Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions House of Commons

And in the House of Commons. And

Barbara Keeley will ask the question

on in children and young People's

mental health services. After that

Andrea Leadsom will announce what is

coming up in the chamber next week

and take questions from

backbenchers. Then Amber Rudd will

come to the dispatch box to update

MPs on the attempted murder of

ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and

his daughter Yulia Skripal in

Salisbury on Sunday. That will be

followed by a debate marking

International Women's Day. Do join

me for a round-up at 11 o'clock

tonight. First, questions for

Michael Gove and his team of

ministers.

Questions to the Secretary of State

for the environment, food, and rural

affairs. Minister George Eustace.

My

right honourable friend, the

Secretary of State, was in the US on

departmental business representing

UK interest. I know he has already

written to you regarding this. He

sent his apologies to the house. Mr

Speaker, last week the Government

launched a consultation setting out

the quality framework for

agriculture after the UK leads the

European Union. This command paper

outlined a series of proposals to

help farmers invest in their farms

and become more profitable to

support new ventures coming into the

industry and support collaborative

working in places such as research

and develop them.

It was merely a state crisis this

morning, the pedal came off my

bicycle at Vauxhall Bridge and I

managed to get here just in time.

LAUGHTER

Just showing off! I very much

welcome the command paper. It talks

about having a greener environment

and a better environment for the

future. Will he also agree with me

that apart from that paper, it must

have the means of production and

good quality production and being

able to increase our food that we

can grow in this country rather than

decrease it as we go forward with

the new British agricultural policy.

I agree with the Points my

honourable friend raises. He and I

have a background in the farming

industry and recognising the

importance of this for my country.

We need to grow our agriculture

business and produce more food. All

consultation outlines a number of

proposals including improving

productivity and improving research

and of element. -- and development.

When will a decision be made on the

reintroduction of a seasonal workers

scheme so that crops don't rot in

the ground this summer?

The honourable gentleman will be

aware this is an issue on which the

Home Office leads. We have regular

discussions with Home Office

colleagues on these matters. We are

getting feedback from industry on

this matter. As was made clear in a

speech to the NFU, we are looking

closely at the idea of a seasonal

agricultural workers scheme so we

can have the labour we need after we

leave the European Union.

Most of the food produced and

processed in my Cleethorpes

constituency is reliant on good

supplies of fish. Can the Minister

given absolute assurance that the

fishing industry will not be sold

out in these negotiations as they

were in the 1970s?

We've consistently been clear that

when we leave the European Union we

leave the common fisheries policy.

That means under international law

the UN Convention on the law of the

sea will become an independent

coastal state and we will manage the

fisheries resources in our exclusive

zone and manage access to our own

waters.

How will he ensure that farming

subsidies after Brexit will remain

targeted at food production?

We have been clear that we will

maintain the total spend that we

have on agriculture and the farming

environment until 2022. We have also

been clear, and our paper set this

out, there will be a transitional

period as we move from an incoherent

system of area payments that we have

now to one that is focused on the

delivery of public goods. We

recognise there will need to be a

gradual transition from the old

system to the new.

The agricultural policy has been a

disaster for the British dairy

industry because it has been

designed with the interest of French

farmers, not British farmers. How

can we put this right after Brexit?

My honourable friend makes an

important point. The common

agricultural policy has all sorts of

inconsistencies. Having a one size

fits all agriculture for the whole

of the EU makes no sense at all. As

we leave the European Union and take

back control of these matters we

will have the freedom to design and

agriculture policy that works for

our own farmers.

Can I say first how relieved I am

but the member the Tiverton Hamilton

made it this important question. --

made it today to make this important

question. He should be aware that

deaf's figures show that 64% of

farmers earn less than £10,000 per

year and that eight supermarkets

control almost 95% of the food

retail market. -- DEFRA's figures.

Farmers get 10% less than the value

of their product which are sold in

supermarkets. What is the minister

going to do to tackle this clearly

inequitable and unsustainable

situation?

She makes an important point. If we

want to move to position where

farmers are no longer dependent on

subsidies it is important we support

them to come together

collaboratively to strengthen the

supply chain so they get a fairer

price for the food they produce. We

recently outlined a series of

proposals to have a statutory code

on dairy and to have a statutory

approach to other livestock with a

range of other options. I've had

regular dialogue with ministers

regarding the role of the grocery

code adjudicator. We recently had a

call the evidence on this matter. It

was published in February. We set

out a range of measures to that

fairness in the supply chain and

strengthen the position of farmers

and small producers.

I am the paid chair of the trustees

of the fair trade organisation

tradecraft. There were high hopes

across the chamber for a stronger

groceries code adjudicator to

protect supplies from unfair

practices like last-minute

cancellation of orders, unexplained

deductions from invoices. Ministers

started consulting 18 months ago on

possible changes. The farming

command paper last month promised

fairness in the supply chain but

hopes were dashed with the

announcement last month of no change

that the remit of the adjudicator.

Why are ministers failing to take

action?

I don't accept there was no change,

as I said earlier, we have announced

the package of measures which

includes a £10 million collaboration

fund to help farmers and small

producers come together. A

compulsory milk contracts

legislation so that dairy farmers

are protected. Compulsory sheep

carcass classification. Ministers

are making supply chain data easier

to access to improve transparency

and market integrity. And a review

as to whether more grocery retailers

should come under the remit of the

GCA.

I hear what the minister says, but

given that the vast majority of

producers and consumers are very

keen to strengthen the grocery code

adjudicator, why won't he do it? We

are happy to help on this site if

you just makes the move to say he is

prepared to strengthen the code.

--

this side is he just makes the move.

These were in very vulnerable

sectors like dairy livestock who

often end up becoming price takers

because they don't have sufficient

strength to deal with large

processors. It was an issue of the

supermarkets, more initially those

processes, and a better way to take

this forward is to introduce other

statutory code that target the

problem rather than change the remit

of the GCA.

With your permission I wish to group

the following questions four, six,

13. Last autumn and independent

working group was set up as part of

the strategy for England to hold a

corporate evidence of measures to

reduce littering of drinks

containers and promote recycling.

This included deposit return

schemes. I've recently received the

report and considering their

recommendations.

15 million plastic bottles a day are

not recycled in this country. We

know that a deposit return scheme

can increase recycling rates. I hope

they will introduce a scheme after

this report. Can I urge the

Government introduce a scheme that

applies to all drinks containers,

all sizes, from all sale locations,

not just the on the go from and

vending machines?

Part of the

evidence that was submitted reflects

the role of the fact that councils

offer a competitive recycling

service at the kerb-side. I am

delighted to save that rather have

finally agreed to start collecting

plastic bottles, as well. I would

say we need to consider this

approach carefully. I think there is

an appetite to have such DRS but the

schemes we have seen in other parts

of Europe are very different and we

would have to make sure we had one

that worked for this country and

achieve the outcomes we all seek.

Like many colleagues I have pledged

to pass on plastics. For too many of

my constituent it's impossible

because their Street and lives are

inundated with a flood of plastic

bottles, bags, packets, turning

their environment into a dumping

ground. Will the Minister take

action urgently and stop denying

local authorities like Newcastle

City Council the powers and the

resources to tackle the problem

because frankly right now on the

environment this Government is

rubbish.

I think that question was a complete

waste of space. The honourable lady

refers about powers. This Government

has given councils powers to tackle

littering and waste crime. She is

being rather ungenerous in what

progress is being made. In terms of

plastic I would say that plastic has

a role in quite a lot of making sure

we have safe packaging but it has

become endemic. That is why we are

considering that carefully in the

resources and waste strategy which

we intend to publish later this

year.

Across my constituency of later we

have litter picking grapes and we

see loads of areas where plastic

bottles and glass bottles are

dumped. Will she commit to

introducing a deposit return scheme

for plastic and other containers so

we can avoid this plague of plastic?

The people who drop litter are

litter louts and I repeat my phrase,

don't be a tosser! Let's get real

about how we need to tackle that. I

want to commend the work of Keep

Britain Tidy. But we need to sort

this out. That is why DRS is being

considered as part of our waste

strategy.

Thank you, an

international women's day I would be

like to be more consensual and ask

the minister to applaud the campaign

by our female colleagues to give up

plastics for lent and the Church of

England for practical suggestions

for something we can do on every one

of 40 days. Has the minister given

up something in plastic for lent and

will he join us in writing to

manufacturers to find a sustainable

solution?

THE SPEAKER:

Spare the

details.

The church commissioner

would call upon God to inspire us

and the Church of England. I'm one

of those people who has also taken

the pledge to give up single use

plastic for lent. I have had to

sacrifice my Marmite in the tea

room, because they're in plastic

sachets. One of the things that this

campaign about passing on plastic is

about behaviour and consumer change.

I believe companies are responding

and we are start together see

changes, the more -- starting to see

changes. But I'm assuring the House

this Government will take action.

The scheme isn't just about

recycling, it is about educating of

the need to be responsible. Would

the minister praise the towns in

Cornwall who have declared that

their aim is so become single-use

plastic free and does she agree when

it comes to raising awareness on

this, Cornwall is leading the way?

My honourable friend is passionate

about this cause and I applaud the

towns and communities in Cornwall

for wanting to do the right thing.

?

Ash borne tens and thousands of

plastic bottles have been handed out

because of the interruption in the

water supply. Will my honourable

friend look at this specific case?

As I announced the other day, I have

undertaken a review and I would

encourage water companies to improve

compensation and I expect Severn

Trent is responding to that.

The

plastic we see on our beaches that

brings it to people's attention A

BBC report found that in one litre

of melted Arctic sea ice there were

234 plastic particles, that should

be why we take this urgently and if

she is consulting it should be about

how we do it, not if.

This

government has taken strong action

on banning microplastics from

certain products. We are still

waiting for the other nations, but

they have committed to make sure

that happens. One of the points he

refers to is this is a global matter

and we work hard with other nations

through different forums whether it

is the G7 or other agencies and the

UN and common wealth countries who

will be visiting the the UK for the

summit.

Our approach to environment

policy was set out in our 25-year

environment plan. Our approach to

agriculture was published last week.

Thank you for that answer. Can I ask

the minister does he agree there

should be a common framework for

environmental standards across the

whole of the United Kingdom after

Brexit?

Well as the honourable lady

will be aware, through the EU

withdrawal Bill, we are bringing

across all of the existing EU

legislation as it pertains to the

environment. The Secretary of State

outlined plans for a new

environmental body and we are in

discussion with the devolved

administrations about their

involvement and the UK framework in

these matters.

Park keeper or food

producer, whatever the future for

farming, does my honourable friend

agree that there must be, it must be

possible to earn a living out of

farm something

-- out of farming. I

agree with my honourable friend, who

I know has a lot of experience in

these matters. He is right, there

will be parts of the country where

some farmers may choose to do more

by way of delivering environmental

outcomes and environmental delivery,

parts of country where they may

focus on food production. Be we want

a vibrant farming industry.

The

Prime Minister in a speech last

Friday welcomely said there would be

no compromise on animal welfare

standards. What guarantee can he

give that farmers won't be damaged

after post Brexit trade deals.

We

have been clear that we will not

lower our high animal welfare

standard and food standards in

pursuit of a trade deal.

Thank you,

again with permission, I wish to

group the following questions. Our

oceans are part of our way of life

and the blue planet series drew

attention to how they're under

threat. The scheme shows what we are

doing to manage harmful pressures.

Our fishermen are strong custodians

of fishing environment and fishermen

in Scotland are looking forward to

this Government taking us out of

disastrous common fisheries policy.

Does she agree leaving the EU

provides fishermen with a sea of

opportunity and part of that will

involve protecting the marine

environment?

Thank you, as my

honourable friend the Prime Minister

reinforced in the Mansion House

speech, we will be leaving the

common fisheries policy and this

gives an independent to manage the

fisheries that we have.

The final

straw is a new community group whose

objective is to reduce plastic use

and clean up our coastlines,

will-join me in congratulating their

work and encourage more groups to

continue protecting our marine

environment.

I commend the organiser

of final straw Solent. It matters

that we have local action. We want

to have wider action to stop people

dropping litter. But on

international women's day we should

look to Dame Ellen McArthur, who is

known for her sailing record, but

she is known as a true champion of

the environment and she is doing a

lot of work to make sure we have a

reduction of plastics.

What about

coral?

Mr Speaker, not a lot of

people know this, but we have some

of the most spectacular coral reefs

in this, in the world in these fire

islands. They're -- fair islands.

The Scottish is protecting coral in

their marine protected areas. We

have reengaged with international

coral reef protection.

This is a

global challenge. For all our lives

and we have got a CPA, common

Parliamentary meeting coming up in

London, isn't it time she and her

boss got got there and made common

cause to do something on a global

scale that is meaningful?

There are

now 53 common wealth nations and

that is... We are working together

with our common wealth nations to

have an ambitious blue charter to

focus on the challenges he sets out.

My honourable friend for

Huddersfield is right that the

threats to our oceans are

international and not national. It

is good to take action on plastics

locally, but coral reefs, plastics

in the sea call for international

action. What leadership will this

government give at that level.

I

think the United Kingdom is the

international leader on these

issues. As I said to the honourable

gentleman this is an international

matter, all this moves around the

world and recently I have been to

the United States and Canada,

working with the Canada G7

presidency and this is very much at

the top of the agenda for the

Government.

At the last DEFRA

questions on 25th January I asked

the question for fishing given the

turns in the EU and where it is

going, the Secretary state said the

people in the swus can enjoy the

produce of our fisherman. Said good

dodge. He said thank you. I wonder

if we can get an answer. Given all

the turns the Government tell

fishermen they will get from leaving

the EU what and when.

The Government

is seeking a trade deal, but he

should be aware other countries like

Iceland have control of their

waters, grant access and there are

annual negotiations for shared

shocks. We will continue to be part

part of negotiation.

Leaving the I

you gives the UK an opportunity to

improve the profitability of

agriculture sector. We out an

approach that and improve the

competitiveness of the farming

sector. Can I congratulate the first

ever woman president of the National

Farmers Union.

May I join him in

that sentiment. Brexit is the

greatest threat to Scottish farming

and Scotland has higher rates of

funding and the types of farming

that can take place are specific,

will he commit to make sure no

subsidies are cut to Scotland after

Brexit?

The honourable lady will be

aware that it is our intention that

agriculture policy and the design of

individual schemes will very much be

a matter for the devolved

administrations and so I very much

look forward to some of the

proposals that may come from the

Scottish Government. We have offered

to share our own propose ls with

them so they can learn from the

analysis we are doing.

I'm proud

that veil of've sham asparagus has

been granted international status by

the EU. It helps boost the brand.

Will PGI status still be recognised

post Brexit?

That is an important

point and Evesham asparagus has a

great reputation around the world.

The point I would make about the

protected food names, the intention

we have is the existing legislation

will come across through the

withdrawal bill. Those will be

protected through our domestic

legislation.

My honourable friend is

surprisingly shy and self efacing,

we are unlikely to reach question

12, if the honourable gentleman

wants to favour the House with his

thoughts now on this question, he is

welcome to do so.

Thank you very

much Mr Speaker. One way to make

small farms viable is to value add

to the product and I I was brought

up on a dairy farm and today my

brother is a successful cheese

maker. Would the minister...

Undertake to instruct his officials

to encourage small farms to go down

this route and could it be shared

with the Scottish Government,

because it is devolved in my case.

I'm grateful to the honourable

gentleman as will be the honourable

gentleman's brother.

We recognise

the importance of our small family

farms and we also recognise some may

face for challenges in the

transition from the old system to

the future. So we set out details

proposals on a gradual transition

and set out measures to help support

productivity and help them add value

and get a fairer price for their

products and we would be happy to

share our proposals with the

Scottish Government.

Shropshire

formers have pleased with some of

the mood music coming from the

Government about financial support

that they will get in the post

Brexit world. Will the minister

commit to me to come to the

Shropshire Show this year or one of

his officials to continue that

dialogue with farmers?

I thank my

honourable friend for that

invitation and I or another minister

would be delighted to attend th

Shropshire show.

We are committed to maintaining and

improving our world leading animal

welfare standards. Our consultation

paper sets out options we are

considering, such as pilot schemes

offering payments to farmers

offering higher welfare outcomes and

proposals for chicken and pigs.

Does the Minister agree that anybody

charged with the most serious type

of animal welfare offences should

not be able to acquire new livestock

in the run-up to their trial? And

will he meet with me to discuss this

matter?

The animal welfare act 2006

gives the courts power to dispose a

disqualification order on anyone

found guilty of causing unnecessary

suffering to animals. This can

disqualify someone not only from

owning or keeping animals but

crucially from having any influence

over the way an animal is kept. If

somebody is suspected of breaching

this they should report to the

authorities. He will understand that

there is a difference where somebody

has been charged but not yet

prosecuted. I would be happy to meet

my honourable friend to discuss this

matter further.

The Minister will be

aware of long-standing public health

concerns about the routine overuse

of antibiotics on UK farms. We hear

that on American farms they are five

times higher, particularly in US

beef production. What conversations

is he having with his colleagues in

the health department to make sure

that opening the markets to US beef

doesn't happen so we don't have a

public health crisis in this

country.

She makes an important

point. We've made good progress in

the UK to reduce our antibiotic use

in agriculture. Notable successes in

the poultry industry and the pig

sector also making improvements in

this area. We have been clear that

we want to support approaches to

livestock. It will enable us to

reduce the use of antibiotics

further. As I said earlier we will

not compromise our food standards

and animal welfare standards in

pursuit of any trade.

Question

number 11.

Game is an important part of our

food heritage. It is a draw on many

users across the UK and asserted in

many establishments. Exports are

believed to be worth £9 billion in

2016 and £7 billion in 2017. We

continue to raise the profile and

reputation of UK food and drink

overseas through the food is great

campaign.

You will be well aware

that the game factors... Some 14

million... You'll also be aware that

the European market and France in

particular, their market has fallen.

As such could ask the minister if he

would be prepared to introduce game

into the far east, particularly

China, which is a market crying out

for game for their plates.

I

regularly take part in trade

delegations with the UK Government.

And a couple of years ago I attended

the food conference in Cologne,

Germany. There was a producer there,

and export to come of UK game. I'm

happy to meet him and look at what

proposals he might have in this

area. -- and export,

since our last DEFRA questions the

department has continued to work on

our departure from the EU with the

publication of our command paper on

huge agricultural policy.

In

addition we've laid legislation in

slaughterhouses, taking forward our

agenda to enhance animal welfare.

Parliament has also debated and

passed legislation to strengthen the

laws in terms of combating letter.

Remainers only disagree that one of

the very worst aspects of our EU

membership is the common fisheries

policy. Can the Minister confirm we

are leaving it on the 29th of March

next year, that the British fishing

industry can be relaunched as a

result, and that he won't trade our

newly won sovereignty over fishing

in the interest of a wider trade

deal.

We've also been -- always been clear

that we will leave the common

fisheries policy when we leave and

become an independent coastal state

under international law. There are

always annual negotiations. Even for

those countries outside the EU. To

agree an approach on the management

of shared stocks. We envisage such

meetings will continue. I can

confirm the UK Government's view is

that there is a trade discussion to

take place. We want a free trade

agreement. We want to take back

control of our waters.

Last week's

freezing temperatures have caused

chaos to water supplies this week.

Households in London are those

hardest hit. There is a systemic

failure by Thames Water to comply

with their legal obligations to

provide ten litres of water per

person everyday customer is

disconnected. Can the Minister

confirm that was the case. If so,

when the department was notified as

requirement. And what actions will

be taken against the companies who

failed in this.

I have ordered a review of what has

been happening. I have asked for the

review to be available. I will

update her after that.

I hope we can ensure that water is

still getting to those customers who

was still going without connected

water supply this week. Given that

executives at the top nine sewage

companies in the UK got -- paid out

dividends. What is this Government's

plan to rebalance executive pay and

get a grip on our water companies if

the department responsible has said

they will not do that.

There is an

expectation of increased investment

which needs to be made by the

industry. The price review is

underway. Water companies will be

coming out with the consultation. My

right honourable friend spoke to

water UK a few weeks ago. He has

read them the riot act. I will

repeat he has said he will use

whatever powers needed for the water

companies to up their game.

In my constituency plastic debris is

often washed up on the town speech,

harming the local ecosystem and

damaging tourism. Does my right

honourable friend agree with me that

reducing plastic waste will be

essential for the regeneration of

Britain's seaside towns?

Absolutely.

I lived in Sowerby as a child. I

visited your constituency many

times. -- Formby as a child. I

commend the work being done. He will

be aware of the ongoing since we are

trying to do to reduce the amount of

plastic entering the oceans and

therefore our beaches.

The committee on toxicity is

currently reviewing the most recent

research on folic acid. If they

advised the Government that the

maximum recommendation intake should

be increased or abolished, will the

Minister commit to following the

scientific evidence and the success

of other countries to require

fortification of flour with folic

acid to reduce defects.

This is an issue which is shared

between the Department for health

and DEFRA. They lead on the issue

with very little acid, we lead on

the issue of labelling issues. There

was a complexity in EU law. EU

regulations require that all

products that have flour must

include the labelling. That creates

problems for industry. If there is a

recommendation we will look sensibly

at this. Once we leave the European

Union we have an opportunity to

adopt a slightly different approach.

What has she done to stop our

songbirds from being trapped and

eaten in Cyprus?

My honourable

friend has brought up an important

issue. As part of an international

convention on migratory species the

issue of the illegal trapping in

Cyprus has been a long-running

theme. That is why I would like to

commend the Ministry of Defence, the

police, and Armed Forces at the

sovereign base in Cyprus who are

working hard to tackle this issue

which means the RSPB has shown there

has been a 70% fall in the amount of

illegal poaching going on.

So glad he does not represent a

migratory species. I doubt that

proposition would be the subject of

a division in the house.

In the light of the Secretary of

State warning to water companies to

address public concerns of prices,

is the Minister aware of the nine

water companies committed to the

keep me posted campaign to ensure

consumers have the right to choose

paper bills and statements?

I believe customers can choose to

keep paper bills. I think water

companies like many other companies

offer a discount if people choose to

switch to electronic communication.

But I am sure this is an issue

customers can take up if this is

proving a problem.

Thousands of my constituents have

their water shot off by Southern due

to poor winter preparedness. What

discussions has the department had

with the water industry, and the

regulator to ensure that this

doesn't happen in future winters?

Officials have been in regular touch

with the water companies. On Tuesday

I convened a meeting of the chief

executives of the water companies,

and the regulator, and water UK. As

announced, I've asked them to

undertake a review to look into the

practices that happened.

The command paper includes the line

we will adopt a trade approach which

promotes lower prices for consumers,

which I find worrying. Isn't it the

case that food prices are

historically low already, lower

prices will not do anything for

British farmers. We need good

quality, affordable food, which is

healthy for people, not a race to

the bottom in terms of getting ever

cheaper food.

The point were making in the paper,

it isn't the long-term. There may be

opportunities in certain sectors,

particularly for food, that we are

unable to produce ourselves in this

country to have lower prices in

certain products. This is an

important point. Generally we have

low food prices and stable food

prices in this country.

Given the intention to use public

money to promote public good does my

honourable friend agree that as well

as rewarding farmers for looking

after the environment we should

support growers who contribute to

public health by growing healthy

fruit and vegetables.

That's a very important point. As a

former fruit and vegetable grower I

should perhaps declare an interest

in this. She is right. We believe

our future policy insofar as its

support and innovation will be open

to the horticultural sector so they

can invest in their future. We also

talk about the importance of

promoting nutritious food.

The Government said in court they

considered it sufficient to take a

pragmatic, less formal approach to

areas of poor air quality.

Portsmouth has consistently breached

World Health Organisation guidelines

with 95 premature deaths each year

attributed to air pollution. Does

the minister consider it appropriate

to take an informed approach to

preventing deaths and protecting the

health of my constituents?

Thank

you. The honourable gentleman is

selectively quoting from the

judgment. However, this Government

takes air quality very seriously.

The issue regarding Portsmouth is

that they are expected to come into

compliance within the next two,

three years. The Government has been

using the benchmark. That would take

four years to come into place. He

may well shake his head but he needs

to be working with his counsel about

what they are doing to improve local

roads, with public health, and what

they are working on. I'm sure he

will be working alongside counts

Madonna Jones who is making great

efforts to improve air quality. --

councillor Donna Jones.

Existing

reciprocal access to fishing waters

and resources should be maintained.

All this seemed to suggest that any

future trade deal will be heavily

dependent on EU fishermen

maintaining their on the access to

British waters. This position is

acceptable to fishing communities

around the UK. Can my honourable

friend confirm that this Government

considers the EU's position on this

as just an acceptable?

Yes. I simply

say to my honourable friend that

this is the EU position. They

currently benefit considerably from

access to UK waters. At the moment

the UK fleets' access to European

waters is far lower than they have

access to UK waters.

Can I draw your

attention to the serious oil spill

stretching from my constituency

right down the River lead to the

Olympic Park. It is the second time

it has happened in two years. Is it

not now time for the Environment

Agency, river to canals trust, and

the local authorities in Thames

water to get together, once they

have cleaned up the spill, to see

what they can do to prevent this?

I

have already replied to the

honourable gentleman through written

questions. In particular the

Environment Agency has traced the

potential polluter but I cannot give

further details due to the ongoing

investigation. The Environment

Agency carries out prevention

reviews and we are still working to

clear it up.

Last week the

Department's Brexit paper was also

about the availability of food yet

made zero reference to the scandal

that one in 12 British adults have

gone a whole day without food. Why

doesn't this Government care about

people going hungry?

We do care and we have a number of

initiatives to support some of

the... Approaches to supporting food

banks and make sure food goes into

redistribution and we are also

reforming and improving the benefits

system to help people back into

work, which is the best alternative.

The minister will be aware of the

concerns raised by the food

producers and farmers in Northern

Ireland when it cops to cross-border

trade. Would the minister agree we

need to find an arrangement that

will accommodate even?

--

accommodate everyone. Yes, I met him

and others to discuss the challenges

of Northern