Thursday Volume 690 4 March 2021 No. 184 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 4 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 365 4 MARCH 2021 366 House of Commons Scottish Fishing Businesses Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD): What Thursday 4 March 2021 assessment he has made of the effect of the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement on Scottish fishing The House met at half-past Nine o’clock businesses. [912935] PRAYERS The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): Under the UK-EU trade [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] and co-operation agreement, the UK has secured tariff-free Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, access for fisheries products and a substantial transfer 4 June and 30 December 2020). of quota from the European Union, benefiting fishing [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] communities across the UK, including Scotland. The transfer is equivalent to 25% of the value of the EU’s historic catch in UK waters, worth £146 million delivered BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS over five years. All fisheries Administrations will have regulatory control, giving Scotland powers over the REPORT OF THE HOLLIDAY INQUIRY largest part of the UK’s exclusive economic zone. Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That Wendy Chamberlain: At the beginning of the year, the she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of the Report, entitled Report of the Secretary of State stood at the Dispatch Box and told Holliday Inquiry: inquiry into award of the Magnox decommissioning Members that difficulties with the UK-EU fishing trade contract by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, related were just “teething problems”, but two months on those litigation and its subsequent termination.—(Kwasi Kwarteng.) problems are still ongoing, and the Government’s compensation fund is clearly insufficient. On Tuesday, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Oral Answers to Questions was told that in the medium term, we will see a lot more of the smaller companies stopping trade in Europe, and it may ultimately be their demise. That is terrible news ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS for the East Neuk in North East Fife and their fishing fleet. Does the Secretary of State still agree with the The Secretary of State was asked— words that he wrote in 2016, when he said: “From the point of view of the fishing industry, the case for Bridleways leaving the EU is overwhelming”? Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): If he George Eustice: Yes, I do still believe that, and we will increase the number of bridleways to improve the have a 25% uplift in quota as a result of the trade and safety of horse riders; and if he will make a statement. co-operation agreement and regulatory freedom that [912934] we did not have before. It is worth noting that we are now seeing lorry loads of fish clearing border control The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for posts in France typically in under an hour—sometimes Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Victoria Prentis): a little longer, but it is an improving situation. Volumes The Government share my hon. Friend’s ambition to of trade are back up to around 85% of normal volumes. improve safety and access for horse riders. Our 25-year environment plan and landscapes review explain how Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP) we will help to connect people with nature. Our new [V]: The Prime Minister said a week ago that he thought environmental land management schemes will include the fishing industry could be saved if we only ate more payments to ensure that those goods are delivered. British fish. Two months ago, the Leader of the House Mr Robertson [V]: The Minister will be aware that as said that the fish are “happier” because of Brexit. In more and more building takes place in villages, more January, the DEFRA Secretary said the collapse of traffic is put on the road, which presents a danger to exports was a “teething problem”. Can the flippancy horse riders. Just last year alone, 46 horses were killed end now, and can we get some serious answers for the and 130 riders were injured. One way in which more industry? Some Scottish businesses still face three-day access could be provided is by allowing horse riders to waits to get their fresh fish to EU markets. Does the use footpaths, for example, and there are many other Government not accept that they have got it wrong and ideas. Will she work with me and others who are concerned that the taskforces and other sticking plasters are not about this issue to try to improve access to bridleways enough? Will they get back to the negotiating table with for horse riders? the EU, eat some humble pie and accept whatever regulatory alignment and other measures are necessary Victoria Prentis: I would be delighted to do that. I to save the industry? have first-hand experience of negotiating bridleways over motorway bridges and level crossings with two George Eustice: As I said, volumes of fish exports are small daughters on their ponies, and I very much appreciate currently running at about 85% of normal volumes. that one of the benefits of improving the bridleway Given coronavirus and the lockdown in the EU, we network will be increased safety. The schemes we are think that is probably about the right level, given the introducing will incentivise farmers to enhance public stress to the markets in the European Union. It is an access across the piece. improving situation. Well over half of all consignments 367 Oral Answers 4 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 368 now clear border control posts within an hour, and Mr Speaker: I think the questions were grouped. typically in 45 minutes. Over 90% are clearing them within three hours, so we do not recognise the figure George Eustice: Apologies, Mr Speaker. Work to that the hon. Lady gives of three days. establish the Office for Environmental Protection continues at pace. We have appointed the chair and interim CEO, Biodiversity with non-executive directors to follow,and the headquarters Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): What steps will be in Worcester. he is taking to improve protection for nature and biodiversity. [912937] Mary Robinson [V]: Lockdown has highlighted the importance of our environment, with the positive effects TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, of good air quality, access to green spaces and connecting Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow): Thank you, with nature for our health and wellbeing. Will the Mr Deputy Speaker—Mr Speaker! Goodness gracious Secretary of State elaborate on the remit of the new me, I am so sorry. Gosh! Apologies. independent regulator and on what the interim Office Biodiversity definitely matters, and it is critical that for Environmental Protection will be able to do to we act now internationally and at home in this crucial maintain those important protections, as we seek to year for nature and biodiversity. In England, our enhance and protect our natural environment? Environment Bill sets out a strong legal foundation for improving the environment, and we have introduced George Eustice: My hon. Friend makes an important substantial new funding for nature, including the nature point. The interim OEP will be able to produce an for climate and green recovery challenge funds. We have independent assessment of the Government’s progress protected 40% of English waters across 178 marine towards their 25-year environment plan and receive protected areas, and we have committed to protecting complaints about failures of public authorities to comply 30% of our land by 2030. with environmental law.It will take decisions on operational matters such as recruitment, accommodation and facilities; Theresa Villiers: Will the Government ensure that develop the OEP strategy, including its enforcement nature-friendly farming is at the heart of our replacement policy; and determine approaches to how the OEP will for the common agricultural policy, and will securing a form and operate. global switch to sustainable and nature-friendly farming be a core goal for us at COP26? Chris Clarkson: May I associate myself with the Rebecca Pow: I am pleased that my right hon. Friend comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle has given me the chance to say that we on the Front (Mary Robinson)? I am a fellow Greater Manchester Bench—every single one of the Ministers and the Secretary MP, and my constituents in Heywood and Middleton of State—are absolutely committed to nature-friendly also put a very high premium on our natural environment, farming, and there will be schemes through the new especially as we are in a city region. What steps is my environmental land management system that will reward right hon. Friend taking to implement the measures in it. The sustainable farming incentive will support approaches the Environment Bill ahead of Royal Assent? to farm husbandry that will help the environment. That might include propagating integrated pest management George Eustice: My hon. Friend makes an important and actions to improve soil health and water quality. point. Although the timetable for the Environment Bill Local nature recovery will pay for actions that support has slipped by a few months, we are working at pace to local nature recovery and deliver local environmental implement the policies and measures behind it. We have priorities, with farmers potentially collaborating. Finally, announced Dame Glenys Stacey as the chair of the landscape recovery will support much wider landscape-scale OEP and Worcester as its HQ, and it will launch on an and ecosystem recovery through long-term change of interim basis in July.