Thursday Volume 647 18 October 2018 No. 191 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 18 October 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 763 18 OCTOBER 2018 764 In my role as Minister with responsibility for food, I am House of Commons working very closely with others to ensure that we will move on all these issues, whether vets or preparations at Thursday 18 October 2018 the borders. Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Co-op): At the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, we heard from DEFRA officials about preparedness for PRAYERS Brexit, and we are very concerned. One of the biggest concerns is that many businesses do not know what they will have to do to comply with the rules around [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Brexit. What is the Minister doing to make sure that real effort is going into telling those companies and Speaker’s Statement businesses how they should be preparing? Mr Speaker: On today’s Order Paper it is noted that David Rutley: The hon. Lady makes a very important on 18 October 1918 the hon. Charles Henry Lyell, point. The Government have been setting out technical Royal Garrison Artillery, Member for South Edinburgh notices to explain more about what needs to be done in from 1910 to 1917, died while serving as Assistant readiness for a no deal scenario. Yesterday, along with Military Attaché in Washington, USA. We remember the Secretary of State, I met the Food and Drink Sector him today. Council. We are working hard to increase engagement with businesses on the back of those technical notices. Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP): Oral Answers to Questions This year we saw the highest-quality fruit and veg grown on these islands rotting in the fields because there were not enough workers to pick them. Yesterday the chair of the Migration Advisory Committee said ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS that the fruit and veg sector would shrink if its policies were followed—that would mean farmers going out of The Secretary of State was asked— business. Does the Minister agree with him that that is a price worth paying, or does he agree with me that Leaving the EU: Food and Drink Standards ending freedom of movement is a huge mistake? 1. David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): What recent David Rutley: I am not sure that that really fits in with discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the question, but an important pilot is being taken maintaining food and drink standards after the UK has forward on seasonal workers to address the issues that left the EU. [907134] the hon. Lady raises. TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, Tree Planting Food and Rural Affairs (David Rutley): DEFRA is working closelywiththeFoodStandardsAgencyandtheDepartment 2. Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con): What steps of Health and Social Care to ensure that the regulatory he is taking to increase tree planting. [907135] regime for food and drink standards and safety remains robust as the UK leaves the European Union, in order 5. Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con): What steps he is tocontinueprotectingthepublicandretainingtheconfidence taking to increase tree planting. [907139] of consumers, businesses and trading partners overseas. The Secretary of State meets Cabinet colleagues on a weekly basis, when discussions take place on the future TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, relationship the UK will have with the EU. Food and Rural Affairs (David Rutley): The changes to the woodland carbon fund and the woodland creation planning grant that we successfully piloted in 2017 have David Linden: The National Audit Office’s report on beenmadepermanent.Wealsorecentlymadethecountryside DEFRA’s readiness for Brexit says that the Department stewardship woodland creation grant available all year. “will be unable to process the increased volume of export health In addition, we are providing £5.7 million to kick-start certificates” the northern forest, and we have appointed a national on current capacity and that tree champion to drive forward our tree planting manifesto “consignments of food could be delayed at the border or prevented commitments. from leaving the UK.” Ports will be gridlocked and the quality produce of Eddie Hughes: Does the Minister welcome the work Scottish farmers will not reach its foreign markets. of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy programme, There is a spreadsheet to take the place of the EU’s which is providing saplings to MPs across the country TRACES system—how does the Minister intend to fix to plant in their constituencies? this by March? David Rutley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his David Rutley: The NAO report also highlighted that characteristically enthusiastic support for that project—we there is a high degree of readiness within DEFRA. We would expect nothing less for the Queen’s Commonwealth have recruited 1,300 people to take this work forward. Canopy initiative, which is truly excellent. I mention in 765 Oral Answers 18 OCTOBER 2018 Oral Answers 766 particular the five saplings project, made possible by the David Rutley: Yes, that is really important. I think my work of the Woodland Trust, Sainsbury’s and ITV—the right hon. Friend will also welcome our commitment to right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) is also ensure that we will see 1 million more trees in our towns to be commended. Like my hon. Friend, I look forward and cities. Trees play a vital role not just in the countryside to planting saplings in my constituency soon, in and more generally but in our towns and close to urban Macclesfield, and I am pleased that many other colleagues areas. across the House will shortly be doing the same. Sue Hayman (Workington) (Lab): Tree planting is Alex Chalk: Trees are carbon sinks that lock in important for ecological diversity and protecting vital greenhouse gases while promoting biodiversity, so what habitats. Sites of special scientific interest protect the steps is my hon. Friend taking to press forward with UK’s most important places for trees and wildlife, but a forestry investment zones for large-scale woodland creation? Greenpeace investigation has found that almost half of SSSIs have not been examined in the last six years, as David Rutley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his required by national guidelines. Now that the Prime question and his keen interest in the need to drive Minister has announced an end to austerity, what new forward ambitious plans to plant more trees. He is a resources will the Minister commit to, to reverse the tree champion in his own right. Our national tree champion, alarming neglect and decline of habitats and species Sir William Worsley,is launching the first forestry investment across the UK? zone pilot in Cumbria today. That new project will help landowners to create vital new woodland and unlock David Rutley: That is an important issue. Natural the economic benefits of forestry in areas not traditionally England is focusing carefully on the SSSIs that are most used for tree planting. The project will also provide at risk and will ensure that those resources are targeted, lessons on how best to support forestry investment. for maximum impact in those vital areas. Mr Speaker: I call Tom Tugendhat, who has Question 6. Sue Hayman: If the Minister cannot commit to new Where is the fella? He is not here. I hope he is not resources for our habitats, what commitments can we indisposed. I think it is more likely that the hon. Gentleman expect in the Budget to restore our beloved local parks, is planting a tree. which are so important to the environment, health and local communities? Will the Minister confirm how much Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op): Trees funding the Government’s parks action group has been play a vital role in upper catchment management, by allocated and how many of the group’s recommendations preventing flooding. Environment Agency representatives he has delivered? said in a meeting last week that upper catchment management needs prioritisation. How is the Minister David Rutley: Clearly we will have to wait and see planning for that, and will he ensure that there is what comes up in the Budget on 29 October, but we are provision for it in the Budget? working closely with the parks Minister on that agenda. David Rutley: I know that the hon. Lady has a keen Water Company Performance interest in that issue. I will be working closely with the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey), to take these activities 3. Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con): forward. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the water companies on their performance. [907137] Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I welcome the Minister’s response. On my land back home, we have The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and planted some 3,500 trees over time, but the important Rural Affairs (Michael Gove): The water regulators—Ofwat, thing is to have trees planted by young people. The the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, led by Patrick Inspectorate—hold regular discussions with water Cregg, is running a scheme whereby every school will companies about their performance. I recently had the plant a tree. Has the Department had an opportunity to opportunity to address water companies at the Water engage with the Woodland Trust and education providers UK conference, and most recently I met representatives to make that happen? from the industry on 31 July to discuss their performance and, indeed, underperformance.