I refer Members to my declaration of interests, as I am still actively involved in financial markets—though I am glad to say not in market abuse—and particularly in emerging markets, which has become more relevant in Europe. When I started in emerging markets, Greece and Portugal were such, and I...

I refer Members to my declaration of interests, as I am still actively involved in financial markets—though I am glad to say not in market abuse—and particularly in emerging markets, which has become more relevant in Europe. When I started in emerging markets, Greece and Portugal were such, and I...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of farming holdings there have been in less favoured areas in (a) Cumbria and (b) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last 10 years.

[111609]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of farming holdings there have been in less favoured areas in (a) Cumbria and (b) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last 10 years.

[111609]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the level of sheep populations in (a) Cumbria, (b) the Lake District National Park and (c) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last 10 years

[111049]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the level of sheep populations in (a) Cumbria, (b) the Lake District National Park and (c) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last 10 years

[111049]

My Lords, although I do not claim to be knowledgeable about local government finance, I think that the Bill is intended to encourage local authorities to mitigate the 10% cut in council tax support with various self-help projects. Mr Andrew Stunell, in reply to a debate in the House of...

My Lords, although I do not claim to be knowledgeable about local government finance, I think that the Bill is intended to encourage local authorities to mitigate the 10% cut in council tax support with various self-help projects. Mr Andrew Stunell, in reply to a debate in the House of...

My Lords, creating growth, reducing debt and handing back power to local people go to the heart of the Local Government Finance Bill. It is a limited Bill, confined to two issues: the retention of business rates, which appear in Clauses 1 to 8, and council tax, in Clauses 9...

My Lords, creating growth, reducing debt and handing back power to local people go to the heart of the Local Government Finance Bill. It is a limited Bill, confined to two issues: the retention of business rates, which appear in Clauses 1 to 8, and council tax, in Clauses 9...

• This note describes the methods of slaughter used by the Jewish and Muslim religions. EU law, like UK law before it, requires farm animals to be stunned before slaughter, but there is an exception for religious slaughter.

• The Jewish method of slaughter, Shechita, requires animals not to be stunned before slaughter. Islamic food rules, for Halal meat, can be satisfied with animals stunned before slaughter if animals do not die as a result of the stun, but there is no definitive consensus and slaughter without pre-stunning does also take place.

• Much of the meat on an animal killed by Shechita may not qualify as Kosher meat. There is no requirement that it should be labelled as meat from an animal killed without pre-stunning.

• The Coalition Government has no intention of making Halal or Shechita slaughter illegal, but it is considering welfare labelling of meat.

• Food Standards Agency figures in 2012, the first since 2003, show that more than 80% of animals are stunned before slaughter for Halal meat in the UK.

• This note describes the methods of slaughter used by the Jewish and Muslim religions. EU law, like UK law before it, requires farm animals to be stunned before slaughter, but there is an exception for religious slaughter.

• The Jewish method of slaughter, Shechita, requires animals not to be...

I agree with my hon. Friend that the Beecroft proposals are appalling as they relate to the rights and defence of individual workers. I shall say a little more about that in a moment.

In order to dismiss somebody, the employer does not have to prove that the employee has done...

I agree with my hon. Friend that the Beecroft proposals are appalling as they relate to the rights and defence of individual workers. I shall say a little more about that in a moment.

In order to dismiss somebody, the employer does not have to prove that the employee has done...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer for tabling this debate. I also thank noble Lords for making such valuable and insightful contributions. I am delighted to respond on this important issue. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Knight, that it is a subject...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer for tabling this debate. I also thank noble Lords for making such valuable and insightful contributions. I am delighted to respond on this important issue. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Knight, that it is a subject...

This paper summarises the Second Reading and Committee of the Whole House stages of the Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, which has been carried over into the 2012-13 session. Library Research Paper 12/01, Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, published for Second Reading on 10 January 2012 in the 2010-12 session, is relevant.

The Bill was introduced on 19 December and given its Second Reading on 10 January 2012. It was committed to a Committee of the Whole House over three days, 18, 24 and 31 January 2012. It was subject to a carry-over motion, passed on 10 January 2012, and remaining stages will now take place on 21 May 2012.

The Bill would make a number of changes to local government finance. These include:

• Introducing a scheme to allow for local retention of business rates

• Allowing for the introduction of tax increment financing

• Introducing a council tax reduction scheme to replace council tax benefit

• Making technical changes to council tax including introducing an empty homes levy

A number of Government amendments were made to the Bill during Committee. No other amendments were agreed.

More information about the Bill is available on the Bill pages on the Parliamentary website, http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-12/localgovernmentfinance/documents.html.

Explanatory notes are available and DCLG has also published a brief guide to the Bill.

This paper summarises the Second Reading and Committee of the Whole House stages of the Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, which has been carried over into the 2012-13 session. Library Research Paper 12/01, Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, published for Second Reading on 10 January 2012 in the 2010-12 session,...

My Lords, having listened to the debate so far, and thinking back over the discussions about this Chamber over the past 14 or 15 years, I cannot help feeling—I am sure noble friends will feel the same—slightly giddy. I have fortified myself with some water to keep me going.

I start...

My Lords, having listened to the debate so far, and thinking back over the discussions about this Chamber over the past 14 or 15 years, I cannot help feeling—I am sure noble friends will feel the same—slightly giddy. I have fortified myself with some water to keep me going.

I start...

UK dairy and pig farmers have recently put forward plans to establish very large livestock facilities or super farms. Such proposals have proven to be controversial. This POSTnote examines the current issues surrounding intensification of livestock production in the UK.

UK dairy and pig farmers have recently put forward plans to establish very large livestock facilities or super farms. Such proposals have proven to be controversial. This POSTnote examines the current issues surrounding intensification of livestock production in the UK.