Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions House of Commons

Welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the House of Commons. In

an hour, the Labour MP Stephen Doughty has tabled an urgent

question on gay and lesbian people in the Chechen Republic of Russia,

author won after reports of people being tortured and at least three

killed. In David -- David Livingstone will set out forthcoming

business. Then there will be two select committee statements, about

the public administration and Constitutional affairs committee,

and lessons to be learned in the EU referendum. The second in the

Justice committee's report on prison reform. Then we will discuss the

Gorton by-election, after the death of Sir Gerald Kaufman, which will

allow a by-election on the 8th of June. Then there will be questions

on the impact of changes to state pensions on UK expats and the second

on infectious diseases. Join me for a round-up of the day in the House

of Commons at 11pm tonight. First we have questions for the Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs secretary, Andrea Leadsome, and her team of

ministers. The UK has made significant progress in improving

your quality in the last decade, in all five areas. However there are

countries not meeting targets for emissions of carbon dioxide, so to

help address this, last year the government consulted on a framework

which will be consulted shortly. -- published shortly. Following three

defeats in the courts for failing to address the 50,000 deaths a year in

the country due to poor air quality, and we're the government defended

the indefensible, a judge ordered the government to produce and your

quality plan by this Monday. Labour believe we need to go further, with

any quality national framework as part of the clean air act. What are

the main parts of this plan, and how much has the Minister allocated to

addressing the UK's poor air quality in the plan? They think it is a

great shame that the honourable lady criticises this government, who

since 2011 have committed ?2 million to increase the uptake of ultralow

emissions vehicles, supported greener transport schemes and set

out how we will improve your quality through a new programme of clean air

zones. In the Autumn Statement we announced a further ?290 million to

support low emission buses and taxis, retrofitting alternative

fuels, and we will be consulting on our plans to improve nitrogen oxide

emissions very shortly. This is so much pie in the sky. Every time we

have DEFRA questions, it is coming soon, when is the report, when are

we going to stop people being poisoned in our cities, end Times,

in places like Huddersfield, and when will we see action? Now, not

next week or next year! This government is totally committed to

cutting harmful emissions. We have made great progress in the last

decade, which is more than the Labour government did. Emissions

went up under their watch. We recognise there is more to do, and

we will be publishing our proposals soon. People buying diesel cars

thinking they were the cheap way forward, will the Minister make sure

she discusses with this Transport Secretary and Secretary, so we do

not penalise them and work with the devolved governments as well? We

need to find a way forward to look after those people. We have to take

into account the impact on ordinary working families, and on businesses,

and as the Prime Minister has made very clear, we understand that

people bought diesel cars under incentives from the last Labour

government, they bought them in good faith and we need to ensure that

they are not penalised for those actions. Will the Minister consider

a targeted diesel scrappage scheme, which particularly supports

low-income families? The opportunity to do so was missed in the Autumn

Statement and in the budget. I can assure the honourable lady that the

government is looking at all possible

areas we need to have mitigation to support families. All types are on

the table. Leg we have a very low air pollution quality with all areas

in the low pollution band. It is essential that the national

framework is nationwide and encompasses Northern Ireland. Could

I ask the Minister what discussions she has had with her counterpart in

the northern island assembly to make sure it happens? I can assure him we

have had discussions with all administrations. -- the Northern

Ireland Assembly. We are working closely together and will be making

announcements in due course. The Great Repeal Bill will ensure that

the body of existing Euro environmental law will have an

effect in UK law, but Parliament will have the chance to make sure

the legislative framework is outcome driven, focusing on improving the

environment in a generation. The government will continue to uphold

obligations and international environmental treaties, and we will

continue to seek other countries to do so as well. Assuming regulations

come in as part of the bill, that is important but at least as important

is ensuring the regulations are permanent. The country decided to

leave the European Union last year. We're trying to give as much

certainty as possible to ensure regulations continue and will

continue as a consequence. I'm concerned that he thinks we will

simply rip up the rule book. We want a better environment for our future

generations, which is what this government will deliver. The

Minister knows very well that the EU environmental regulations have been

very helpful to people like me and you, Mr Speaker, when holding the

feet to the fire of HS2 when it comes to protecting our environment.

Could the Minister give me an undertaking that she will not alone

any diminution to areas of outstanding natural beauty, and that

exiting the European Union does not hand a blank cheque to HS2 to ride

roughshod over the countryside? My right honourable friend will be

aware that the government has already committed in developing HS2

and other infrastructure we will uphold the highest environmental

standards we cherish. While she is working on the EU air quality

regulations, can I echo the call in the last question for a national

framework, rather than ad hoc local decision-making, especially as

emissions are actually declining at the moment. Can the Minister looked

at all causes of air pollution to properly cost alternatives,

especially the cost to drivers on the taxpayer, and urge the

government to stop demonising diesel drivers. I think it is fair to say

that as we have said at the dispatch box before, when we are tackling

with the quality we have to work with local communities, because the

situation will vary. This government is not demonising diesel drivers at

all. It was the Labour government that introduced incentives for

people to start using diesel. It happens to be that the current Mayor

of London stood here in his last year of the Brown government saying

that Euro standards would solve the problem. We are now clearing up the

mess. One of those environmental standards we can improve on outside

the European Union as much as inside if the state of the oceans. As the

Minister will know, there is a massive amount of dumping of

plastics damaging sea life and choral well-being. That is a huge

conference in the United Nations tween the fifth on the 9th of June.

Ministers will be busy doing other things. What is she going to do to

ensure that the British voice is properly heard to ensure we're going

to do something to clean up our oceans? My honourable friend will be

aware that we launched a litter strategy recently. A lot of rubbish

that winds up in marine comes from the land. We need to continue to

work on that. Marine conservation is particularly important to this

government, we have continued to extend our blue belt around the

coastline of the country but also with overseas territories, and I can

assure him that the oceans conference between the fifth and 9th

of June, he points out there the general election in the middle, but

I can assure him the interest of the United Kingdom will be well

undertaken. While the Great Repeal Bill may bring short-term stability

and working statute book when the UK leads the EU, it remains to be seen

whether this government or indeed future governments will take any

action to road the UK's environmental policies as they exist

now. What assurances can the Minister give to my constituents who

have written to me expressing deep concerns over environmental and is

post-Brexit? I can continue to try and assure the House that this

government has been very clear in the manifesto on which we stood in

2015 that we want to be first to leave the environment in a better

state than we find it, which is what this government continue to do.

Minister Rory Stewart announced in Parliament on the 24th of November

2015 that the UK Government will ban lion and trophy imports by the end

of 2017. What progress has been made in this regard, and can she tell us

what reductions in Trophy hunting in international treaties, after the UK

has left the EU? I did not catch the opening of the honourable

gentleman's question, when he referred to something from 2015, but

I want to assure him that these imports are taken on a case-by-case

basis, and we continue to work with other countries to make sure we can

serve important species around the world. The UK is a global leader in

this. Question number four. With your

permission, I will group question for Andrew question seven. The

consultation closed on the 28th of February and were currently

examining the responses. We intend to introduce legislation this year

with a banner manufacturing expected to apply from the 1st of January

2018 and a band of sales from the 13th of June 2018 as outlined in our

proposals. I strongly support the Government's proposals to ban micro

beads in cosmetics and personal care products but they probably only

account for about 4% of those polluting our rivers. With the

Government say what they are doing to prevent the other types of

migrant plastics which are going to continue polluting our waters? The

Government wants to consult on the extent of the -- the Government

launched a consultation on the extent of the damage micro plastics

are causing and we are continuing to look into that. The use of plastic

bottles is also something we are looking at but I should remind my

right honourable friend that we need to be gathered as we take this

forward because a lot of micro beads and plastics are the outcome of

things like recycling bodies -- bottles into making fleeces and

suchlike. I was recently rummaging through my wife's election of

shampoos and to my horror I found a plastic container of anti-wrinkle,

anti-ageing lotion. Complete with exfoliating micro beads. Obviously

neither the Secretary of State or the Minister would have such need

for a abrupt but would she speak to the Chief Executive of Procter and

Gamble that telling this sort of product at the moment is complete

outrageous and he should withdraw them at once. Well, Mr Speaker, what

I find extraordinary is that lady Belling is a flawless picture and

wouldn't even need these products, so I am sure that my honourable

friend will be buying flowers later today to make up for this. It is

fair to say, Mr Speaker, that we are working with manufacturers now and a

lot of them are starting to remove these products already, practically,

but we want to make sure that this avoidable pollution is taken out of

our environment permanently. Number five. Mr Speaker, we regularly meet

EU counterparts at agriculture and figure it -- agriculture and

fisheries Council and food and drink issues are regularly discussed and

informed by bilaterals. The great and noble county of Lincolnshire is

the bread basket of England and much of the food we eat comes from our

county. Liza Fate has been proved to be harmless by scientists, it is

used in the same production of wheat and agreed that we eat. Once we

regain control of our destiny, can the minister assure me its use will

be reauthorised. As the honourable gentleman knows,

the EU are reviewing the use of Glyphosate and it having been proved

safe, we are backing its use again. My first question on Defra... This

minister has shown since my first question procrastination my children

would envy. The minister wants us to believe we can trust him with

correcting UK policy. Where is this money? How on earth can Scottish

farming trust this Government and the Tories? Well, the honourable

gentleman and I have discussed this number of times and he is aware the

reason the review we intended to do last year was delayed was because of

the referendum, which has changed the context dramatically. We

continue to have discussions with Scottish industry. Just yesterday, I

met NFU as to discuss feature agriculture policy. What can be done

to encourage the European Union to promote the processing of feedstuffs

in developing countries, thinking particularly of olive oil and copy

where the value added tends to be in the European Union? The UK and

indeed a number of other European countries have preferential trade

agreements in place to support developing countries, to give them

tariff free access to the European market. This is important to the

development of some of those countries and the issues he raises

are ones that are regularly discussed that the EU agriculture

Council. An important part of the food processing sector is the fish

area of my constituency and is part of those EU discussions, what

efforts will be made to ensure there was no border in the Irish Sea which

would stop permitting fishermen from fishing in both parts as they

currently can? As the honourable lady knows, there has been an issue

with a long-standing agreement between the Irish Parliament and the

UK and this was discussed at a couple of weeks ago by myself and

administer from the Irish Parliament about arrangements we may have after

Brexit? I have the honour of representing a constituency whose

farmers feed the country and I would be interested to know, will my

honourable friend work to ensure that farmers are not put at a

disadvantage with their EU competitors when these exciting new

trade deals are negotiated? Well, my honourable friend, she has a very

important farming constituency and I know that and what I can reassure

her is that I myself worked in the farming industry for ten years, it's

an industry I'm passionate about and I've been going up and down the

country in recent months, meeting farmers, discussing their concerns,

but we have a fantastic opportunity on leaving the European Union to

design a new agricultural policy that is fit for purpose. Press

reports earlier this week suggest the Danish Government may press for

restrictions on UK fish imports to the EU if the Danish fleet this

access to UK, mostly Scottish fishing waters when the UK leads the

EU. That would have severe impact on Scottish fishermen who export 50% of

their fish to the EU each year and can he tell us what discussions he

has had a mess? I have regular meetings with all EU counterparts

and I believe the Danish minister is planning a visit to the UK in the

next few weeks and I hope to meet in them. The honourable lady should not

worry about the opening positions people might take in a negotiation.

It doesn't matter what people ask for, it matters what the UK

Government is willing to grant. The Scottish fishing industry want to

leave the EU, they want to leave the CFP, they wanted to take control of

our waters. The fishing industry is vitally important to my

constituency. Would the Minister update fishes there and around the

industry -- around the UK when the Government intends to withdraw from

the London 1954 fisheries convention? The honourable lady

makes an important point. There is a 1964 London fisheries convention

which has access arrangements for a number of countries. As we've made

clear on numerous occasions, we are looking at this very closely and as

the prime ministers said two weeks ago, we had to say something on this

shortly. Number six. Mr Speaker, since 2015, Defra has opened or

improved terms for over 160 markets, increasing access to markets is a

priority set out in the food and drink international action plan and

we work with industry to identify and prioritise and increase export

value. In my role as the trade envoy to Nigeria, I have recently invited

the Nigerian agriculture Minister to come to the UK. Will he agree with

me that it's important to show him the whole of the value change --

value train in agriculture in which we do so well question mark I

commend the work that my honourable friend does building negotiations

with -- building relations with Nigeria, building relationships and

I am delighted to hear he has invited the minister here to see

some of the great work we do through the supply chain and what we do to

reduce waste within it. Does the minister recognise that it's

absolutely crucial that the needs of the agricultural sector are placed

at the heart of Brexit negotiations? Isn't it clear that if the

Government doesn't get its act together, a bad Brexit deal will

leave British farmers and food producers facing the double whammy

of cheap food imports and tariffs on their exports? I would simply say to

the honourable lady that access to the UK market is incredibly

important for European countries as well. Whilst we exported around ?11

billion worth of food and drink to the European Union, we import some

?28 billion worth from the EU. That is why farming unions across the EU

are telling their governments that they must have a free-trade

agreement with the UK. How does the Government intend to deliver on its

promises? The CLA are saying that the Government should admit it

cannot design a workable new agricultural policy in less than two

years because Debra simply does not have the capacity. The Government's

failure to reach an agreement could leave out farmers unable to compete

by at home and abroad. Very specifically, what guarantees for

the Minister provide here, today, to rural communities right across the

country that farming subsidies and tariffs free trade will be

guaranteed under a Tory Government? I would simply say festival to the

honourable lady that we have some tremendously talented policy

officials both in Defra and in our agencies and they have been working

very closely on some of the decal behind the design of each

agricultural policy on some of those issues. The Prime Minister has been

very clear that she will make an offer to other European countries

for a bold, ambitious free agricultural agreement. One of the

markets that farmers in northern Lincolnshire are hoping to expand on

is producing crops for eggs converged on to bio ethanol viewed.

They are concerned about the Government's commitment to this.

Could you reassure them that if a market for future expansion? We do

see a role for bio ethanol fuels but also we are keen to ensure that we

don't lose too much good agricultural land to biofuels. The

honourable gentleman, my honourable friend, will be aware that this is

predominantly an issue for the Department for Transport and I would

invite him to raise this issue with them in the next Parliament. Markets

are not necessarily just country based but also a product based. The

UK has a tremendous market for lactose free milk most of which is

imported. What can we do to encourage UK producers to develop

this product in the UK, manufactured in the UK? Well, we do have

obviously a very strong dairy industry in this country and there

are lots of opportunities like that. We have established things like the

food innovation networks and things like the aggregate fund and the

number of other funds as well to support innovative product

development of the sort he mentioned. Number nine, please, Mr

Speaker. Mr Speaker, energy prices and exchange rates are the key

drivers of price changes in the agriculture commodities market and

this affects all countries in the world independent of whether they

are in the EU or not. There was a sharp spike in food prices in 2008,

they levelled up in 2014 and fell by 7% over the next two years. We have

seen an increase of 1.3% over the last year. I thank the Minister for

his response but the facts are that the ONS are reporting a surge in

food process that is likely to continue to rise. Children are

reports -- in food prices that is likely to continue to rise. Children

are returning to school after the holidays and the elderly are going

into hospital hungry yet the Government still refuse to measure

food poverty. Isn't it true that they refuse to measure it because

then they would have to accept culpability? The honourable lady is

wrong because we do measure it and we include a measurement on

household spending among the poorest 20% of households and I can tell you

that household spending within those houses has remained steady at about

16% for the last decade. On the matter of food, Mr Marcus Fish.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Farmers across the south-west are very proud

of the high-quality food they produce whether its beef, lamb,

milk, etc. What are the opportunities the Minister sees bus

leaving the EU to ensure they get a fair price for that food on an

ongoing basis? As he knows, we have recently had a

call for evidence and a review of the grocery code adjudicator. There

have been representations we should consider extending the remit of that

further up the supply chain and we're giving consideration to those

representations. But grocery called adjudicator has made a good start

improving the relationship, particularly between producers and

supermarkets. It is common in food processing plants for 70% of the

employees to be EU migrants, and it is not clear where the staff are

going to come from in the future. Is the Minister committed to defending

this sector in the Brexit negotiations to come, and so

avoiding price rises from this as well? I can reassure him I have had

regular meetings with food processors, indeed just two days ago

I had a meeting with the new president of the food and drink

presentation, and this issue was raised. Around 30% of employees,

according to the ONS, in the food sector are from other European

countries, but I would simply see the Prime Minister has been clear

that she wants to protect the rights of EU citizens that are here, and

she would expect that to be reciprocated as well, which can be

agreed earlier in the negotiations. May I gently remind him again of the

paradox that we starve the poor by refusing to buy their food from

them? He makes a very good point. As I mentioned in relation to an

earlier discussion, we do give preferential trade access to some

developing countries. The ACP countries are particularly

important, in sectors such as sugar, and this is important for them to

develop those industries. My honourable friend is right to raise

this issue, but she will recognise we want to get the proposals right

and we will consult as soon as we can. With the Minister agree that

rigorous enforcement when this policy is in place is one of the

most vital elements Western Mark I entirely agree. Robust enforcement

is important to ensure the rules are effective. She will recognise police

and other agencies do an excellent job in this, and she will also

recognise our approach in tackling this is tackling demand, so we can

very much enjoyed my visit to her very much enjoyed my visit to her

constituency last week. There was a great -- it was a great pleasure to

meet some of her growers, including at a farm, to discuss seasonable

labour. I am aware of the horticultural sector's concerns. We

are consulting with businesses and the advisory committee later this

year. Can I thank my right honourable friend very much for

coming to Kent and visiting one of my local fruit farms and for

listening to the growers who assembled? Particularly during the

Easter recess. Could she please give me an update on the discussions she

has had with the Home Office about introducing the much-needed

agricultural permit scheme? Not only did I visit my honourable friend's

constituency, but the honourable member for Maidstone had a lovely K

bid day in the county I grew up in. She is right, this is an incredibly

important issue, the government has assessed the the need of a pilot

scheme for seasonal workers, and decided there is not the evidence

that such a thing as needed. The migration advisory committee later

this year will seek to get to the bottom of what is needed, and this

government is committed to making huge success for the food and

farming sector as we leave the EU. farming sector as we leave the EU.

Topical questions. As this is the last DEFRA oral questions before the

recess, I would like to remind the House of the government's twin

ambitions in the farming environment. They are to grow more,

sell more and export more British export food -- British food, and for

us to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better

state than when we found it. Last week we produced the first-ever

litter strategy for England and announced a ?10 million grant scheme

to distort peak winds. So we look forward to putting our case to the

country. What is she doing to support fishermen, and in particular

the under ten metres fleet, which is 33 feet in English money. I am glad

he can still do the maths. The government has taken a number of

measures to make the inshore fleet more economically sustainable. We

have taken an unused quota and permanently transferred this to the

under ten metres fleet. So we continue to top slice the quota

uplift, which is now more than 1000 tonnes, in order to help the under

ten metres fleet. Contrary to what the Minister said earlier, recent

inflation figures show that food prices are rising at the fastest

pace in three years, adding over 21p to be average household shopping

bill in the past three months alone. When will the Secretary of State get

a grip on the soaring costs of living affecting millions of

families? As I pointed out earlier to the question that was raised, we

saw the biggest spike in food prices in 2008. Food prices fell by around

7% between 2014 and 2016. It is true that they have seen a modest

increase over the last 12 months of 1.3%. Rising food prices simply

added to the burden on those with little money for food. The Food

Standards Agency reported that one in four low-income families struggle

to eat regularly and equality and human rights commission have shown

that disabled people are more than two times more likely to be living

in food property. -- poverty. How long can the Secretary of State

refused a -- to publish figures on this? We have always monitored

spending on food through the wedding cost survey, and on spending food

among the poor list has been stable for over a decade. This government

has put more people in employment than ever before, taken more people

off benefits and given them an income. That is how you tackle

poverty. It is not just the coastal areas of Lincolnshire that are prone

to flooding. Whilst the government has invested record amounts in

concrete defences, inland areas are also prone to flooding in places

like Lincolnshire. What role does the Minister think that flood

management control can play in detecting properties and people?

Here's right to raise the importance of natural flood management. I saw

that myself on a visit to Leicester without monster competition for

flood protection. In the right place it can absolutely help. We are

investing ?15 million to fund natural flood management schemes

across the country, and they will help support many communities from

flood risks, and we will continue to build the evidence. Surely the

Secretary of State... To prevent shortages in the food and drink

industry. We have already addressed the issue of seasonal workers in the

agricultural sector. As far as those workers who have already made their

lives and work in this country, as the Prime Minister has said, it is

her intention to ensure those rights are protected, and make sure the EU

reciprocates, so protecting the very valuable contribution that EU

citizens make in the UK, and vice versa. In the interest of customer

choice and transparency, isn't it time that all halal and kosher meat

products are properly labelled that the point of sale? This would

benefit those people who want to buy it as well as those who do not want

to. I know my honourable friend has been a long-standing campaigner on

this. The government is committed to giving consumers as much

transparency as possible and to improve labelling wherever we can. I

know he understands there are some difficulties and there is no single

definition of halal or kosher, which makes compulsory labelling complex.

He is aware of European Union -- the European Union has been looking at

this, and leaving the EU as an opportunity to look at these issues.

The 20 year food plan, the 20 year environment plan, the supposedly

environmentally enhancing strategies were supposed to be published before

the summer, that is summer 2016. The Secretary of State has failed, has

filled farmers, the food industry, and feel to keep our promise. People

are now losing their jobs and incomes on her watch. When will

these plans see the light of day? She might be aware there was a

significant decision taken by the people of the United Kingdom last

summer to leave the European Union. We have been very clear about our

ambitions to make a huge success of the food and farming sector and to

be the first generation that leads iron environment and a better place

than when we found it. In terms of our plans, it is essential we can

consult with stakeholders who have clear evidence to give us, clear

ideas to give us, for a future outside of the EU that is more

successful than ever. Further to the honourable member for Gainsborough's

question earlier, would she give my constituents that the assurance they

need that should the European Commission choose not to follow the

recommendation and decide to ban the use of it anyway... The evidence is

clear, they believe glyphosate is safe, it has also been in the UK

intention to follow them on pesticide decisions, so we support

this being authorised again. We will continue to have an evidence -based

approach when we leave the EU. We need good science, good technology,

good innovation, but what will she do about the fact that one of the

leading scientific research bases has been taken over by China? This

is another major company that the Chinese government have absorbed.

What is she going to do about it? When it comes to pesticide

protection, this is an integrated industry around the world, and it is

not unusual to have others working within the UK. We have the best in

the world, which is why companies choose to locate here. Fly-tipping

like the countryside, and often causes real problems for those

including farmers, such as in my constituency who have waste dumped

on my land. Can he update the House on the steps of government is taking

to tackle this? I was delighted we launched the letter strategy on the

10th of April for England, seeking to cut ?800 million bill annually

for tax players for cleaning up letter. So local councils will be

able to fine fly-tipper is. We have also given them the powers to seize

vehicles involved in fly-tipping. Integrated processing distribution

and packaging systems are used in food plants across the UK and the

Republic of Ireland. What assurances can begin to the companies there

will be no border restrictions inhabiting the operations after

Brexit? The Prime Minister has made clear she wants an ambitious and

comprehensive free trade agreement. We are looking closely at the issue

of border controls in respect of the border between Northern Ireland and

the Irish Republic particularly, but we're talking regularly to industry

on this, we have a meeting with some of the other devolved

administrations later today, where we will look at these issues. Lamb

prices are trading particularly less this year than last year existing.

New Zealand lamb comes in in the winter when we have no lambs. There

seems to be too much New Zealand lamb in the major retailers and not

enough British lamb. I would like the ministers to bring that to the

attention of the major retailers that British lamb should now be in

the shops, it should not be New Zealand lamb. The honourable

gentleman makes an important point. I know that at least, people really

want to buy high-quality West Country lamb and Welsh lamb and

Scottish lamb, and from every other part of the United Kingdom. I would

say, there was an issue this year I believe, in that prices were very

good during the winter, which meant a number of sheep producers decided

to sell their lamb early, meaning there has been less British lamb

available at this time. Will the Secretary of State to be

pushing for a total ban on ivory sales in the 2017 manifesto,

equivalent to the unrealised pledge in the 2015 manifesto? As I outlined

to my honourable friend earlier, we are working very closely on -- very

carefully on the proposals and hope to publish a consultation in due

course. In the West Midlands, we are seeing a terrible spate of

fly-tipping on a commercial scale, including hospital and household

waste. Could I ask the Minister seriously to help the farmers with

the costs of deterring the serious criminals from dumping these hazards

on their land? Mr Speaker, I thank my right honourable friend for that

question. We know this is a particular problem at the moment and

that's where the Environment Agency is working with councils and farmers

in order to try to stop this waste being dumped in the first place. We

will continue to pursue waste crime as an urgent issue and friendly

those people who to spoil our country side and display last rates

deserve a strong sentence but we need the legislation to do that and

this can take time. Does the Minister recognise that food

processors will need to continue to recruit employees coming to the UK

from other EU countries? Yes, absolutely. As I said earlier, the

Home Office are looking very closely at what the future needs will be for

businesses. We absolutely recognise that businesses in the UK, in order

to thrive, will of course need access to some of the brightest and

best from around the world and the migration advisory Council and a

consultation with businesses will be looking at the needs later this

year. Cleaning up the nation's bus fleet is an important point -- part

of tackling air quality, but will the Minister agree that smaller

companies will need time to adapt, particularly where the smallest

vehicles -- the cleanest vehicles are not yet available on the

second-hand market? My right honourable friend is correct to

point out that we need to work with the industry. The Department for

Transport has been working with manufacturers for some time to make

the improvements so that, again, as a nation, we can make those

technological changes that are important to improving our air

quality from vehicle emissions. Questions, Pauline Latham. Number

one, sir. I can inform the House that the National Audit Office

published an investigation into the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2015. This

investigation set up the facts related to the fund in what it had

achieved. This followed up on a number of concerns raised during

early work on improving cancer services. The investigation found

that all parties agreed that the fund was not sustainable in its

present format this time and that NHS England was proposing a new

arrangement for the