Thursday Volume 657 28 March 2019 No. 279 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 28 March 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 529 28 MARCH 2019 530 We can have the best of both worlds—not only, once House of Commons more, full control over our exclusive economic zone with additional fishing opportunities, but the opportunity to ensure that that excellent produce finds a market in Thursday 28 March 2019 Europe and beyond. The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Under the withdrawal agreement, what is to stop the European Union saying, “Unless you allow us to carry on plundering PRAYERS all your fish as now, we’ll put you into the backstop”? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Michael Gove: I have enormous respect for my hon. Friend, but I think he misunderstands the nature of the backstop. If the backstop were ever to come into operation—of course we hope it would not—no fishing Oral Answers to Questions vessels from any European nation could fish in our waters without our permission, and at the same time we would have full access to their markets. I repeat: the ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS backstop is not a desirable outcome, but were we in it, we would be master of our own seas, and also able to export our fish to foreign markets. The Secretary of State was asked— Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I represent the Leaving the EU: Fisheries Policy constituency of Strangford and the fishing village of Portavogie. Will the Secretary of State outline to me 1. Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What plans he has what progress has been reported to him regarding the for fisheries policy after the UK leaves the EU. [910072] voisinage agreement, issued by his Republic of Ireland counterparts? In the past few months, they seized two The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Northern Ireland boats—British boats—and their crew. Rural Affairs (Michael Gove): The Government’s vision for future fisheries policy as we leave the European Union was set out in our July 2018 fisheries White Michael Gove: The fishermen of Strangford and the Paper. A sea of opportunity exists for all of the United Ards peninsula are people close to my heart. It is Kingdom’s coastal communities, provided we ensure absolutely right that since the recent actions we have that we vote to leave the European Union in an orderly been in touch with the Irish Government specifically in fashion. order to ensure that we can have a fair allocation of fishing opportunities across the island of Ireland and its Peter Aldous: I am grateful to the Secretary of State waters. The Republic of Ireland Government know how for setting the scene, but will the Government support seriously we take this issue, and how urgent it is to the amendment to the Fisheries Bill tabled by me and reform. colleagues that will promote the fairer distribution of fishing quota, more environmentally sustainable fishing Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/ methods and a much better and greater opportunity to Co-op): I was amazed and disappointed this week that revitalise coastal communities such as Lowestoft? the Government whipped their MPs to vote for a huge loophole in post-Brexit fishing rules that would allow a Michael Gove: My hon. Friend is an impressive advocate cruel and inhumane method of fishing to continue. The for fishing communities, not least his own in Lowestoft. 5% loophole that allows electro pulse beam trawling is He is absolutely right: as we leave the European Union, cruel and destructive. It destroys our seabeds and kills we must reallocate additional quota in order to ensure juvenile fish, and it is so intensely destructive that it that under-12 metre vessels get a fairer share of fishing breaks the vertebrae of cod. Will the Secretary of State opportunities, not least because the way in which they now work with the Opposition to bring forward a brief fish is of course environmentally sustainable, and also statutory instrument to close this loophole that allows contributes to the growth and prosperity of communities UK boats to use this cruel and inhumane fishing method? that have been neglected for far too long. Michael Gove: We always want to work with the Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): Over Opposition to ensure that the highest standards of the years, the face of the fishing industry has changed, environmental and marine welfare are maintained, but I as is reflected in the town of Fleetwood. We export should say that it is one of the opportunities that 70% of what we land, and we import the vast majority leaving the European Union gives us to ensure that of what we consume as a country. With a view to Dutch vessels that have been using pulse fishing in our preventing fish rotting at the borders, what is the Secretary waters end that cruel practice. of State’s assessment of how tariffs or trade uncertainty could impact the industry after we leave the common Leaving the EU: Farming Policy fisheries policy? Michael Gove: The agreement that the Prime Minister 2. Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con): has negotiated with the European Union allows us to What plans he has for farming policy after the UK have tariff and quota-free access to the European Union. leaves the EU. [910073] 531 Oral Answers 28 MARCH 2019 Oral Answers 532 The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food a similarly flexible view and that the European Union (Mr Robert Goodwill): The Agriculture Bill will underpin will not impose any restrictions that the Irish Government an ambitious new system based on paying public money would not wish to follow. for public goods. This will support a profitable farming sector that produces world-class food while protecting Several hon. Members rose— and enhancing our precious countryside. Mr Speaker: We are discussing farming and food, so Chris Davies: Will my right hon. Friend reassure the there must be a case for hearing without delay Mr farmers of Brecon and Radnorshire, and indeed the Richard Bacon. farmers of the United Kingdom, that whether there is a deal or no deal, their future will be of paramount Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) (Con): Mr Speaker, importance once we leave the EU? because I can lip read, I know that you want me to ask a Mr Goodwill: I can reassure my hon. Friend that question about pork and pork products, and it is true farmers will be of paramount importance no matter that we have a very successful industry, but it which scenario we end up with. With regard to upland is—unfortunately,from the point of view of this question— farmers, I can reassure him that my Department is in unsubsidised by the British taxpayer. However, farm close contact with the sheep sector in preparing for payments are central to farm policy. One of the horses these scenarios. Indeed, at yesterday’s EFRA Select running in the 14.50 at Cheltenham recently was called Committee I specifically referenced the effect of EU Single Farm Payment. Unfortunately, the horse came most-favoured nation tariffs on sheep exports in a no-deal last. Can Ministers tell us what implications there are scenario. for farm payments, or do they feel that, as usual, delays were inevitable? Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): The Government talk about a trading relationship that is “as close as Mr Goodwill: I can report to the House that performance possible” with the EU, but they have repeatedly rejected of the basic payment scheme in 2018 was much better the best way of securing it, which is a permanent than in previous years, with 98.8% of payments being customs union and strong alignment with the single made. We have guaranteed that the system will apply for market. Given that 90% of Welsh lamb exports go to this year and next year. Moving forward, we will have the EU, will the Minister listen to Welsh hill farmers an exciting new scheme under the Agriculture Act—as I and press for the closer economic relationship that they hope it will then be—that enables us to green the need? economy and make basic payments to more environmental schemes. Mr Goodwill: Along with all the other options, the House rejected that option last night. It is a fact, of Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP): course, that 30% of the lamb produced in the UK is The Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food exported to the EU. Indeed, a large proportion of and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Macclesfield Welsh lamb, with its smaller carcases, meets that market. (David Rutley), said in a recent Delegated Legislation We are well aware of the problems that would occur. Of Committee: course, the best way to avoid that situation is to vote for “The Government look forward to negotiations on the UK’s the deal. future economic partnership with the EU, during which we will be able to discuss the relationship between the UK’s new GI Dame Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con): I chair the schemes and the EU schemes.”—[Official Report, Eleventh Delegated all-party parliamentary group for the horse, and we Legislation Committee, 26 March 2019; c. 10.] heard yesterday that 87 horses were killed on our roads We now have confirmation that brand protections for last year.