:00:18. > :00:27.Order, order. Motion for an unopposed return. Questions to the
:00:28. > :00:33.secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.
:00:34. > :00:39.Mr Speaker, we have put in place a range of measures to support our
:00:40. > :00:42.farmers and help build their resilience. Government investment in
:00:43. > :00:46.flood defence improvement whll provide better protection for 1
:00:47. > :00:50.million acres of agricultur`l land. We are investing in innovathon
:00:51. > :00:54.skills and capital items to boost the sector's relic resilience and we
:00:55. > :01:01.are working to introduce dahry futures markets to help farlers
:01:02. > :01:04.manage volatility. Volatility in global market and weather conditions
:01:05. > :01:13.can often see Farmer's incole strategy decline. Can my honourable
:01:14. > :01:17.friend expend what steps thd government is taking to help farmers
:01:18. > :01:23.manage this risk? We have acted to deal with this problem. Frol April
:01:24. > :01:26.this year, the government extended tax averaging for farmers to
:01:27. > :01:33.five-year from the previous of two years, so that they could bdtter
:01:34. > :01:39.offset good years against b`d ears. In addition, HMRC have got ` number
:01:40. > :01:46.of schemes meaning they show forbearance to farmers who `re
:01:47. > :01:52.suffering cash flow difficulties. Thank you, Mr Speaker. 11 ydars ago
:01:53. > :01:56.this morning, terrorist att`cks were unleashed on our city. We p`y our
:01:57. > :01:59.respects today. As an environmentalist and someond who has
:02:00. > :02:04.campaigned in the aftermath of the floods and a lover of the great
:02:05. > :02:07.outdoors, I am proud to be representing Labour as Shadow
:02:08. > :02:11.Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs. Mr Speaker,
:02:12. > :02:15.many farming businesses are dependent on trade with the EU.
:02:16. > :02:20.Following the outcome of thd referendum, the resilience of
:02:21. > :02:24.farming will be keenly testdd. What immediate steps has the Secretary of
:02:25. > :02:28.State is taken to ensure th`t trade relations with EU partners remain
:02:29. > :02:34.unchanged for the city of the future? -- for the foreseeable
:02:35. > :02:37.future? I begin by welcoming the honourable lady and her colleagues
:02:38. > :02:42.to the front bench in this very diverse department that we have in
:02:43. > :02:46.Defra and I welcome her to this place and associate with her
:02:47. > :02:52.comments you made around thd terrorist attacks. In terms of the
:02:53. > :02:55.next steps with trade following the decision to leave the EU, wd are
:02:56. > :02:59.having a number of meetings with officials to do some planning, we
:03:00. > :03:03.have a meeting today to havd these discussions. It will be a m`tter for
:03:04. > :03:06.the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet that they put in pl`ce. But
:03:07. > :03:13.some early thinking and planning work is going on across govdrnment.
:03:14. > :03:19.Mr Speaker, I am concerned that resilience hasn't been planned for
:03:20. > :03:23.by the Minister in advance of the EU referendum. Because trade and
:03:24. > :03:27.regulations around food and farming is linked to the EU more th`n in any
:03:28. > :03:35.other sector. Yet, this govdrnment's cuts to Defra up to 2020 will total
:03:36. > :03:39.of 57% reduction to its budget. In light of this, can the minister
:03:40. > :03:46.explain how his department will have the capacity to analyse the impact
:03:47. > :03:51.the impact of the EU referendum build resilience and negoti`te the
:03:52. > :03:56.way forward? For the time bding we remain in the European Union and all
:03:57. > :04:00.existing arrangements continue. It is only what we have concluded
:04:01. > :04:04.negotiations and left the Etropean Union that we will put future
:04:05. > :04:08.measures in place. In terms of capacity in the civil service,
:04:09. > :04:14.obviously there will be somd areas and some EU dossiers that h`ve a
:04:15. > :04:17.long-term horizon where we will perhaps be less engaged and less
:04:18. > :04:23.involved, and that will fred up the capacity to do some of the planning
:04:24. > :04:26.we have to do on domestic policy. I would like to record my thanks to
:04:27. > :04:31.the honourable member for Colchester for providing us all with a taste of
:04:32. > :04:35.Colchester yesterday. One of his constituents, a soft fruit farmer,
:04:36. > :04:41.emphasised his concerns abott the own resilience, his dependent upon
:04:42. > :04:51.EU migrant labour. Other pl`ns in place to ensure farms off the - are
:04:52. > :04:54.supported if there is a redtction in migrant numbers? I worked in the
:04:55. > :04:59.soft fruit industry and unf`miliar with the challenges that certain --
:05:00. > :05:03.and I am familiar with the challenge that sector face when it coles to
:05:04. > :05:08.seasonal labour. The decision will be up to the new Prime Minister and
:05:09. > :05:13.a new cabinet. But I would say that there are models that we have had in
:05:14. > :05:15.recent years, such as the sdasonal agricultural worker schemes, which
:05:16. > :05:19.means that there are ways that you can make sure the Labour is there
:05:20. > :05:24.when you require it. I tabldd five written questions in the past week
:05:25. > :05:29.asking what impact, what assessment had been made on the impact of
:05:30. > :05:35.Brexit on a whole range of Defra related areas from air pollttion,
:05:36. > :05:38.waste, water, rural payments, fisheries, food standards, food
:05:39. > :05:44.Stacey. I got one answer back. It basically said everything rdmains in
:05:45. > :05:51.place and the negotiations `re at the future five Prime Minister.
:05:52. > :05:55.Almost every department is `ffected by Brexit and I'm not reasstred that
:05:56. > :06:00.that planning work is startdd. I disagree with the honourabld lady.
:06:01. > :06:05.There was an assessment put forward by the government about the
:06:06. > :06:07.potential impacts of leaving the European Union, that was hotly
:06:08. > :06:11.debated during the referendtm. Ultimately the British publhc have
:06:12. > :06:14.made an assessment about wh`t they want to do. The assessment hs they
:06:15. > :06:19.wanted EU leave the European Union and now the -- they wanted to leave
:06:20. > :06:24.the European Union and now the governor must increment that
:06:25. > :06:28.decision. Number two, Mr Spdaker. The government is clear that we will
:06:29. > :06:31.not allow the import of trophies from critically endangered species
:06:32. > :06:38.where this is unsustainable. Tigers, for example. We have also increase
:06:39. > :06:42.the protection controls arotnd six other species, ranging from
:06:43. > :06:46.elephants to polar theirs, `nd we remain absolutely committed to
:06:47. > :06:51.banning the import of lion trophies Annecy has significant improvement
:06:52. > :06:55.in the conservation of lions. I thank the Minister for that answer
:06:56. > :07:02.and the general thrust of it. Would he agree that banning it is morally
:07:03. > :07:06.quite wrong to kill some of the most dangerous species to put a trophy on
:07:07. > :07:12.the war? Would he agree that make sense to have a ban on thosd which
:07:13. > :07:16.come from the widely endangdred categories into this countrx? I
:07:17. > :07:20.agree, I think everyone would agree that if a species is critic`lly
:07:21. > :07:24.endangered, it is not a suitable to be hunting it, let alone putting it
:07:25. > :07:28.as a trophy on a wall. We whll be looking very closely at scidntific
:07:29. > :07:32.evidence right across the r`nge of endangered species, and it will be
:07:33. > :07:37.very relevant to focus on this with September and October being the time
:07:38. > :07:41.for the conference in Johannesburg. Australia and France have both
:07:42. > :07:48.banned the use and import of lion products. What are they know that
:07:49. > :07:51.the ministers refuses to act upon? We are looking very closely at what
:07:52. > :07:55.Australia and France have bden doing, we have been working on a
:07:56. > :07:59.common EU US position in order to change the practices in Afrhca. It
:08:00. > :08:05.makes a huge difference that we do this together as 700 and William
:08:06. > :08:10.people across the -- 700 million people across the EU and thd US
:08:11. > :08:14.rather than doing it individually. Following the EE referendum vote, we
:08:15. > :08:18.have no idea how the EU acthon plan against wildlife trafficking will be
:08:19. > :08:21.prevented by the UK Governmdnt. Is the minister in a position to
:08:22. > :08:28.provide any assurances to the House today? As my colleague has pointed
:08:29. > :08:31.out, the details of our poshtion in relation to Europe will havd to be
:08:32. > :08:37.determined by a future Primd Minister. But we played a vdry,
:08:38. > :08:40.active role in drafting that plan, pushing for the content of that
:08:41. > :08:45.plan, and we will see in wh`t we are doing in Vietnam, our commitment to
:08:46. > :08:51.that plan. As long as I'm in this position, the UK's position to that
:08:52. > :08:56.is absolutely unequivocal. Number three, Mr Speaker. With perlission,
:08:57. > :09:03.I would like to take questions three and six together. Until negotiations
:09:04. > :09:06.conclude and the UK EEC EU, all existing arrangements remain in
:09:07. > :09:11.place and revelled elements plans across the UK remain in place. It
:09:12. > :09:15.will be for a new Prime Minhster and his or her cabinet to sit at the
:09:16. > :09:20.future shape of revelled eldments of the UK leads the EU.
:09:21. > :09:27.In the Secretary of State m`de a call that Scotland voted to remain
:09:28. > :09:31.in the referendum. Can the secretary of state commit that nobody in
:09:32. > :09:39.Scotland who has benefited, will lose out on funding. As I s`id,
:09:40. > :09:40.while we remain in the EU, the existing arrangements
:09:41. > :09:45.place, including the development of place, including the development of
:09:46. > :09:49.our current rural development programme. Nothing changes tntil
:09:50. > :09:55.negotiations have been concluded and a new partnership with the DU has
:09:56. > :09:59.been put in place. Agriculttre plays a major part in Scotland's 04
:10:00. > :10:06.billion pounds bid and drink industry. Following the uncdrtainty
:10:07. > :10:12.created by the referendum, what assurances can he give todax to
:10:13. > :10:15.those concerns with the restlts in our farming communities? I can give
:10:16. > :10:20.farmers across the UK than the assurance that for the time being,
:10:21. > :10:25.we remain in the EU and all existing arrangements remain in placd. All
:10:26. > :10:30.existing support payment relain in place until we leave the EU and a
:10:31. > :10:37.new type of partnership is bit in place and new agriculture policies
:10:38. > :10:42.put in place. I thank him for the energy enthusiasm and intelligence
:10:43. > :10:45.he dropped to the campaign. Having met farmers in my constituency
:10:46. > :10:49.before the vote, it was cle`r that the scene you'll leadership of the
:10:50. > :10:53.National Farmers Union had signed up to project there and was trxing to
:10:54. > :10:59.scare armourers and rural dwellers into voting remain. Now that the
:11:00. > :11:04.result has been decided and that overwhelmingly in Kettering, we
:11:05. > :11:10.voted to leave, Kelly make sure that everyone involved and rural
:11:11. > :11:12.communities and farming talks up rural communities and farming,
:11:13. > :11:18.because we have a bright future ahead of us. I thank him for his
:11:19. > :11:25.kind comments, but now that the decision has been made, we should
:11:26. > :11:29.move on and focus on the future I have been at a livestock evdnt
:11:30. > :11:31.already and had meetings as many farmers. What is interesting is that
:11:32. > :11:35.once you get past the initi`l shock once you get past the initi`l shock
:11:36. > :11:38.of this decision for some and get into detail of what might bd
:11:39. > :11:45.possible in the future, people get more excited by the potenti`l. Does
:11:46. > :11:48.the Minister agree that oncd we have left the EU, it will providd us with
:11:49. > :11:55.that amend its opportunity to be able to develop a package of
:11:56. > :11:59.measures designed to support UK farmers, that is tailor-madd to help
:12:00. > :12:02.UK farmers, and in fact, thdre's nothing to stop us starting work on
:12:03. > :12:12.putting a package together right now. He makes are very important
:12:13. > :12:16.point. What I can reassure hs that, while no decision will be m`de until
:12:17. > :12:19.that is a new Prime Minister and cabinet, there is some work on
:12:20. > :12:23.options being done in the Department, to think up what the
:12:24. > :12:27.options might be that could be presented to a new Prime Minister.
:12:28. > :12:33.One of the claims from some Lead campaigners was that breaks it would
:12:34. > :12:39.lower food prices. Now that did the decision is made, can you tdll us
:12:40. > :12:45.what options are available? Food prices are driven by a rangd of
:12:46. > :12:48.factors, most importantly energy prices, development in weather
:12:49. > :12:55.around the world and also exchange rates. These are the key drhvers of
:12:56. > :12:59.our food prices. I have alw`ys made clear that while food prices go up
:13:00. > :13:05.and down, and they're down 7% over the past two years, there are bigger
:13:06. > :13:10.events that drive them than EU membership. Many farmers and lamps
:13:11. > :13:15.boards are about to sign higher stewardship contracts. Many of these
:13:16. > :13:19.ten year contracts and in these uncertain times, they're bedn put on
:13:20. > :13:23.hold. Did you give assurancds that these precious pieces of
:13:24. > :13:30.environmental biodiversity will not be at risk and that something will
:13:31. > :13:34.happen to protect them? Yes, that's an important point, which is, there
:13:35. > :13:37.will be areas and elements where we need to have continuity. We are
:13:38. > :13:42.having discussions across government now about how we can make stre we
:13:43. > :13:53.prejudicing what a future Prime prejudicing what a future Prime
:13:54. > :13:58.Minister might want to do. Could there is surely the farmers in Wales
:13:59. > :14:03.by explaining what discussion he has had with colleagues in the Welsh
:14:04. > :14:07.government regarding the funding of rural development and agrictltural
:14:08. > :14:10.schemes in Wales best remark I have regular discussions with my opposite
:14:11. > :14:15.numbers in the devolved numbers in the devolved
:14:16. > :14:20.administrations. I hope I'll be able to meet the new Welsh adminhstration
:14:21. > :14:24.when I next goal is to counsel in Europe, which is in about two weeks,
:14:25. > :14:29.when we can discuss these issues in more detail. I also hope to be
:14:30. > :14:40.year. Will he confirm that his plans year. Will he confirm that his plans
:14:41. > :14:46.to make sure it the fear allocation of convergence update on tr`ck and
:14:47. > :14:53.hand you tell us when Scotthsh farmers can expect? We alwaxs had
:14:54. > :14:54.commitment to review the allocation of budgets, the so-called
:14:55. > :15:01.convergence uplift, during 2016 I convergence uplift, during 2016 I
:15:02. > :15:06.had a meeting with the farmdrs union in January, where we had early
:15:07. > :15:09.discussions. Now that the Scottish elections are over and we h`ve
:15:10. > :15:13.passed the referendum, I wotld expect in the autumn to be `ble to
:15:14. > :15:24.progress these discussions with the Scottish Government. Last stmmer, I
:15:25. > :15:30.set out target of Defra reldasing 800 datasets by the summer. I'm
:15:31. > :15:36.delighted to say we have released 11,000 sets, which means more than a
:15:37. > :15:47.third of government data is Defra data. This means better information
:15:48. > :15:53.about air quality and other things. There are many community groups who
:15:54. > :15:59.want to contribute to allevhating floods, things like planting trees,
:16:00. > :16:07.building dams. Can my honourable friend confirm that the information
:16:08. > :16:12.on all these things will be made readily available to help community
:16:13. > :16:17.groups? I thank him for his question. He's done us and our state
:16:18. > :16:20.job in championing the Calddr Valley. I do want to make stre all
:16:21. > :16:27.that information is available, so we can manage catchments in terms of
:16:28. > :16:31.flood defences, including the River Calder. What happened over last
:16:32. > :16:35.year's very difficult floods, was we did have more information available
:16:36. > :16:39.to the public, there were 18.5 million hits on our flood
:16:40. > :16:46.information service website. What I want to do is make even mord
:16:47. > :16:51.information available to thd public. Does she keep data on how m`ny
:16:52. > :16:56.scientists we have working hn agricultural technology and how much
:16:57. > :17:05.money is spent on agricultural technology and research? And did she
:17:06. > :17:10.not worried that there is rdal danger of our research base being
:17:11. > :17:18.eroded, with China taking over some of it? He is absolutely right that
:17:19. > :17:23.our research-based, that is vitally important, that is the future of
:17:24. > :17:26.agriculture, more precision farming, better use of data. I'm detdrmined
:17:27. > :17:31.we do all we can to protect and grow that, that's why when investing 160
:17:32. > :17:36.million and of course we nedd to million and of course we nedd to
:17:37. > :17:43.plan even more for the future. Up-to-date data on the effects of
:17:44. > :17:47.the temporary new or nicotinamide ban, both on production and the
:17:48. > :17:56.when will that be available? I thank when will that be available? I thank
:17:57. > :18:01.him for his question. We ard looking at further research, more rdsearch
:18:02. > :18:05.is due to be published, there are many already published piecds of
:18:06. > :18:24.research and he will be aware that the decision on the use of
:18:25. > :18:32.neonicitonoids is to be dechded I would like to answer questions five,
:18:33. > :18:39.seven and ten together. We lunched the Great British Food Unit in
:18:40. > :18:44.January. I have been promothng British beef and lamb in April as
:18:45. > :18:53.well as classic British products like gin and tonic. A bit e`rly for
:18:54. > :18:58.gin and tonic for me, personally, but our food and drink exports are
:18:59. > :19:01.very important, not least the world-famous Cheshire cheesd, but
:19:02. > :19:09.given this country's decision to leave the EU, how important is the
:19:10. > :19:16.role of great British food ,- the Great British Food Unit in getting
:19:17. > :19:23.those markets? It's never too early for a gin and tonic, in my opinion.
:19:24. > :19:31.I completely agree with thel, now the British people have madd the
:19:32. > :19:35.decision to leave the EU, the Great British Food Unit is even more
:19:36. > :19:40.important. We already have lissions planned to the G, China and Japan,
:19:41. > :19:45.to open more markets for fantastic British food, and I'm going to be
:19:46. > :19:51.increasing resources into the Great British Food Unit to make stre we
:19:52. > :19:54.target our rivers to export more British food across the world. Will
:19:55. > :19:58.she accept that Essex is hole to she accept that Essex is hole to
:19:59. > :20:06.some of the finest food, drhnk and countryside of the nation? @nd does
:20:07. > :20:13.she think, and what is the link between food and tourism and what
:20:14. > :20:18.more can be done to promote it? I thank him and we know that ` third
:20:19. > :20:23.of all visitors, food is a lajor factor in deciding where thdy visit.
:20:24. > :20:31.It's hugely important, that is why Defra is backing food to lose.
:20:32. > :20:36.Recently, we we backed their culinary tour of Yorkshire which
:20:37. > :20:37.accompanied the cycle race. I'd be delighted to discuss with them how
:20:38. > :20:43.we can do something similar in Essex we can do something similar in Essex
:20:44. > :20:53.to make the fantastic products like Tiptree strawberry jam. She will be
:20:54. > :21:00.delighted that the Gloucestdr service Station, since she visited
:21:01. > :21:04.it in February, has been given to awards. Famously, while she was
:21:05. > :21:12.there, she enjoyed a Gloucester sausage. I hope that she will
:21:13. > :21:17.confirm today whether in negotiations with the EU, she will
:21:18. > :21:18.be seeking to extend the prddictions given to Gloucester foods and other
:21:19. > :21:28.great British foods. I thank my honourable friend to my
:21:29. > :21:35.very enjoyable visit and I `m delighted that the Chief Exdcutive
:21:36. > :21:38.has now agreed to be one of our food pioneers, promoting great British
:21:39. > :21:42.food around Britain and arotnd the world. I look forward to talking
:21:43. > :21:47.with him about how we can protect these products when they ard not
:21:48. > :21:58.just going around the EU but are more widely known around thd world.
:21:59. > :22:02.Mr Speaker... No, I am glad the food unit is showing success. However,
:22:03. > :22:07.whilst the Secretary of State boasts about her support for British food,
:22:08. > :22:12.the Defra headquarters sources almost half of its food frol
:22:13. > :22:21.overseas. Other departments are falling even further behind. So why
:22:22. > :22:28.isn't Defra ensuring governlent department are backing which food?
:22:29. > :22:32.We are, for example over 90$ of the dairy products sourced across
:22:33. > :22:36.government from the UK. Of course there are some products likd coffee
:22:37. > :22:41.that we cannot yet produce hn the UK, although now we are abld to
:22:42. > :22:47.produce our own aubergines `nd our own tomatoes and chilies, I am sure
:22:48. > :22:52.we are not far away from th`t. One of the items on the great British
:22:53. > :22:58.food website is the promotion of the EU protected food name schele which
:22:59. > :23:02.means that 73 products in the UK are protected under the EU schele. What
:23:03. > :23:09.would she put into place to protect that scheme of the UK and drags us
:23:10. > :23:14.out of the EU? -- the UK Government drags us out of the EU? I think we
:23:15. > :23:18.are up to 74 protected prodtcts now. Maybe it has not been updatdd on the
:23:19. > :23:21.website. It is an extremely important issue, it is one of the
:23:22. > :23:30.issues that we are working on at the moment, but I would like to see a
:23:31. > :23:39.British protected food schele in the future. Eels, whiskey and potatoes
:23:40. > :23:42.are protected in Northern Ireland. What discussions has the Grdat
:23:43. > :23:46.British Food Unit had with food and I to promote the great food and
:23:47. > :23:52.across the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? I was
:23:53. > :23:55.delighted to visit Belfast `nd the huge show and taste some of those
:23:56. > :24:02.products for myself, they are truly outstanding. I am working closely
:24:03. > :24:08.with the Irish Minister on writing those products might around the
:24:09. > :24:13.world. They were heavily -- promoting those products around the
:24:14. > :24:18.world. They were heavily fe`tured in China. As a member has just left the
:24:19. > :24:22.chamber while exchanges on the question to which he contributed
:24:23. > :24:26.were ongoing, members should stay in the chamber until all of thd
:24:27. > :24:31.exchanges on their question or the question to which they contributed
:24:32. > :24:39.have been completed. It is puite an elementary courtesy. Mr Spe`ker
:24:40. > :24:44.during 2015, badger control operations in Somerset,
:24:45. > :24:47.Gloucestershire and Dorset were all successful in meeting their targets.
:24:48. > :24:53.The Chief veterinary Officer's advice is that the advice showed
:24:54. > :24:57.that industry led badger control can deliver the level of effecthveness
:24:58. > :25:03.required to deliver disease control benefits. Agger culling in Dngland
:25:04. > :25:08.costs around -- badger cullhng in England cost around ?7,000 per
:25:09. > :25:13.badger killed, in Wales the badge of adulation costs around ?700 per
:25:14. > :25:19.badger vaccinated. -- the b`dger vaccination programme. Renowned
:25:20. > :25:24.expert on the subject have continually said that rolling out
:25:25. > :25:30.culling as a rational policx to control TB is not really crddible.
:25:31. > :25:35.Does the Minister accept th`t? I would point out to the honotrable
:25:36. > :25:39.lady that TB is costing the country ?100 million per year and that is
:25:40. > :25:44.why we have to act. The vetdrinary advice is clear, you cannot have a
:25:45. > :25:47.coherent strategy to eradic`te TB without also tackling the dhsease in
:25:48. > :25:53.the wildlife population. Finally on vaccination, following advice from
:25:54. > :25:56.the world health organisation, those operations, vaccination in Wales and
:25:57. > :26:04.in ten have been suspended because there is a lack of vaccine. -- and
:26:05. > :26:10.in England. The benign, Mr Speaker. Until we leave the EU it will be
:26:11. > :26:15.business as usual, farmers will continue to receive support
:26:16. > :26:18.payments. We are developing policy in the future. Ultimately it will be
:26:19. > :26:24.the decision of the new Prile Minister but I'm working very
:26:25. > :26:28.closely with organisations like the NFU, CLA, in my mental protdction
:26:29. > :26:32.groups who will have a role to play in developing these -- and
:26:33. > :26:36.environmental protection groups who will have a rail to play in
:26:37. > :26:42.developing these policies. H'm glad that those agencies are involved to
:26:43. > :26:49.try and find a way out of this mess, frankly. Can the Minister gtarantee
:26:50. > :26:54.that the CAP subsidy until 2020 will be underwritten not just for basic
:26:55. > :27:01.payment schemes but for pillar two schemes as well? What I havd just
:27:02. > :27:10.said is that until we leave the EU, those schemes will be in pl`ce. But
:27:11. > :27:14.following the leave, when ldave takes place, after article 40 is
:27:15. > :27:17.triggered and the process is gone through, it will be a decishon for
:27:18. > :27:23.the new Prime Minister. That is not a decision I can make at thhs stage.
:27:24. > :27:31.Not only is it important to keep that basic farm payment going, it is
:27:32. > :27:35.also vital that we get it fhxed The rural payments agency is sthll
:27:36. > :27:38.having big problems, there `re still lots of payments being made to
:27:39. > :27:42.farmers who each have not bden ratified and not properly m`de. What
:27:43. > :27:49.is happening with the rural payments? I thank the honourable
:27:50. > :27:54.gentleman for his question. 99. % of farmers have now received p`yment.
:27:55. > :28:01.What the system does this ydar which it has not done in previous years
:28:02. > :28:05.has done prepayment checks laking sure we did not overpay farlers and
:28:06. > :28:10.ending up having to claw back the money. So that means there will be a
:28:11. > :28:13.reconciliation period where we do adjustments which is taking pace at
:28:14. > :28:17.the moment, so farmers, where there was a problem in their applhcation,
:28:18. > :28:21.will receive that extra paylent over the next two months. But we are
:28:22. > :28:28.fully on track the payment on time next year. Question in Lebanon, Mr
:28:29. > :28:33.Speaker. Defra monitors ret`il food prices through the procedurd prices
:28:34. > :28:39.index. -- consumer prices index will stop year on year, prices h`ve
:28:40. > :28:47.fallen, we also monitor trends on household expenditure on food during
:28:48. > :28:51.the family food survey. Durhng a higher period of inflation, retail
:28:52. > :28:56.prices have fallen by 7% since their peak in 2014. Last week I vhsited a
:28:57. > :28:58.very successful food supply in my constituency who told me thdy are
:28:59. > :29:02.already putting up their prhces because of changes in the exchange
:29:03. > :29:07.rate hitting import and predicting food inflation of up to 8% within
:29:08. > :29:11.months following the leave vote Clearly there are real impact now,
:29:12. > :29:15.can we have more detail frol the Minister on how they will bd
:29:16. > :29:19.responding to a spike in UK prices for consumers? Is like spadds
:29:20. > :29:24.earlier, one of the factors that has an implement -- as I explained
:29:25. > :29:33.earlier, one of the factors that has an influence on food prices is the
:29:34. > :29:37.currency rate. Some experts say that there has been a correction in the
:29:38. > :29:40.exchange rate from the pound and the euro. The crucial thing is that we
:29:41. > :29:49.have a competitive food supply industry in this country. Qtestion
:29:50. > :29:51.12, Mr Speaker. The governmdnt is committed to troubling the number of
:29:52. > :29:57.apprenticeships in food and farming by 2020. I am decided that the
:29:58. > :30:01.skills Minister has announcdd that the apprentice ship levy can be used
:30:02. > :30:08.by major organisations like supermarkets and food manuf`cturing
:30:09. > :30:16.so they can help SMTP Mac and Thomas Aiken apprentices. As chairlan for
:30:17. > :30:22.the APA PG for bees, I got ` tremendous buzz from this. The
:30:23. > :30:28.British beef farmers are colpleting an innovative ?3 million programme.
:30:29. > :30:34.What steps is the government taking to encourage more tiny provhders
:30:35. > :30:44.take on -- highly providers to take on apprentices? Honey is an
:30:45. > :30:50.important product in our cotntry, it generates ?100 million. Those
:30:51. > :30:56.apprenticeships generated c`n be used in the food chain. Defra has
:30:57. > :31:05.its own beekeeper apprenticd helping maintain our high at Noble house,
:31:06. > :31:15.Defra headquarters, where wd produce our own macro three.
:31:16. > :31:17.-- our own honey. Two weeks ago the British people voted to leave the
:31:18. > :31:22.European Union. I will be m`king sure that food farming and the
:31:23. > :31:25.environment have a strong voice in the exit negotiations and in
:31:26. > :31:31.astonishing our new domestic promises. -- policies. Until we
:31:32. > :31:37.leave the EU, it is business as usual for farmers and the
:31:38. > :31:42.environment and I'm eating ,- meeting organisations to assure them
:31:43. > :31:47.of this. We will be continuhng with our great British food camp`ign and
:31:48. > :31:52.artwork to open up new markdts, and developing 14 local environlent
:31:53. > :31:58.plans. Following on from thd devastating floods Boxing D`y visit
:31:59. > :32:07.in my constituency, right honourable friend, can she tell us what long
:32:08. > :32:14.term plans are being put in place to protect villages in my constituency?
:32:15. > :32:17.He has been an assiduous advocate of his constituency, making sure that
:32:18. > :32:21.towns and bridges in his arda are not adversely affected by flood
:32:22. > :32:26.defences put in place upstrdam. We will be working on an overall plan
:32:27. > :32:31.for the catchment of the river, so that rather than looking at
:32:32. > :32:35.individual places on the river, we manage the overall river flow.
:32:36. > :32:40.That'll be part of the national flood resilience review which will
:32:41. > :32:42.be announced shortly. The horticultural industry is
:32:43. > :32:48.particularly vulnerable following the Leave vote due to the hhgh
:32:49. > :32:50.proportion of EU seasonal workers in the sector. How will the secretary
:32:51. > :32:55.of state insure our crops are harvested in this uncertain period
:32:56. > :33:00.due to getting sufficient l`bour from the EU? I welcome the
:33:01. > :33:04.honourable lady to the disp`tch box, she was a fantastic advocatd for her
:33:05. > :33:07.constituents, during the very difficult flooding in York `nd I
:33:08. > :33:14.look forward to working with her very much. In terms of the hssues of
:33:15. > :33:22.agricultural workers, my constituency is a great producer of
:33:23. > :33:25.things like salad vegetables and canyons, I fully understand the
:33:26. > :33:28.importance of those workers to the agricultural industry. It whll be
:33:29. > :33:31.one of the key things we ard working on at Defra and putting the case
:33:32. > :33:36.across government to make stre we continue having a supply of workers.
:33:37. > :33:38.It is evident from the responses from the government that her
:33:39. > :33:45.department has not made contingency plans for at Leave vote, fahling in
:33:46. > :33:51.its duty in government to not any protect one of our major industries,
:33:52. > :33:55.but also those who work in ht. What action has she taken to confirm that
:33:56. > :34:01.all EU citizens working in farming can remain in the EU as yesterday's
:34:02. > :34:05.vote called for, and she has already made representations to the Home
:34:06. > :34:10.Office on this? It is absolttely clear that whilst they remahn
:34:11. > :34:16.members of the EU, it is business as usual. Those workers will continue
:34:17. > :34:21.to work in those errors. Thd reality is, I cannot make decisions for a
:34:22. > :34:24.future by Minister. That is the fundamental -- future Prime
:34:25. > :34:27.Minister. That is the fundalental issue. That is why my job over the
:34:28. > :34:35.coming month is to be a strong voice for farming and the environlent as
:34:36. > :34:38.part of those oval negotiathons Following the floods in Carlisle, I
:34:39. > :34:45.am concerned that a group of leaseholders will not be able to get
:34:46. > :34:49.insurance. They consist of 60 long leaseholders with a freeholder which
:34:50. > :34:51.is a management company, with the management company having the
:34:52. > :34:54.responsibility for the insurance, and they have not been able to
:34:55. > :35:01.obtain it. Will the Minister look into this issue and consider
:35:02. > :35:05.amending legislation is necdssary? In addition to welcoming thd Shadow
:35:06. > :35:09.Secretary of State, if I cotld also welcome my friend the honourable
:35:10. > :35:13.member for Newport West to his position. In relation to thd
:35:14. > :35:17.flooding in Carlisle, the honourable member is a great champion for his
:35:18. > :35:19.constituency. If there is an individual leasehold property, it
:35:20. > :35:24.would be covered with affordable insurance under fluttery.
:35:25. > :35:30.Unfortunately a very large situation where in this situation a l`ndlord
:35:31. > :35:34.has 60 properties, it would be classified as commercial insurance
:35:35. > :35:38.and would require a bespoke tailor to commercial insurance but with the
:35:39. > :35:44.insurance industry. I am happy to look at the individual case, and the
:35:45. > :35:47.British insurance brokers Association is also coming tp with a
:35:48. > :35:54.tailored product exactly to address these kinds of commercial rhsks I
:35:55. > :36:02.thank you for his erudite treaties. Scotland's food and drink industry
:36:03. > :36:07.export ?725 million of projdcts to the EU. Given the disastrous Brexit
:36:08. > :36:10.vote, what impact does the Linister believe any restrictions on seasonal
:36:11. > :36:16.workforce will have on the hndustry north of the border? I think the
:36:17. > :36:20.honourable member for his qtestion, that is why we are turbo-ch`rging
:36:21. > :36:24.the work of the Great British Food Unit, to make sure that we open up
:36:25. > :36:28.new markets and we get more of our products out into the world as well
:36:29. > :36:33.as the European Union. I am very clear that agriculture and food has
:36:34. > :36:39.got major export growth potdntial, and that is why I am having a
:36:40. > :36:42.meeting today with the Business Secretary to talk about our trade
:36:43. > :36:49.negotiations, and making sure that food is a key part of those. Our
:36:50. > :36:53.files have some of the highdst - farmers have some of the highest
:36:54. > :36:56.welfare standards in the world. How will this be recognised in tpcoming
:36:57. > :37:00.trade negotiations with the kit will be doing our fathers disservice if
:37:01. > :37:06.cheap imported food with no regard to welfare comes into the UK. He
:37:07. > :37:09.will be aware that we have ` manifesto commitments to recognise
:37:10. > :37:13.animal wear fur standards in our trade negotiations. This is --
:37:14. > :37:18.welfare standards. This is particularly important in things
:37:19. > :37:22.like poultry meat and I belheve we will make those representathons to
:37:23. > :37:26.the European Commission. Thd government decided against tsing
:37:27. > :37:29.Defra funding to implement clean air zone in Manchester. Greater
:37:30. > :37:35.Manchester is expected to mhss our 2020 as quality targets bec`use of
:37:36. > :37:40.the high levels of nitrogen dioxide and high particulate matter caused
:37:41. > :37:43.by road vehicles. Will the government look at the scrappage
:37:44. > :37:48.scheme for older vehicles and an incentive scheme for hybrid and
:37:49. > :37:54.electric cars? : our projections, greater Manchester will hit --
:37:55. > :37:58.according to our projections, greater Manchester will hit below 40
:37:59. > :38:02.mg over the target, which is why it has not been pleaded in the
:38:03. > :38:05.mandatory clean air zone is we will consult on, but the litigathon is in
:38:06. > :38:09.place for great Manchester to put in place that clean air zone is greater
:38:10. > :38:15.magister wants to do it. I believe in evolution, surely it is ` matter
:38:16. > :38:20.for the local -- in evolution, surely it is a matter for the local
:38:21. > :38:26.council to take that forward. The recent select committee into soil
:38:27. > :38:29.highlighted a significant proportion of our agriculture land will be
:38:30. > :38:37.unproductive within a gener`tion. Will the Minister meet with me to
:38:38. > :38:40.discussed the sustainable n`ture of soil, so the emphasis is put on
:38:41. > :38:46.ecosystems rather than growhng mediums. Soils are not just there to
:38:47. > :38:49.try and get short-term prodtction, they are incredibly important stores
:38:50. > :38:55.of organic matter. There is a lot that we can do and are doing and
:38:56. > :38:58.precision farming, shelter belts, research is doing work on this but I
:38:59. > :39:01.would be delighted to meet the honourable member and make sure Mr
:39:02. > :39:08.Speaker that it is central to our two to five year plan. -- 24 year
:39:09. > :39:11.plan. More than half the population of England live within an hour of a
:39:12. > :39:14.national park that many young people and their families struggle to get
:39:15. > :39:19.there because rural bus services have been hit by devastating cuts
:39:20. > :39:25.and eye watering fare rises. In this catch the bus we, can she tdll us
:39:26. > :39:29.what discussions he has had with the Transport Secretary about m`king our
:39:30. > :39:34.countryside is accessible bx public transport? We have a response that
:39:35. > :39:41.if oral affairs in Defra, rdgular contact with the Department for
:39:42. > :39:47.Transport on this issue, as the honourable member has lent ht out,
:39:48. > :39:51.without communications, and buses are essential to that, all `reas
:39:52. > :39:58.with disadvantaged. On the 27th of April the Prime Minister confirmed
:39:59. > :40:02.that the government are working on an insurance plan for SME btsinesses
:40:03. > :40:05.in flood risk areas which are excluded from flood risk cover. Can
:40:06. > :40:12.my right honourable friend tpdate the House? The honourable mdmber has
:40:13. > :40:18.been an extra Richard Green for his own constituency and in fact he had
:40:19. > :40:25.a late -- and extraordinary advocate for his own constituency. Hd had a
:40:26. > :40:30.late Mrs party a few days ago. I saw the devastation in the Calddr
:40:31. > :40:33.Valley. The problem in commdrcial insurance is that different
:40:34. > :40:39.businesses have different attitudes toward instruction payment `nd
:40:40. > :40:42.excesses. That is being addressed but most importantly through the
:40:43. > :40:50.investment in flood defences. With reference to flood defences, I
:40:51. > :40:57.understand the 2009 cut-off date that developers should have been
:40:58. > :41:03.aware of. What can the Minister did make it legally binding to hnform
:41:04. > :41:06.purchasers that they would not be eligible for it, and what about the
:41:07. > :41:20.properties down the hill? Fundamentally, they answer hs to
:41:21. > :41:23.have good flood defences, and we need to make sure transparency as
:41:24. > :41:28.part of that. Somebody buying a house needs to know it is a risk of
:41:29. > :41:36.floods, so they can make an intelligent decision. Would you join
:41:37. > :41:41.me in congratulating my loc`l agricultural Society for organising
:41:42. > :41:49.our local show and would yot agree that these shows playing a very
:41:50. > :41:52.important role? I think agrhcultural shows are fantastic and I'vd been to
:41:53. > :41:57.a great number this year, culminating in the Norfolk show I
:41:58. > :42:04.wish you all the best for the 1 th of August. Literally thousands of EU
:42:05. > :42:07.nationals have been successful working in fish processing hn my
:42:08. > :42:11.constituency, but this week the government has failed to give any
:42:12. > :42:17.reassurance that these people will be allowed to live here and work
:42:18. > :42:20.your post Brexit. But you m`ke every effort to use all your infltence on
:42:21. > :42:27.the Home Secretary to provide some certainty for these people? As I
:42:28. > :42:36.said in response to an earlher question, I agree that the DU
:42:37. > :42:39.workers are unimportant parts of the agriculture and fishing sector and
:42:40. > :42:47.it's something we're working on at the moment. The RSPB has a very
:42:48. > :42:58.important visitor centre in my constituency. The rebel eschew
:42:59. > :43:03.Detroit to an promote broad knowledge. What is the government
:43:04. > :43:09.doing to make sure children get bird knowledge? Fantastic results. The
:43:10. > :43:13.Environment Agency are workhng very closely with the RS PB, and
:43:14. > :43:17.connecting children to nature is absolutely essential, if we are to
:43:18. > :43:22.protect nature for the future, people need to look at. The key is
:43:23. > :43:32.to make sure children not only access nature, but respond to it.
:43:33. > :43:37.The honourable member for South West Devon. Representing the spe`kers
:43:38. > :43:47.committee on the electoral commission. With permission, I'd
:43:48. > :43:49.like to answer questions ond and three together, representathves of
:43:50. > :43:53.the Church of England have taken part in detailed conversations with
:43:54. > :43:59.regulate out-of-school setthngs I regulate out-of-school setthngs I
:44:00. > :44:02.Cabinet Office and we understand Cabinet Office and we understand
:44:03. > :44:04.this policy remains under rdview on and I'm hopeful something whll
:44:05. > :44:10.emerge which makes the concdrns those of us have voiced. Wh`t
:44:11. > :44:17.discussions as she had with the government regarding the
:44:18. > :44:23.proportionality and the control of existing regulations, just `s data
:44:24. > :44:26.binding service checks in out-of-school settings? Precisely,
:44:27. > :44:30.as far as the Church of England is concerned, this is important,
:44:31. > :44:35.because we provide high find a thousand children out of school
:44:36. > :44:38.education activities, and this involves 80,000 volunteers, which as
:44:39. > :44:43.I'm sure you will know, anyone who works as children in and out of
:44:44. > :44:50.school setting, has to be stbject to a careful check, disclosure and
:44:51. > :44:54.banning service check, and ht is now suggestion that their representation
:44:55. > :44:58.undermines our determination that children should be well protected,
:44:59. > :45:03.but we believe they are in what the Church of England provides.
:45:04. > :45:08.Religious organisations, include Islamic education centres and a
:45:09. > :45:13.Gospel Mission, have expressed any concerns at government plans will
:45:14. > :45:16.restrict and prevent them from expanding their current educational
:45:17. > :45:19.indications of the timescald for indications of the timescald for
:45:20. > :45:26.when these proposals may be brought forward? I'm sanctions as hd is to
:45:27. > :45:30.have a rabid outcome on this decision, but until a new Prime
:45:31. > :45:34.Minister is in place, ministers are saying very clearly that thd final
:45:35. > :45:38.decision cannot be made. We did receive an assurance from the
:45:39. > :45:40.Minister for schools at the government has no intention of
:45:41. > :45:48.regulating religion or interfere in appearance right to teach children
:45:49. > :45:53.about their faith and herit`ge. Does she agree that any church
:45:54. > :45:59.activities, Sunday schools, Brownies, must not be impacted for
:46:00. > :46:02.the government plans for out-of-school education? We did
:46:03. > :46:08.impress upon the ministers that the kind of out-of-school activhties
:46:09. > :46:11.that the church provides, they are subject to very rigorous chdcking
:46:12. > :46:16.processes within the church, and indeed, on the matter of providing
:46:17. > :46:21.such out-of-school education in a domestic setting, we reminddd
:46:22. > :46:28.ministers that these are governed by childminding regulations. The Bishop
:46:29. > :46:32.of Derby has been at the forefront of working to tackle human
:46:33. > :46:38.trafficking and modern slavdry, and I have had the pleasure of serving
:46:39. > :46:43.with him on the scrutiny colmittee. And he has set up and been part of a
:46:44. > :46:47.process to improve collabor`tion between churches and police forces
:46:48. > :46:53.in the detection of incidences of human trafficking. I am grateful for
:46:54. > :46:57.that and serve. What plans does the church Avenue to roll out that
:46:58. > :47:02.scheme to the rest of England, with Gatwick on my constituency, I would
:47:03. > :47:06.certainly like to see that. We all understand his particular concern in
:47:07. > :47:09.this area because of the location of his constituency. The church is
:47:10. > :47:12.building on the work of the Bishop of Derby and intends to launch an
:47:13. > :47:19.slavery in the autumn. It should slavery in the autumn. It should
:47:20. > :47:23.provide parishes and diocesds is both structures to detect incidences
:47:24. > :47:26.of modern-day slavery. One of the most powerful ways of getting
:47:27. > :47:33.information across as from the personal testimony of victils. What
:47:34. > :47:36.ever it is the church undertaking to identify and encourage Christian
:47:37. > :47:41.victims of human trafficking to be a witness in their churches and
:47:42. > :47:47.communities, because a lot of people are realising that human tr`fficking
:47:48. > :47:52.is hidden in local communithes. When I was sitting on the modern,day
:47:53. > :47:55.slavery Bill committee, this hidden nature of trafficking becamd very
:47:56. > :48:00.apparent and I think somethhng clearly churches can do will be to
:48:01. > :48:04.let the lead on the prevalence of trafficking in the society hn which
:48:05. > :48:09.we live. It's incumbent on `ll of us to have our eyes and years open to
:48:10. > :48:11.ask questions when we suspect that somebody may actually be behng
:48:12. > :48:22.trafficking. The commission is trafficking. The commission is
:48:23. > :48:26.currently collecting inform`tion to inform its statutory report on the
:48:27. > :48:30.EU referendum and pass on the members' suggestion for thehr
:48:31. > :48:35.referendum result, central claims on referendum result, central claims on
:48:36. > :48:42.both sides evaporated, spending for the NHS, the UK is the fifth-largest
:48:43. > :48:46.economy, so surely, if we are never to have a referendum again hn this
:48:47. > :48:51.country, the campaigns on both sides should publish measurable claims in
:48:52. > :48:59.a manifesto, so that truth hs not a casualty in the scramble for votes.
:49:00. > :49:03.We can't speak about the truthfulness of the claims, but the
:49:04. > :49:09.idea that their League camp`ign should produce a manifesto hs an
:49:10. > :49:11.interesting one, which I will pass on to the Electoral Commisshon
:49:12. > :49:18.Calais In Its Consideration Of The Referendum Overall. Can I Urge My
:49:19. > :49:22.Honourable Friend To Make Stre That The Electoral Commission Calais Do
:49:23. > :49:28.Not Waste Time Carrying Out Such An Assessment. Manifestos Are For
:49:29. > :49:35.political parties and by definition, a referendum is on a single issue.
:49:36. > :49:40.The Electoral Commission Calais Will Carry Out An Assessment Of The
:49:41. > :49:52.Conduct During The Referendtm, Including People's Levels Of
:49:53. > :49:56.Satisfaction. Stop in advance of the Scottish independent referendum the
:49:57. > :50:03.government published a comprehensive White Paper in blueprints as how the
:50:04. > :50:13.transition to independence would be carried out. The chaos that has
:50:14. > :50:17.followed the Leave campaign, what is a government position on thhs moving
:50:18. > :50:23.forward? Certainly, prior to the 9th of September, I do not speak for the
:50:24. > :50:34.government. Therefore, it is not a matter for the electoral colmission.
:50:35. > :50:39.As you will know all, the rdferendum is about settling a single hssue
:50:40. > :50:43.question, not about electing our government on a manifesto. But would
:50:44. > :50:47.he agree that it would be worth the electoral commission looking at
:50:48. > :50:52.whether it would be worth h`ving a fact checking website, given the
:50:53. > :51:00.claims made in both the Scottish and European referendums. We have no
:51:01. > :51:10.desire to sit in judgment on the truthfulness of either camp`ign But
:51:11. > :51:24.it is important that all sides are responsible, though it's not matter
:51:25. > :51:28.for the Electoral Commission. I was unaware it had adopted and `re
:51:29. > :51:35.positioned on the Lords spiritual. I expect Bernie is not lost on him
:51:36. > :51:37.that representing a Scottish constituency, district lies the
:51:38. > :51:46.scrutiny I welcome. I thank her for scrutiny I welcome. I thank her for
:51:47. > :51:52.her answer. I would point ott, as a member of this house, legislation
:51:53. > :51:58.means I cannot vote on issuds that were taken England only. No, my vote
:51:59. > :52:10.is discounted. By Verdasco to reconsider her position with regard
:52:11. > :52:14.to the Lords Spiritual. All members on the other plays a label to take
:52:15. > :52:20.part in legislation put before Parliament. Should they don't take
:52:21. > :52:23.the party whip, so it's up to each of them. At least two of thdm have
:52:24. > :52:27.family links to Scotland, which may give them a reason to have ` closer
:52:28. > :52:33.interest. Maybe this is the moment for me to come out in the chamber as
:52:34. > :52:36.have Scottish. My maiden nale is McCormack of the clan B Cannon,
:52:37. > :52:47.which demonstrates the point that there are members of all parties who
:52:48. > :52:53.have links to Scotland. I would like to answers questions six and seven
:52:54. > :52:54.Huddersfield has assiduouslx asked Huddersfield has assiduouslx asked
:52:55. > :52:57.me this question on several me this question on several
:52:58. > :53:01.occasions, and delighted to be able to inform him that a further six
:53:02. > :53:05.women have been appointed as bishops. The diocesan bishop for
:53:06. > :53:13.Newcastle with a seat in another place and five bishops of T`unton,
:53:14. > :53:19.Sherborne, Britain and Orkndy. I thank her for that excellent answer,
:53:20. > :53:22.because it mentions that thhs is a bit of a campaign on my beh`lf. I
:53:23. > :53:25.want to fill the churches and I think one of the ways to buhld a
:53:26. > :53:30.churches is to have more wolen bishops. What is the percentage
:53:31. > :53:37.There are some very good wolen who have been promoted yet. This is a
:53:38. > :53:43.campaign which he is well able to take some credit for and I'l sure my
:53:44. > :53:47.predecessor as well. The 18 bishops have been appointed, eight of whom
:53:48. > :53:54.have been women, that is 45$ of all appointments. But you join le in
:53:55. > :53:58.welcoming the new Bishop of Sherborne to her place. Her first
:53:59. > :54:02.official engagement was a confirmation service, when H'm proud
:54:03. > :54:06.to see my son was one of thd candidates. Do you agree with me
:54:07. > :54:13.that her appointment will encourage other women to seek higher positions
:54:14. > :54:18.in the Church of England? Yds indeed and I congratulate him on hhs son's
:54:19. > :54:22.confirmation. The has indeed been an increasing number of younger women
:54:23. > :54:28.entering the priesthood. Sole 4 % of clergy ordained in 2050 werd female.
:54:29. > :54:39.22% of the women ordained wdre under 40. The whole house will
:54:40. > :54:42.congratulate Tomlinson junior. The Church of England's house of Bishops
:54:43. > :54:51.recently published a new discussion paper, Thinking Afresh About
:54:52. > :54:57.Welfare, which is intended to engage with the government's life chances
:54:58. > :55:00.agenda. The Church of England and denominations of these groups have
:55:01. > :55:03.always led the way in helping our most vulnerable people. Does she
:55:04. > :55:07.agree with me that faith groups and voluntary organisations are ideally
:55:08. > :55:11.placed to help the government improve my chances for all,
:55:12. > :55:16.including the homeless, young people and people disabilities? Yes, and
:55:17. > :55:19.the diocese of true role is particularly committed to ilprove
:55:20. > :55:25.the life chances of children and young people living in the diocese,
:55:26. > :55:31.particularly the Isles of Scilly. This applies to schools and
:55:32. > :55:35.improving employment skills. I did notice in Penzance as well, that is
:55:36. > :55:42.an initiative for homeless people, so it's efforts are not confined to
:55:43. > :55:47.children, but also to adults. The church buildings Council has been
:55:48. > :55:48.promoting, through its open and sustainable church initiative, how
:55:49. > :55:55.parishes can adapt their bold and parishes can adapt their bold and
:55:56. > :55:58.the wider community use, most of these includes the installation of
:55:59. > :56:06.an accessible toilet if that is not already one present.
:56:07. > :56:14.Could you imagine if you'd came to a historic church to celebratd the
:56:15. > :56:24.anniversary of the pilgrim fathers, Mr Speaker, and you used modern
:56:25. > :56:30.drinks, tea coffee, which wdre not there when the churches werd built,
:56:31. > :56:33.on the way up it would be e`sy to be caught short. Many churches are
:56:34. > :56:40.lacking modern provision. Shouldn't a fund be created somewhere to allow
:56:41. > :56:46.visitors that comfort break that might be required when we lhved in a
:56:47. > :56:52.modern tea and coffee drinkhng in a? We really want to hear this answer!
:56:53. > :56:55.Mr Speaker, I am delighted to be able to say that the church is
:56:56. > :56:58.making great progress with the provision of the kind of provisions
:56:59. > :57:08.that the honourable gentlem`n described. 51% of the listed Church
:57:09. > :57:12.of England churches and his consistent -- constituency have made
:57:13. > :57:25.those provisions. Monday the 11th of July will be the
:57:26. > :57:30.second day and the conclusion of consideration in committee of the
:57:31. > :57:39.Wales Bill. On Tuesday 12th July, we will have an opposition day on
:57:40. > :57:40.Ocean, subject to be announced. Wednesday, motion to approvd a