:00:11. > :00:16.Good morning. Welcome to BBC Parliament's coverage of the House
:00:17. > :00:19.of Commons. At 10:30am, Chris Grayling will be answering questions
:00:20. > :00:26.on future parliamentary business. That will be forward by the Welsh
:00:27. > :00:30.Secretary, Stephen Crabb, giving a statement to MPs on the state of the
:00:31. > :00:33.Macur Review, which is enquiring into the claims of children in care
:00:34. > :00:40.in North Wales. After that the budget returns, the budget debate,
:00:41. > :00:43.MPs discuss some of the measures announced yesterday, and it will be
:00:44. > :00:48.opened by the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, who is likely to talk
:00:49. > :00:56.about plans to make all schools in England Academy is. Do not forget to
:00:57. > :01:01.join me for a round-up of the day at 11pm tonight. First, questions to
:01:02. > :01:12.Liz truss, the Environment Secretary, and her team. Order.
:01:13. > :01:21.Questions to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural
:01:22. > :01:27.Affairs. Number one. We have made some progress in the performing the
:01:28. > :01:33.common fisheries policy, so there is a ban on the wasteful practice of
:01:34. > :01:41.discarding fish and flexibilities in the way that quotas work. We believe
:01:42. > :01:44.that we should remain in the European Union, but if there is a
:01:45. > :01:47.decision to leave, there will be international conventions that
:01:48. > :01:53.government the way that nation states manage fisheries. The EU's
:01:54. > :01:59.Common fisheries policy has been a disaster for the fishing industry
:02:00. > :02:02.and our marine environment. Overfishing by heavily subsidised
:02:03. > :02:08.Spanish trawlers has seen North Sea cod start to fall by 80%, the number
:02:09. > :02:16.of fishermen have to, and Britain is constantly outvoted about our
:02:17. > :02:21.fishing grounds, by states that have no coastlines. Are there plans to
:02:22. > :02:26.repatriate our fishing grounds as soon as possible? The formal
:02:27. > :02:30.position is we should remain a member of the EU, but he knows that
:02:31. > :02:36.ministers are given the discretion to take an alternative view if they
:02:37. > :02:40.want. We made progress in reforming the common fisheries policy, and
:02:41. > :02:45.this year, at December council, we saw increases in cod quotas and
:02:46. > :02:51.haddock quotas in the North Sea because the work we have done with
:02:52. > :02:56.Norway, Iceland and other EU countries, we have managed to see a
:02:57. > :03:02.recovery of stocks. Does he acknowledge that one of the
:03:03. > :03:11.difficulties involved in bricks it if it is not necessarily that easy
:03:12. > :03:21.to raise the fishing rights? With many countries, EU member states,
:03:22. > :03:25.and also countries such as Pharaoh and Iceland, we have agreements and
:03:26. > :03:32.annual discussions about fishing opportunities. This is the norm,
:03:33. > :03:42.whether they are in the EU or not, there is always a degree of debate.
:03:43. > :03:46.-- Faroe. Whatever happens on the 23rd of June, can he confirmed there
:03:47. > :03:51.will still need to be quotas. Fisher men will still want to explore two
:03:52. > :03:58.thirds of the fish we land in the United Kingdom to EU countries, and
:03:59. > :04:05.86% of the shellfish that we land. Yet other still one writes to fish
:04:06. > :04:10.in these waters. He is right, countries outside the European Union
:04:11. > :04:15.do have quotas systems. We have looked at alternatives, but this
:04:16. > :04:20.kind of system is the best way to conserve fish stocks, we believe,
:04:21. > :04:25.and just as Norway and Faroe and Iceland have quotas, we would retain
:04:26. > :04:29.those as well. Regarding the market, which other side of the EU debate
:04:30. > :04:34.people are wrong, whether they agree that we should stay in or leave, we
:04:35. > :04:38.all agree that free trade is of benefit to everyone. I commend the
:04:39. > :04:44.Minister, who is walking a very careful when today. But he knows
:04:45. > :04:48.that we had foreign trawlers operating in British waters before
:04:49. > :04:59.we wouldn't the EU, and that would remain the case if we were to leave.
:05:00. > :05:05.How many bilateral arrangements would be necessary if we were to
:05:06. > :05:09.leave the European Union? And can the Minister tell the fishermen in
:05:10. > :05:14.my constituency how the crucially important EU Norway negotiations,
:05:15. > :05:19.which have a tremendously direct impact on us of the year, would be
:05:20. > :05:32.conducted? He makes an important point. It is a misconception that
:05:33. > :05:37.fishing opportunities are decided by the December committee, but they are
:05:38. > :05:40.made by the commission. The UK currently does not have a seat at
:05:41. > :05:49.these meetings, we are represented by the EU. If we were to leave, the
:05:50. > :05:52.UK would regain its seat on the commission. There is little doubt
:05:53. > :05:55.that membership of the EU has been damaging to the fishing industry.
:05:56. > :06:02.With the Minister agree that our relationship with non-EU countries
:06:03. > :06:08.such as Iceland are particularly important to the industry? Yes, he
:06:09. > :06:14.makes an important point. For Grimsby and his constituents, a
:06:15. > :06:17.close trading relationship, the close relations and partnership we
:06:18. > :06:22.enjoy with Iceland in particular, is very important. There is a tradition
:06:23. > :06:29.in this country that we import a lot of fish but we consume, notably from
:06:30. > :06:32.Iceland, and normally to a limited extent, and we export much of the
:06:33. > :06:42.fish that we catch, to the EU and other countries such as China and
:06:43. > :06:48.Nigeria. There are two separate questions. The economy package is
:06:49. > :06:55.under negotiation, but on recycling rates we are doing well, we have
:06:56. > :07:01.gone from 12.5% recycling in 2001, to nearly 44%. It is one of the
:07:02. > :07:06.success stories in the United Kingdom. He will know that the aim
:07:07. > :07:11.of the packages to have sustainable low carbon resource efficient
:07:12. > :07:13.competitive economy, would he be able to accept that if it hadn't
:07:14. > :07:17.been for the European Union, we would be nowhere in terms of dealing
:07:18. > :07:23.with the waste, we would still be throwing all our waste into holes in
:07:24. > :07:31.the ground in this country, if we had not had the stimulation of the
:07:32. > :07:37.EU package? He tempts me into a much bigger elliptical conversation, but
:07:38. > :07:40.it is true that the European Union has played a constructive role in
:07:41. > :07:44.this, has shown real leadership on this. There are things we can learn
:07:45. > :07:48.from other European countries, particularly Denmark, on the success
:07:49. > :07:55.they have had on landfill. I was litter picking over the weekend
:07:56. > :08:00.outside a local primary school, and I was dismayed to find most of the
:08:01. > :08:04.items were recyclable. What can the government do to and courage the
:08:05. > :08:10.next generation to recycle more and not miss the opportunity to forge a
:08:11. > :08:13.circular economy? If other colleagues as virtuous as the right
:08:14. > :08:20.honourable lady, she has set a very high and exacting standard. If I
:08:21. > :08:31.could join with you and paying virtue to her. The answer is that we
:08:32. > :08:35.need to work on educating people from school up words on the
:08:36. > :08:38.importance of recycling, but I believe we can also do more to
:08:39. > :08:42.harmonise the system so it is more straightforward wherever you live,
:08:43. > :08:53.to know exactly what needs to be recycled and where to put the
:08:54. > :09:01.recycling. I thought the honourable lady was seeking to come in? We have
:09:02. > :09:10.been mis-advised. Never mind. It is always nice to be wanted. Is my
:09:11. > :09:16.honourable friend away that some of these quotas in my constituency, it
:09:17. > :09:20.is based on weight, and if the county council, which is the lead
:09:21. > :09:28.authority, is collecting more through municipal recycling sites,
:09:29. > :09:32.they will get penalised for not hitting their targets? I am very
:09:33. > :09:37.happy to look at the specific issue, but we should say that most councils
:09:38. > :09:42.in the country still have some way to go, and would like to pay tribute
:09:43. > :09:58.to South Oxfordshire that has now hit a 67% recycling rate, when the
:09:59. > :10:01.national average is about 44%. Could the government have a look at the
:10:02. > :10:06.problem with the wretched number of plastic lined neighbour takeaway
:10:07. > :10:10.coffee cups. The overwhelming majority of which never get recycled
:10:11. > :10:16.because of the difficulties of ripping out the plastic lining of
:10:17. > :10:22.the paper. It is a huge problem. I absolutely agree. There are tens of
:10:23. > :10:26.millions of these things being produced and thrown away, and as he
:10:27. > :10:31.has pointed out, many of them cannot be recycled by the way they are
:10:32. > :10:35.disposed or the composition of the cup. Having tackled plastic bags,
:10:36. > :10:43.which I hope that one here would agree that it has been a success,
:10:44. > :10:49.copycats seems to be a good thing to look at next. We are making good
:10:50. > :10:55.progress on the flood resilience review. -- Coffey cups. The golf of
:10:56. > :11:01.evidence closed on the 4th of March, and the Chancellor announced that as
:11:02. > :11:06.well as the 2.3 billion committed, and original -- additional 700
:11:07. > :11:13.million will be made available for flood defences. -- 7 million. Does
:11:14. > :11:17.she have any qualms that our government is subsidising first-time
:11:18. > :11:20.buyers under the Help To Buy scheme to purchase their first home in
:11:21. > :11:24.flood risk areas, and they are not included in the flood scheme that
:11:25. > :11:33.the government have set up to provide flood insurance. The reason
:11:34. > :11:37.that the flood scheme only applies to homes before 2009 is that after
:11:38. > :11:42.that period we are very clear that there should not be any building in
:11:43. > :11:47.those flood zones. That is a clear part of the National planning policy
:11:48. > :11:53.framework, and it should be adhered to by local authorities. Can I thank
:11:54. > :11:56.the Secretary of State and the floods Minister, the flood envoy,
:11:57. > :12:01.the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister landed Chancellor from
:12:02. > :12:09.their hard work to ensure that Calderdale got there much needed
:12:10. > :12:13.flood defence money yesterday. Can the Secretary of State assure the
:12:14. > :12:16.good people of the Calder Valley that the Environment Agency and
:12:17. > :12:18.other agencies will be held to account over timescales to
:12:19. > :12:28.physically get spades in the road? I pay tribute to my honourable
:12:29. > :12:34.friend for making the case for Calderdale to receive that funding.
:12:35. > :12:38.I saw for myself the devastation that had been caused by the extreme
:12:39. > :12:42.weather over the Christmas period. We are investing ?35 million in
:12:43. > :12:47.addition there will be a report at the end of May about the Mytholmroyd
:12:48. > :12:52.defences. In October, we'll do a full plan for the Calder Valley
:12:53. > :12:59.outlining the timescales and exactly which schemes are part of that. Mr
:13:00. > :13:06.Speaker, the Government finally gave into pressure from these benches and
:13:07. > :13:09.applied for the EU solidarity fund. As the Government yesterday
:13:10. > :13:13.announced additional funding which goes some way to compensating for
:13:14. > :13:21.cuts to flood defences in previous years. Will any of this money be use
:13:22. > :13:25.in crucial research on flood forecast, warnings and defences and
:13:26. > :13:28.demonstrate the ministers understands the importance of up to
:13:29. > :13:34.date evidence in developing our flood defence plans? Let's be clear
:13:35. > :13:40.about flood defence spending. Between 2005 and 2010, ?1.5 billion
:13:41. > :13:45.was invested. In the last Parliament it was ?1.7 billion. In this six
:13:46. > :13:50.year programme, it is ?2.3 billion. We are adding an extra ?700 million
:13:51. > :13:55.because of the extreme weather we're seeing. The reality is under the
:13:56. > :14:03.previous Labour Government, nothing like that was invested in our flood
:14:04. > :14:06.defences. Whilst considering future plans, will my Right Honourable
:14:07. > :14:14.Friend consider the aftermath of last December's floods? Farmers in
:14:15. > :14:18.my Ramsbotham Bury North constituency are being denied access
:14:19. > :14:21.to the farming recovery fund because they do not accept Ramsbotham is in
:14:22. > :14:27.Lancashire, which is clearly is. When it rains and there is flooding,
:14:28. > :14:33.it does not stop at an artificial border. Will you ask the RPS O'Look
:14:34. > :14:37.at this and apply common-sense. I very much believe in common-sense
:14:38. > :14:43.and am happy to look at the case for his farmers. We've already allocated
:14:44. > :14:50.?1 million from the farm recovery fund to help those farmers get their
:14:51. > :14:59.farms back in order. Number four, Mr Speaker. With permission, Mr
:15:00. > :15:04.Speaker, I'd like to greet questions for nine. I believe farmers are
:15:05. > :15:11.better off remaining in a reformed EU. The vast majority of our exports
:15:12. > :15:16.to the EU, 97% of lamb exports, 92% of beef exports, and as part of the
:15:17. > :15:20.single market, we don't face the tariffs and barriers we face trying
:15:21. > :15:27.to export to other countries. That's vitally important for the health of
:15:28. > :15:29.our farming industry. This week, European Commissioner Hogan
:15:30. > :15:35.announced a new package of measures to support the UK farming sector.
:15:36. > :15:37.Following that, UK farming union presidents called on DEFRA, devolved
:15:38. > :15:43.Governments and the European Commission to work together on this
:15:44. > :15:51.new support package. Can she give me assurances these try lateral talks
:15:52. > :15:54.will go ahead? Absolutely. I was at the European council on Monday
:15:55. > :16:03.making the case for UK farmers. What I want to see is investment. Helping
:16:04. > :16:05.our farmers increase productivity. Particularly in areas like dairy,
:16:06. > :16:13.producing more products like cheese and butter to be able to add value
:16:14. > :16:16.to our industry. Does the secretary agree the EU is an invaluable
:16:17. > :16:21.support financially and socially to rural communities across the UK and
:16:22. > :16:26.we need to deliver a resounding in vote in the referendum. Can she urge
:16:27. > :16:31.the farming minister to listen to herself to ensure our farmers do not
:16:32. > :16:38.bear the cost of an internal Tory Party feud on June 23rd. I thank the
:16:39. > :16:42.gentleman for his question. The rural communities do depend on food
:16:43. > :16:45.and farming. What we know about food and farming, there are much more
:16:46. > :16:49.barriers to exports than there are in other sectors. For example, we've
:16:50. > :16:54.been try fog for 20 years to get UK beef into the US. We're still trying
:16:55. > :17:00.to get poultry exported to China. What we have on our doorstep is
:17:01. > :17:05.access to a single market of 500 million people for our fantastic UK
:17:06. > :17:09.products. I think we need to build on that rather than leaving the you
:17:10. > :17:13.were Ian union. There is not a single country that has full access
:17:14. > :17:20.for agricultural products without being a full member of the European
:17:21. > :17:26.Union. The Secretary of State is quite right in saying after bees
:17:27. > :17:30.bees in 1996, British beef went back into France and across Europe in
:17:31. > :17:35.1999 because of single market rules. -- BSE. We still can't get into
:17:36. > :17:39.America and China. Where you will are all these great markets if we
:17:40. > :17:45.shut ourselves off from the EU market? I agree. If you look at our
:17:46. > :17:50.lamb industry in the UK, 40% of all the lamb that is produced by British
:17:51. > :17:53.farmers goes into the EU. That doesn't just support those farmers,
:17:54. > :17:58.it also supports our rural landscape. It supports our country
:17:59. > :18:04.side. The fact is, there isn't a single country that's not a full
:18:05. > :18:08.member of the EU that has tariff-free, hassle-free access to
:18:09. > :18:14.that market. Norway has to pay tariffs and pay into the EU.
:18:15. > :18:20.Switzerland has tariffs. Canada has quotas and tariffs. We shouldn't
:18:21. > :18:24.take that relationship for granted. One EU regulation my sheep farmers
:18:25. > :18:30.complain to me about is the need for carcass splitting which adds time
:18:31. > :18:37.and hassle, especially as farmers look for insisters poking through
:18:38. > :18:40.gums. Can you update on the efforts to simplify this cumbersome
:18:41. > :18:47.regulation. We are making progress on this. The farming minister has
:18:48. > :18:52.recently had a meeting on this. With he need common standards across
:18:53. > :18:54.Europe so we can freely trade with those other countries. Its
:18:55. > :19:01.particularly important for the sheep sector where 40% of all their
:19:02. > :19:07.products is exported to the EU. Even with the EU capped payments with
:19:08. > :19:10.supply chain issues and low commodity prices, farmers are
:19:11. > :19:14.struggling. Yesterday' Budget offered little help. The continued
:19:15. > :19:20.focus on Corporation Tax does nothing to help the 990% of UK farm
:19:21. > :19:24.businesses which are unincorporated. Will the Secretary of State meet the
:19:25. > :19:32.Chancellor to highlight these issues and the need for a fairer tax system
:19:33. > :19:38.for corporated and unincorporated businesses equalaway? This April,
:19:39. > :19:42.farmers can average their tax over five years, enabling them to deal
:19:43. > :19:47.with those volatile prices they are currently facing. We've also
:19:48. > :19:50.improved the capital allowances regime for farmers and farm
:19:51. > :19:55.businesses. We are not complacent. We are continuing to work in areas
:19:56. > :19:59.like public procurement with our great British food campaign to make
:20:00. > :20:09.sure we sell more British food here and overseas. I share the Secretary
:20:10. > :20:12.of State's views of the benefits of remaining in the EU for farmers,
:20:13. > :20:18.environment and the wider public good. Why do we so often hear
:20:19. > :20:22.reports of the UK playing a negligence tiff role behind the
:20:23. > :20:26.scenes. Opposing action, waste targets, watering down important
:20:27. > :20:31.laws. If we vote to remain, I hope we do, can we look forward to the UK
:20:32. > :20:37.playing a more positive role in Europe showing real leadership on
:20:38. > :20:41.the environmentnd? I agree with her we need to remain in a reformed EU.
:20:42. > :20:47.I don't agree that the UK has played a negative role. Recently, my
:20:48. > :20:51.colleague, the Environment Minister, has led in the international
:20:52. > :20:55.wildlife trade getting agreement across the EU to help combat
:20:56. > :21:02.terrible trade in those endangered species. We've seen the leadership
:21:03. > :21:05.on the Common Fisheries Policy shown by the former Environment Minister
:21:06. > :21:10.stopping throwing perfectly healthy fish back into the sea. We're
:21:11. > :21:14.leading on CAP reform. This mopped, I presented a paper to the European
:21:15. > :21:18.council streamlining audit requirements where we got support
:21:19. > :21:23.for 17 other member states to move forward on that. We are constantly
:21:24. > :21:28.making progress. We're working to simplify the CAP. We have seen
:21:29. > :21:38.changing in the CAP. 30 or 40 years ago, we had wine lakes and butter
:21:39. > :21:42.mountains. Those no longer exist. 800 primary schools have so far
:21:43. > :21:47.participated in the scheme. The hope is in the next stage we will give
:21:48. > :21:51.one million individual schoolchildren the opportunity to
:21:52. > :22:00.select, to plant and to care for their own tree. I know schools in
:22:01. > :22:02.Worcester, who are great fans of the forest schools initiative, will be
:22:03. > :22:07.wanting to play their full part. Trees are a fantastic investment in
:22:08. > :22:11.cleaner air, in the quality of life in our cities and on flood defence.
:22:12. > :22:17.So, can I say to the minister, would he come to Worcester and see the
:22:18. > :22:20.tree renaissance taking place in an our city with the major leading the
:22:21. > :22:25.planting of thousands of new trees in the city? Thank you, Mr Speaker,
:22:26. > :22:29.I would be delighted to take up this offer. Worcester are showing real
:22:30. > :22:34.leadership in this. We'd like to see many more towns and cities in the UK
:22:35. > :22:39.engaging in planting more trees. As the honourable member pointed out,
:22:40. > :22:43.it is fantastic for air pollution. It's fantastic for biodiversity.
:22:44. > :22:50.Great for our leisure and health. In particular, I'd like to pay tribute
:22:51. > :22:57.to the work in Worcester that took place in Purdeswell.
:22:58. > :23:03.THE SPEAKER: We have a question on another 207ic which we await
:23:04. > :23:06.eagerly. Now another question. The maintenance of existing woodland is
:23:07. > :23:12.important. What steps is the Government taking to promote and
:23:13. > :23:17.main tan our existing wood lands? We have a serious of schemes on this.
:23:18. > :23:24.The countryside stewardship scheme gives grants in order to improve
:23:25. > :23:28.wood lands. We've new projects work inning on under-managed woodland. We
:23:29. > :23:31.have a million pound scheme helping people plan and develop new Woodland
:23:32. > :23:42.across the north of England in particular. Number six, Mr Speaker.
:23:43. > :23:49.This work on food waste has a number of components. It starts at the farm
:23:50. > :23:56.gate. Goes on to the supermarket shelves to make sure products last
:23:57. > :23:59.longer on those shovels and ends in the households making people
:24:00. > :24:06.understand how to buy sensible portions an they don't throw away
:24:07. > :24:15.food unnecessarily. The agreement has a target of reducing food Wass
:24:16. > :24:19.by a further 25% up to 2025. The minister will know the Scottish
:24:20. > :24:24.Government's pledged to cut food waste by a third the first part of
:24:25. > :24:29.Europe to set such a food waste reduction target of this type. Will
:24:30. > :24:32.the minister follow this example and pledge a UK-Government target in
:24:33. > :24:38.order to save money and cut food waste? I would like to pay tribute
:24:39. > :24:44.to Scotland for the work they're doing. I would like to point out
:24:45. > :24:49.politely, of course, recycling rates in Scotland are unfortunately lower
:24:50. > :24:53.than they are in England and Wales. However, we very much endorse the
:24:54. > :24:57.Government of Scotland's desire to improve that recycling rate, in
:24:58. > :25:02.particular, in relation to food waste. Where food waste occurs it is
:25:03. > :25:10.important to treat it as a resource put it to good use rather than going
:25:11. > :25:16.to landfill. One of the best uses in an air robic digestures. Food waste
:25:17. > :25:22.is clacked by local authorities, what discussions has the minister
:25:23. > :25:28.had to encourage councils to raise the proportion of food waste to go
:25:29. > :25:33.to an aerobic digestion? The first is to make sure an councils in
:25:34. > :25:38.Europe move to separate food waste collections. The second is making
:25:39. > :25:42.sure we minimise that food waste but when that food waste occurs it is
:25:43. > :25:46.used for composting or for the generation of energy. That involves
:25:47. > :25:54.a long-term plan also for infrastructure. Can I offer you, Mr
:25:55. > :25:58.Speaker and the Right Honourable Member, a happy St Patrick's Day!
:25:59. > :26:01.They say if the sun shines on St Patrick's Day, it will be a very
:26:02. > :26:09.good summer. Only time will tell if that's the case or not! I welcome
:26:10. > :26:13.the news, minister, that Tesco have said all their unsold food will be
:26:14. > :26:21.given a charities. Undoubtedly this will have a huge impact on reducing
:26:22. > :26:28.foot waste. What discussions has the minister had with other food chains?
:26:29. > :26:32.Could I join in celebrating St Patrick's Day. Tesco is taking a
:26:33. > :26:37.serious lead on this. Many other retailers have also taken lead.
:26:38. > :26:42.Morrisons and the Co-op on the procurement of food and its lasting.
:26:43. > :26:47.All the major retailers have signed up to the 2025 agreement. Currently,
:26:48. > :26:51.the waste coming from those retailers from their shelves is 0.2
:26:52. > :26:58.million tonnes per year, lower than in other sectors. Supermarkets can
:26:59. > :27:02.contribute more down the chain, at the farm gate and the household.
:27:03. > :27:13.We'll continue to work closely with them on that. If he wants further
:27:14. > :27:18.advice on an aerobic digestive plants see the farmer in my
:27:19. > :27:22.constituency based in a village on western and bracken field. Several
:27:23. > :27:27.years ago I mentioned the fact he was having an an aerobic digestive
:27:28. > :27:30.plant in this House. It is up and running. Everyone will visit him.
:27:31. > :27:38.His department should go and see how it works. Everything's in running
:27:39. > :27:42.order. Just like everything else in Bolsover!
:27:43. > :27:51.We very much hope that the plant is in Derbyshire, rather than in this
:27:52. > :27:56.House! I feel this is a great compliment and opportunity for me to
:27:57. > :28:00.spend time with him, who I have long admired, and I look forward to
:28:01. > :28:04.visiting the planned with him. I am sure we will get a report in due
:28:05. > :28:14.course. LAUGHTER Question seven.
:28:15. > :28:20.Part three of the UK marine strategy published in December last year sets
:28:21. > :28:23.out the actions we are taking to improve the marine environment,
:28:24. > :28:26.including measures to reducing sources of marine litter, including
:28:27. > :28:31.plastics. In England we have introduced a 5p charge on single use
:28:32. > :28:39.plastic axe, following the success in other parts of the UK. Given the
:28:40. > :28:45.boundary nature, we are working with other countries in the protection of
:28:46. > :28:57.marine environment. Plastic waste is damaging our coastlines and marine
:28:58. > :29:01.life, not least in my constituency, will the government follow President
:29:02. > :29:27.Obama's redone and micro beads and cosmetics? -- lead and ban.
:29:28. > :29:34.Cosmetics industry have decided to phase out these micro beads. Nothing
:29:35. > :29:37.is more heartbreaking than walking along the coast, or even in
:29:38. > :29:44.Lichfield, in the middle of the nation, where we have lakes and
:29:45. > :29:50.seeing animals suffering because of hacks and other material which has
:29:51. > :29:55.been left. He makes a very important point, which is why we took the
:29:56. > :30:00.decision to introduce the 5p charge on single use plastic bags. We have
:30:01. > :30:05.a problem with plastics, in that they remain in the environment for a
:30:06. > :30:10.long time, so it is a compound of Rob Appleyard to every year. Once
:30:11. > :30:17.they are in the environment, it is difficult to remove them. So it is
:30:18. > :30:23.essential that we do all we can to stop this. At the last environment
:30:24. > :30:31.questions, he assured me the government was serious in tackling
:30:32. > :30:35.plastic pollution. All we hear is encouraging voluntary action and
:30:36. > :30:40.having overarching concerns. Ten EU countries have invested in research
:30:41. > :30:45.into micro plastics in the sea, a joint initiative on the oceans. We
:30:46. > :30:50.have world-class marine research facilities in the UK, so buyer we
:30:51. > :30:55.not part of this? She will find that we are doing a lot of research on
:30:56. > :30:59.marine plastics. Plymouth University have done some work for us on this.
:31:00. > :31:05.We do want action across Europe on this, which is why we have worked
:31:06. > :31:09.with partners in the convention, and have pressed to get this ball
:31:10. > :31:13.undertaking to get rid of micro beads, but we have also been very
:31:14. > :31:32.clear that we do not rule out regulatory steps if necessary. 246
:31:33. > :31:37.schemes have begun in the 2016 period, and 119 are due for
:31:38. > :31:41.completion. Can he update us on the progress with legislation required
:31:42. > :31:46.to set up the Somerset Rivers authority so we can fund flood
:31:47. > :31:52.protection in the future. Currently there is a caveat for the funding,
:31:53. > :31:59.but local authorities really do need a legislation to be set up for the
:32:00. > :32:02.precept for 2017 - 18. As she is aware, DEFRA committed ?1.7 billion
:32:03. > :32:08.to the Somerset Rivers authority. We have moved into a position where the
:32:09. > :32:12.Rivers authority has decided it's preferred solution is a precept
:32:13. > :32:24.comment which is coming into effect in April this year. We look forward
:32:25. > :32:27.to this. The Foss barrier will be underfunded by this government for
:32:28. > :32:33.the improvement it needs. The capacity of the pumps will be at 40
:32:34. > :32:37.tonnes per second, not 50. 50 is what is needed. Will the Minister
:32:38. > :32:42.commit to looking at this to make sure we have sufficient funds to
:32:43. > :32:45.improve the barrier? We have significant funds for the barrier,
:32:46. > :32:49.we are absolutely committed to looking at this, and happy to look
:32:50. > :32:54.at the Foss barrier with her. That calculation on the pumps is an
:32:55. > :32:57.engineering calculation, and we're happy to look at the flood maps, but
:32:58. > :33:03.we will provide the correct funds to have the correct solution. We are
:33:04. > :33:11.short of time, so single sentence supplementary questions. Farmers
:33:12. > :33:15.clear ditches and drainage channels after flooding. What progress has
:33:16. > :33:21.been made to remove the bureaucracy which stops them from doing this? We
:33:22. > :33:29.took through the House two weeks ago the new legislation which will
:33:30. > :33:32.simplify what happens. We will focus the Environment Agency's efforts on
:33:33. > :33:37.the high-risk cases. We have reduced if 50% read it, and we are allowing
:33:38. > :33:40.farmers in non-specialist environmental zones to be able to
:33:41. > :33:49.clear 1500 metres of training ditch without having to get a permit. Will
:33:50. > :33:53.the money given under the budget stay with the Treasury or
:33:54. > :33:57.transferred directly to the department? How much will be
:33:58. > :34:02.allocated for maintenance of this? We are discussing the details of it,
:34:03. > :34:05.but we had clarity from the Treasury that at least ?40 million in the
:34:06. > :34:11.first year will go into maintenance, and we can see that 200 million in
:34:12. > :34:16.the initial allocation will go into capital spending on defence is. The
:34:17. > :34:20.Lincolnshire walls are beautiful but suffer from flooding. How many homes
:34:21. > :34:27.will be protected in the market towns in my constituency as a result
:34:28. > :34:30.of the flood alleviation schemes funded in part by this government,
:34:31. > :34:40.Lincolnshire County Council, and East Lindsey county council? 1300,
:34:41. > :34:52.sorry, 13,000 900 properties are due to be protected, and over 300 will
:34:53. > :34:58.be protected in those areas. -- 13,900. Mr Speaker, monitoring
:34:59. > :35:03.levels of air pollution is something we continue to improve in line with
:35:04. > :35:09.the EU ambient air quality directive and in line with the calculations
:35:10. > :35:13.produced. We have increased the number of nitrogen dioxide
:35:14. > :35:19.monitoring stations by over 30% over the last three years. Air pollution
:35:20. > :35:25.will cost many more thousands of lives if air quality is not improved
:35:26. > :35:27.significantly. How will the government achieved legally binding
:35:28. > :35:34.targets for air pollution if the third runway at Heathrow is
:35:35. > :35:38.permitted? The objective at the moment is to focus on nitrogen
:35:39. > :35:46.dioxide thresholds and ensure we do reduce ambient air quality rates,
:35:47. > :35:50.below 40 micrograms per cubic metre. The Heathrow question is totally
:35:51. > :35:52.separate, and will have to be assessed independently by the
:35:53. > :36:05.Environment Agency to see if they meet the ambient air quality
:36:06. > :36:19.targets. Air pollution kills 50,000 people a year yet the government is
:36:20. > :36:25.unconcerned... The answer to that question is that it is in those five
:36:26. > :36:30.cities that the ambient air quality level of 40 micrograms per cubic
:36:31. > :36:35.metre is due to be exceeded. Therefore our objective is to make
:36:36. > :36:39.sure that by 2020, in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham Derby and
:36:40. > :36:46.Southampton, we drop the level below that. In Deptford, it pollution
:36:47. > :36:52.levels are over double the European limit. London breached annual air
:36:53. > :37:01.pollution limits days into 2016. Does the Secretary of State think
:37:02. > :37:05.his department is doing enough? We have reduced nitrogen dioxide
:37:06. > :37:09.dramatically in Britain by 44%, but there are still significant problems
:37:10. > :37:13.in London. Part of that is to do with the population size and the
:37:14. > :37:17.design of London, which is why there is an ultralow emission zone
:37:18. > :37:22.introduced into London, to make sure we exclude the vehicles which cause
:37:23. > :37:35.the majority of this. Topical questions. Number one. This country
:37:36. > :37:38.is committed to ensuring our country is resilient in the face of more
:37:39. > :37:43.extreme weather, which is why we announced in the budget yesterday an
:37:44. > :37:47.additional 700 million for flood defences on top of the 2.3 billion
:37:48. > :37:52.capital budget we have already picked in place. That means 150
:37:53. > :37:56.million for new schemes in those areas affected either winter floods
:37:57. > :38:02.and further funding to support the outcomes of the national resilience
:38:03. > :38:09.review. On a different matter, Staffordshire farmers...
:38:10. > :38:13.LAUGHTER Staffordshire farmers are particularly strong in dairy
:38:14. > :38:18.farming. They are suffering, like all dearly
:38:19. > :38:22.farmers over the United Kingdom, from volatile prices, and low milk
:38:23. > :38:27.prices. What can my right honourable friend do to try to get milk being
:38:28. > :38:31.consumed even more, I am a great lover of it, but particularly
:38:32. > :38:41.government departments buying milk? That is why I have good teeth! I
:38:42. > :38:45.compliment him on his teeth. We have been working very hard on government
:38:46. > :38:51.procurement. 100% of the milk that government departments by is
:38:52. > :38:56.British, as well as 98% of the battered and 86% of the cheese. I am
:38:57. > :39:01.pleased to inform the House that from April this year, all 30 million
:39:02. > :39:16.cartons of milk supplied to the HM Prison service will be British.
:39:17. > :39:20.Derbys authorities have found that 60% of takeaway ham and cheese
:39:21. > :39:27.pizzas contained neither ham nor cheese. So to protect public health
:39:28. > :39:31.and give confidence in the food we eat, when will the much trumpeted
:39:32. > :39:42.but little seen food crime unit be given the teeth deserves? -- it
:39:43. > :39:45.deserves. The food crime unit has been established, and it is
:39:46. > :39:52.operational. I am sure they will be looking into cases like that. The
:39:53. > :39:56.shellfish industry is worth half a million to the local economy in
:39:57. > :40:01.Portsmouth, and has been affected by pollution in the past. What progress
:40:02. > :40:04.is the government waking to balance the legitimate interests of the
:40:05. > :40:10.fishing industry and Marine Corps is be in? She makes a good point and
:40:11. > :40:25.she knows we designated an additional 23 Marine Corps beat
:40:26. > :40:29.Sones, taking -- Marine conservation zones. We need to balance the needs
:40:30. > :40:34.of fishing and the environment, which is what we intend to do. The
:40:35. > :40:38.Secretary of State has acknowledged the need for better management of
:40:39. > :40:43.water catchment in preventing floods. So what concerns does she
:40:44. > :40:59.have about the burning of Heather to improve gross grouse moors. --
:41:00. > :41:04.grouse moors. We want to see environment of catchments to reduce
:41:05. > :41:08.the flow going into towns and cities, but also to make sure we see
:41:09. > :41:13.more farmland protected, which is part of the 25 year environment plan
:41:14. > :41:16.we are developing at the moment, but the important thing to acknowledge
:41:17. > :41:20.is the schemes we announced yesterday in the budget will be
:41:21. > :41:27.looked at on a catchment basis, so we're not just looking at Leeds, we
:41:28. > :41:32.will also be looking at the entire Delia. A number of my constituents
:41:33. > :41:37.have suffered a delay in the basic payment scheme with all the worry
:41:38. > :41:42.and anxiety it has caused. What guarantee can he give that this will
:41:43. > :41:47.not happen again in the future? We worked very hard with 1000 people on
:41:48. > :41:51.this project to pay farmers as soon as possible. We have done better
:41:52. > :41:56.than other parts of the UK, such as Scotland, but we have got 83% of
:41:57. > :42:01.farmers paid, and we believe that from next year, it will be much
:42:02. > :42:07.easier for farmers to complete the application because the data will
:42:08. > :42:12.already be there. Crime is rising in my urban constituency. It has been
:42:13. > :42:15.proven that access to open spaces and the natural environment can
:42:16. > :42:20.reduce stress and have a calming effect. With the Minister consider
:42:21. > :42:26.discussing with me the trial of a programme to get those at risk to
:42:27. > :42:30.experience the calming effect of the natural environment?
:42:31. > :42:35.I agree about the importance of the natural environment and making sure
:42:36. > :42:39.our children and young people have access to it. Earlier this week, I
:42:40. > :42:47.was with Zac Goldsmith looking at his plans to open up urban farms,
:42:48. > :42:51.urban pocket parks to help get people that access.
:42:52. > :43:00.THE SPEAKER: The honourable lady was talking about the honourable member
:43:01. > :43:04.for Richmond Park. People who love bees and farmers and consumers of
:43:05. > :43:12.products rely on them are deeply concerned there is an attempt by
:43:13. > :43:16.large US and EU chemical companies to downgrade environment affects for
:43:17. > :43:23.pesticides over the TTIP deal in Brussels. Is this not an example of
:43:24. > :43:30.how eleads run of the EU and their influence is unaccountable? The
:43:31. > :43:34.point I'd make, my honourable friend, is these authorisations to
:43:35. > :43:45.use all pesticides are decided by both of the European chemicals
:43:46. > :43:50.agency and EFSA and the regulator contributes to that. I welcome to
:43:51. > :43:55.announcement in flood defences yesterday. Can I probe for a little
:43:56. > :44:00.more detail and ask how much of ?150 million pot you anticipate will be
:44:01. > :44:04.available for Calderdale? Given it's been raised in this ways when you
:44:05. > :44:09.anticipate it will be available? I thank the honourable lady for her
:44:10. > :44:14.thanks. I can tell her ?35 million has been allocated to Calderdale.
:44:15. > :44:19.That is in addition to the ?17 million already scheduled to be in
:44:20. > :44:22.vested this Parliament. We'll produce a specific plan for
:44:23. > :44:27.Mytholmroyd by the end of May. There will be a plan for the entire Calder
:44:28. > :44:32.Valley by October. We are making sure that the local community, local
:44:33. > :44:38.representatives are fully involved in putting together that plan so it
:44:39. > :44:43.has broad support. Last week, I was delighted to join the Secretary of
:44:44. > :44:49.State on a visit to the thriving Roots farm shop in BerkleyThorpe in
:44:50. > :44:52.my constituency. What steps is my right honourable friend taking to
:44:53. > :44:59.break down the barriers withstand in the way of other farm shores of
:45:00. > :45:05.shops which want to expand? I was delighted to meet my honourable
:45:06. > :45:09.friend at the farm shop and sample fantastic product. We want to enable
:45:10. > :45:14.more farmers to do that. We've launched, as part of our rural
:45:15. > :45:16.productivity plan, with the Department for Communities and Local
:45:17. > :45:21.Government, a review of rural planning. People can contribute to
:45:22. > :45:23.that review at the moment. To try to remove the red tape for
:45:24. > :45:28.organisations like farm shops that want to expand. Can I ask the farmer
:45:29. > :45:32.minister, given his position is now for the UK to leave the EU, what
:45:33. > :45:38.measures does he believe should be in place and how will he ensure
:45:39. > :45:43.financial assistance for Scottish farmers should there be a Brexit? As
:45:44. > :45:46.I explained earlier, the honourable gentleman knows the form ear
:45:47. > :45:50.Government position is to remain in the European Union. The the Prime
:45:51. > :45:54.Minister made clear were the country to decide to leave, the Government
:45:55. > :46:05.would continue to support British agriculture. Respecial areas of
:46:06. > :46:12.conservation would you include the Thames Estuary which has important
:46:13. > :46:17.marine habitat and includes mer Ian marshes and marine sands in the area
:46:18. > :46:24.I represent? My honourable friend makes an important point. Lee Marsh
:46:25. > :46:29.and Lee Sands are important. They already benefit from a triple SI and
:46:30. > :46:32.getting protection for that and they are a special protected area under
:46:33. > :46:40.the birds act. There is already a lot of protection for these sites.
:46:41. > :46:44.In Morpeth we have a Rolls-Royce flood defence system. At the same
:46:45. > :46:49.time, we've got a problem with the insurance companies who are steel
:46:50. > :46:52.quoting exceedingly high premiums. They're blaming it on the
:46:53. > :46:57.Environment Agency for not updating the data. What can the minister to
:46:58. > :47:02.do resolve this unacceptable situation? I thank the honourable
:47:03. > :47:07.member. There are two issues on that. We'll meet shortly on that.
:47:08. > :47:13.The first is introduction of flood relief. Making sure there are is
:47:14. > :47:20.affordable flood insurance underwritten by a scheme. Your
:47:21. > :47:25.premium and, says will be at ?250 for lower income people. The British
:47:26. > :47:31.brokers association has brought a new package with more specialised
:47:32. > :47:33.mapping to ensure affordable flood insurance is aValable for households
:47:34. > :47:38.and businesses. THE SPEAKER: Questions to the
:47:39. > :47:46.chairman of the public accounts commission and the right honourable
:47:47. > :47:50.lady for Meridan. With permission, I'd like to answer questions one,
:47:51. > :47:55.five and seven together. Under the church's major renewal and reform
:47:56. > :47:59.programme, the whole basis on which the commissioners will disperse
:48:00. > :48:02.funding to diocese will be weighted significantly towards resourcing the
:48:03. > :48:13.churches' mission in the most deprived areas. As a former
:48:14. > :48:19.Warrington councillor, St Thomas butler's school has provided a
:48:20. > :48:23.supportive place for after-school study for students for several
:48:24. > :48:27.years. Partnership working between local churches and local community
:48:28. > :48:32.groups like this is one of the best ways of raises life chances of
:48:33. > :48:37.children most in need? I couldn't agree more. This school in the
:48:38. > :48:44.Chester diocese really is an example of best practise. I too was restruck
:48:45. > :48:47.by the fact they've introduce add leadership programme for
:48:48. > :48:51.14-16-year-olds. They take them to Lancaster University for four days
:48:52. > :48:57.to help fulfil their potential, play an active role in their community
:48:58. > :49:02.and the wider society. Thank you for those answers. Could the member
:49:03. > :49:06.inform us if there are any specific programmes from the church dealing
:49:07. > :49:12.with the homeless or those on long-term addictions like camel or
:49:13. > :49:17.drug abuse -- alcohol or drug abuse. I cannot speak for the church in
:49:18. > :49:23.Ireland, I'm speaking from the experience of Church of England. Its
:49:24. > :49:27.social action does cover the most vulnerable people in our society
:49:28. > :49:30.right here in the diocese of London, it's possible for members of
:49:31. > :49:36.Parliament to see the work the Church of England does amongst the
:49:37. > :49:42.homeless in the City of London. That is replicated out in all the die Sis
:49:43. > :49:49.within the Church of England. I imagine the same does happen in his
:49:50. > :49:56.own nation. May I draw attention to the right honourable lady for
:49:57. > :50:00.Meridon, Anglican Churches working with other local churches. They
:50:01. > :50:04.provide help for the winter homeless shelter to help for the homeless.
:50:05. > :50:10.There's a food bank. They provide furniture and white goods for those
:50:11. > :50:14.in crisis. They even bring places for apprenticeships. I understand Mr
:50:15. > :50:20.Speak, they do a lot of good work. Is that not a final example to share
:50:21. > :50:24.with the House? Mr Speaker, it is one of many examples where where the
:50:25. > :50:29.church's social action really makes a difference to the most vulnerable.
:50:30. > :50:38.In respect to the last question, the role of the council, in
:50:39. > :50:42.# Sham, the council run an inclusion working group bringing the CAB and
:50:43. > :50:48.debt advice to support and advise the most vulnerable. Question number
:50:49. > :50:57.two, Mr Speaker. The Church of England is fully supportive of the
:50:58. > :51:04.see potential inTish tiff and of forts to get employers to recognise
:51:05. > :51:07.people recordless of background. The seep focuses on people with criminal
:51:08. > :51:13.conviction to get opportunities in the jobs market. Churches are a
:51:14. > :51:17.vital presence in the prison system and often key to rehabilitation. Do
:51:18. > :51:22.you agree the church should play an important role in spreading the
:51:23. > :51:29.message to other employers, there is a benefit in them applying the
:51:30. > :51:35.Christian value of forgiveness? I can't agree for Christians to visit
:51:36. > :51:39.people in prison. I was struck by an initiative in my own parish church.
:51:40. > :51:44.Volunteers mentor exofenders before they come back into society to help
:51:45. > :51:47.them pro pair to go straight and live a life where they can sustain
:51:48. > :51:54.themselves. These are excellent examples which can be replicated in
:51:55. > :52:01.all colleagues' constituencies. ??MR SPEAKER: Somebody else was standing
:52:02. > :52:10.on this question? There's the fella. Mr Stephen Philips. Number four,
:52:11. > :52:16.please, sir. The public accounts commission which I have the honour
:52:17. > :52:21.to chair sets a strategy and budget of the National Audit Office. A
:52:22. > :52:27.range of measures to highlight three, large save thing to the
:52:28. > :52:32.taxpayer. Their work led to an extern alley valid Ted savings.
:52:33. > :52:39.That's ?18 for every pound it cost to fund the NEO. Secondly it did
:52:40. > :52:48.this by reducing cost by 27%. The NEO is subject to annual value for
:52:49. > :52:53.money by an independent auditor. My honourable friend said in that
:52:54. > :53:00.answer for ever apound we spend on the NAO that saves the taxpayer ?18.
:53:01. > :53:04.The controller and Auditor General has been very pessimistic in his
:53:05. > :53:10.budgets estimation for next year in seeking to reduce his budgets. Given
:53:11. > :53:16.?18 is what we get back tor every ?1 we spend, we should be spending more
:53:17. > :53:21.on the NAO and not less? I'm great of the for that question. But the
:53:22. > :53:25.controller general and myself are mindful of the economic
:53:26. > :53:28.situation-of-advice given to us from the Treasury. This is a body
:53:29. > :53:34.entirely independent of the Treasury. The financial pressures,
:53:35. > :53:40.above all, we believe the NAO should practice what it preaches. I have
:53:41. > :53:44.assured the Auditor General, if for instance, extra work comes his way,
:53:45. > :53:49.auditing the BBC, for example, I will not stand in his way for
:53:50. > :53:56.getting extra resources to do the job for it this Parliament. Does the
:53:57. > :54:02.chairman agree to provide value for Scotland, the NAO should result in
:54:03. > :54:07.Conservative kenss arising from a ?67 million budget? I don't really
:54:08. > :54:13.want to get involved in Scottish politics or what the controller
:54:14. > :54:17.Auditor General of Scotland does. The the controller auditor generals
:54:18. > :54:23.work very closely together. They Saturday best practise. I believe
:54:24. > :54:27.our controller Auditor Generals are world leaders in providing value for
:54:28. > :54:32.money. Question number six, Mr Speaker. The church commissioners
:54:33. > :54:38.are committed to the sustainable generation of power O'In the church
:54:39. > :54:43.estate. As of January 2016 over 400 churches anned clergy homes were
:54:44. > :54:47.generating electricity from a solar panels on their roofs. Winchester
:54:48. > :54:53.and Gloucester Cathedral are planning to install solar panels
:54:54. > :55:01.this year. Very conveniently most of our ancient churches are built
:55:02. > :55:05.east/west. There's a convenient southerliy element. What
:55:06. > :55:09.encouragement will she give to churches that this important
:55:10. > :55:13.community resource is used to turn our ancient churches from the chilly
:55:14. > :55:19.places into something more accommodating? The gentleman's
:55:20. > :55:24.question is very timely. It allows all honourable members to hear it is
:55:25. > :55:29.possible to put these renewable energy features on listed buildings.
:55:30. > :55:34.Churches have found all sorts of ways of installing renewable energy
:55:35. > :55:38.generation. The planning authority within the church, the faculty, has
:55:39. > :55:44.become much more flexible in terms of requests to inshawl these
:55:45. > :55:49.renewable energy features. I hope my right honourable friend won't mind
:55:50. > :55:53.if I get a bit trelopian. In order for these matters to be taken
:55:54. > :55:57.forward, we need leadership in the church. In the diocese of
:55:58. > :56:03.Oxfordshire, we are lacking a Bishop. There's been no Bishop of
:56:04. > :56:06.Oxford for a very long time to the point we're wondering if Sir John
:56:07. > :56:11.Chilcot is involved in his appointment. Can you convey what we
:56:12. > :56:18.need is leadership in the church locally as well as nationally. This
:56:19. > :56:22.has not a great deal to do with renewable energy but Mr Speaker, the
:56:23. > :56:26.vacancy in the Oxford diocese is one of concern. But there has already
:56:27. > :56:30.within one attempt to bring a list of candidates before those who can
:56:31. > :56:34.help to make that decision. I believe there is a second attempt to
:56:35. > :56:36.produce a list of suitable candidates in May, as far as I
:56:37. > :56:41.recall. THE SPEAKER: The honourable
:56:42. > :56:47.gentleman acutely exploited the diverse meanings of the word power
:56:48. > :56:56.in order to remain in order! Number eight, sir. Mr Speaker, I'm pleased
:56:57. > :57:01.to say as far as my honourable friend's diocese is concerned,
:57:02. > :57:07.Downing Street announced Jan McFarlane will take up the post of
:57:08. > :57:09.the Bishop of Repton. The first female Bishop in the east mitt
:57:10. > :57:17.lands. Can I welcome that announcement. I
:57:18. > :57:28.am delighted to year we will have this.
:57:29. > :57:35.We need to reflect a better diversity in the church and wider
:57:36. > :57:42.society. My predecessor worked hard on legislation, and there are two
:57:43. > :57:46.female Lords spiritual. For the next nine years the Lords spiritual women
:57:47. > :57:56.act enables any new female bishop to be introduced before the next
:57:57. > :58:02.available man. Can I say to my right honourable friend, given that women
:58:03. > :58:04.were held back for so many decades, it would not be a surprise if
:58:05. > :58:09.positions of responsibility and power were overrepresented in your
:58:10. > :58:16.appointment so the balance of merit is reflecting both the men and
:58:17. > :58:20.women's talents? I couldn't agree more, and that is the justification
:58:21. > :58:26.of the mild positive discrimination being used in this situation to
:58:27. > :58:29.introduce more women into the House of Lords. As far as full-time
:58:30. > :58:47.ordained clergy are concerned, women make up 41%. This is grouped with,
:58:48. > :58:53.hang on. The cathedrals play a very significant part in the local
:58:54. > :58:57.economy and are showing increased church attendance, and a 27%
:58:58. > :59:01.increase in their contribution to the economy, and no doubt this is
:59:02. > :59:05.partly what inspired the Chancellor to give the cathedrals are doubling
:59:06. > :59:14.of the ?20 million for the cathedral repair bill that we saw under the
:59:15. > :59:27.centenary World War I fund. Durham Cathedral in my area is an example.
:59:28. > :59:32.I would like to give a plug for the great gathering on Saturday the 9th
:59:33. > :59:35.of July. What could be done with that ?20 million in terms of
:59:36. > :59:40.renovating some of the churches and church assets in other mining
:59:41. > :59:44.communities, Saint Maliese, for example, one of only 25 King
:59:45. > :59:53.churches in the whole country. Could any of that money be used for that?
:59:54. > :00:01.I could not agree more with the description of the magnificence of
:00:02. > :00:07.Durham Cathedral. The knock-on impact of a sustainable land
:00:08. > :00:13.flourishing cathedral to any cathedral and its economy can result
:00:14. > :00:18.where the cathedral acts like a hub, attracts more visitors in, and can
:00:19. > :00:25.point to the magnificence of things that can be seen in surrounding
:00:26. > :00:29.churches. Tonight Lichfield Cathedral will be switching on the
:00:30. > :00:32.new lights which were able to be installed because of the last ?20
:00:33. > :00:39.million grant from the Chancellor. But now the chapter roof is leaking.
:00:40. > :00:45.Can I engage my right honourable friend to help us maybe get some or
:00:46. > :00:51.money to restore and maintain the medieval library which is being
:00:52. > :00:54.affected by this? As a result of the Chancellor's generosity yesterday in
:00:55. > :00:59.agreeing to a ?20 million to help with the cathedral repair bill, I am
:01:00. > :01:07.sure Lichfield will be one of the first contenders to dip into that
:01:08. > :01:10.fund. This gives an opportunity to the Church of England to give a big
:01:11. > :01:16.thank you after the budget for the money. I will call on this
:01:17. > :01:28.gentleman, if it is one sentence. Is the case for cathedrals reaching out
:01:29. > :01:34.to host community events and will encourage people to come to the
:01:35. > :01:39.Cathedral. Rising figures in Church of England cathedrals shows that it
:01:40. > :01:46.brings more people together. Significantly, 14% increase in
:01:47. > :01:49.visits to cathedrals, showing how cathedrals appeal to all
:01:50. > :01:55.generations. Thank you. Is on this question, Mr Chris Bryant. Will the
:01:56. > :01:59.Leader of the House give as the future business, please? The
:02:00. > :02:04.business for next week, on Monday the 21st of March, we have the
:02:05. > :02:12.continuation of the budget of eight. On Tuesday we have the conclusion of
:02:13. > :02:13.the budget they'd. On Wednesday proceedings on the high-speed rail