:00:00. > :00:12.Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the House of Commons. At
:00:13. > :00:16.10:10am there are questions on the work of the Electoral Commission and
:00:17. > :00:22.Church of England matters and at 1030 of the House of Lords answering
:00:23. > :00:26.questions on forthcoming Parliamentary business, followed by
:00:27. > :00:31.two general debates in the chamber. The first marking international
:00:32. > :00:35.women's day which this year is next Wednesday, but today, and the second
:00:36. > :00:40.is on Welsh affairs following saint David's day yesterday. You can join
:00:41. > :00:45.me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm. First
:00:46. > :01:06.questions to the Environment Secretary and her ministerial team.
:01:07. > :01:15.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for environment,
:01:16. > :01:21.food and rural affairs. Number one. We run a consultation between the
:01:22. > :01:25.20th of December 28 of February on proposals to ban micro beads in
:01:26. > :01:30.cosmetics and personal care products and sort evidence on the
:01:31. > :01:35.environmental impacts of micro plastics and we are reviewing the
:01:36. > :01:40.results of the consultation and any new evidence will be used to inform
:01:41. > :01:44.future actions to protect the marine environment. Can I welcome the
:01:45. > :01:47.proposed ban as far as it goes? It appears that a number of products
:01:48. > :01:57.such as make-up and son team would be exploded so can I Archer to adopt
:01:58. > :02:00.the Greenpeace definition which is all ingredients of five millimetres
:02:01. > :02:08.or less in any dimension used for any purpose? I am sure he will
:02:09. > :02:10.welcome the fact that many manufacturers are proactively
:02:11. > :02:14.removing micro beads from their products. We will look at the
:02:15. > :02:19.responses of the consultation carefully and use them to inform any
:02:20. > :02:23.future policy. Could I urge the government to go further than the US
:02:24. > :02:28.ban and ban all products with micro beads in them that risk getting into
:02:29. > :02:34.the marine environment? Will the government reject the idea that
:02:35. > :02:37.biodegradable micro beads could be used instead because there is no
:02:38. > :02:41.evidence there is such a thing? Could the government commissioned
:02:42. > :02:46.research to see whether micro beads in a human tissue have a long-term
:02:47. > :02:50.effect? The US ban has not yet come into force but we will continue to
:02:51. > :02:55.monitor its progress and consider any learnings from its approach.
:02:56. > :02:58.Evidence shows that the rents of products can damage the marine
:02:59. > :03:04.environment and that is why we have extended the consultation. The
:03:05. > :03:07.government's progress on banning micro beads is very welcome but
:03:08. > :03:11.there are other forms of plastic polluting our seas including 50
:03:12. > :03:18.million plastic bottle thrown away every day. A Cornish -based charity
:03:19. > :03:22.have obtained 209,000 signatures on a petition calling for a plastic
:03:23. > :03:28.bottle deposit return scheme. Which she meets to discuss how we can
:03:29. > :03:31.advance this petition and make progress on this issue? I would be
:03:32. > :03:41.very happy to meet him to discuss this matter. We are looking at this
:03:42. > :03:49.issue in terms of strategy. I want to publicise the great spring clean
:03:50. > :03:55.following its success. I want to advertise BBC Suffolk's campaign
:03:56. > :04:03.don't be a toss-up because the people who tour sweater around are
:04:04. > :04:06.not the kind of people we want. A micro beads ban would be very
:04:07. > :04:11.welcome extend the its products would be very welcome. Larger
:04:12. > :04:15.plastics then break down and become micro plastics within the marine
:04:16. > :04:18.environment under the biggest problem and a deposit return scheme
:04:19. > :04:23.would make a big difference but what is she doing in terms of the
:04:24. > :04:26.circular economy and trying to get manufacturers to design out such
:04:27. > :04:30.products so we do not have a problem in the first place? The advance of
:04:31. > :04:37.plastic packaging was to reflect consumer desire having safe products
:04:38. > :04:41.quickly carry on an individual way. I welcome were manufacturers want to
:04:42. > :04:44.introduce their own recycling schemes but since we were children
:04:45. > :04:48.and perhaps getting pocket money for some of these return scheme is we
:04:49. > :04:54.now have kerb-side recycling which have been successful in increasing
:04:55. > :04:58.the amount of recycling. She has shown leadership on this issue and I
:04:59. > :05:03.applaud the government's efforts so far but we need other countries they
:05:04. > :05:10.get involved. Can she say more about what she is doing to make sure
:05:11. > :05:20.collaboration across borders but not too much more? He is right. The
:05:21. > :05:22.recent explosion of nurdles was due to the fact that several containers
:05:23. > :05:29.fell off of the ship and were dispersed. We want to work carefully
:05:30. > :05:33.with other countries in order to do this and we support the efforts in
:05:34. > :05:40.clean as can be. A hotspot, there is clean as can be. A hotspot, there is
:05:41. > :05:46.more we need to know to quantify the impact a presence in our seas to
:05:47. > :05:49.eliminate them and much of the research has been coordinated
:05:50. > :05:54.funding by the EU under the marine strategy framework directive. Can
:05:55. > :05:57.she give certainty they will still have funding or opportunities for
:05:58. > :06:04.collaboration after the UK leaves the EU? The UK is a leading player.
:06:05. > :06:08.We protect more than half the season that region of which he will be
:06:09. > :06:12.aware. I am confident we will continue to work with many other
:06:13. > :06:21.countries including our scientists in order to tackle this issue.
:06:22. > :06:29.Number two. May I welcome the member for Workington? I look forward to
:06:30. > :06:33.working with her. Sincere apologies from my farming minister whose plane
:06:34. > :06:40.has been delayed and he sent his sincere apologies. Ministers and
:06:41. > :06:43.officials have met regularly with officials from across the fishing
:06:44. > :06:48.industry since the referendum. Fisheries will be a key area in
:06:49. > :06:53.negotiations and as a coastal state outside of the EU they UK will be
:06:54. > :06:57.responsible under international law for controlling UK waters and for
:06:58. > :07:02.the sustainable management of fisheries within it. I have
:07:03. > :07:07.instinctive sympathy for anybody who gets delayed by planes. It is a big
:07:08. > :07:12.part of my life. With regard to the Common Fisheries Policy she will be
:07:13. > :07:17.aware that before we had it we had the London convention of 1964 which
:07:18. > :07:23.governed access of foreign vessels to the six to 12 mile limit waters.
:07:24. > :07:29.Isn't the government's intention to remain party to that convention
:07:30. > :07:32.after we leave the EU? I am very aware of the issues around the
:07:33. > :07:40.London convention and we are looking closely at it and we will be able to
:07:41. > :07:44.comment in the near future. There is no doubt when we went into the EU
:07:45. > :07:47.back in the 70s the fishermen had a very poor deal in the amount of fish
:07:48. > :07:54.they could catch and the quarters they had so is there a real
:07:55. > :07:58.opportunity to make sure we get better access to our waters, more
:07:59. > :08:04.quantities of fish, so the industry can progress further? He is right
:08:05. > :08:13.that there are enormous opportunities for UK fishing coming
:08:14. > :08:18.from the EU and we will be looking to get the best possible deal. She
:08:19. > :08:21.will know that our fish processing industry is more important to our
:08:22. > :08:27.economy than the catching sector and it is very dependent on imports and
:08:28. > :08:32.we exported more than 80% of what we catch so isn't maintaining tariff
:08:33. > :08:35.free and other barrier free access to the single European market more
:08:36. > :08:40.important than sterile arguments about fishing rights which could
:08:41. > :08:49.result in battles or worse? I have to disagree. Our fishing communities
:08:50. > :08:53.around the UK provide a vital vibrancy to local communities, rural
:08:54. > :08:58.economies and so on, so to suggest that somehow processing is far more
:08:59. > :09:03.important, I do not agree, however it is the case that we will be
:09:04. > :09:08.seeking the freest possible access to the European markets but at the
:09:09. > :09:12.same time when I was in China last year I signed a memorandum of
:09:13. > :09:15.understanding with the Chinese were ?50 million which includes UK
:09:16. > :09:23.seafood and that will be very important for us to be able to find
:09:24. > :09:30.new export markets. Last Friday I spoke at a seminar of seafood and
:09:31. > :09:33.fishing industry in the Grimsby Cleethorpes area. Once they
:09:34. > :09:38.recognise the opportunities from Brexit they understandably have some
:09:39. > :09:43.concerns. I welcome the reassurances from the minister but could she give
:09:44. > :09:46.an absolute reassurance to the seafood processing sector that they
:09:47. > :09:54.will form a key part of the negotiations? I have had a very
:09:55. > :09:56.happy fish and chip lunch with my friend in Cleethorpes and I look
:09:57. > :10:02.forward to further opportunities in the future. He is right to point out
:10:03. > :10:06.that seafood processing is absolutely vital part of fishing
:10:07. > :10:11.sector and something we are very much taking into account in our
:10:12. > :10:15.negotiations for leaving the EU but also in looking at the opportunities
:10:16. > :10:23.around the world. It is a joy to learn about the culinary habits of
:10:24. > :10:27.the Secretary of State. Despite the fact we are eight months
:10:28. > :10:31.on from the referendum in a recent meeting the Scottish minister the
:10:32. > :10:35.Secretary of State was unable to provide any information on what
:10:36. > :10:40.powers over the rural economy will flow to Scotland after Brexit. As
:10:41. > :10:45.Ruth Davidson the Scottish Conservative leader let the cat out
:10:46. > :10:49.of the bag, when she says there will be a cash grab, and when will she
:10:50. > :10:55.come clean and own up to what this government plans to do to Scottish
:10:56. > :11:01.fishing and farming? He will recognise that the UK market is
:11:02. > :11:05.incredibly valuable to all other fishing communities and that will
:11:06. > :11:10.continue to be very important. The Prime Minister has been very clear
:11:11. > :11:15.no powers currently devolved will be as he says grabbed. Those will
:11:16. > :11:19.continue to be. We are looking very carefully at the best possible deal
:11:20. > :11:28.for all parts of the UK as we seek to negotiate for Brexit. Number
:11:29. > :11:34.three. I apologise for being a little late, I was at an exhibition
:11:35. > :11:40.in the Gulf and the plane got stranded due to fog. The government
:11:41. > :11:44.wants to see the UK grow more and sell more British food and drink
:11:45. > :11:47.through the introduction of a new plan for government procurement we
:11:48. > :11:51.have sought to enable government departments to source more local
:11:52. > :11:56.food and recent successes include the Ministry of Justice implementing
:11:57. > :11:57.a plan, last year exports of food and drink increased by 9% up to ?20
:11:58. > :12:05.billion. West Sussex is home to our finest
:12:06. > :12:12.food and rig including Aric sectional graduate local cheese,
:12:13. > :12:16.which is the superb Sussex charmer. What further opportunities does the
:12:17. > :12:21.Minister for sea to promote high quality, well branded, locally
:12:22. > :12:32.provenance to food? -- does the Minister for C. Very exciting! I
:12:33. > :12:35.could not agree more, and products like the Sussex Charmer cheese and
:12:36. > :12:38.the wines produced in the South Downs is second to none which is why
:12:39. > :12:41.we have set up the great British food unit to promote our food at
:12:42. > :12:44.home and abroad and why I am today returning late sadly from the
:12:45. > :12:51.world's largest annual trade fair on food. Can I remind the Minister that
:12:52. > :12:57.we don't want food at any price? Has he heard this morning, another seven
:12:58. > :13:00.species endangered in our country because of intensive farming? When
:13:01. > :13:06.are we going to have good, productive farming, importing less
:13:07. > :13:11.but sustainable farming? I think the honourable gentleman makes an
:13:12. > :13:13.important point and as we design agriculture policy, domestic
:13:14. > :13:16.agriculture policy, after we leave the European Union, one of the
:13:17. > :13:19.things we will look at is making sure we have sustainable farming and
:13:20. > :13:26.making sure we get the benefits of farming sustainable it while
:13:27. > :13:29.improving productivity as well. Will the Minister join me in celebrating
:13:30. > :13:35.the success of white mark on the Isle of Wight? There are now over
:13:36. > :13:40.450 food and drink to relax on the Isle of Wight and white mark is now
:13:41. > :13:47.being used to promote the island as a specialty food destination? I'm
:13:48. > :13:51.delighted, and I think my honourable friend makes an incredibly important
:13:52. > :13:58.point that white mark celebrates the Isle of Wight's brilliantly produced
:13:59. > :14:01.food, and it is a great example of how little public money and the
:14:02. > :14:07.support of partners can really celebrate the providence of local
:14:08. > :14:12.food. Farmers are facing a critical shortage of seasonal labour. Some
:14:13. > :14:16.are afraid that our food will rot in the ground this year. The government
:14:17. > :14:20.has been asked to reverse its decision to scrap the seasonal
:14:21. > :14:23.agricultural workers scheme. Ministers say they are reviewing the
:14:24. > :14:29.issue but can a decision please be made as a matter of urgency? I
:14:30. > :14:31.simply point out to the honourable gentleman that while we remain
:14:32. > :14:36.members of the European Union, we still have free movement and fruit
:14:37. > :14:39.farms and farmers are still able to source labour from countries like
:14:40. > :14:42.Romania and Bulgaria. We are aware that some have raised concerns about
:14:43. > :14:46.agricultural labour going forward after we leave the EU. We listening
:14:47. > :14:51.carefully to representation they are making. Mr Speaker, would my
:14:52. > :14:54.honourable friend share the view expressed by the Conservative animal
:14:55. > :14:59.welfare foundation that leaving the European Union can both help farmers
:15:00. > :15:02.to increase their share of domestic products and animal welfare by
:15:03. > :15:08.preventing the import of goods produced under circumstances that
:15:09. > :15:12.would not be permitted in the UK? As my honourable friend is aware, this
:15:13. > :15:15.government has a manifesto commitment to place stronger
:15:16. > :15:20.recognition of animal welfare issues in the design of future agriculture
:15:21. > :15:23.policy. But also to promote higher standards of animal welfare in
:15:24. > :15:30.international trade deals. We intend to implement those manifesto
:15:31. > :15:35.commitments. ... During the Scottish affairs select committee session I
:15:36. > :15:37.heard evidence from Gary Mitchell from National Farmers Union
:15:38. > :15:41.Scotland, two things are made very clear, that access to migrant labour
:15:42. > :15:45.for seasonal work is absolutely essential for our agricultural
:15:46. > :15:50.sector, and the government is yet to respond to the representations made
:15:51. > :15:54.by NFU Scotland over these concerns. Will the secretary commit today to
:15:55. > :15:59.looking into this and providing an urgent clarification to the
:16:00. > :16:04.agricultural industry and where it stands...? The honourable lady can
:16:05. > :16:08.now breathe! Minister. I have regular meetings with NFU Scotland.
:16:09. > :16:12.Earlier this year, I had a meeting with them and we engaged on a wide
:16:13. > :16:15.range of issues pertinent to future agriculture policy in Scotland. This
:16:16. > :16:24.included looking at the issue of labour as well. Question number
:16:25. > :16:27.four. There's a lot of interest in seasonal agricultural labour at the
:16:28. > :16:29.moment but Defra ministers engage regularly with ministerial
:16:30. > :16:32.colleagues in the Home Office and other departments to discuss the
:16:33. > :16:36.issue of migrant labour in the agricultural sector after we leave
:16:37. > :16:40.the EU. We are aware the availability of labour is a concern
:16:41. > :16:42.for some sectors of the industry. However, leaving the EU and
:16:43. > :16:46.establishing controlled migration does not mean closing off all
:16:47. > :16:49.immigration. It simply means we will be able to identify where we have
:16:50. > :16:57.made and put in place suitable arrangements. Growers in my
:16:58. > :17:02.constituency are worried about fruit going unpicked, not only after we
:17:03. > :17:06.leave the EU but also this year. Can my honourable friend assure me he
:17:07. > :17:09.will continue to press the Home Office on this issue, not only on
:17:10. > :17:16.seasonal agricultural workers after we leave the EU but also between now
:17:17. > :17:20.and then? As my honourable friend may know, I spent ten years working
:17:21. > :17:26.in the soft fruit industry. Indeed, I will know many of the strawberry
:17:27. > :17:30.farmers which she represents. I'm also aware that the Secretary of
:17:31. > :17:33.State has taken up a kind offer from my honourable friend to visit and
:17:34. > :17:38.meet some of the farmers there to discuss their concerns. But I can
:17:39. > :17:42.tell her that I ran a soft fruit enterprise, employing several
:17:43. > :17:46.hundred people and I understand the challenges the industry faces. Mr
:17:47. > :17:50.Speaker, but there is an immediate problem in that many of the fruit
:17:51. > :17:52.farmers in my constituency have already entered into contracts for
:17:53. > :17:58.migrant labour for this coming season. They have been concerned
:17:59. > :18:00.about some reports last week that the government are considering
:18:01. > :18:05.restricting free movement or introducing work permits when
:18:06. > :18:08.Article 50 is triggered. Can the Minister confirm whether this is
:18:09. > :18:11.happening or give them assurance that this will not happen and they
:18:12. > :18:17.can fulfil the contract they have already entered into? The point we
:18:18. > :18:21.have been making to the industry is that while we may remain members of
:18:22. > :18:26.the European Union, that is until we leave, not until we trigger Article
:18:27. > :18:28.50, free movement remains. The feedback I'm getting is that most
:18:29. > :18:32.farmers are able to source the labour they need from countries like
:18:33. > :18:36.the area and Romania. We will give the industry plenty of notice of
:18:37. > :18:43.what arrangements we intend to put in place after we leave the EU.
:18:44. > :18:46.Question five. At the recent NFU conference, I set out five
:18:47. > :18:52.principles that will support a prosperous future farming industry,
:18:53. > :18:57.trade, productivity, sustainability, trust and resilience. We are now in
:18:58. > :19:01.the process of a broad consultation, right across farmers, food producers
:19:02. > :19:06.and NGOs, to hear their views as we build a policy that will achieve our
:19:07. > :19:12.twin ambitions of a thriving farming sector, and an environment that is
:19:13. > :19:16.in a better state than we found it. Like my right honourable friend, I
:19:17. > :19:20.meet farmers regularly, mainly through Staffordshire and Lichfield
:19:21. > :19:24.NFU. They are very positive, actually, about Brexit, and they see
:19:25. > :19:30.the opportunities. But I know that we export something like ?20 billion
:19:31. > :19:34.per year overseas and to Europe. What efforts are my right honourable
:19:35. > :19:40.friend is taking to ensure that we still continue to have access after
:19:41. > :19:43.Brexit? As he will know, we're working very hard right across
:19:44. > :19:47.government to make sure we get the best possible deal on market access
:19:48. > :19:51.for our agri- food sector when we leave the EU. There are huge global
:19:52. > :19:56.opportunities for Staffordshire farmers. Later, I'm visiting Harper
:19:57. > :20:00.Adams College in neighbouring Shropshire and visiting the chamber
:20:01. > :20:03.of agriculture, to hear from the Next Generation as well as current
:20:04. > :20:08.farmers about how we can seize those opportunities. Our constitutional
:20:09. > :20:12.arrangements are very different today than they were in 1972. What
:20:13. > :20:18.assurances can be Secretary of State give that those agricultural rules
:20:19. > :20:22.that are currently set in Brussels won't after our exit from the EU BX
:20:23. > :20:25.is beset by the UK Government but will be set by the devolved
:20:26. > :20:30.administrations with the closest knowledge of local performing
:20:31. > :20:35.industries? -- local farming industries. We are clear that in the
:20:36. > :20:39.great repeal Bill, we will bring all of this into UK law. Then we will be
:20:40. > :20:45.in a position in the UK to look at what works best for the UK. What I
:20:46. > :20:48.can tell the honourable gentleman is that I am working and will continue
:20:49. > :20:51.to work very closely with our colleagues in the devolved
:20:52. > :20:58.administrations to make sure that we get the best possible deal that
:20:59. > :21:01.works for all parts of the UK. Does the Minister share my view that the
:21:02. > :21:05.need to accommodate the views of 28 different countries has led to the
:21:06. > :21:11.CIP becoming overly bureaucratic in a way that has harmed the interest
:21:12. > :21:13.in British farmers? To write! Yes Mike honourable friend is right, the
:21:14. > :21:18.complexity and bureaucracy associated with the CHP costs the
:21:19. > :21:24.industry five million pounds a year and 300 man-hours. -- CAP. Reducing
:21:25. > :21:30.the burden will help us to grow more and sell more and export more of our
:21:31. > :21:35.great British food. The strength of the farming sector will depend on
:21:36. > :21:40.whether or not it has a reasonable supply of labour, and adequate
:21:41. > :21:45.supply of labour. The minister earlier suggested there is not yet a
:21:46. > :21:48.problem here but we already know that workers from the European Union
:21:49. > :21:52.are reluctant to come to the UK to work. So when is the Secretary of
:21:53. > :21:57.State going to make it clear that we are going to have a seasonal
:21:58. > :22:00.agricultural workers scheme? What is the timeline? The honourable lady is
:22:01. > :22:04.not correct when she says that people are reluctant to come here.
:22:05. > :22:08.In fact, the ONS figures for last year showed that there were more
:22:09. > :22:14.migrant workers coming from the EU than ever before. That just isn't
:22:15. > :22:17.true. As my honourable friend has pointed out, free movement will
:22:18. > :22:21.continue until the point that we leave the EU. We are working closely
:22:22. > :22:24.with the Home Office to assess, understand and put in place good
:22:25. > :22:32.systems to make sure that we continue to thrive. -- thrive in
:22:33. > :22:36.this important sector. Recent EU regulations like the free crop will
:22:37. > :22:40.have tied up farmers in red tape whilst not delivering for the
:22:41. > :22:45.environment. As crop rotation has been around in Lincolnshire for
:22:46. > :22:48.rather more than the EU, Wilshere Greek, my right honourable friend,
:22:49. > :22:52.that the first thing we do when we leave the EU is get rid of
:22:53. > :22:57.burdensome regulation on farmers? Yes, well I agree with my honourable
:22:58. > :22:59.friend, the free crop rule is exactly the sort of measure we
:23:00. > :23:04.should change when we leave the EU. Of course, we want farmers to manage
:23:05. > :23:07.sustainable rotation to optimise yields and protect soil but we could
:23:08. > :23:14.do that without forcing them to grow a specific number of crops on a
:23:15. > :23:18.specific acreage of land. The NFU warned last week that the
:23:19. > :23:22.government's lack of parity risks stifling the farming industry --
:23:23. > :23:26.lack of clarity. This week it was reported that the price of
:23:27. > :23:30.agricultural land fell 7% in the last year due to the uncertainty of
:23:31. > :23:34.Brexit. The absence of any government planning is plunging
:23:35. > :23:38.farming into a very grave state. When will the government give
:23:39. > :23:42.clarity and a long-term commitment to the farming industry on access to
:23:43. > :23:50.the single market, access to a seasonal workforce, and a new,
:23:51. > :23:54.long-term agricultural policy? I think the Prime Minister has made
:23:55. > :23:56.very clear Aaron Bish and is for an all-encompassing free-trade
:23:57. > :24:01.agreement with the European Union to retain free and fair access to the
:24:02. > :24:04.European single market, we have already discussed, we are looking
:24:05. > :24:07.very closely at what they need is for workforce currently and in the
:24:08. > :24:11.future, and of course, we are looking very carefully at what more
:24:12. > :24:16.around the world we could do to make a huge success of leaving the
:24:17. > :24:20.European Union. Number six, Mr Speaker. We recognise the importance
:24:21. > :24:26.that forestry plays in the UK as a carbon sink and in 2015, forestry
:24:27. > :24:31.contributed an annual emissions reduction of 17.5 million tonnes of
:24:32. > :24:35.CO2 towards our carbon reduction targets. During last week's storm,
:24:36. > :24:38.many trees were felled by the force of nature and we could see that many
:24:39. > :24:42.of them were diseased. Could I ask what the department is doing to
:24:43. > :24:48.ensure that the threats to tree health are factored into the Carbon
:24:49. > :24:51.reduction strategy? Mr Speaker, the government takes tree health
:24:52. > :24:54.extremely seriously which is why we promote by a security
:24:55. > :24:57.internationally at UK Borders and inland to ensure pest and disease
:24:58. > :25:01.risks are effectively managed so we can continue to actively manage our
:25:02. > :25:06.woodlands and forest to continue to contribute a carbon reduction
:25:07. > :25:09.targets. As well as helping to meet the government's carbon targets, the
:25:10. > :25:12.planting of trees also has a wide range of environmental benefits but
:25:13. > :25:16.does the Minister think that her department's plans are ambitious
:25:17. > :25:21.enough to reap the benefits that trees and woodland undoubtedly
:25:22. > :25:25.bring? Mr Speaker, I do think they are sufficiently ambitious. We are
:25:26. > :25:28.absolutely confident we will hit our 11 million trees of new planting
:25:29. > :25:32.during the lifetime of the parliament. I hope he will speak to
:25:33. > :25:36.his former honourable friend, the mayor of London, so that he plods
:25:37. > :25:41.his 2 million trees that he pledged to do before he got elected. Mr
:25:42. > :25:45.Speaker, the Minister will be aware of the outbreak of sweet chestnut
:25:46. > :25:48.blight near Exeter and whilst we're doing the first national survey of
:25:49. > :25:52.historical woodland, what more can be done in the short term to prevent
:25:53. > :25:54.the importation of devastating diseases, spread by the
:25:55. > :26:00.International Plant trade, while doing nothing to discourage
:26:01. > :26:03.tree-planting woodland creation? Mr Speaker, I know that bio-security is
:26:04. > :26:07.one of the key elements of our agencies at the borders and they are
:26:08. > :26:11.very proactive in trying to identify the dead risks and threats coming
:26:12. > :26:16.into this sector. That is why we will always -- to identify the risks
:26:17. > :26:20.and threats. That is why we will continue to promote trees grown in
:26:21. > :26:24.this country. The main drivers of change in food prices are energy
:26:25. > :26:27.costs and exchange rates and these forces affect all countries in the
:26:28. > :26:31.world, whether or not they are members of the EU. In 2008, there
:26:32. > :26:36.was a steep spike in food prices, and prices continue to rise until
:26:37. > :26:39.2014. Since 2014, there has been a 6% fall in food prices, despite the
:26:40. > :26:43.depreciation of sterling last summer, we tell food prices have
:26:44. > :26:51.remained relatively stable without overall fall during 2016 0.5%. Large
:26:52. > :26:56.numbers of people in my constituency are in work but they are still in
:26:57. > :26:59.poverty. They are feeling the effects of increased food prices as
:27:00. > :27:04.they have gone up over recent months. They are so dependent on
:27:05. > :27:09.cheap EU food products, what is the Minister going to do to protect them
:27:10. > :27:13.in the longer term? As I say, the facts don't bear out what the
:27:14. > :27:19.honourable member says. We have seen a fall in food prices of 0.5% over
:27:20. > :27:23.the last year and a fall of 6% since 2014. But we do monitor this
:27:24. > :27:25.situation closely. We have the annual living cost of food survey
:27:26. > :27:30.which measures closely particularly the poorest households in the UK and
:27:31. > :27:31.the money they spend on food and it has remained remarkably stable in
:27:32. > :27:42.the last decade. The paradoxes we starve the poor
:27:43. > :27:49.when we refuse to buy their food from them. Will he bear that in
:27:50. > :27:52.mind? He makes an important point and we have some preferential trade
:27:53. > :27:56.agreements in place with some developing countries particularly
:27:57. > :27:59.from the Caribbean to buy sugar from them and these are certainly
:28:00. > :28:07.arrangements we will want to maintain and secure so we can
:28:08. > :28:11.support developing countries. He has talked about food prices falling but
:28:12. > :28:15.supermarkets are warning of the potential for food prices to rise
:28:16. > :28:19.significantly this year having a huge effect on every household in
:28:20. > :28:23.the country. Nearly half of food is imported and due to the weak pound
:28:24. > :28:27.and inflation prices are already starting to rise for the first time
:28:28. > :28:37.in three yours. What exactly is the government doing to help with the
:28:38. > :28:42.price rises? As I said earlier, we monitor closely the amount of money
:28:43. > :28:46.people are spending on food. It has remained remarkably stable at around
:28:47. > :28:51.16.5% for the last decade. We continue to keep the issue under
:28:52. > :28:56.review. The greatest spike we had in food prices took place in 2008 under
:28:57. > :29:04.their watch. Food prices have been falling since 2014. You talk about
:29:05. > :29:10.monitoring but it has been recently revealed that research specifically
:29:11. > :29:11.to inform agriculturally environmental policy once the UK
:29:12. > :29:15.leaves the European Union has not leaves the European Union has not
:29:16. > :29:19.been commissioned by the departments of your warm words are all very well
:29:20. > :29:23.clarity and the government is clarity and the government is
:29:24. > :29:27.failing to deliver. Can he tell us how the government can have any real
:29:28. > :29:33.understanding of the current situation without adequate research
:29:34. > :29:40.in place? We are doing a vast amount of analysis and policy research in
:29:41. > :29:40.the department to inform future policy. In response to a
:29:41. > :29:45.Parliamentary question, a specific Parliamentary question, a specific
:29:46. > :29:50.question about scientific research, and had recommissioned scientific
:29:51. > :29:55.research on the effects of leaving the EU, no, we do not have to
:29:56. > :29:59.because we have regular evaluation of all of our environmental policies
:30:00. > :30:04.Can I hand to colleagues in respect Can I hand to colleagues in respect
:30:05. > :30:08.of the next question that there are opportunities to others lower down
:30:09. > :30:22.in the paper to comment if they wish? Number 11. There is already a
:30:23. > :30:25.degree of self management of the fishing regime by producer
:30:26. > :30:28.organisations in the fishing industry through the systems we have
:30:29. > :30:34.of trading quarters and markets in leasing and exchanges of
:30:35. > :30:38.organisations however leaving the EU creates an opportunity to look at
:30:39. > :30:43.how we manage our fisheries and the approach other countries are taking.
:30:44. > :30:48.The EU is a wonderful opportunity to rethink public policy. What about
:30:49. > :30:53.better terms for UK fishermen and better access for our exclusive
:30:54. > :30:58.economic zone? As he will know I have consistently made clearly been
:30:59. > :31:02.the EU means we would take back control of our exclusive economic
:31:03. > :31:07.zone my 200 nautical miles, and that will create the opportunity for us
:31:08. > :31:14.to look afresh at the mutual access agreements and shares of the total
:31:15. > :31:19.reliable catch. Current EU regulations prevent farmers from
:31:20. > :31:22.trimming hedges in August. Does he agree Brexit offers a great
:31:23. > :31:26.opportunity for a criminal of regulations and the trimming of rope
:31:27. > :31:34.-- rules that prevent hedge cutting taking place at this time? I was
:31:35. > :31:38.hoping there would be a hint... I was hoping there would be link
:31:39. > :31:42.between hedge cutting and fishing. They have in common they are
:31:43. > :31:47.policies that originate from the EU. Leaving the EU gives an opportunity
:31:48. > :31:51.to review some of these things. We already have a dedication for
:31:52. > :31:57.farmers growing winter crops to be able to train their hedges earlier.
:31:58. > :32:05.In particular certain species are vulnerable, the yellowhammer, and we
:32:06. > :32:09.want to protect those. Scottish farmed salmon has experienced a
:32:10. > :32:13.significant increase in exports to Canada however why did this
:32:14. > :32:16.government not put any Scottish geographical indicators forward in
:32:17. > :32:19.the agreement despite indicating they would be putting the Scottish
:32:20. > :32:24.food industry at a commercial disadvantage? I can reassure members
:32:25. > :32:29.opposite I am regularly promoting Scottish salmon, most recently in
:32:30. > :32:34.the Gulf this week. And Scottish salmon is one of our major exports
:32:35. > :32:42.alongside Scottish whisky and we champion it at every opportunity.
:32:43. > :32:46.The chief executive of the National Farmers' Union in Scotland has come
:32:47. > :32:53.up with a very worthwhile idea when it comes to framing a post Brexit
:32:54. > :32:57.support regime for agriculture and fishing. His suggestion is the
:32:58. > :33:03.devolved administrations are allowed to choose from a menu of policies
:33:04. > :33:11.which are based applicable in their jurisdiction. Would he look at that
:33:12. > :33:15.proposal? I discuss proposals along these lines specifically with NFU
:33:16. > :33:19.Scotland at the beginning of this year. There is a consensus emerging
:33:20. > :33:23.that has to be some kind of UK framework and within that we want to
:33:24. > :33:27.ensure the devolved administration can perceive policies that are right
:33:28. > :33:30.for them and we will work closely with all the vault administrations
:33:31. > :33:38.to make sure that policy once they leave the EU works for Scotland and
:33:39. > :33:42.others. Not only can this government confirmed where powers will lie
:33:43. > :33:46.after Brexit, they also cannot see how financial support for farmers
:33:47. > :33:52.will work. Why are the interests of Scottish farmers that a low priority
:33:53. > :33:57.for this government? I do not accept what she says. We have guaranteed
:33:58. > :34:03.payments up until 2020. Insured the budget is still there and made clear
:34:04. > :34:06.that well in advance of that date we will be able to give farmers
:34:07. > :34:09.throughout the UK a very clear picture of what future support
:34:10. > :34:18.arrangements will look like. Topical questions. Number one. I would like
:34:19. > :34:22.to update on the delivery of the basic payments scheme. 95.5% of
:34:23. > :34:26.farmers have received their payment which is good progress but still
:34:27. > :34:31.more to be done. Last week I secured agreement from the Treasury that a
:34:32. > :34:34.75% bridging payment will be available to any farmer with an
:34:35. > :34:41.outstanding claim at the end of March and the window for the 27
:34:42. > :34:49.applications opened yesterday. -- 20 Zaventem. The minister mentioned the
:34:50. > :34:54.mayor of London our former colleague. Can I ask her to pay
:34:55. > :34:59.tribute to the work he is doing in tackling pure air quality but also
:35:00. > :35:03.to say whether it is her policy to retain the existing provisions in
:35:04. > :35:09.air quality provisions in UK law after the UK has left the EU? It is
:35:10. > :35:14.the case with B will keep all regulations when we leave the EU so
:35:15. > :35:17.that when we leave, the day after we leave, the regulations will look the
:35:18. > :35:23.same as the day before. We are looking very carefully at the issue
:35:24. > :35:26.of air quality and have spent over ?2 billion since 2010 in ultralow
:35:27. > :35:32.emissions vehicles and trying to reduce the impact of poor air
:35:33. > :35:37.quality and we are looking closely at that. Will she join me in paying
:35:38. > :35:42.tribute to poultry producers across the north who set the highest animal
:35:43. > :35:47.welfare and bio-security standards? That has to be concerned about the
:35:48. > :35:49.recent avian flu outburst but can she confirmed that no poultry
:35:50. > :35:58.producers in no foot will lose their free range status? We are determined
:35:59. > :36:03.to hold this terrible disease at bay for the sake of our entire poultry
:36:04. > :36:10.sector and our robust action so far have included an amended avian
:36:11. > :36:13.influenza zone which covers all of England and requires mandatory
:36:14. > :36:19.bio-security for all keepers at the compulsory housing or netting of
:36:20. > :36:27.poultry and captive birds defined in higher risk areas, very important
:36:28. > :36:31.for the entire sector. Further to that, she must be aware that English
:36:32. > :36:35.poultry producers are very concerned about the prospect of losing free
:36:36. > :36:39.range status due to the postcode lottery bird flu restrictions the
:36:40. > :36:43.stump and this has been expressed particularly by the British free
:36:44. > :36:47.range egg producers association concerned about the inconsistency in
:36:48. > :36:54.approach. What more can the ministers say to assure egg
:36:55. > :37:00.producers across the UK that the rate things are being put in place
:37:01. > :37:06.to sort this whole side issue out? Colleagues will be aware there was a
:37:07. > :37:12.fool housing order until the 28th of February and an extensive scientific
:37:13. > :37:18.advice we have gleaned that there is a higher risk area and in those
:37:19. > :37:21.places where wildfowl congregate. That is very extensively
:37:22. > :37:26.peer-reviewed on the basis of scientific evidence and that is why
:37:27. > :37:30.we published a paper outlining the rationale, this is absolutely not
:37:31. > :37:34.out of our heads or buy any way whatsoever doing anything other than
:37:35. > :37:38.protecting this vital sector. I've been contacted by a number of my
:37:39. > :37:42.constituents concerned about the welfare of puppies, particularly in
:37:43. > :37:49.the context of puppy farming and puppies bred for sale. Can she set
:37:50. > :37:56.out what action he is taking to tackle so-called backstreet pleading
:37:57. > :38:01.and to ensure welfare standards? Makes an important point and while I
:38:02. > :38:03.was responsible for this part of the portfolio I championed this issue.
:38:04. > :38:09.The government's recently published proposals for improving the law,
:38:10. > :38:12.anyone pleading and selling three litres and a 12 month period will
:38:13. > :38:21.need a licence I know puppies will be sold under the age of eight
:38:22. > :38:25.weeks. -- and know puppies. Overseeing a mass evacuation. Is
:38:26. > :38:36.there extra funding available to support councils? Traditionally
:38:37. > :38:40.councils were given grants for there flooding responsibilities in that
:38:41. > :38:45.regard. I visited the centre near Jamie cancel the excellent work
:38:46. > :38:48.being done by the council and voluntary services as well as the
:38:49. > :38:52.emergency service response. Nevertheless I am sure councils will
:38:53. > :38:57.continue to reflect on what happened and three of their schemes continue
:38:58. > :39:01.to be appropriate. The Prime Minister recently laid out plans to
:39:02. > :39:06.invest in ?4.7 billion in innovation by 2021. Could the minister explain
:39:07. > :39:14.how the food and farming communities of West Oxfordshire and look forward
:39:15. > :39:19.to benefiting? We already have a strategy in place which is worth
:39:20. > :39:24.?160 million and is supported over 100 different projects to support
:39:25. > :39:28.science and technology transfer in food and farming and we have food
:39:29. > :39:34.information networks to try to create clusters of innovation in the
:39:35. > :39:37.food sector. With the Secretary of State go back to her office and
:39:38. > :39:43.seriously think about how we protect the maritime environment when we
:39:44. > :39:48.come out of the EU? Where are the protected and is that save fish,
:39:49. > :39:51.save the future of fish and the maritime environment? We take the
:39:52. > :39:55.marine environment very seriously and that is why in our manifesto we
:39:56. > :39:59.said we would extend the blue belt and we have done around the
:40:00. > :40:04.shoreline of this country and overseas territories. I can assure
:40:05. > :40:12.him we will continue to play a leading role as well as through our
:40:13. > :40:16.role on the European Council. A BBC drama airs tomorrow on Radio 4 and
:40:17. > :40:20.portrays a disturbing future without effective antibiotics, which is also
:40:21. > :40:26.the subject of my Westminster Hall debate next week. As the Secretary
:40:27. > :40:32.of State agree that although we are world leaders the fact we have
:40:33. > :40:39.recently licensed three new products which are the last line of defence
:40:40. > :40:43.sure there is more we can do? He will be aware that the UK has taken
:40:44. > :40:53.a leading role in this topic and we have pushed this onto the agenda at
:40:54. > :40:57.the G7 and G20. There are processes we can adopt that reduce our
:40:58. > :41:03.reliance on antibiotics for example through acidification of water.
:41:04. > :41:09.Antibiotics have a role in agriculture as well. Partial
:41:10. > :41:17.liberalisation of the watermark begins in April this year. Yet we
:41:18. > :41:20.have seen nothing of the abstract reform legislation which is
:41:21. > :41:25.essential of this liberalisation is going to work. When is she going to
:41:26. > :41:30.publish the bill? We take the preservation and use of water very
:41:31. > :41:33.seriously. Opening up the market for businesses is a good advance but I
:41:34. > :41:41.am looking at those other matters carefully. On the day after St
:41:42. > :41:45.Stephen's Day would she reassure Welsh farmers that Welsh lamb and
:41:46. > :41:55.not New Zealand lamb will be in the forefront of her mind when
:41:56. > :42:00.negotiating Brexit? -- St David's. We enjoyed that lovely reception at
:42:01. > :42:05.Downing Street and fabulous Welsh singing. We will be absolutely
:42:06. > :42:06.keeping Welsh lamb farmers at the heart of our negotiations when we
:42:07. > :42:18.negotiate any free trade agreements. At Hermes meeting recently with the
:42:19. > :42:21.Scottish rural affairs minister, the secretary of State described the
:42:22. > :42:29.discussions as good but the Scottish minister said that all they got was
:42:30. > :42:33.radio silence. I interpret that the Minister's idea of a good meeting is
:42:34. > :42:38.to say nothing. It was a Private meeting. In fact, the agreement was
:42:39. > :42:42.that we would not be talking openly about the level of discussions. I
:42:43. > :42:45.found it very helpful. We made some progress and got a clear way
:42:46. > :42:49.forward. Those discussions need to take place and I look forward to
:42:50. > :42:52.more of them. Has the Secretary of State seen a very positive statement
:42:53. > :42:59.from Associated British Foods which runs the iconic sugar beet and sugar
:43:00. > :43:02.factory British Sugar Newark saying that prose Brexit, the ability to
:43:03. > :43:07.design their own system without EU quotas will lead to up to 50%
:43:08. > :43:14.increase in profits and sales with good news for farmers and consumers?
:43:15. > :43:16.-- post Brexit. My honourable friend makes an important point, Associated
:43:17. > :43:21.British Foods is one of the great British owned food companies. They
:43:22. > :43:23.are a world leader in sugar and they have driven competitiveness and
:43:24. > :43:28.investment in the industry and I believe the sugar industry in this
:43:29. > :43:33.country has a great future. Since 2010, the Defra budget has been cut
:43:34. > :43:37.by 57% and is struggling to get out plans like the 25 year farming plan
:43:38. > :43:40.so what discussions have the Secretary of State had with the
:43:41. > :43:46.Treasury to protect the budget from 6% expected next week? My department
:43:47. > :43:50.is indeed involved in a transformation project which will
:43:51. > :43:53.take out costs but will also deliver better, more focused front line
:43:54. > :43:56.customer service. I'm very optimistic about that. We are
:43:57. > :44:01.looking carefully at further efficiency savings that are needed.
:44:02. > :44:06.I apologise to the house, it is very hungry today but I'm afraid demand,
:44:07. > :44:12.as so often, exceeds supply and it is not possible to satisfy the
:44:13. > :44:14.appetite of all colleagues. We must now move on. Questions to