Live Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions House of Commons

will be taken which day? Monday 16th of November at 7pm. Monday seventh

of PM -- 16th of November at 7pm. Questions to the Secretary of State,

now. Mr Speaker, first of all, can I welcome the new shadow front bench

to their positions. I am sure they will find Defra to be a fascinating,

rewarding if somewhat predictable brief to be involved in. In the last

Parliament, we introduced the adjudicator to enforce the

principles of the grocery stpply code relating to their practice to

contracting arrangements. In addition we have in courage large

retailers to offer contracts with prices links to the cost of

production, many now do this for milk and they are popular whth

farmers. What steps is the linister taken to alleviate cash flow

pressures on farmers? We have worked very hard with the European

Commission to get support p`yment, the RPA are processing that now for

Scotland, England and other parts of the UK. Enter get that out hn the

first week of December, that will offer some support dairy farmers. In

England, we are working hard to ensure that we get bps paymdnts to

farmers on time. I might th`nk my right honourable friend for his

response on the debate last week on the impact of the living wage on

food farmers. Fruit farmers in my constituency support the living wage

but they are worried that supermarkets will not pay them a

price which recognises the hncreased cost of production. Could hd advise

what steps he has taken to support the fruit farming industry? My

honourable friend is right, we had a good debate last week on thhs issue.

As a former strawberry farmdr, I can say that supermarkets pay a premium

for English group, the qualhty is superior, we have better varieties

and they get a premium over Dutch and Spanish fruit. The Englhsh

Christmas could not exist whthout tilting cheese. -- without Stilton

cheese. Yet the Minister is refusing to allow the word Stilton to be

given to the only English cheesemaker because of bure`ucracy

between Defra and him, and xet, and yet, an entire herd of cows in my

constituency survives because of real cheese, and pays 45p pdr litre,

keeping them in good profit. Will the Minister accessed a full

Stilton, to give to the Cabhnet perhaps with the biscuits to go with

it, in order that they can understand the price being paid to

deny England it true English traditional cheese and therdby think

again? I think the company xou are referring to produce cheese using

raw milk that commands a prdmium over Stilton, it is a high-puality

product. When it comes to changing the protected food named st`tus for

Stilton, every producer opposes the change. Dairy farmers in my

constituency who are on non,aligned contracts are suffering for the

volatility in world dairy prices, what is the Minister doing to assist

in making them resilient to volatility in the market? One of the

key things we are looking at long-term is developing a d`iry

futures market so farmers c`n help mitigate the risks of price

volatility and manage risk. There is such a market that works effectively

in the US and the European Commission are setting up a

high-level group to look at how we can develop the scheme in the

European Union. May I also welcome the new shadow front bench to the

House. The failure of the m`rket to provide a fair price for wh`t

farmers produce mean that c`pped payments make a difference to

bankruptcy and continuing in business for many farmers. The

Secretary of State has been repeatedly asked to confirm in the

event of a European exit we`ther payments would be continued, and

simply batting it away is no longer acceptable. The RPA is making

emergency payments to dairy farmers, 2500 for the average

Scottish dairy farmer, to hdlp them with this period. We are dohng our

bit to ensure that Scottish dairy farmers are helped. One way that

helps farmers get a fair prhce for their produce is by their acting as

retailers themselves, through farmers markets and farm shops like

excellent ones in my constituency. What assessment has the Minhster

made of these is a small part of the way to help with retailing their

produce in a fair price? I should declare an interest, my famhly runs

a farm shop in Cornwall, ond of the best in the country X Mackid makes

an important point, in the last 15 years we have seen an upsurge in

interest in food provenance, people wanting to know where their food

comes from, and farm shops seeing a rise in turnover, it is a good way

of farmers protecting their own margins. There is a percepthon among

dairy farmers I represent that they are individually being pickdd off by

some of the big supermarkets. With that in mind, what can the

government do to support thd developers of producer organisations

and collaboration between individual farmers? I completely agree, we have

been trying to foster development of producer organisations. Dairy Crest

run one now it is a successful. We made available funding throtgh a

developer and programme in the last scheme to support the development of

dairy producer organisations and he is right that it is a key to dealing

with the fact that they are small and fragmented, making sure they can

collectively negotiate. The number of dairy farms and cattle in

Northamptonshire has fallen by more than a third since 2001. Largely

because of the way the CAPD is rigged in favour of the French dairy

industry. Other countries h`ve negotiated other early paymdnts from

the CAP this year, why have we not done the same? We have chosdn to

ensure that we get the full payments, the bps payments, as

quickly and as early as possible in the payment window. Around 60% of

the payments have been paid to farmers. We are working on the dairy

crisis fund. We aim to do the majority of bps payments in December

and the vast majority by thd end of January. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Given the farmers are struggling, I watched date will the last farmer

have received this year 's cheque from the rural payments agency? In

common with all years, the payment window runs from the 1st of December

right through until June. It is the case every year that there `re some

highly complex cases, typic`lly those of the NGO, such as the RSPB

which run large schemes, who do not get a payment into later on. We have

made clear we want the vast majority to be done between the end of

December and January and those of common land in February as they are

more complex. There are two forms of flood plan in place which affect

Gloucester. The Gloucestershire County Council flood plan w`s agreed

in 2014 and the National pl`ns from the Environment Agency will be in

place for the River Severn `nd the River Thames by next month. I am

grateful to the Minister for his answer because he will know how

vulnerable cluster is to funding -- Gloucester is to flooding, `nd I'm

delighted there are plenty of funds for a robust flood protection

scheme. Does he see a room for other partners like Severn Trent Water,

and how might they might take this forward? There are three eldments to

that. I agree that Gloucestdr is particularly vulnerable with its

combination of fluvial and tidal flooding, secondly, there is money

in place for Gloucester, ?5 million set up in a six-year guarantee from

the Treasury. In relation to seven Trent, I met the Chief Execttive two

days ago. We are always intdrested in the role that other partners can

play in ensuring that we have effective flood protection `t a good

cost. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Brit`in is a

leader in the dressing food waste, we have managed to reduce household

waste I 15% per retell wastd by 7.2%, -- household waste by 15%

retell waste by 7.2%, there is going to be further waste reduction. We

know from the documentary on television this week that

supermarket practices such `s unnecessarily strict cosmethc

specification for products `re contributing to waste in thd supply

chain. What is he doing to dnsure that supermarkets reduce waste in

their supply chains? For thd supermarket and retailers in

general, they are a very important part of the agreement, I wotld like

to pay tribute to some retahlers, Tesco has made progress on bananas.

There has been good progress on potatoes with Co-op, one range which

reduces waste by 30%. Retailers have to play a larger role in reducing

food raced in general. But doesn't he agree that consumers

also have a role to play? What is wrong with an over bent ban`na? What

is wrong with the twisted ttrnip? They taste just as good. We have to

educate the consumer. What will the Minister do about that? I think the

records of ministers and sh`dow ministers walking around with

strange shape fruit is not `lways positive, but to include thhs I

would be delighted to be sedn eating a wobbly banana. In the company of

the honourable member for Lhchfield. Could he get the House detahls of

what discussions he has had with supermarkets in relation to food

waste, and would he welcomed the announcement by KFC, who have done a

deal with the Salvation Armx to help hand out food so it is not wasted? I

absolutely welcomed the movd. I should also paid tribute to Tesco,

who has a new app working whth the charity, and Morrisons is moving all

wasted food to charitable ptrposes. wasted food to charitable ptrposes.

The voluntary approach is working. We are committed to planting 11

million trees this Parliament, which is in addition to the 11 million we

planted in the last parliamdnt, which is contributing to thd highest

levels of woodland cover in the country since the 14th centtry. I

think she seeks the group this with nine, 12 and 14. I do indeed. The

new national forest which covers much of my constituency has seen 8.5

million trees planted in thd last 25 years. What another 126,000 planned

for next year alone. It is not always about quantity, qualhty is

important, and the woodland needs managing. I completely agred. The

National Forest has been a fantastic achievement. We are celebrating its

20th anniversary, which was put in place by the John Major govdrnment

in 1995. It is an incredibld boost to tourism, and we need to see a

mixed righty of woodland behng planted, including many important

native trees like or and ash, but we need to make sure the woodl`nd is

managed. We're seeing more woodland managed. Does she agree that it is

important for management to recognise ancient woodland ,-

ancient woodland? Ancient woodland is of historic value to the country

and provides very important soil that we will never get back if we

trees, and we are committed to trees, and we are committed to

protecting it. Would she john with me in congratulating the project of

people testing the resilience of our native species? Girl-macro ht is a

fantastic asset, and as part of the group that is the jewel in the crown

of DEFRA. We have a seed bank and also the worlds largest dat`base of

plants which we are digitishng, so we can benefit everyone in society.

Clearly the importance of a well maintained, well-managed woodland

capability is dependent on demand for timber. What role is thdrefore

written to manage the demand, and what extra role can be fulfhlled in

the future? Grown in Britain is a the future? Grown in Britain is a

fantastic campaign bringing together people from through the timber

supply chain, making sure that more of the buildings we build in

country are using British would so country are using British would so

adjusting building standards, but also making sure the furnittre we

buy is made using British would We have seen an increase in thd amount

of domestic timber production by 8% between 2010 and 2014, and we have

seen more woodland under management seen more woodland under management

thanks to the project. Can we have some realism. Until recentlx, she

wanted to sell those forests, and isn't it a fact that more trees are

dying of disease than we ard planting? When will she takd on

these states in the country who are born blind for hundreds of xears and

exploited it? -- is states who own woodland. Well, I thank the

honourable gentleman for his question. I would say that we are

taking positive steps and w`nt to put woodland in trust. I have

announced an extension to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and

the Lake District National Park making it the largest area of almost

continuous national park in the country. We are building up Kew as

an organisation, and we are using it to benefit countries around the

world. I wish the honourabld gentleman would take more pride in

this. The Secretary of Statd mentioned a moment ago her belief

that ancient woodland needs to be properly protected in the planning

system. But the Woodland Trtst says the planning protections in place

are not good enough. What representations will she make to

make sure that planning protections are ancient woodland is improved and

made robust? We have excelldnt planning protections range `nd

woodland -- protecting ancidnt woodland. We have launched ` 25 year

plan for the environment, looking at capital and how do we make sure that

trees are planted in the right place, because there is a tremendous

difference where we planned to them, and making sure we build for the

future. Aside from planting of new trees, could she outline wh`t plans

the government has in protecting and developing trees which cont`in some

fine indigenous species, but also flora and fauna from across the

world, particularly in the dstates? She is absolutely right. I have a

fantastic arboretum in my own constituency, and we are making sure

that all the elements of DEFRA work more closely together, so wd're not

only getting data out there, for people to understand about the

National Heritage, we are m`king sure we protect it for the future.

Woodland Trust are doing significant tree-planting across the Unhted

Kingdom, and this Saturday will plant the many in a local V`lley.

The Woodland Trust is a fantastic organisation and we are working

closely with them and other voluntary organisations in the

tree-planting programme. I welcome the progress that she speaks of but

it is still a shortage of home-grown timber by the 20 30s. The UK needs

to plant 12,000 hectares of woodland for the next 25 years to mahntain

supplies. Would she tell thd House how she proposes to close the gap,

secure the land required to help farmers and other land owners play a

better role in this? Can I welcome the new front bench to their places.

I am looking forward to meeting you over the dispatch box over the

coming months. I would say to the honourable gentleman that hd is

absolutely right, we have a burgeoning timber industry hn this

country, we now have more ddmand for native woodland, which is ilportant.

It is important for biodiversity, to bring more woodland and fordsts

under management, and as part of the 25 year environment plan, wd will be

looking at how we can use planting trees to help with flood defences.

Last week I went to a project in Pickering, which is using woodland,

putting trees upstream to slow the flow of the river downstreal. We

need to look at it as a mord holistic approach. Question six I

thank the honourable lady for her question. Our consultation on plans

to improve air quality closds to improve air quality closds

tomorrow. Plans will be sublitted to the commission by the end of this

year. This builds on the ?2 billion of government investment since 011

on measures to improve air puality. I would like to ask, what action is

the government taking to address the fact that 7000 Londoners a xear are

dying prematurely as a result of toxic air? We have launched a

consultation on putting cle`n air zones across the country. This is

the first-ever national network of these zones, which will help address

our target to get the complhance by 2020 and other cities, and by 2 25

with the mayor, to introducd with the mayor, to introducd

ultralow emission zones. Is it not the case that 27 out of 28 lember

states in Europe are noncompliant with the air quality directhve.

Which he see the proliferathon of Which he see the proliferathon of

clean air zones as a way for the UK clean air zones as a way for the UK

to comply? She is right, and I know she did a lot of work on thhs when

Secretary of State at DEFRA. Our plans have been modelled and will

achieve compliance by 2020 hn cities outside London, and by 2025

London. We need to work at ` London. We need to work at `

the real driving tests with driving the real driving tests with driving

conditions reflected in the tests. Framework needs to include ` quality

and the tests. There is somd way to go on this. A decision was lade

watering down these tests in watering down these tests in

Brussels, and another was to pay a subsidy to diesel generators to plug

the energy gap. What she consulted on these decisions? The first point

he makes is the first time that at European level we have agredd that

the lab tests are not showing what the lab tests are not showing what

they are missing, so we are moving to real-world conditions. L`st week

we succeeded in getting a p`th to achieving this. -- what thex are

emitting. On air quality in general, would she agree that climatd change

must be part of the responshbility to the changes to your qualhty? We

need to look at both carbon dioxide need to look at both carbon dioxide

emissions and nox omissions, which is what this is about. The truth is

that Secretary of State onlx launched her air quality

consultation after she was forced to do so by the Supreme Court ruling in

April, and there are no big questions about the reliability of

vehicle emissions modelling, particularly for the newest cars.

Baashiqa hear about this or is it something she is trying to pass off

the local authorities? -- does she care about this? We are verx clear

about the clean air zones wd have modelled use the very best data so

we acknowledge there is a dhfference between laboratory tests and

factored into our plans. Wh`t we are factored into our plans. Wh`t we are

that we are considering incdntives that we are considering incdntives

to make sure it happens. I `m determined to deal with the issue of

air quality and to make surd we are compliant by the dates I mentioned.

We are looking at incentives at the moment, so we can submit final plans

to the European Commission by the end of December.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We are focusing on rural productivhty, and

we have ten main priorities. Those are mobile, broadband, transport

communications, investment hn education and skills, investment in

apprenticeships, focusing on houses, focusing on affordable childcare,

making sure that we have in place everything that we need for

businesses, that we have rural enterprise zones, and finally, we

have the localism to underphn all of this in order to deliver rural

productivity. I thank him for that answer. I am pleased he answered and

mentioned broadband, in a vhllage in my constituency, residents `re being

told to pay an extra ?7 a month in premium to access

told to pay an extra ?7 a month in premium to fast broadband bdcause

they are in a rural area. Ofcom are acquiescing to this and there is a

large amount of money to develop these networks. Will the Minister

make representations to Ofcom to stop this discrimination whhch is

increasing inequality. I wotld be very interested to meet the

honourable member and hear lore about this. That does seem tnjust, I

will be interested to hear who the provider is and why they ard

charging like that, it is an important issue for oral ardas so I

am delighted to meet him. -, rural areas. About a third of the

villagers in my constituencx, some of the houses do not have access to

superfast broadband. What steps is the minister taking to ensure that

broadband generally is as f`st and effective in rural areas as it is in

urban ones? I would like to pay tribute to the honourable mdmber for

the meeting that she held in north-east camera show last week

with 20 parish councils, Brhtish with 20 parish councils, Brhtish

Telecom and this is a good dxample of how local MPs can lead this

progress. There are new technological solutions that we are

bringing into place, by the end of this year, the universal service

commitment of two megabytes will be available but that will not be

enough for the future. I wotld like to draw her attention to thd model

of build and benefit whether government, Defra, Beattie `nd local

communities are finding out how to deliver fibre to local commtnities.

Mr Speaker, the factors that affect household food security context and

difficult to measure. Howevdr a recent report comparing OECD

countries say that the proportion of those who find it difficult to

afford food went down from 8.8% to 8.1% in 2012 from 2007. 1 mhllion

people relied on food banks last year, an increase of 38% on 201 . In

Oldham, 5000 people including 1 00 children, again, relied on ` food

bank. Given the resolution foundation estimates that an

additional 200,000 children will be pushed into poverty as a direct

result of the Social Security and tax changes this government is

intending to implement, what is the Minister doing working across

government departments to adjust the issues of food insecurity? First of

all, food prices have fallen for the first time in 15 years, thex went

down by 2.3% over the past xear In addition since 2010, we havd seen an

increase in household disposable income, up by around ?900 according

to the OBR. We have to bear in mind that the way to get people off

poverty, the way to tackle poverty is to get people off benefit and

into work and that is what our welfare reforms are doing.

This week, we launched the great British food campaign with some of

our most talented food and drink pioneers across the country

including the Welsh venison centre in his constituency. 2016 whll be

the year of great British food, and it is going to include tradd

missions, fantastic events `nd an incubator space at Defra. Thank you.

Welsh Lamb and Welsh water `re key ingredients in a recipe of our

economy's success. Will my white honourable friend -- right

honourable friend commends the company in my decision seat that has

created 600 jobs? With lamb prices so low, will she ensure our farmers

that she is doing every thing she can to ensure that Welsh Lalb is on

the plates for many years to come? Itself hit like his constittency is

a food powerhouse, -- it sotnds like his constituency. We are thd

number-1 exporter of lamb in the world, and Welsh Lamb is a very

important part of that succdss. I will be in China next week trying to

open that market for lamb and I will continue to push the case hdre in

Britain as well. Lamb aside, and we are not being too specific, isn t

there a policy conflict between promoting some regional food and the

government's anti-obesity strategy? What I would say to the honourable

gentleman is I believe in everything in moderation.

Mr Speaker, the government hs investing ?90 million in centres for

agricultural innovation to dnsure that our world leading science is

improving fast productivity. Last week I visited and wash -- dight

research Institute which will develop the use of model data

management and management. H and that he is currently working on a 25

year food plan -- I underst`nd, that many farmers have been central in.

How central data be in this plan and what benefits will it bring to food

producers in the north-west? I thank him for his question. We held a

workshop as part of our food and farming strategy elements in

Manchester, some of his constituents were able to contribute. Data and

technology will form a cruchal part of our farming plan. We are using

the way we can harvest data to improve plant health, animal health

and plot yield so it is vit`l to the future of our agriculture. The

government's plans are to l`unch 161 schemes in this financial ydar,

providing extra protection for 70,000 households. I would like to

take this opportunity, becatse this is the Environment Agency's flood

awareness week, to remind everyone living in risk areas for flooding

that there are very important personal responsibility is to remain

in touch with the irreverent agency, particularly through the winter

months. I would like to thank the Minister for the works of ddpartment

is doing for flood protection schemes in Fairhaven in my

constituency, will the Department look at flood schemes to protect

high-quality farming land? H am glad he recognises the work that has been

done the coast. This is one of the six project is in the Environment

Agency, ?80 million has been sent to that coastal protection. In terms of

farmland, the dock bridge ptmping station and the work he has been

doing with the farmers Insthtute is extremely important, I look forward

to meeting with him and the Environment Agency. Insurance

companies are suddenly ignoring the ?23 million flood defence sxstem in

my constituency, telling residents that it is irrelevant. Kristian

Telford, who has lived in the same property for 21 years, has just been

quoted between 3000 ?800 with an excess of ?7,000. What can the

Minister do to put pressure on these insurance companies to give

affordable, realistic insur`nce premiums? This is an import`nt

point, with government spending and record amount of money being spent

on flood detection, it is ilportant to have a standard that instrance

companies recognised so that when we make that investment, householders

can get the benefit of that insurance. I was pleased to welcome

the government's investment in the culvert in my constituency for

repair work which is needed there. Investigations have since found

significant deterioration in that culvert and there might be hn need

for extra support, canny Minister convene an Environment Agency and

city council meeting to discuss this? Delighted, Worcester hs a

special case, such of the -, much of the flooding has affected road

assets, this culvert is essdntial and I am happy to sit down with the

member and the Environment @gency to adjust the -- address those

questions. This week, we latnched the grave British food camp`ign to

buy more, grow more and sell more British food. We will be harnessing

the expertise of pioneering chefs, entrepreneurs and farmers to build

the UK's reputation as a grdat food nation. In the New Year, we will be

establishing the great Brithsh food unit to bring together Defr` exports

and UK TI into a single teal to support the members. The honourable

member is still chuntering `way about Stilton, we have heard what he

has to say about Stilton! On the 22nd of January, I expect to get the

second reading for my private members bill. It is not a government

hand-out bill, but it is abolishing the Department of Energy and Climate

Change. Business is keen to have the energy element, would the Sdcretary

of State like to have the climate change section in her department? I

think the government is looking favourably on this bill. I thank my

honourable friend for his qtestion. Of course, our department already

has a strong responsibility for climate change, climate change

adaptation, which is baked hnto everything we do. Defra's btdget was

slashed by a third at the l`st spending review. And it is hn line

for up to 40% cuts this timd. The secretary of state does not seem to

be fighting her corner to protect her department. What is she doing to

convince the Chancellor who is notoriously dismissive of

environmental concerns, and a prime minister who only pays lip service

to them, that Defra's work on flood defences, marine come in,

biodiversity and much more latters? Or which of those manifesto

commitments will she ditch? I will say that Defra is a crucial

department, we respond to animal disease outbreaks, we are

responsible for flood defences. And we also represent the largest

manufacturing industry, the food industry, which has a trend as

potential. Does not mean we cannot do things better. We have bden

talking today about how we can digitise our records, how wd can

inspections and do things more inspections and do things more

efficiently so we can spend more money on the front line which is

what I want to do. Thank yot very much, Mr Speaker. I welcome the

Secretary of State going to China and promoting great British food

that is being produced to hhgh welfare standards. What mord would

she like to do with the UK TI to cooperate in order to delivdr more

food export of great British food? I thank my honourable friend for his

question. We will be promothng Stilton in China, alongside other

British cheeses. It looks lhke the honourable member would likd to

accompany me on the visit. Ht is not too late! It is not too latd, if you

get in touch with my office. We are linking up UK TI and the Defra

export... what I wanted to say, Mr

Speaker,... Order! I want to hear the rest of it! What I want to say,

Mr Speaker, is we are creathng a one-stop shop so that any food

business, a cheesemaker, a pork producer, a gin maker, can have a

single point of contact to deal with the government and they can get

their products overseas as soon as possible. We might even havd a

statement to the House subsdquently about the Secretary of Statd's

visit, I am sure the House of the interested. To aid reduction of the

carbon footprint, what progress is the government making to ensure that

properties meet the new regtlations and what they giving to givhng to

landlords to ensure that thdy bring properties up to the highest rating

and not just the minimum st`ndard? This is I am afraid not an hssue I

have a great deal of detail on, I am happy to sit down and discuss it.

Climate adaptation is baked through department or policy, it sotnds like

this is something we need to sit down with the honourable melber and

with communities, local govdrnment and the Housing task force to

discuss. What are the value, which was the conclusion of the c`nal

under the trust when they discussed the

benefits of water restoration projects in the last 20 years. Will

the Minister join me in prahsing the volunteers of the lies navigation

trust, who for the last 30 xears have in working hard to restore the

canal to its full glory? I pay tribute to them, and we havd an

exciting moment with the last canal, potentially removing the pipe. If we

can speak to the person who controls access to the canal, we can move

forward. Among my constituents they are real concerns about the approved

liner terminal in Greenwich, which liner terminal in Greenwich, which

will have a high impact on the will have a high impact on the

already high levels of air pollution. How will my constituents

be protected from this? I thank the honourable gentleman for his

question. We are working closely with the Mayor of London to

sure it is brought into compliance sure it is brought into compliance

by 2025, but we will look at the issue specifically. As a bedkeeper

myself, I recently met with the beekeepers Association. One of our

objectives is to maintain bde colonies. I am delighted to support

my honourable friend with this, and would be more than happy to attend

the APPG. We have interest hn pollinating the packages. Otr own

beehives in DEFRA are doing well, and we had our first honey this

year. This government is all over the place on the issue of fracking

in national parks and protected areas. Having voted to ban ht in

January, last week they proposed to allow it, and now they say that they

want to ban it again. Can the Secretary of State confirm whether

it will be allowed in protected areas, and what effect it would have

on noise and air pollution? I thought he would welcome thd extra

protection the Department of Energy and Climate Change have put in

place. Under the Environment Agency, we have the best possible

protection for the environmdnt to make sure that any fracking is done

in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Can my honour`ble

friend tell the House what progress is being made from the rule of the

food and drink action plan to help small and medium businesses to

Forum, and we are making progress. Forum, and we are making progress.

We have ranked 4000 companids to export to overseas companies, four

times more than the had intdnded to initially. There seems to bd a vast

gap between the ambition of forest and woodland planting, and just to

be the Woodland Trust at thd all-party group on forestry proposed

a target of 7000 hectares pdr year of planting. And yet, if yot plant

it sensibly, it means 15 million trees per year. The current

available funding will help deliver only 2000 to 2500 hectares ` year.

How will the government work with them to achieve it? The fact is we

are planting 22 million treds over the period 2010 two 2020. The work

we're doing at the moment, looking at the contribution they can make

will mean there are more in the future as well. I welcome the

consultation from the Department on air quality given the high levels of

air pollution in the city. Will she confirmed that this will help cities

like Bath to introduce low dmission zones? I do remember standing with

him by the roadside in Bath breathing in the fumes. The clean

air zones we are introducing will provide a national framework which

local authorities can adopt and put in place in their area to address

air quality issues, so I hope Bath will be looking at this. Given that

Heathrow already breaches the limits first nitrogen dioxide, what

assurances can she give pondering the decision on the Davis commission

report, and can we accept the decision -- expect a decision before

Christmas? This is a decision for the airport committee. In London,

the plans we are putting in place and have modelled carefully will

bring London into compliancd by 2025, which is well before the date

for the airport. We have ovdrrun, but one more, just briefly. This

morning we have found out that burn on sea has fallen short of the

standards and bathing quality. This will be of great concern to my

constituents, particularly regarding tourism. Can reassure me th`t more

will be done before next ye`r's readings? This is an advisory

notice, it does not prohibit people notice, it does not prohibit people

swimming in the water. Regarding burn on C, ?36 million will be

invested by the water company, and I have every hope that we shotld be

into compliance. I am sure the into compliance. I am sure the

Secretary of State is aware of the vital work being carried out by

wildlife crime unit. Will the wildlife crime unit. Will the

Minister take the opportunity to Minister take the opportunity to

reassure the unit that they will ensure funding is maintained beat

beyond 2016? I am happy to discuss beyond 2016? I am happy to discuss

honourable friend join with me in honourable friend join with me in

welcoming the establishment of small welcoming the establishment of small

bee habitats in urban areas, as set out by the bee world initiative We

are leading the way at DEFR@ because are leading the way at DEFR@ because

not only do we have beehives on the roof which produced honey, but we

have established pollinator friendly gardens with plants that attract

pollinators, and that is solething anyone can do is put those plants

in. We really must move on. Questions to the right honotrable

member for Meriden, representing the judge commissioners. The first

female bishop was introduced into the House of Lords on the 26th of

October, the Bishop of Gloucester, and the church would like to put on

record its banks to my preddcessor, who campaigned long and hard to see

this day. In July I was abld to go to the installation of the Bishop of

Hull, the first women, Alison White, to hold the position, and now we

have a