is pretty obvious that...
My Lords, it is surely obvious to everyone—at least, I hope it is—that the Iranians are completely behind all these Houthi operations, with their advisers crawling all over northern Yemen and Sanaa. Indeed, some of their advisers may be actively helping to launch the rockets. It is pretty obvious that...
I will certainly do my best, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Over the past few days I have received correspondence, emails and text messages from the people I represent and, as Unionists, they are all concerned about where we are with the protocol. My right hon. Friend the Member for East Antrim (Sammy...
I will certainly do my best, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Over the past few days I have received correspondence, emails and text messages from the people I represent and, as Unionists, they are all concerned about where we are with the protocol. My right hon. Friend the Member for East Antrim (Sammy...
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Murray. I thank the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees) for opening the debate and outlining the issues so eloquently.
I might have mentioned on one or two occasions that my constituency of North Shropshire is rural. The issues...
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Murray. I thank the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees) for opening the debate and outlining the issues so eloquently.
I might have mentioned on one or two occasions that my constituency of North Shropshire is rural. The issues...
Thank you for masterfully chairing this debate, Mrs Murray. I congratulate the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees) and thank her for taking this issue forward today. I also congratulate the petitioners, the Petitions Committee, and all those who signed the petition and allowed us the opportunity for this debate,...
Thank you for masterfully chairing this debate, Mrs Murray. I congratulate the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees) and thank her for taking this issue forward today. I also congratulate the petitioners, the Petitions Committee, and all those who signed the petition and allowed us the opportunity for this debate,...
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, and to join others in congratulating my noble friend Lord Trees on his excellent introduction to this important debate. I also join others in welcoming the Minister and look forward to his maiden speech. I should...
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, and to join others in congratulating my noble friend Lord Trees on his excellent introduction to this important debate. I also join others in welcoming the Minister and look forward to his maiden speech. I should...
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Theo Clarke) on securing the debate. We have already heard from the first two speakers how people’s lives have been impacted by this scheme. Many of us, right across Staffordshire, were delighted when we heard the news back in October that...
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Theo Clarke) on securing the debate. We have already heard from the first two speakers how people’s lives have been impacted by this scheme. Many of us, right across Staffordshire, were delighted when we heard the news back in October that...
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will (a) make an assessment of the implications for his policies of and (b) introduce sanctions following the attempted takeover of the Cows Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem.
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will (a) make an assessment of the implications for his policies of and (b) introduce sanctions following the attempted takeover of the Cows Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem.
The UK is monitoring the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem and is clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of culturally important areas to be respected. The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence, and urges Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable. We keep our sanctions under review and reserve the right to introduce further measures.
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) reported Israeli settler violence and intimidation against the Armenian community of Jerusalem and (b) attempted takeover of the Cows Garden plot in the...
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) reported Israeli settler violence and intimidation against the Armenian community of Jerusalem and (b) attempted takeover of the Cows Garden plot in the...
The UK is monitoring the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem and are clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. The British Consulate Jerusalem will be meeting representatives on this issue in the coming week. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong believer in the need to preserve Jerusalem's strong multi-ethnic, multi-faith character. The UK is also a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of cultural important areas to be respected. The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence, and urges Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the attempted Israeli settler takeover of the Cows Garden plot in the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem; and whether representatives from the British Embassy plan to...
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the attempted Israeli settler takeover of the Cows Garden plot in the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem; and whether representatives from the British Embassy plan to...
The UK is monitoring the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem and are clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. The British Consulate Jerusalem will be meeting representatives on this issue in the coming week. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong believer in the need to preserve Jerusalem's strong multi-ethnic, multi-faith character. The UK is also a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of cultural important areas to be respected. The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence, and urges Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
I congratulate the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) on securing the debate. I am always happy to meet her, as she knows. I think I have been given eight minutes to respond. Is that correct, Madam Deputy Speaker? [Interruption.] I have been misinformed. Madam Deputy Speaker, you...
I congratulate the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) on securing the debate. I am always happy to meet her, as she knows. I think I have been given eight minutes to respond. Is that correct, Madam Deputy Speaker? [Interruption.] I have been misinformed. Madam Deputy Speaker, you...
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the situation in the Cows Garden site of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the situation in the Cows Garden site of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
We have not held discussions with Israeli counterparts on the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. The UK is monitoring the situation and are clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of cultural important areas to be respected. The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence, and urges Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
My Lords, I have a couple of amendments in this group, but I will start by talking about Amendment 51 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Liddle. If he wants to come in ahead of me and take precedence on it, he is welcome to do so. No?...
My Lords, I have a couple of amendments in this group, but I will start by talking about Amendment 51 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Liddle. If he wants to come in ahead of me and take precedence on it, he is welcome to do so. No?...
My Lords, we need developing countries to join us in the progress towards net zero, but we also want them to develop. I am delighted to see that this conundrum was dealt with at COP 28 and
that it was widely recognised and supported that developing countries need what was...
My Lords, we need developing countries to join us in the progress towards net zero, but we also want them to develop. I am delighted to see that this conundrum was dealt with at COP 28 and
that it was widely recognised and supported that developing countries need what was...
My Lords, this may be the only contribution I make to this part of the Bill, but I wish to follow the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and other noble Lords because this business of safety in Clause 2 seems to be the most pivotal thing in the entire Bill. As...
My Lords, this may be the only contribution I make to this part of the Bill, but I wish to follow the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and other noble Lords because this business of safety in Clause 2 seems to be the most pivotal thing in the entire Bill. As...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the environmental impact of (a) meat and (b) dairy cows.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the environmental impact of (a) meat and (b) dairy cows.
Defra recognises the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution made by the livestock and dairy sectors. However, while food choices can have an impact on pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, well managed livestock also provide environmental benefits such as supporting biodiversity, protecting the character of the countryside and generating important income for rural communities. British farming helps provide for the nutritional needs of a growing population, and grazing livestock can produce food on land that would not be suitable for cropping.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on (a) its investigation into and (b) the management of the cases of bluetongue virus in cattle in Kent.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on (a) its investigation into and (b) the management of the cases of bluetongue virus in cattle in Kent.
After the finding of bluetongue in a single cow in Kent on 10 November, Defra and Animal and Plant Health Agency officials took immediate action, humanely culling the animal and putting in place a 10km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) around the affected premises, whilst a veterinary investigation was carried out to understand the origin of the disease and check for potential spread.
Surveillance in the Kent TCZ has found another 8 cases, including two cases in animals that had been grazing outside of the zone. As a result, the TCZ has been extended as a precaution to prevent the potential spread of disease. Routine surveillance in higher risk counties has identified a further two cases of bluetongue in cattle on a farm in Norfolk - a 10km TCZ has been declared around the affected premises and both animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. This brings the total number of cases to 11 on six different holdings. There is currently no evidence that there is circulating virus in the GB midge population. Surveillance and our investigations are ongoing.
Within the TCZs, a range of controls are in place to prevent potential spread of disease, including restrictions on the movement of susceptible animals. Keepers of susceptible animals in the TCZs can apply for licences to move for most purposes including for welfare and to slaughter. We continue to work closely with industry representatives to ensure that keepers are kept up to date with developments and that issues and concerns are addressed promptly.
Apologies, Dame Angela. I think that that is called getting to the end of term.
It is something of an honour to stay for the very last debate of 2023, especially as it is so directly relevant and so phenomenally important to my constituency. I thank the hon. Member for Waveney...
Apologies, Dame Angela. I think that that is called getting to the end of term.
It is something of an honour to stay for the very last debate of 2023, especially as it is so directly relevant and so phenomenally important to my constituency. I thank the hon. Member for Waveney...
May I first draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests?
I thank Members from across the House for their constructive approach and for their comments and support for the Bill. It has been brilliant to hear that consensus.
Although there are a few areas on...
May I first draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests?
I thank Members from across the House for their constructive approach and for their comments and support for the Bill. It has been brilliant to hear that consensus.
Although there are a few areas on...
I am delighted to speak on this flagship piece of legislation, which will restore true home ownership to millions, end rip-off charges and introduce fairness to the leasehold market. I am confident that it is a good piece of legislation not because I did all the preparatory work on it,...
I am delighted to speak on this flagship piece of legislation, which will restore true home ownership to millions, end rip-off charges and introduce fairness to the leasehold market. I am confident that it is a good piece of legislation not because I did all the preparatory work on it,...
It is a pleasure to speak on the Second Reading of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill and to follow so many excellent contributions from Members across the House. They have all provided examples, most of which I have experienced in my eight and a half years in this place.
For...
It is a pleasure to speak on the Second Reading of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill and to follow so many excellent contributions from Members across the House. They have all provided examples, most of which I have experienced in my eight and a half years in this place.
For...
Sacha from Kempston, Bedford, is one of an increasing number of freeholders who are afflicted by estate maintenance charges. Will the Secretary of State commit to a review into the role of those excessive, unpredictable and often opaque fees and insurance costs that not only treat mostly new homeowners as cash cows, but are putting their homes at risk?
Sacha from Kempston, Bedford, is one of an increasing number of freeholders who are afflicted by estate maintenance charges. Will the Secretary of State commit to a review into the role of those excessive, unpredictable and often opaque fees and insurance costs that not only treat mostly new homeowners as cash cows, but are putting their homes at risk?
That is a very important point, and yes, we are on it.
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath for initiating this debate. There are three factors which will ensure that the NHS survives, and the Minister has no control over any of them: finance, social care and decently funded local government. The NHS Confederation has said...
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath for initiating this debate. There are three factors which will ensure that the NHS survives, and the Minister has no control over any of them: finance, social care and decently funded local government. The NHS Confederation has said...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer, and it is lovely to swap roles, given the other jobs we hold. I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this debate. He is truly such a good man, as I think everyone in this...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer, and it is lovely to swap roles, given the other jobs we hold. I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this debate. He is truly such a good man, as I think everyone in this...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the case of bluetongue virus in a cow in Kent on (a) biosecurity and (b) animal health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the case of bluetongue virus in a cow in Kent on (a) biosecurity and (b) animal health.
Bluetongue is an exotic notifiable disease of ruminants (cattle, sheep, deer and goats) and camelids (llamas and alpacas). It is caused by a virus that is spread by biting midges. It does not affect people or food safety and cannot be spread in meat or milk. Defra's approach to bluetongue disease is based on the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice and is set out in the GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy, supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. These plans are in line with international standards of best practice for disease control.
Defra and Animal and Plant Health Agency officials took immediate action to safeguard animal health and prevent potential spread from the single infected cow: the animal which tested positive for Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV3) was humanely culled and a 10km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been put in place around the affected premises. Within the TCZ, a range of controls are in place to prevent potential spread of disease, including restrictions on the movement of susceptible animals, except under licence. A veterinary investigation and surveillance are underway to consider the origin of the disease and check for potential spread. There is no authorised vaccine for BTV3 so good biosecurity practices are essential - we are working with industry representatives to provide keepers with advice on how they can protect their animals from bluetongue.
It is good to see you in the Chair again, Mr Deputy Speaker. Islanders sometimes ask me what the purpose of these debates is, and the answer is simple: they are occasions for me, as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight, to raise issues of importance for...
It is good to see you in the Chair again, Mr Deputy Speaker. Islanders sometimes ask me what the purpose of these debates is, and the answer is simple: they are occasions for me, as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight, to raise issues of importance for...
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his uber efficiency in organising such a trip. My Speedos will be dusted off—don’t get excited, Mr Deputy Speaker—and I hope to share a 99 with him at some bracing seaside venue. In sincerity, I am grateful to my hon. Friend and...
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his uber efficiency in organising such a trip. My Speedos will be dusted off—don’t get excited, Mr Deputy Speaker—and I hope to share a 99 with him at some bracing seaside venue. In sincerity, I am grateful to my hon. Friend and...
We could have a separate debate on a single income tax and all sorts of other measures. I would like to see tax transparency as well. I am so old-fashioned that I think we should be able to follow every pound of Government expenditure, and that there should be far...
We could have a separate debate on a single income tax and all sorts of other measures. I would like to see tax transparency as well. I am so old-fashioned that I think we should be able to follow every pound of Government expenditure, and that there should be far...
December 2020 marked one hundred years since the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (“the 1920 Act”) received Royal Assent. This partitioned the island of Ireland – part of the United Kingdom since 1801 – and created what is still known as “Northern Ireland”.
As the historian Ivan Gibbons has written, the 1920 Act was “the single most important piece of British legislation of the twentieth century relating to Ireland in that it established a new constitutional and political arrangement (devolved government and partition) which exists to this day”.
The focus of this paper are the constitutional aspects of the 1920 Act and the role of UK Parliament. It is not intended as a general history of Northern Ireland. The passage of the 1920 Act marked the beginning of a process rather than a single event. From 1921 until the introduction of Direct Rule in 1972, what many considered the “constitution of Northern Ireland” underwent significant changes. It was also contested, for the 1920 Act never achieved cross-community consent.
Yet a lot of Northern Ireland’s early history has slipped from public consciousness. Events since the onset of the “Troubles” in 1969 have been extensively documented by historians, journalists and political scientists, the period prior to that less so. As another historian, Graham Walker, has observed, Northern Ireland “serves as a reminder that devolution and constitutional change has a long, complex, and fascinating history, and did not just appear magically at the end of the twentieth century”.
Some features of the 1920 Act survive: the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast; separate Consolidated and National Insurance Funds; a distinct Northern Ireland Civil Service; and a distinctive division of excepted/reserved/transferred powers. Others do not, chiefly the bicameral Parliament of Northern Ireland, its single-party Government and vice-regal Governor. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive established by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998 represented a deliberate break with the institutions envisaged in 1920.
This paper is also the story of the United Kingdom as it is currently constituted, for the Northern Ireland border created by the 1920 Act has been central to constitutional debate from the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 to the Brexit controversies of 2016-21. It too evolved. Originally intended as a boundary between two devolved parts of the UK, by the end of 1922 it instead separated two parts of the British Empire. Only in 1949, when the Republic of Ireland left the British Commonwealth, did it become an international boundary.
Northern Ireland marked its centenary during 2021. It is hoped this paper will help inform the debates arising from that significant anniversary.
December 2020 marked one hundred years since the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (“the 1920 Act”) received Royal Assent. This partitioned the island of Ireland – part of the United Kingdom since 1801 – and created what is still known as “Northern Ireland”.
As the historian Ivan Gibbons has written,...
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and that is a key element of my contribution to this debate.
Put plainly, a section 30 order to temporarily transfer those powers to the Scottish Parliament is entirely in the gift of Westminster. That underscores the unavoidable truth that our Parliament is...
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and that is a key element of my contribution to this debate.
Put plainly, a section 30 order to temporarily transfer those powers to the Scottish Parliament is entirely in the gift of Westminster. That underscores the unavoidable truth that our Parliament is...
Let me start by saying that I have read the amendments on the Order Paper tonight, and if I could bring the hostages home and stop the fighting on the streets of Gaza, I would do it and I would do it now. But the truth is that I cannot;...
Let me start by saying that I have read the amendments on the Order Paper tonight, and if I could bring the hostages home and stop the fighting on the streets of Gaza, I would do it and I would do it now. But the truth is that I cannot;...
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made to ensure that farmers in Northern Ireland can import cow embryos from North America, as can farmers in the rest of the UK.
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made to ensure that farmers in Northern Ireland can import cow embryos from North America, as can farmers in the rest of the UK.
Farmers in Northern Ireland can import cattle embryos from United States and Canada. These imports must meet the conditions set out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), including the requirement for an appropriate veterinary certificate.
Further information is available on the DAERA website.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide healthy alternatives to cows' milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme for children who cannot consume cow’s milk for (a) medical, (b) ethical and (c) religious reasons.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide healthy alternatives to cows' milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme for children who cannot consume cow’s milk for (a) medical, (b) ethical and (c) religious reasons.
A Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition/Committee on Toxicity working group has been established to jointly consider the nutritional and toxicological aspects associated with the consumption of plant-based alternatives to milk, such as soya, almond and oat drinks. The Government will consider the position on the Nursery Milk Scheme once this working group has reported.
My Lords, I first thank all noble Lords for their contributions—strong, focused, passionate, thoughtful, insightful, principled and at times emotional. But one thing was clear: these were expert insights from various perspectives. As I said in my introduction, there are some uniform and united messages that leave no doubt about...
My Lords, I first thank all noble Lords for their contributions—strong, focused, passionate, thoughtful, insightful, principled and at times emotional. But one thing was clear: these were expert insights from various perspectives. As I said in my introduction, there are some uniform and united messages that leave no doubt about...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow everyone in this debate. I particularly thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for his measured, calm and thoughtful introduction, which will, no doubt, be followed by the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, in his usual way when he concludes. As the noble Lord,...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow everyone in this debate. I particularly thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for his measured, calm and thoughtful introduction, which will, no doubt, be followed by the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, in his usual way when he concludes. As the noble Lord,...
I was talking about the progress that we have made and how well we have been served by the officials. We have had experts supporting the programme board, we have had objective outsiders on it, and we have had independent assessors.
When we began, we were faced with 36 options, as...
I was talking about the progress that we have made and how well we have been served by the officials. We have had experts supporting the programme board, we have had objective outsiders on it, and we have had independent assessors.
When we began, we were faced with 36 options, as...
The hon. Member is absolutely right: if we are cowed and go into the darkness, the bigots win. In an interesting article, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that the US Christian right, militant European Catholics, Russian Orthodox hardliners and even sanctioned oligarchs are working concerted campaigns to undermine reproductive...
The hon. Member is absolutely right: if we are cowed and go into the darkness, the bigots win. In an interesting article, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that the US Christian right, militant European Catholics, Russian Orthodox hardliners and even sanctioned oligarchs are working concerted campaigns to undermine reproductive...
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hollick, for precipitating this debate. I declare an interest as a member of the Industry and Regulators Committee and as a farmer who holds some irrigation licences.
As you will see from the report our committee published on 23 September, to...
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hollick, for precipitating this debate. I declare an interest as a member of the Industry and Regulators Committee and as a farmer who holds some irrigation licences.
As you will see from the report our committee published on 23 September, to...
With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement on how this Government are improving the journeys that matter most to the British public.
Our path to net zero remains ambitious, but we are making that path more proportionate. We are backing Britain’s drivers and slamming the brakes on...
With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement on how this Government are improving the journeys that matter most to the British public.
Our path to net zero remains ambitious, but we are making that path more proportionate. We are backing Britain’s drivers and slamming the brakes on...
Difficulty conceiving is a problem that affects around one in seven couples in the UK. According to NHS Choices, more than 8 out of 10 couples, where the woman is under 40, will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex. For couples who have been trying to conceive for more than 3 years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is 1 in 4, or less.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that couples who have been unsuccessful in conceiving after two years should be offered three full cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women under 40, and one cycle for women between 40 and 42. However, these are guidelines, and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are not legally required to implement them.
There is variation between ICBs in England in terms of what fertility treatments are routinely funded. The Government have published data taken from ICB commissioning policies which indicates how many IVF cycles are funded by the NHS in each area of England: NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in England (August 2023).
There is variation between the devolved administrations regarding funding for IVF:
NHS funding for IVF cycles varies considerably across the UK. In 2021, Scotland had the highest rate of NHS-funded IVF cycles at 58% compared to 30% in Wales and 24% in England. Figures for Northern Ireland were not available.
NHS-funded IVF cycles in England decreased from 19,634 in 2019 to 16,335 in 2021 (-17%). In Wales, they decreased from 1,094 to 704 over the same period (-36%). There was also a slight decrease (-1%) in Scotland.
Difficulty conceiving is a problem that affects around one in seven couples in the UK. According to NHS Choices, more than 8 out of 10 couples, where the woman is under 40, will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex. For couples who have been trying...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PB54
Poor air quality has negative health impacts. Air pollution was the theme of the Chief Medical Officer's 2022 annual report. People spend the majority of their time inside, and are exposed to a wide range of pollutants in the air that they breathe indoors whether at home, at work or in other public spaces including schools and hospitals.
Some groups are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of poor air quality; many of these people are the least likely to be least able to influence the quality of the air that they are exposed to indoors. Recent coroners' inquests have highlighted the direct contribution of air pollution to the deaths of two children.
A range of interventions to improve indoor air quality can be put in place. They include methods to control sources of pollution, improving ventilation and using air cleaning technologies, increasing public awareness and strategies to influence behaviour change. There is a range of legislative and regulatory instruments to improve air quality but few directly address the quality of indoor air. Criticisms include a the lack of legally enforceable standards for what would constitute acceptable limits for indoor pollutant levels, and a lack of an integrated policy approach.
POSTbriefs are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:
*Denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PB54
Poor air quality has negative health impacts. Air pollution was the theme of the Chief Medical Officer's 2022 annual report. People spend the majority of their time inside, and are exposed to a wide range of pollutants in the...
No, I am in the GMB, if we are doing announcements. It was also good to hear from my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Riverside (Kim Johnson), and for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley). The latter made an interesting point about Teddy Roosevelt, who largely got elected on the back of...
No, I am in the GMB, if we are doing announcements. It was also good to hear from my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Riverside (Kim Johnson), and for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley). The latter made an interesting point about Teddy Roosevelt, who largely got elected on the back of...
This is the second time that I have heard the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh) talk about glioblastoma in a debate. I am exceptionally close to my sister, and I think I would be doing exactly the same thing if she was poorly, as Margaret was. At...
This is the second time that I have heard the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh) talk about glioblastoma in a debate. I am exceptionally close to my sister, and I think I would be doing exactly the same thing if she was poorly, as Margaret was. At...
May I start by thanking Mr Speaker for permitting me to bring this debate to the House?
Sites of special scientific interest make an important contribution to the Government’s statutory targets and international commitments to halt biodiversity decline by 2030, and to meeting the goal of the 25-year environment plan to...
May I start by thanking Mr Speaker for permitting me to bring this debate to the House?
Sites of special scientific interest make an important contribution to the Government’s statutory targets and international commitments to halt biodiversity decline by 2030, and to meeting the goal of the 25-year environment plan to...
I thank my noble friend Lord Lipsey for bringing this short debate to your Lordships’ House. I think he was rather kind to the car parking companies because he has to listen to what some people out there actually think about them.
Anyway, there are 40 million cars on the road....
I thank my noble friend Lord Lipsey for bringing this short debate to your Lordships’ House. I think he was rather kind to the car parking companies because he has to listen to what some people out there actually think about them.
Anyway, there are 40 million cars on the road....
People who live in Axminster recognise that the station will be poorly served, and they as constituents will be poorly served by the changes. They will mean that blind and visually impaired people such as Marian will not know where to go in the station concourse.
Another constituent, Josie, describes herself...
People who live in Axminster recognise that the station will be poorly served, and they as constituents will be poorly served by the changes. They will mean that blind and visually impaired people such as Marian will not know where to go in the station concourse.
Another constituent, Josie, describes herself...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to include deer farmers in the rollout of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to include deer farmers in the rollout of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway rollout will initially focus on the most commonly farmed species: dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
My Lords, I do not wish to add to what I said earlier, but my noble friend has asked me something specifically. There are considerable concerns about the hunting of captive bred animals, including what is termed “canned hunting”. Such trophies should not be exempt from the import ban. The...
My Lords, I do not wish to add to what I said earlier, but my noble friend has asked me something specifically. There are considerable concerns about the hunting of captive bred animals, including what is termed “canned hunting”. Such trophies should not be exempt from the import ban. The...
With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the Prevent programme.
The terrorist threat to the UK is unrelenting and evolving, and, as I noted earlier this year in announcing our refresh of Contest, it is rising. To combat that, the tools to counter terrorism must...
With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the Prevent programme.
The terrorist threat to the UK is unrelenting and evolving, and, as I noted earlier this year in announcing our refresh of Contest, it is rising. To combat that, the tools to counter terrorism must...
I thank the right hon. Lady for her response. She raised several points to which I will respond.
First, I pay tribute to all the professionals and experts in our agencies who work day and night to keep the British people safe from the evolving, changing and, indeed, increasing risk we...
I thank the right hon. Lady for her response. She raised several points to which I will respond.
First, I pay tribute to all the professionals and experts in our agencies who work day and night to keep the British people safe from the evolving, changing and, indeed, increasing risk we...
It is not right to say that Prevent is anti-Muslim. Prevent is about ensuring that Islamism, extremism, radicalisation and violent ideology about hatred, evil and values totally at odds with ours are stamped out. The vast majority of British Muslims make a valuable contribution to the UK, but we must...
It is not right to say that Prevent is anti-Muslim. Prevent is about ensuring that Islamism, extremism, radicalisation and violent ideology about hatred, evil and values totally at odds with ours are stamped out. The vast majority of British Muslims make a valuable contribution to the UK, but we must...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce a requirement for (a) manufacturers, (b) supermarkets and (c) restaurants to specify which type of milk is used in their products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce a requirement for (a) manufacturers, (b) supermarkets and (c) restaurants to specify which type of milk is used in their products.
Where prepacked food is made with milk as an ingredient, this must be declared in the ingredients list. If it is not cow’s milk but the milk of another mammal, this must also be made clear. Similarly, if any alternative products, for example oat or soya drink, are used in food, the ingredients list must state this accurately.
A full list of ingredients is not required for food sold in restaurants, however as milk is one of the substances causing allergies or intolerances for which information must always be available to consumers, its presence must be made available to restaurant consumers on request. Similarly, if alternative products, for example plant-based drinks, are made using ingredients that are among those allergens that must be indicated, for example oats or almonds, this information must be made available to consumers on request.
Food businesses that supply other businesses with food intended for supply to consumers or to mass caterers should also ensure that sufficient information is provided to enable, when required, the provision of mandatory information to the final consumer.
My Lords, I am delighted to speak as the words of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Carlisle’s swansong die away across your Lordships’ House. I have been one of his flock in the diocese of Carlisle for the 21 years in which he has
served both as suffragan...
My Lords, I am delighted to speak as the words of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Carlisle’s swansong die away across your Lordships’ House. I have been one of his flock in the diocese of Carlisle for the 21 years in which he has
served both as suffragan...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) upland and (b) lowland farms there are in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) upland and (b) lowland farms there are in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.
Based on the farms which are registered with Defra for either subsidy purposes or for livestock keeping requirements, statistical estimates of the number of farms with significant levels of farming activity* show there were 819 upland farms and 195 lowland farms in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in 2021.
* Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and have significant levels of farming activity (as recorded in responses to the Defra June Survey of Agriculture or the Cattle Tracing System). Holdings are only included if they have more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.
My Lords, my name is also to this amendment. I am moved by a phrase used by the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, on Monday; he said the passage of this Bill has been a “series of conversations”. So it has been. The way the Minister has engaged with the House...
My Lords, my name is also to this amendment. I am moved by a phrase used by the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, on Monday; he said the passage of this Bill has been a “series of conversations”. So it has been. The way the Minister has engaged with the House...
I am sure the whole House will want to join my hon. Friend in thanking Hugh for his long list of achievements and for the contributions he has made to that community in particular. Not least, I understand, he is responsible for Daisy, a life-size plastic cow that he took...
I am sure the whole House will want to join my hon. Friend in thanking Hugh for his long list of achievements and for the contributions he has made to that community in particular. Not least, I understand, he is responsible for Daisy, a life-size plastic cow that he took...
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Hayter of Kentish Town for securing today’s debate. As has been referred to, 34 years ago, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed peaceful pro-democracy protesters were killed in Tiananmen Square. Tens of thousands of demonstrators in cities across China were arrested and imprisoned....
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Hayter of Kentish Town for securing today’s debate. As has been referred to, 34 years ago, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed peaceful pro-democracy protesters were killed in Tiananmen Square. Tens of thousands of demonstrators in cities across China were arrested and imprisoned....
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the potential merits of Government support for the 200th anniversary of Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle.
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Nokes. I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the potential merits of Government support for the 200th anniversary of Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle.
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Nokes. I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) health benefits, and (2) health hazards, of drinking untreated raw cow's milk.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) health benefits, and (2) health hazards, of drinking untreated raw cow's milk.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), has policy responsibility for food safety, including Raw Drinking Milk (RDM). A Risk Assessment was conducted on RDM by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food in 2018 and considered by the FSA Board that year. The conclusion was that the risk from RDM is not so unacceptable as to justify removing the right of adult consumers to choose to drink it. However, to protect public health and balance consumer choice and business growth, improvements to the controls applied by Food Business Operators were required and have now been implemented.
There has been no assessment made of the health benefits or hazards of consuming unpasteurised cheddar cheese or whey butter, and no assessment made of the health benefits of consuming untreated raw cow’s milk.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) health benefits, and (2) health hazards, of eating unpasteurised cheddar cheese, and its by-product whey butter.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) health benefits, and (2) health hazards, of eating unpasteurised cheddar cheese, and its by-product whey butter.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), has policy responsibility for food safety, including Raw Drinking Milk (RDM). A Risk Assessment was conducted on RDM by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food in 2018 and considered by the FSA Board that year. The conclusion was that the risk from RDM is not so unacceptable as to justify removing the right of adult consumers to choose to drink it. However, to protect public health and balance consumer choice and business growth, improvements to the controls applied by Food Business Operators were required and have now been implemented.
There has been no assessment made of the health benefits or hazards of consuming unpasteurised cheddar cheese or whey butter, and no assessment made of the health benefits of consuming untreated raw cow’s milk.
From rural hamlets to coastal communities, it is a properly functioning market that ensures fair prices for motorists, but for that market to function customers need transparent data to find the best price. On that basis, when we saw fuel prices rising last summer we asked the Competition and Markets...
From rural hamlets to coastal communities, it is a properly functioning market that ensures fair prices for motorists, but for that market to function customers need transparent data to find the best price. On that basis, when we saw fuel prices rising last summer we asked the Competition and Markets...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of stress caused by tuberculosis testing on the rate of abortion in cows.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of stress caused by tuberculosis testing on the rate of abortion in cows.
Bovine TB is one of the most significant and costly animal health problems facing our cattle keepers, it has a devasting impact on affected rural businesses. Routine and targeted bTB testing of cattle herds, using effective and validated tests, is a key part of our bTB eradication strategy.
No specific assessment of the potential impact of stress caused by tuberculosis testing on the rate of abortion in cows has been commissioned by Defra.
My Lords, I offer Green support to the comments from both opposition Front Benches on support for the Ukrainians.
I will pick up the questions from the noble Lord, Lord Purvis of Tweed, and the noble Baroness, Lady Fall, on nuclear weapons. It was rather covered over by the weekend’s events,...
My Lords, I offer Green support to the comments from both opposition Front Benches on support for the Ukrainians.
I will pick up the questions from the noble Lord, Lord Purvis of Tweed, and the noble Baroness, Lady Fall, on nuclear weapons. It was rather covered over by the weekend’s events,...
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill 2021-22 was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 June 2021 as aGovernment Bill. It would have made provisions about the welfare of certain kept animals that are in, imported into, or exported from Great Britain (see below). Second Reading took place on Monday 25 October 2021. Committee stage took place between 9 and 18 November 2021. The Bill was carried over to the 2022-23 parliamentary session and was awaiting a date for Report stage.
On 25 May 2023, the Mark Spencer, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced that the Bill would not continue any further. Instead, the government would taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually as single-issue bills during the remainder of the current Parliament. The Secretary of State referred to concerns about “scope-creep” for the Bill, including that the Labour Party would attempt to widen the scope of the Bill. The statement also set out the areas the government would be taking forward:
After the announcement, Sky news reported on 26 May 2023 that government ministers had expressed concerns that the Labour Party had intended to try to widen the scope of bill to include hunting.
The Bill aimed to address commitments made in the Conservative Party 2019 Manifesto and government’s 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare. The five overarching provisions in the Bill related to:
The provisions related to primates would have prevent keeping these animals as pets. Where primates were kept in captivity, the Bill would have introduced new licensing requirements to ensure that their welfare needs were met.
Under the Bill, the police would have had new powers to provide greater protection to livestock from dangerous and out of control dogs. Additional species, such as llamas, ostriches and game birds, would have also been given protection.
The Bill also included proposals to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, although the measures would not have covered poultry.
In addition, the Bill would have restricted the number of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) that are imported on a non-commercial basis. It would have also restricted the import of animals that were pregnant, under a certain age, or which had undergone mutilations such as ear and tail cropping.
The Bill would have amended the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 with the aim of improving zoo regulations and increasing that conservation focus of zoos.
The Bill also included powers for the Secretary of State to amend, or revoke retained direct EU legislation related to animal welfare.
Animal welfare is a devolved matter. The measures in the Bill would have varied in their territorial extent within Great Britain, however, none of the measures would have applied to Northern Ireland.
During Committee stage, there were several government amendments to the Bill and no successful opposition amendments. Government amendments included the addition of a new offence of taking a pet without lawful authority, aimed at tackling pet theft, and extending the proposals on the keeping of primates to Wales.
There were concerns about the Bill being dropped from a wide range of animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA, the Dog’s Trust, the Humane Society International (UK) and the British Veterinary Association.
The government has made announcements on several issues since withdrawing the Bill:
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill 2021-22 was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 June 2021 as aGovernment Bill. It would have made provisions about the welfare of certain kept animals that are in, imported into, or exported from Great Britain (see below). Second Reading took place on Monday...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide financial support for parents of children who cannot use Healthy Start vouchers due to their children's dietary requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide financial support for parents of children who cannot use Healthy Start vouchers due to their children's dietary requirements.
Healthy Start can be used to buy, or be put towards the cost of, fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses, plain cow’s milk and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries are also eligible for free Healthy Start Vitamins.
My Lords, I speak in support of the Bill on behalf of the Government and thank noble Lords on all sides for the quality of this debate. I pay tribute to my noble friend Lady Fookes and my honourable friend Henry Smith in the other place for their progress with...
My Lords, I speak in support of the Bill on behalf of the Government and thank noble Lords on all sides for the quality of this debate. I pay tribute to my noble friend Lady Fookes and my honourable friend Henry Smith in the other place for their progress with...
It is standard practice for long leaseholders in blocks of flats to pay a service charge to cover the cost of maintaining the building and its common areas. Long leaseholders have statutory rights in terms of information about service charges and an ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges, and/or whether the service provided is of a reasonable standard, at a First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) or the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal in Wales.
Freeholders of houses who are required to contribute to the maintenance of the estate’s communal areas and facilities, do not have equivalent rights. This practice has been referred to as 'fleecehold'.
The Government has committed to giving freeholders equivalent rights to challenge service charges, and a right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal to appoint a new manager for the provision of services covered by estate rentcharges.
There is also an intention to regulate managing agents to "protect leaseholders and freeholders alike."
The Government intends to introduce legislation "when Parliamentary time allows".
There is some suggestion in the sector that the proposed reforms will not go far enough. For example, Helen Goodman introduced the Freehold Properties (Management Charges and Shared Facilities) Bill 2017-19 on 14 November 2018 under the Ten Minute Rule procedure. The Bill’s purpose was the:
…regulation of fees charged by management companies to freeholders of residential properties; to make provision for self-management of shared facilities by such freeholders; to require management companies to ensure shared facilities are of an adequate standard; and for connected purposes.
The paper focuses on England but section 8 covers proposals in Wales. Scotland has a factoring system while the issue does not appear to have arisen in Northern Ireland.
It is standard practice for long leaseholders in blocks of flats to pay a service charge to cover the cost of maintaining the building and its common areas. Long leaseholders have statutory rights in terms of information about service charges and an ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges, and/or...
When the hon. Member listens to my speech, I think she will understand the compassion with which I speak. She will also understand that we are in a difficult position: we are legislators, and where there is something that needs to be addressed, as there is in these two petitions,...
When the hon. Member listens to my speech, I think she will understand the compassion with which I speak. She will also understand that we are in a difficult position: we are legislators, and where there is something that needs to be addressed, as there is in these two petitions,...
I am sorry that I cannot emulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis) by speaking without notes, but I will do my best to ad lib a little. I thank him for securing this important debate. I love his words that SMEs drive the whole...
I am sorry that I cannot emulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis) by speaking without notes, but I will do my best to ad lib a little. I thank him for securing this important debate. I love his words that SMEs drive the whole...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Isle of Wight island designation status and landscape protection.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Latham.
Islands have a unique place in the identity of the British Isles. We are a collection of islands, and some are bigger than others....
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Isle of Wight island designation status and landscape protection.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Latham.
Islands have a unique place in the identity of the British Isles. We are a collection of islands, and some are bigger than others....
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Latham. It is always a pleasure to hear from my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely), as he speaks with such adoration, pride and passion but, most importantly, a deep understanding and knowledge of his...
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Latham. It is always a pleasure to hear from my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely), as he speaks with such adoration, pride and passion but, most importantly, a deep understanding and knowledge of his...
I would like to start by taking the House back to 2012, when the right hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) was Housing Minister and appeared on Channel 4 to speak about leasehold, and said that only a “tiny, tiny, tiny” number of landlords caused problems. Since then, the...
I would like to start by taking the House back to 2012, when the right hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) was Housing Minister and appeared on Channel 4 to speak about leasehold, and said that only a “tiny, tiny, tiny” number of landlords caused problems. Since then, the...
We had a similar debate yesterday about poverty, the cost of living and disabled people. It was a heartfelt debate because everyone brought examples from their constituents. I congratulate the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Andrew Western) on bringing forward today’s debate. It is always
a pleasure to add...
We had a similar debate yesterday about poverty, the cost of living and disabled people. It was a heartfelt debate because everyone brought examples from their constituents. I congratulate the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Andrew Western) on bringing forward today’s debate. It is always
a pleasure to add...
If I can just complete the thought, the total cost of living support that the Government have provided is worth more than £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24. That is, on average, more than £3,300 per UK household. It is one of the most generous support packages for the cost...
If I can just complete the thought, the total cost of living support that the Government have provided is worth more than £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24. That is, on average, more than £3,300 per UK household. It is one of the most generous support packages for the cost...
I am going to look at access to nature in relation to protection of the natural world—and, indeed, access to it—through the prism of my constituency, which means that I will be very parochial, but I am also going to pitch a series of arguments to the Minister, as I...
I am going to look at access to nature in relation to protection of the natural world—and, indeed, access to it—through the prism of my constituency, which means that I will be very parochial, but I am also going to pitch a series of arguments to the Minister, as I...
I listened to the citations and I will go away and inform myself about them, but one can find a million citations in support of any argument, however spurious.
Let us get to the heart of food inflation. After reading the report from Unite the union earlier today, I went and...
I listened to the citations and I will go away and inform myself about them, but one can find a million citations in support of any argument, however spurious.
Let us get to the heart of food inflation. After reading the report from Unite the union earlier today, I went and...
That is the most awful fact and the most worrying thing that has been said today. Many of us in this Chamber will have direct knowledge of that from casework and constituents we have had to deal with.
As I said, disabled people tend to spend more on essential goods and...
That is the most awful fact and the most worrying thing that has been said today. Many of us in this Chamber will have direct knowledge of that from casework and constituents we have had to deal with.
As I said, disabled people tend to spend more on essential goods and...
The UK and Australia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in December 2021. This followed an ‘Agreement in Principle’ in June 2021, where most of the deal had been agreed.
This is the first ‘new’ UK trade deal signed since Brexit; the UK’s other trade agreements have largely rolled-over previous EU deals.
The agreement is due to come into effect at midnight on 31 May 2023.
The agreement contains 32 chapters covering a wide range of issues.
It will remove most tariffs on trade between the UK and Australia when it comes into force. The UK market for some agricultural goods will be opened to Australia more gradually.
Other provisions cover trade in services, digital trade, public procurement and intellectual property. UK citizens aged under 35 will be able to travel and work in Australia more easily. There are provisions covering technical barriers to trade, and sanitary & phytosanitary (SPS) measures relating to food safety and animal and plant health. There are chapters on small business, the environment, and animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions, which allow foreign investors to take legal action against governments, are not in the agreement.
The Government’s Impact Assessment estimates that the long-run effect of the agreement will be to increase UK GDP by 0.08% or £2.3 billion a year by 2035. Twenty economic sectors are estimated to see an increase in output because of the agreement. It is estimated to have an adverse effect on three sectors, however: agriculture, forestry and fishing; semi-processed foods; and manufacture of other transport equipment (although the effect on this last sector is extremely small). The Impact Assessment notes all these estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty.
The small economic effect of the agreement is unsurprising as Australia accounts for a small proportion of UK trade. The UK exported £9.8 billion of goods and services to Australia in 2021 (1.6% of all UK exports) and imported £4.6 billion from Australia (0.7% of all UK imports). In addition, barriers to trade with Australia are already relatively low for many products.
The Government described the agreement as “historic” and said it sets “new global standards in digital and services and [in] creating new work and travel opportunities for Brits and Aussies.” The Government has also said the agreement is “expected to unlock £10.4 billion of additional trade, boosting our economy and increasing wages across the UK.”
The Government has listed ten key benefits of the agreement. These include:
The main issue raised by the agreement is its impact on UK agriculture. The Government’s Impact Assessment estimated there would be a negative impact on the agri-food sector. Australia is a large, competitive exporter of agricultural goods. The UK farming sector is concerned the agreement gives greater market access to Australian producers who may be able to undercut the UK industry. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said “there is little in this deal to benefit British farmers.”
The Government said these concerns are misplaced for several reasons:
The farming industry has responded to the Government’s arguments, saying:
The issue of environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards has also been raised. It is important to distinguish between two aspects of standards: those which products must meet before they can be imported into the UK and wider questions of differences in animal welfare and environmental practices permitted in Australia and the UK.
On the former, the Government’s report under section 42 of the Agriculture Act concluded the FTA did not require changes to the UK’s import rules or changes to statutory protections in the areas of human, animal or plant life or health, animal welfare or the environment.
In addition, this report said the UK and devolved governments’ right to regulate was not constrained by the agreement. This view was informed by advice from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland and by the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) – the independent advisory body created to examine the impact of trade agreements on UK statutory protections relating to trade in agricultural products.
Some, however, have expressed wider concerns about standards. Farming, environmental and animal welfare groups are concerned that some Australian products are produced to lower animal welfare and environmental standards than in the UK. The NFU said it sees “almost nothing in the deal that will prevent an increase in imports of food produced well below the production standards required of UK farmers”.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee’s report on the agreement concluded it was unlikely that food produced to lower animal welfare standards would be imported into the UK. The TAC found “in most cases, the concerns [about standards ] were a little bit exaggerated for one reason or another”. The TAC did find, however, there was likely to be an increase in imports of products from Australia produced using pesticides that would not be permitted in the UK.
Calls to link increased access to the UK market to adherence to “core standards” on the environment and animal welfare have not been taken up by the Government.
The agreement includes a chapter on the environment, setting out the UK and Australia’s shared commitment to mutually supportive trade and environment policies. The chapter ensures that neither country can fail to domestically enforce environmental laws to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
The FTA refers to the Paris Agreement but has been criticised for the lack of an explicit reference to limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5ºC.
The increase in trade arising from the agreement is likely to affect the environment. The Government estimates that overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK-based production are likely to be largely unchanged. However, the estimates indicate there would be an increase in emissions associated with the transport of goods traded with Australia.
Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, trading arrangements for the movement of goods differ between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The interaction between the Protocol and the FTA is highly complex.
In short, the position appears to be that exports from Northern Ireland to Australia will benefit from the FTA in the same way as exports from the rest of the UK. For goods entering Northern Ireland, tariffs may not be reduced or eliminated in the same way as in the rest of the UK, depending on the circumstances. This analysis is based on the Protocol as it currently stands. The Government wants to see changes to the Protocol and is bringing forward legislation to amend its operation.
The Northern Ireland Executive commented that the agreement brought opportunities for some sectors but was concerned about the impact on agriculture and the adequacy of the safeguards. The Executive also pointed out that the Government’s Impact Assessment showed a negative effect on Northern Ireland under some assumptions. The Scottish and Welsh Governments both highlighted risks to the agriculture sector, while acknowledging benefits in some areas from the deal.
Three select Committees have published reports on the agreement:
The ITC and IAC reports called for the FTA to be debated in Parliament.
On 29 June 2022, the ITC published an interim report, UK trade negotiations: Scrutiny of Agreement with Australia. This criticised the Government’s approach to parliamentary scrutiny of the FTA.
The Government formally laid the agreement before Parliament under the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CRAG) Act 2010 on 15 June 2022. This Act provides for a minimum of 21 sitting days, which expired on 20 July, before the UK can ratify the agreement. The ITC called on the Government to extend the CRAG period to allow further time for scrutiny but the Government refused to do so.
While there is no requirement for a vote or debate on the agreement, the Government said it would seek to accommodate a request for a debate from the relevant select committees, subject to parliamentary time.
Parliamentary committees in both the Commons and Lords recommended that there should be a debate on the agreement. A debate on a “take note” motion was held in the Lords on 11 July 2022. Despite the International Trade Committee’s request for a debate, no such debate was scheduled in the Commons before the expiry of the CRAG period on 20 July 2022. There was, however, an Urgent Question in the Commons on scrutiny of the agreement on 19 July 2022.
A debate on the FTAs with Australia and New Zealand took place in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022. This was after the expiry of the CRAG period for the agreement with Australia. It was also a general debate rather than a debate on a substantive motion.
The UK and Australia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in December 2021. This followed an ‘Agreement in Principle’ in June 2021, where most of the deal had been agreed.
This is the first ‘new’ UK trade deal signed since Brexit; the UK’s other trade agreements have largely...
May I express my gratitude to the hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham (Jon Cruddas) for securing today’s debate and for the comprehensive manner in which he opened it? He said much that I can agree with. Indeed, there is not that much left to say, because it was a...
May I express my gratitude to the hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham (Jon Cruddas) for securing today’s debate and for the comprehensive manner in which he opened it? He said much that I can agree with. Indeed, there is not that much left to say, because it was a...
My Lords, before I make my speech, let me make it clear that we will not support the noble Lord, Lord Paddick, in his amendment. Of course, we oppose the Bill, and did so at Second and Third Reading in the other place. We understand why the amendment has been...
My Lords, before I make my speech, let me make it clear that we will not support the noble Lord, Lord Paddick, in his amendment. Of course, we oppose the Bill, and did so at Second and Third Reading in the other place. We understand why the amendment has been...
My Lords, in the House of Commons there is no party like the party of Marine Le Pen in the Assemblée Nationale, like Alternative für Deutschland or like Vox in Spain. The reason for that is that the House of Commons is a sensitive barometer of public opinion. MPs understand...
My Lords, in the House of Commons there is no party like the party of Marine Le Pen in the Assemblée Nationale, like Alternative für Deutschland or like Vox in Spain. The reason for that is that the House of Commons is a sensitive barometer of public opinion. MPs understand...
My Lords, one of the advantages of speaking relatively late on in a debate such as this is that it affords one the opportunity to hear so many contributions from noble Lords and the passionate positions that many, quite understandably, have. On the whole, this debate has been conducted in...
My Lords, one of the advantages of speaking relatively late on in a debate such as this is that it affords one the opportunity to hear so many contributions from noble Lords and the passionate positions that many, quite understandably, have. On the whole, this debate has been conducted in...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered railway infrastructure in Wales.
It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Cummins, and an honour to chair the all-party parliamentary group for rail in Wales. My hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore) is the previous chair, and...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered railway infrastructure in Wales.
It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Cummins, and an honour to chair the all-party parliamentary group for rail in Wales. My hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore) is the previous chair, and...
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. [Interruption.] Has the hon. Member for Hove (Peter Kyle) finished? Is he done? Does he want to intervene? In spite of the relentless nastiness from the nasty party on the Opposition Benches, we found out some interesting facts today. Perhaps the Opposition can explain some...
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. [Interruption.] Has the hon. Member for Hove (Peter Kyle) finished? Is he done? Does he want to intervene? In spite of the relentless nastiness from the nasty party on the Opposition Benches, we found out some interesting facts today. Perhaps the Opposition can explain some...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford West (Naz Shah) on securing this important debate.
We are debating the human rights crisis in Burma, where ordinary citizens are being denied the most basic freedoms and rights, and the...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford West (Naz Shah) on securing this important debate.
We are debating the human rights crisis in Burma, where ordinary citizens are being denied the most basic freedoms and rights, and the...
I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Torridge and West Devon (Sir Geoffrey Cox) for not just securing this debate and making such a powerful speech but leading the charge for us all in Devon in relation to Dartmoor over the last 12 months. It has...
I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Torridge and West Devon (Sir Geoffrey Cox) for not just securing this debate and making such a powerful speech but leading the charge for us all in Devon in relation to Dartmoor over the last 12 months. It has...
The hon. Member may regret saying that by the time I sit down. [Laughter.] However, I will seek to raise a number of topics.
Let me kick off with the excellent performance of Harrow Council. In less than a year, it has managed to balance the budget overall, saving itself from...
The hon. Member may regret saying that by the time I sit down. [Laughter.] However, I will seek to raise a number of topics.
Let me kick off with the excellent performance of Harrow Council. In less than a year, it has managed to balance the budget overall, saving itself from...
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Knight of Weymouth, on securing this debate and introducing it with considerable erudition and eloquence. This debate has become important in a post-Brexit age. It is because we have gone through the baptism of post-Brexit, and because of what is to follow,...
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Knight of Weymouth, on securing this debate and introducing it with considerable erudition and eloquence. This debate has become important in a post-Brexit age. It is because we have gone through the baptism of post-Brexit, and because of what is to follow,...
That was a fascinating and wide-ranging speech from the hon. Member for South Thanet (Craig Mackinlay). Twice he used the analogy of being a Betamax waiting for the VHS video to arrive. I am sure I have heard that speech from the Conservative Benches so many times that it was...
That was a fascinating and wide-ranging speech from the hon. Member for South Thanet (Craig Mackinlay). Twice he used the analogy of being a Betamax waiting for the VHS video to arrive. I am sure I have heard that speech from the Conservative Benches so many times that it was...
A Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill [PDF] was introduced to the House of Commons on 25 May 2022 and received Royal Assent on 23 March 2023.
TIMELINE:
Commons Stages: Second Reading, 15 June 2022. Committee Stage, 28 June to 7 July 2022. Report Stage and Third Reading, 31 October 2022.
The Bill completed its Commons stages unamended.
Lords Stages: First Reading, 1 November 2022. Second Reading, 21 November 2022. Committee Stage, 12 and 14 December 2022. Report Stage, 25 January 2023, when a number of Government amendments were agreed to. King's Consent and Third Reading, 1 February 2023.
Commons consideration of Lords amendments: 6 March 2023. All the Lords' amendments were accepted.
Royal Assent, 23 March 2023
Neither the Scottish nor Welsh Parliaments have granted legislative consent to the Bill. The Scottish and Welsh Governments have indicated they do not plan to change regulation of GE technologies for food and feed. The Scottish Government said it would block the application of this Bill in Scotland.
The May 2022 Queen’s Speech [PDF] said the measures aims were to “encourage agricultural and scientific innovation” in the UK” and that “legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production.”
The Act applies to precision bred plants and vertebrate animals (excluding humans), meaning they are gene edited, and would remove them from the regulatory system for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The Government’s Genetic Technology fact sheet published with the Bill [PDF] describes precision breeding as a range of breeding technologies, such as gene editing (GE), that enable DNA to be edited “much more efficiently and precisely than current breeding techniques”.
Precision breeding technologies can make targeted genetic changes to produce beneficial traits that can also occur through traditional breeding and natural processes. This makes it different to genetic modification (GM) where modern techniques are used to insert functional DNA from an unrelated species into another species.
Scientists consider that precision breeding will allow a range of foods with health, environmental or commercial benefits to be developed more quickly than traditional breeding methods. Policy makers hope these will help to tackle global food security, climate change and human health challenges. GE crops may currently be cultivated in several countries including Canada, China, the US, Australia, and Brazil (with varying regulation).
Examples of current GE products include soybean oil with reduced saturated fat sold in the USA and a tomato sold in Japan that accumulates a chemical that lowers blood pressure. For the future, a range of wheat, chickpea, and peanut products with health benefits are in development, alongside products aimed at consumer convenience such as seedless fruits and corn that is higher in thickening starch.
The Government said the primary policy objective of the legislation was to ensure plants, animals and food and feed products developed using precision breeding technologies are “regulated proportionately to risk” [PDF]. The Bill will “introduce simpler regulatory measures to enable these products to be authorised and brought to market more easily.”
GE and other new precision breeding techniques are currently regulated under the complex regime that applies to all genetically modified organisms (GMOs). EU rules on GMOs currently continue to apply in the UK, (although 2022 regulations amended the rules in England for certain GE plants used for research and development).
Regulations define a GMO as an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination, or both. The European Court of Justice in 2018 determined that the GMO regulations should include new breeding technologies such as GE developed in the last 30 years. This ruling was contentious and the EU is currently consulting on possible loosening of restrictions for plants resulting from GE technology.
The Government has said leaving the EU provides the UK with the opportunity to adopt a “more science based and proportionate approach to the regulation” of precision bred organisms [PDF]. This could “drive innovation and investment” in the UK.
According to the Government, it should cost less to take a precision-bred crop to market, compared to under the current GMO process. These savings would predominantly benefit the plant breeding sector, but also, indirectly, the rest of the food chain. The overall time taken to comply with existing regulation for getting precision bred crops to market will be reduced from an estimated 10 years to 12 months.
The main policy changes in the Bill [PDF] as set out by Defra, are to:
The Government said the changes mean the level of regulatory scrutiny for precision bred organisms is “somewhere between that of GMOs and traditionally bred organisms” [PDF].
The Government has said the application of the measures to precision breeding of animals will not take place until an appropriate regulatory regime is in place. Nevertheless, the Bill provides powers for the Secretary of State to introduce the measures by secondary regulation.
The inclusion of animals in the proposed changes raises issues about the health and welfare of animals. GE could be used for breeding disease-resistant animals for example, but some stakeholders warn of the need to ensure animal welfare is not compromised by breeding to select certain traits. The legislation is drafted to apply to all animals, not just those used in agriculture. It includes a provision for animal welfare to be considered but does not include any specific restrictions on what can be marketed.
Several Government amendments were made in the House of Lords and accepted by the Commons. These were principally to change the scrutiny procedure for some secondary legislation made under the Act from negative to affirmative; and to clarify which kinds of genetic features are permissible in a precision-bred organism, and the techniques by which they may be introduced. There were no successful opposition amendments.
Issues raised during scrutiny of the Bill in both Houses focused on animal welfare implications, the regulatory framework and the lack of any requirement for labelling GE products for consumers.
The Government said the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) considered that precision bred organisms “posed no greater risk than their traditionally bred or naturally arising counterparts” [PDF]. However, stakeholders have divided views on regulatory changes.
In 2021, Defra consulted on possible broad changes to GE regulation [PDF]. Most individuals (88%) and nearly two-thirds of businesses responding wanted GE regulation to continue as now, under the GMO regime. However, more than half of academic institutions (58%) and non-governmental organisations supported change.
Similarly, views were divided on the risks posed by GE organisms. Some 87% of individuals and 64% of businesses considered they posed a greater risk to human health and the environment compared to traditionally bred counterparts. In contrast, 63% of academic institutions and 82% of public sector bodies considered they posed the same level of risk.
Scientists are broadly in favour of removing GE from wider GMO regulation, as are many food producers and farmers including the National Farmers’ Union and livestock producers. However, some groups such as the Soil Association, GM Freeze and Beyond GM are concerned that there is insufficient knowledge about the effect on organisms and the environment, and that claims about benefits for tackling food supply and health issues are overstated. Others, such as the RSPCA, are concerned that changes could lead to lower animal welfare standards.
There are also concerns about transparency for consumers. Ministers have said food and feed from precision bred organisms are unlikely to need to be labelled as such. This could be an issue for products authorised under this legislation in England which are sold in other UK nations.
Although regulation of genetic technologies is a devolved matter, under the UK Internal Market Act 2020, precision bred products legally marketed in one nation may be marketed in the other UK nations.
A Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill [PDF] was introduced to the House of Commons on 25 May 2022 and received Royal Assent on 23 March 2023.
TIMELINE:
Commons Stages: Second Reading, 15 June 2022. Committee Stage, 28 June to 7 July 2022. Report Stage and Third Reading, 31 October...
I will address some of those points in turn. I will not stand here and defend the system—I have said what I have said about it previously—and that is not what I have sought to do today. I have been clear that what I am trying to do is identify...
I will address some of those points in turn. I will not stand here and defend the system—I have said what I have said about it previously—and that is not what I have sought to do today. I have been clear that what I am trying to do is identify...
My Lords, I too support these amendments, particularly the lead amendment in this group, moved by the noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath, about the gathering of better data. I will try not to repeat what I said last time, other than that I have some skin in the game...
My Lords, I too support these amendments, particularly the lead amendment in this group, moved by the noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath, about the gathering of better data. I will try not to repeat what I said last time, other than that I have some skin in the game...
Perhaps I should begin by addressing the remarks made just now by the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith), who said that he thought the SNP was almost ready to support this. I can say to him that he is almost right. We support the agreement—we welcome...
Perhaps I should begin by addressing the remarks made just now by the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith), who said that he thought the SNP was almost ready to support this. I can say to him that he is almost right. We support the agreement—we welcome...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cows were slaughtered because of Bovine TB in Shropshire in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cows were slaughtered because of Bovine TB in Shropshire in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Shropshire | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Total number of cattle slaughtered | 2047 | 2099 | 1981 |
The total number of cattle slaughtered include:
- TB test positive animals: animals compulsorily slaughtered because they responded to the tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma test, or antibody test in a way that was consistent with Mycobacterium bovis infection
- inconclusive reactor animals: compulsory slaughtered animals that showed positive reactions to bovine tuberculin that were not strong enough for the animals to be deemed reactors
- direct contacts of positive animals: animals that, although not test reactors, were considered to have been exposed to Mycobacterium bovis and compulsorily slaughtered
The information required is currently published at GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/tuberculosis-tb-in-cattle-in-great-britain
Additional information is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/incidence-of-tuberculosis-tb-in-cattle-in-great-britain/quarterly-tb-in-cattle-in-great-britain-statistics-notice-december-2022: ‘total cattle slaughtered’ tab.
I beg to move,
That this House has considered energy support for farms.
As a matter of openness and transparency, I declare an interest: I come from a small, family-run farm. Thank you for chairing the debate, Mr Robertson; it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I thank the Minister...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered energy support for farms.
As a matter of openness and transparency, I declare an interest: I come from a small, family-run farm. Thank you for chairing the debate, Mr Robertson; it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I thank the Minister...
It is great to see you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Like my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Mr Wragg), I will be ultra-parochial: I am going to talk specifically about the funding model in my constituency in relation to public services, and what the Treasury says or...
It is great to see you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Like my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Mr Wragg), I will be ultra-parochial: I am going to talk specifically about the funding model in my constituency in relation to public services, and what the Treasury says or...
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the number of farmers and growers in business in England today compared to the number in March 2018.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the number of farmers and growers in business in England today compared to the number in March 2018.
The department does not hold a register of all farms. However, statistical estimates of the number of agricultural holdings with significant levels of farming activity* in England show there were 104,476 on 1 June 2022, compared to 106,035 on the same period in 2018.
* Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and with significant levels of farming activity (as recorded in responses to the Defra June Survey of Agriculture or the Cattle Tracing System). Holdings are only included if they have more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.
Farm support in the UK is changing. The UK took part in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for decades. In 2019, the UK received some £4.7 billion of CAP funding. Around 80% of this was provided as ‘direct payments’ under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) based broadly on how much land was farmed. A further tranche of CAP money was spent on rural and environmental programmes such as England’s Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme.
Since Brexit, the Agriculture Act 2020, has been passed to provide a legal framework for the Government to develop very different approaches to supporting agriculture in future. The Government has guaranteed the current annual budget to farmers in every year of this Parliament, ending by 2024. However, in England this money will be spent in different ways in future. The Government is phasing out CAP-style direct payments and is introducing payments for farmers to provide public goods such as environmental and animal welfare improvements. These changes are taking place during a seven-year ‘Agricultural Transition’ period running from 2021.
2023 is the last year in which BPS will be paid. From 2024 to2027, delinked payments will be paid each year. Farmers will receive delinked payments based on their BPS payments in 2020-22, provided they are eligible for and claim BPS for the 2023 scheme year. Delinked payments rules will not require farmers to hold land or continue to farm. Legislation will be introduced in 2023 to make these changes.
The Library briefing on the Agriculture Act 2020 sets out detailed information and stakeholder views on the policy aims of the new funding framework. This briefing focuses on the subsequent development and implementation of new schemes, in particular the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. The paper was updated to reflect broad policy developments in the four parts of the UK since publication in July 2022, including to environmental management schemes in England. For future updates on farm schemes see Defra's farm blog which provides a rolling update on developments.
This briefing focuses mainly on England. Agricultural policy is a devolved matter, so the four nations of the UK have developed their own policies, with national legislation being introduced where required. More detail on this is provided in the Library briefing on the Agriculture Act 2020.
Defra is gradually introducing new schemes under the provisions of the Agriculture Act 2020. The main part of this new approach is known as Environmental Land Management (ELM). It has three main strands, being introduced in stages:
The Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme set up under the CAP remains open while these new environmental schemes are being phased in. The UK is funding new CS schemes in 2022 and 2023. The last new CS schemes will start in January 2024. Farmers may apply for a new environmental scheme whilst also receiving CS payments, provided the same land is not claimed for twice.
Separately, funding will also be provided for productivity improvements and innovation on farms. Other schemes to support animal health and welfare improvements for example are also being developed.
Farm representatives and green groups broadly welcomed the new farm support policies during the passage of the Agriculture Act 2020. There was general support for replacing the CAP system of paying farm subsidies based on the area farmed and instead paying farmers to provide public goods such as environmental and animal health improvements. However, farm groups were concerned that food production in itself was not included in the list of purposes for which funding could be provided.
Farmers have also expressed concerns about implementation of the new approaches. Particular concerns are the timescales for the new measures to be implemented and the extent to which the new schemes will provide farmers with enough support. The Public Accounts Committee has criticised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ “blind optimism” over the schemes’ introduction, and the insufficient detail on how the schemes will make up for the ending of current approaches.
Farmers and the Government want the claims processes and IT systems supporting to be simple and effective. The CAP scheme had complex application and compliance processes which caused problems for farmers. The Rural Payments Agency’s record for processing claims was widely criticised for many years. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is working with the Government to co-design new schemes.
Defra has said that it is maintaining total farm support in every nation of the UK, worth a cumulative £3.7 billion a year, and is rolling out ELM schemes to pay farmers for delivering climate and environmental benefits while producing the nation’s food.
Farm support in the UK is changing. The UK took part in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for decades. In 2019, the UK received some £4.7 billion of CAP funding. Around 80% of this was provided as ‘direct payments’ under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) based broadly on...
Showing results 101 - 200 of 3,208 in 4.36 seconds.