Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the House of Commons. At

10:10am there are questions on the work of the Electoral Commission and

Church of England matters and at 1030 of the House of Lords answering

questions on forthcoming Parliamentary business, followed by

two general debates in the chamber. The first marking international

women's day which this year is next Wednesday, but today, and the second

is on Welsh affairs following saint David's day yesterday. You can join

me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm. First

questions to the Environment Secretary and her ministerial team.

Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for environment,

food and rural affairs. Number one. We run a consultation between the

20th of December 28 of February on proposals to ban micro beads in

cosmetics and personal care products and sort evidence on the

environmental impacts of micro plastics and we are reviewing the

results of the consultation and any new evidence will be used to inform

future actions to protect the marine environment. Can I welcome the

proposed ban as far as it goes? It appears that a number of products

such as make-up and son team would be exploded so can I Archer to adopt

the Greenpeace definition which is all ingredients of five millimetres

or less in any dimension used for any purpose? I am sure he will

welcome the fact that many manufacturers are proactively

removing micro beads from their products. We will look at the

responses of the consultation carefully and use them to inform any

future policy. Could I urge the government to go further than the US

ban and ban all products with micro beads in them that risk getting into

the marine environment? Will the government reject the idea that

biodegradable micro beads could be used instead because there is no

evidence there is such a thing? Could the government commissioned

research to see whether micro beads in a human tissue have a long-term

effect? The US ban has not yet come into force but we will continue to

monitor its progress and consider any learnings from its approach.

Evidence shows that the rents of products can damage the marine

environment and that is why we have extended the consultation. The

government's progress on banning micro beads is very welcome but

there are other forms of plastic polluting our seas including 50

million plastic bottle thrown away every day. A Cornish -based charity

have obtained 209,000 signatures on a petition calling for a plastic

bottle deposit return scheme. Which she meets to discuss how we can

advance this petition and make progress on this issue? I would be

very happy to meet him to discuss this matter. We are looking at this

issue in terms of strategy. I want to publicise the great spring clean

following its success. I want to advertise BBC Suffolk's campaign

don't be a toss-up because the people who tour sweater around are

not the kind of people we want. A micro beads ban would be very

welcome extend the its products would be very welcome. Larger

plastics then break down and become micro plastics within the marine

environment under the biggest problem and a deposit return scheme

would make a big difference but what is she doing in terms of the

circular economy and trying to get manufacturers to design out such

products so we do not have a problem in the first place? The advance of

plastic packaging was to reflect consumer desire having safe products

quickly carry on an individual way. I welcome were manufacturers want to

introduce their own recycling schemes but since we were children

and perhaps getting pocket money for some of these return scheme is we

now have kerb-side recycling which have been successful in increasing

the amount of recycling. She has shown leadership on this issue and I

applaud the government's efforts so far but we need other countries they

get involved. Can she say more about what she is doing to make sure

collaboration across borders but not too much more? He is right. The

recent explosion of nurdles was due to the fact that several containers

fell off of the ship and were dispersed. We want to work carefully

with other countries in order to do this and we support the efforts in

clean as can be. A hotspot, there is clean as can be. A hotspot, there is

more we need to know to quantify the impact a presence in our seas to

eliminate them and much of the research has been coordinated

funding by the EU under the marine strategy framework directive. Can

she give certainty they will still have funding or opportunities for

collaboration after the UK leaves the EU? The UK is a leading player.

We protect more than half the season that region of which he will be

aware. I am confident we will continue to work with many other

countries including our scientists in order to tackle this issue.

Number two. May I welcome the member for Workington? I look forward to

working with her. Sincere apologies from my farming minister whose plane

has been delayed and he sent his sincere apologies. Ministers and

officials have met regularly with officials from across the fishing

industry since the referendum. Fisheries will be a key area in

negotiations and as a coastal state outside of the EU they UK will be

responsible under international law for controlling UK waters and for

the sustainable management of fisheries within it. I have

instinctive sympathy for anybody who gets delayed by planes. It is a big

part of my life. With regard to the Common Fisheries Policy she will be

aware that before we had it we had the London convention of 1964 which

governed access of foreign vessels to the six to 12 mile limit waters.

Isn't the government's intention to remain party to that convention

after we leave the EU? I am very aware of the issues around the

London convention and we are looking closely at it and we will be able to

comment in the near future. There is no doubt when we went into the EU

back in the 70s the fishermen had a very poor deal in the amount of fish

they could catch and the quarters they had so is there a real

opportunity to make sure we get better access to our waters, more

quantities of fish, so the industry can progress further? He is right

that there are enormous opportunities for UK fishing coming

from the EU and we will be looking to get the best possible deal. She

will know that our fish processing industry is more important to our

economy than the catching sector and it is very dependent on imports and

we exported more than 80% of what we catch so isn't maintaining tariff

free and other barrier free access to the single European market more

important than sterile arguments about fishing rights which could

result in battles or worse? I have to disagree. Our fishing communities

around the UK provide a vital vibrancy to local communities, rural

economies and so on, so to suggest that somehow processing is far more

important, I do not agree, however it is the case that we will be

seeking the freest possible access to the European markets but at the

same time when I was in China last year I signed a memorandum of

understanding with the Chinese were ?50 million which includes UK

seafood and that will be very important for us to be able to find

new export markets. Last Friday I spoke at a seminar of seafood and

fishing industry in the Grimsby Cleethorpes area. Once they

recognise the opportunities from Brexit they understandably have some

concerns. I welcome the reassurances from the minister but could she give

an absolute reassurance to the seafood processing sector that they

will form a key part of the negotiations? I have had a very

happy fish and chip lunch with my friend in Cleethorpes and I look

forward to further opportunities in the future. He is right to point out

that seafood processing is absolutely vital part of fishing

sector and something we are very much taking into account in our

negotiations for leaving the EU but also in looking at the opportunities

around the world. It is a joy to learn about the culinary habits of

the Secretary of State. Despite the fact we are eight months

on from the referendum in a recent meeting the Scottish minister the

Secretary of State was unable to provide any information on what

powers over the rural economy will flow to Scotland after Brexit. As

Ruth Davidson the Scottish Conservative leader let the cat out

of the bag, when she says there will be a cash grab, and when will she

come clean and own up to what this government plans to do to Scottish

fishing and farming? He will recognise that the UK market is

incredibly valuable to all other fishing communities and that will

continue to be very important. The Prime Minister has been very clear

no powers currently devolved will be as he says grabbed. Those will

continue to be. We are looking very carefully at the best possible deal

for all parts of the UK as we seek to negotiate for Brexit. Number

three. I apologise for being a little late, I was at an exhibition

in the Gulf and the plane got stranded due to fog. The government

wants to see the UK grow more and sell more British food and drink

through the introduction of a new plan for government procurement we

have sought to enable government departments to source more local

food and recent successes include the Ministry of Justice implementing

a plan, last year exports of food and drink increased by 9% up to ?20

billion. West Sussex is home to our finest

food and rig including Aric sectional graduate local cheese,

which is the superb Sussex charmer. What further opportunities does the

Minister for sea to promote high quality, well branded, locally

provenance to food? -- does the Minister for C. Very exciting! I

could not agree more, and products like the Sussex Charmer cheese and

the wines produced in the South Downs is second to none which is why

we have set up the great British food unit to promote our food at

home and abroad and why I am today returning late sadly from the

world's largest annual trade fair on food. Can I remind the Minister that

we don't want food at any price? Has he heard this morning, another seven

species endangered in our country because of intensive farming? When

are we going to have good, productive farming, importing less

but sustainable farming? I think the honourable gentleman makes an

important point and as we design agriculture policy, domestic

agriculture policy, after we leave the European Union, one of the

things we will look at is making sure we have sustainable farming and

making sure we get the benefits of farming sustainable it while

improving productivity as well. Will the Minister join me in celebrating

the success of white mark on the Isle of Wight? There are now over

450 food and drink to relax on the Isle of Wight and white mark is now

being used to promote the island as a specialty food destination? I'm

delighted, and I think my honourable friend makes an incredibly important

point that white mark celebrates the Isle of Wight's brilliantly produced

food, and it is a great example of how little public money and the

support of partners can really celebrate the providence of local

food. Farmers are facing a critical shortage of seasonal labour. Some

are afraid that our food will rot in the ground this year. The government

has been asked to reverse its decision to scrap the seasonal

agricultural workers scheme. Ministers say they are reviewing the

issue but can a decision please be made as a matter of urgency? I

simply point out to the honourable gentleman that while we remain

members of the European Union, we still have free movement and fruit

farms and farmers are still able to source labour from countries like

Romania and Bulgaria. We are aware that some have raised concerns about

agricultural labour going forward after we leave the EU. We listening

carefully to representation they are making. Mr Speaker, would my

honourable friend share the view expressed by the Conservative animal

welfare foundation that leaving the European Union can both help farmers

to increase their share of domestic products and animal welfare by

preventing the import of goods produced under circumstances that

would not be permitted in the UK? As my honourable friend is aware, this

government has a manifesto commitment to place stronger

recognition of animal welfare issues in the design of future agriculture

policy. But also to promote higher standards of animal welfare in

international trade deals. We intend to implement those manifesto

commitments. ... During the Scottish affairs select committee session I

heard evidence from Gary Mitchell from National Farmers Union

Scotland, two things are made very clear, that access to migrant labour

for seasonal work is absolutely essential for our agricultural

sector, and the government is yet to respond to the representations made

by NFU Scotland over these concerns. Will the secretary commit today to

looking into this and providing an urgent clarification to the

agricultural industry and where it stands...? The honourable lady can

now breathe! Minister. I have regular meetings with NFU Scotland.

Earlier this year, I had a meeting with them and we engaged on a wide

range of issues pertinent to future agriculture policy in Scotland. This

included looking at the issue of labour as well. Question number

four. There's a lot of interest in seasonal agricultural labour at the

moment but Defra ministers engage regularly with ministerial

colleagues in the Home Office and other departments to discuss the

issue of migrant labour in the agricultural sector after we leave

the EU. We are aware the availability of labour is a concern

for some sectors of the industry. However, leaving the EU and

establishing controlled migration does not mean closing off all

immigration. It simply means we will be able to identify where we have

made and put in place suitable arrangements. Growers in my

constituency are worried about fruit going unpicked, not only after we

leave the EU but also this year. Can my honourable friend assure me he

will continue to press the Home Office on this issue, not only on

seasonal agricultural workers after we leave the EU but also between now

and then? As my honourable friend may know, I spent ten years working

in the soft fruit industry. Indeed, I will know many of the strawberry

farmers which she represents. I'm also aware that the Secretary of

State has taken up a kind offer from my honourable friend to visit and

meet some of the farmers there to discuss their concerns. But I can

tell her that I ran a soft fruit enterprise, employing several

hundred people and I understand the challenges the industry faces. Mr

Speaker, but there is an immediate problem in that many of the fruit

farmers in my constituency have already entered into contracts for

migrant labour for this coming season. They have been concerned

about some reports last week that the government are considering

restricting free movement or introducing work permits when

Article 50 is triggered. Can the Minister confirm whether this is

happening or give them assurance that this will not happen and they

can fulfil the contract they have already entered into? The point we

have been making to the industry is that while we may remain members of

the European Union, that is until we leave, not until we trigger Article

50, free movement remains. The feedback I'm getting is that most

farmers are able to source the labour they need from countries like

the area and Romania. We will give the industry plenty of notice of

what arrangements we intend to put in place after we leave the EU.

Question five. At the recent NFU conference, I set out five

principles that will support a prosperous future farming industry,

trade, productivity, sustainability, trust and resilience. We are now in

the process of a broad consultation, right across farmers, food producers

and NGOs, to hear their views as we build a policy that will achieve our

twin ambitions of a thriving farming sector, and an environment that is

in a better state than we found it. Like my right honourable friend, I

meet farmers regularly, mainly through Staffordshire and Lichfield

NFU. They are very positive, actually, about Brexit, and they see

the opportunities. But I know that we export something like ?20 billion

per year overseas and to Europe. What efforts are my right honourable

friend is taking to ensure that we still continue to have access after

Brexit? As he will know, we're working very hard right across

government to make sure we get the best possible deal on market access

for our agri- food sector when we leave the EU. There are huge global

opportunities for Staffordshire farmers. Later, I'm visiting Harper

Adams College in neighbouring Shropshire and visiting the chamber

of agriculture, to hear from the Next Generation as well as current

farmers about how we can seize those opportunities. Our constitutional

arrangements are very different today than they were in 1972. What

assurances can be Secretary of State give that those agricultural rules

that are currently set in Brussels won't after our exit from the EU BX

is beset by the UK Government but will be set by the devolved

administrations with the closest knowledge of local performing

industries? -- local farming industries. We are clear that in the

great repeal Bill, we will bring all of this into UK law. Then we will be

in a position in the UK to look at what works best for the UK. What I

can tell the honourable gentleman is that I am working and will continue

to work very closely with our colleagues in the devolved

administrations to make sure that we get the best possible deal that

works for all parts of the UK. Does the Minister share my view that the

need to accommodate the views of 28 different countries has led to the

CIP becoming overly bureaucratic in a way that has harmed the interest

in British farmers? To write! Yes Mike honourable friend is right, the

complexity and bureaucracy associated with the CHP costs the

industry five million pounds a year and 300 man-hours. -- CAP. Reducing

the burden will help us to grow more and sell more and export more of our

great British food. The strength of the farming sector will depend on

whether or not it has a reasonable supply of labour, and adequate

supply of labour. The minister earlier suggested there is not yet a

problem here but we already know that workers from the European Union

are reluctant to come to the UK to work. So when is the Secretary of

State going to make it clear that we are going to have a seasonal

agricultural workers scheme? What is the timeline? The honourable lady is

not correct when she says that people are reluctant to come here.

In fact, the ONS figures for last year showed that there were more

migrant workers coming from the EU than ever before. That just isn't

true. As my honourable friend has pointed out, free movement will

continue until the point that we leave the EU. We are working closely

with the Home Office to assess, understand and put in place good

systems to make sure that we continue to thrive. -- thrive in

this important sector. Recent EU regulations like the free crop will

have tied up farmers in red tape whilst not delivering for the

environment. As crop rotation has been around in Lincolnshire for

rather more than the EU, Wilshere Greek, my right honourable friend,

that the first thing we do when we leave the EU is get rid of

burdensome regulation on farmers? Yes, well I agree with my honourable

friend, the free crop rule is exactly the sort of measure we

should change when we leave the EU. Of course, we want farmers to manage

sustainable rotation to optimise yields and protect soil but we could

do that without forcing them to grow a specific number of crops on a

specific acreage of land. The NFU warned last week that the

government's lack of parity risks stifling the farming industry --

lack of clarity. This week it was reported that the price of

agricultural land fell 7% in the last year due to the uncertainty of

Brexit. The absence of any government planning is plunging

farming into a very grave state. When will the government give

clarity and a long-term commitment to the farming industry on access to

the single market, access to a seasonal workforce, and a new,

long-term agricultural policy? I think the Prime Minister has made

very clear Aaron Bish and is for an all-encompassing free-trade

agreement with the European Union to retain free and fair access to the

European single market, we have already discussed, we are looking

very closely at what they need is for workforce currently and in the

future, and of course, we are looking very carefully at what more

around the world we could do to make a huge success of leaving the

European Union. Number six, Mr Speaker. We recognise the importance

that forestry plays in the UK as a carbon sink and in 2015, forestry

contributed an annual emissions reduction of 17.5 million tonnes of

CO2 towards our carbon reduction targets. During last week's storm,

many trees were felled by the force of nature and we could see that many

of them were diseased. Could I ask what the department is doing to

ensure that the threats to tree health are factored into the Carbon

reduction strategy? Mr Speaker, the government takes tree health

extremely seriously which is why we promote by a security

internationally at UK Borders and inland to ensure pest and disease

risks are effectively managed so we can continue to actively manage our

woodlands and forest to continue to contribute a carbon reduction

targets. As well as helping to meet the government's carbon targets, the

planting of trees also has a wide range of environmental benefits but

does the Minister think that her department's plans are ambitious

enough to reap the benefits that trees and woodland undoubtedly

bring? Mr Speaker, I do think they are sufficiently ambitious. We are

absolutely confident we will hit our 11 million trees of new planting

during the lifetime of the parliament. I hope he will speak to

his former honourable friend, the mayor of London, so that he plods

his 2 million trees that he pledged to do before he got elected. Mr

Speaker, the Minister will be aware of the outbreak of sweet chestnut

blight near Exeter and whilst we're doing the first national survey of

historical woodland, what more can be done in the short term to prevent

the importation of devastating diseases, spread by the

International Plant trade, while doing nothing to discourage

tree-planting woodland creation? Mr Speaker, I know that bio-security is

one of the key elements of our agencies at the borders and they are

very proactive in trying to identify the dead risks and threats coming

into this sector. That is why we will always -- to identify the risks

and threats. That is why we will continue to promote trees grown in

this country. The main drivers of change in food prices are energy

costs and exchange rates and these forces affect all countries in the

world, whether or not they are members of the EU. In 2008, there

was a steep spike in food prices, and prices continue to rise until

2014. Since 2014, there has been a 6% fall in food prices, despite the

depreciation of sterling last summer, we tell food prices have

remained relatively stable without overall fall during 2016 0.5%. Large

numbers of people in my constituency are in work but they are still in

poverty. They are feeling the effects of increased food prices as

they have gone up over recent months. They are so dependent on

cheap EU food products, what is the Minister going to do to protect them

in the longer term? As I say, the facts don't bear out what the

honourable member says. We have seen a fall in food prices of 0.5% over

the last year and a fall of 6% since 2014. But we do monitor this

situation closely. We have the annual living cost of food survey

which measures closely particularly the poorest households in the UK and

the money they spend on food and it has remained remarkably stable in

the last decade. The paradoxes we starve the poor

when we refuse to buy their food from them. Will he bear that in

mind? He makes an important point and we have some preferential trade

agreements in place with some developing countries particularly

from the Caribbean to buy sugar from them and these are certainly

arrangements we will want to maintain and secure so we can

support developing countries. He has talked about food prices falling but

supermarkets are warning of the potential for food prices to rise

significantly this year having a huge effect on every household in

the country. Nearly half of food is imported and due to the weak pound

and inflation prices are already starting to rise for the first time

in three yours. What exactly is the government doing to help with the

price rises? As I said earlier, we monitor closely the amount of money

people are spending on food. It has remained remarkably stable at around

16.5% for the last decade. We continue to keep the issue under

review. The greatest spike we had in food prices took place in 2008 under

their watch. Food prices have been falling since 2014. You talk about

monitoring but it has been recently revealed that research specifically

to inform agriculturally environmental policy once the UK

leaves the European Union has not leaves the European Union has not

been commissioned by the departments of your warm words are all very well

clarity and the government is clarity and the government is

failing to deliver. Can he tell us how the government can have any real

understanding of the current situation without adequate research

in place? We are doing a vast amount of analysis and policy research in

the department to inform future policy. In response to a

Parliamentary question, a specific Parliamentary question, a specific

question about scientific research, and had recommissioned scientific

research on the effects of leaving the EU, no, we do not have to

because we have regular evaluation of all of our environmental policies

Can I hand to colleagues in respect Can I hand to colleagues in respect

of the next question that there are opportunities to others lower down

in the paper to comment if they wish? Number 11. There is already a

degree of self management of the fishing regime by producer

organisations in the fishing industry through the systems we have

of trading quarters and markets in leasing and exchanges of

organisations however leaving the EU creates an opportunity to look at

how we manage our fisheries and the approach other countries are taking.

The EU is a wonderful opportunity to rethink public policy. What about

better terms for UK fishermen and better access for our exclusive

economic zone? As he will know I have consistently made clearly been

the EU means we would take back control of our exclusive economic

zone my 200 nautical miles, and that will create the opportunity for us

to look afresh at the mutual access agreements and shares of the total

reliable catch. Current EU regulations prevent farmers from

trimming hedges in August. Does he agree Brexit offers a great

opportunity for a criminal of regulations and the trimming of rope

-- rules that prevent hedge cutting taking place at this time? I was

hoping there would be a hint... I was hoping there would be link

between hedge cutting and fishing. They have in common they are

policies that originate from the EU. Leaving the EU gives an opportunity

to review some of these things. We already have a dedication for

farmers growing winter crops to be able to train their hedges earlier.

In particular certain species are vulnerable, the yellowhammer, and we

want to protect those. Scottish farmed salmon has experienced a

significant increase in exports to Canada however why did this

government not put any Scottish geographical indicators forward in

the agreement despite indicating they would be putting the Scottish

food industry at a commercial disadvantage? I can reassure members

opposite I am regularly promoting Scottish salmon, most recently in

the Gulf this week. And Scottish salmon is one of our major exports

alongside Scottish whisky and we champion it at every opportunity.

The chief executive of the National Farmers' Union in Scotland has come

up with a very worthwhile idea when it comes to framing a post Brexit

support regime for agriculture and fishing. His suggestion is the

devolved administrations are allowed to choose from a menu of policies

which are based applicable in their jurisdiction. Would he look at that

proposal? I discuss proposals along these lines specifically with NFU

Scotland at the beginning of this year. There is a consensus emerging

that has to be some kind of UK framework and within that we want to

ensure the devolved administration can perceive policies that are right

for them and we will work closely with all the vault administrations

to make sure that policy once they leave the EU works for Scotland and

others. Not only can this government confirmed where powers will lie

after Brexit, they also cannot see how financial support for farmers

will work. Why are the interests of Scottish farmers that a low priority

for this government? I do not accept what she says. We have guaranteed

payments up until 2020. Insured the budget is still there and made clear

that well in advance of that date we will be able to give farmers

throughout the UK a very clear picture of what future support

arrangements will look like. Topical questions. Number one. I would like

to update on the delivery of the basic payments scheme. 95.5% of

farmers have received their payment which is good progress but still

more to be done. Last week I secured agreement from the Treasury that a

75% bridging payment will be available to any farmer with an

outstanding claim at the end of March and the window for the 27

applications opened yesterday. -- 20 Zaventem. The minister mentioned the

mayor of London our former colleague. Can I ask her to pay

tribute to the work he is doing in tackling pure air quality but also

to say whether it is her policy to retain the existing provisions in

air quality provisions in UK law after the UK has left the EU? It is

the case with B will keep all regulations when we leave the EU so

that when we leave, the day after we leave, the regulations will look the

same as the day before. We are looking very carefully at the issue

of air quality and have spent over ?2 billion since 2010 in ultralow

emissions vehicles and trying to reduce the impact of poor air

quality and we are looking closely at that. Will she join me in paying

tribute to poultry producers across the north who set the highest animal

welfare and bio-security standards? That has to be concerned about the

recent avian flu outburst but can she confirmed that no poultry

producers in no foot will lose their free range status? We are determined

to hold this terrible disease at bay for the sake of our entire poultry

sector and our robust action so far have included an amended avian

influenza zone which covers all of England and requires mandatory

bio-security for all keepers at the compulsory housing or netting of

poultry and captive birds defined in higher risk areas, very important

for the entire sector. Further to that, she must be aware that English

poultry producers are very concerned about the prospect of losing free

range status due to the postcode lottery bird flu restrictions the

stump and this has been expressed particularly by the British free

range egg producers association concerned about the inconsistency in

approach. What more can the ministers say to assure egg

producers across the UK that the rate things are being put in place

to sort this whole side issue out? Colleagues will be aware there was a

fool housing order until the 28th of February and an extensive scientific

advice we have gleaned that there is a higher risk area and in those

places where wildfowl congregate. That is very extensively

peer-reviewed on the basis of scientific evidence and that is why

we published a paper outlining the rationale, this is absolutely not

out of our heads or buy any way whatsoever doing anything other than

protecting this vital sector. I've been contacted by a number of my

constituents concerned about the welfare of puppies, particularly in

the context of puppy farming and puppies bred for sale. Can she set

out what action he is taking to tackle so-called backstreet pleading

and to ensure welfare standards? Makes an important point and while I

was responsible for this part of the portfolio I championed this issue.

The government's recently published proposals for improving the law,

anyone pleading and selling three litres and a 12 month period will

need a licence I know puppies will be sold under the age of eight

weeks. -- and know puppies. Overseeing a mass evacuation. Is

there extra funding available to support councils? Traditionally

councils were given grants for there flooding responsibilities in that

regard. I visited the centre near Jamie cancel the excellent work

being done by the council and voluntary services as well as the

emergency service response. Nevertheless I am sure councils will

continue to reflect on what happened and three of their schemes continue

to be appropriate. The Prime Minister recently laid out plans to

invest in ?4.7 billion in innovation by 2021. Could the minister explain

how the food and farming communities of West Oxfordshire and look forward

to benefiting? We already have a strategy in place which is worth

?160 million and is supported over 100 different projects to support

science and technology transfer in food and farming and we have food

information networks to try to create clusters of innovation in the

food sector. With the Secretary of State go back to her office and

seriously think about how we protect the maritime environment when we

come out of the EU? Where are the protected and is that save fish,

save the future of fish and the maritime environment? We take the

marine environment very seriously and that is why in our manifesto we

said we would extend the blue belt and we have done around the

shoreline of this country and overseas territories. I can assure

him we will continue to play a leading role as well as through our

role on the European Council. A BBC drama airs tomorrow on Radio 4 and

portrays a disturbing future without effective antibiotics, which is also

the subject of my Westminster Hall debate next week. As the Secretary

of State agree that although we are world leaders the fact we have

recently licensed three new products which are the last line of defence

sure there is more we can do? He will be aware that the UK has taken

a leading role in this topic and we have pushed this onto the agenda at

the G7 and G20. There are processes we can adopt that reduce our

reliance on antibiotics for example through acidification of water.

Antibiotics have a role in agriculture as well. Partial

liberalisation of the watermark begins in April this year. Yet we

have seen nothing of the abstract reform legislation which is

essential of this liberalisation is going to work. When is she going to

publish the bill? We take the preservation and use of water very

seriously. Opening up the market for businesses is a good advance but I

am looking at those other matters carefully. On the day after St

Stephen's Day would she reassure Welsh farmers that Welsh lamb and

not New Zealand lamb will be in the forefront of her mind when

negotiating Brexit? -- St David's. We enjoyed that lovely reception at

Downing Street and fabulous Welsh singing. We will be absolutely

keeping Welsh lamb farmers at the heart of our negotiations when we

negotiate any free trade agreements. At Hermes meeting recently with the

Scottish rural affairs minister, the secretary of State described the

discussions as good but the Scottish minister said that all they got was

radio silence. I interpret that the Minister's idea of a good meeting is

to say nothing. It was a Private meeting. In fact, the agreement was

that we would not be talking openly about the level of discussions. I

found it very helpful. We made some progress and got a clear way

forward. Those discussions need to take place and I look forward to

more of them. Has the Secretary of State seen a very positive statement

from Associated British Foods which runs the iconic sugar beet and sugar

factory British Sugar Newark saying that prose Brexit, the ability to

design their own system without EU quotas will lead to up to 50%

increase in profits and sales with good news for farmers and consumers?

-- post Brexit. My honourable friend makes an important point, Associated

British Foods is one of the great British owned food companies. They

are a world leader in sugar and they have driven competitiveness and

investment in the industry and I believe the sugar industry in this

country has a great future. Since 2010, the Defra budget has been cut

by 57% and is struggling to get out plans like the 25 year farming plan

so what discussions have the Secretary of State had with the

Treasury to protect the budget from 6% expected next week? My department

is indeed involved in a transformation project which will

take out costs but will also deliver better, more focused front line

customer service. I'm very optimistic about that. We are

looking carefully at further efficiency savings that are needed.

I apologise to the house, it is very hungry today but I'm afraid demand,

as so often, exceeds supply and it is not possible to satisfy the

appetite of all colleagues. We must now move on. Questions to