Ben Goldsborough
MP for South Norfolk · Labour · United Kingdom
“The petition states: “The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to encourage the Post Office to establish a full-service Post Office branch in Wymondham town centre.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of the constituency of South Norfolk, Declares that the creation…”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Although the recent creation of a banking hub in Wymondham has already improved access to in-person banking services, Wymondham still does not have a full-service post office branch, even though appropriate premises exist.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Nearly 6,000 foreign national offenders were returned in the last year—12% more than in the year before. Clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill strengthens the measures on circumstances in which it is in the public interest to deport foreign criminals, particularly where their offending is more serious. Will my hon.”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Circumstances can change, and a system that is capable of recognising those changes is more likely to operate effectively. I look forward to the Government setting out how the regulations will ensure that payment requirements are clear, proportionate and based on the relevant circumstances.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The exemption for children is particularly important, and I know it will be important to my constituents as well. Children should not be expected to carry the financial obligations arising from support provided to them during their childhood.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“A responsible Government must be able to pursue appropriate payments, while recognising that there is a fundamental difference between someone who has the means to contribute and someone who does not.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
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“The most recent data shows that the top 7% of inheritance tax relief claims accounts for 40% of the total cost of agricultural property relief—that is a value of £219 million. The top 2%—just 37 claims—accounted for 22% of the total cost of the relief and was worth £119 million. This is factual data, and in this context the Government’s ambition for implementing this policy is sound: to end the system by which the very wealthiest in this country can avoid huge sums of inheritance tax by buying up land. The petitioners argue that the proposed policy changes will not achieve that ambition because not just the wealthiest landowners will be impacted. The CLA estimates that capping agricultural property relief at £1 million could impact 70,000 UK farms.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“This debate has created a space in which we can talk about other issues that affect farms. The hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson) and I had an amazing debate on biosecurity in the UK, and there was cross-party consensus on many issues. There are also the issues with the sustainable farming initiative, payments through the basic payment schemes and the future of the environmental land management schemes. There is so much we need to do, including through trade deals. I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention. I have touched on some of our farmers’ concerns, but facts and figures are also important. I apologise in advance, but the next bit of my speech may be a bit dry.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It should be acknowledged that all individuals across the UK are subject to rules that encourage gifting in advance of death. Farmers look likely to enter this world. It is true that farmers have held on to assets for longer than the average person because of APR, and the habit is unlikely to continue.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I will continue for a little while. There is a deep uncertainty among farmers about what the changes will mean for them. Uncertainty is bad for business and it is bad for farmers’ mental health, so I encourage the Government to offer as much proactive engagement and clarity to farmers as possible, including in their response to this debate. Another primary reason why farmers are so concerned is that they already face a challenge in keeping their businesses profitable. The CLA modelled a typical 350-acre arable farm. They told me that even if they spread the cost over 10 years, the farmer would be paying 100% of their annual profits for each of those 10 years to cover the proposed inheritance tax bill. That is a decade without profit.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“One such alternative is a shortened taper rate for older farmers. Under that proposal, a farmer aged 70, for example, would be given two to three years to hand over their property with a 33% or 50% taper rate after one year. Farmers in my constituency would welcome the Minister’s thoughts on that proposal, as it was raised with me at a recent meeting I had with the NFU eastern team. There are, of course, various ways of tweaking such approach by age or taper time but, according to farmers, movement on that front would give those who have worked the longest under the existing APR rules the ability to arrange their affairs more quickly.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I am sorry but I have taken a lot of interventions and want to move on to the next part of my speech. I will now touch on solutions. The petition is clear that it seeks the scrapping of the policy. I will leave it for the Minister to respond with the official position; suffice it to say that all Members in this debate can agree that land banking for inheritance tax purposes is wrong, and that land values are prohibitively expensive for many farms to be able to expand and, even more so, for new farmers looking to enter the industry. Many farmers would like to see those things change over the coming years. Farmers have told me that if the policy is not scrapped altogether, alternatives could be considered to give the sector more stability at the same time as helping the Government to achieve their ambition of a thriving rural economy.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“To reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I said at the start of my speech that the problem is that the issue has been turned into a political football, and that undermines our ability to speak in clear-minded ways about options and opportunities. It is really sad that across from me is a shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Epping Forest, who has worked very hard on this issue, and with whom I have worked cross-party, but the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Louth and Horncastle (Victoria Atkins), does not want to work in a manner that could get the best outcome for our farmers.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I hope I have set out the options on the table in respect of which those outside the Chamber would like to hear a response from the Government about what action will be taken.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“There is one other option that it is important to consider before I finish. Mr Neidle, a tax specialist, recently said that the Government should consider a clawback system, potentially raising the threshold and looking at repayment. My job today has been to represent the views of the 150,000 people who signed the petition and, by pulling together the various options that people would like to see, I believe I have done so. I thank friends from all political parties around the Chamber for engaging and showing interest in this issue. It is important that we all stand up for our communities, and I thank everyone for doing that. I thank the Minister for listening to my contribution and hope he takes it in the spirit of friendship with which it was meant.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart) may regard my style as vanilla, I say to him in jest that vanilla is the favourite flavour of ice cream in the United Kingdom, so I will take that as a win. Question put, That this House has considered e-petition 700138 relating to Inheritance Tax relief for working farms. The Chair’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged. Question not decided (Standing Order No. 10(13)).”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Time is short. The tradition is that I would normally thank every individual who has spoken, but there is not enough time for that. I thank everyone for the wide engagement across all political parties in Parliament, and I thank everyone for trying to take this debate forward in a better sense, with honesty, openness and transparency. I also thank colleagues in the NFU. Today, I hosted an event in Parliament, and I know they have been sitting patiently not only at the back of the Chamber but outside, listening to the words that we say, because the words that we say in this Chamber carry a huge amount of weight. Going forward, these conversations will continue in the back rooms and in the corridors, to make sure that our farmers’ voices are heard and that we do not use events like this for grandstanding. As much as the right hon.”
House of Commons10 February 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [ The petition of residents of the constituency of South Norfolk , Declares that the potential for a future gravel pit near Crab Apple Lane in Haddiscoe is a serious concern to residents, that an application for a gravel pit in the same location has previously been rejected due to concerns about harm to Grade 1 listed buildings and the impact of increased noise, dust and traffic, and that these concerns remain . The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that planning and mineral strategies consider issues such as air pollution and local opinion . And the petitioners remain, etc. ] [P003033]”
House of Commons21 January 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I rise to present a petition about the proposed quarry in Haddiscoe, and I really hope that the Government will take note of the 242 petitioners who have signed it. This demonstrates that an overwhelming majority of residents wish for the Government to know how much this quarry will undermine the health and wellbeing of the village. The petition states: “The petition of residents of the constituency of South Norfolk, Declares that the potential for a future gravel pit near Crab Apple Lane in Haddiscoe is a serious concern… The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that planning and mineral strategies consider issues such as air pollution and local opinion.”
House of Commons21 January 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Biosecurity is not merely about safeguarding industries; it is about protecting the livelihoods of farmers and the food security of the nation. In South Norfolk, from poultry and sugar beet to livestock, our communities are working tirelessly to meet those challenges. I know that they have the full support of the House in the actions they are taking to protect us all. I call on the Minister to act decisively to strengthen our borders, work with insurers, and provide the resources and partnerships needed to maintain for the UK’s biosecurity resilience the world-class status it deserves. Let us meet these challenges head-on, ensuring that our agricultural and horticultural industries remain robust for generations to come.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“One of the most pressing threats is Xylella, a bacterial disease hosted by a wide range of plants, including trees such as the British oak. The risk of introduction to the UK via infected host plants is a growing concern. To tackle that and other biosecurity challenges, the Horticultural Trades Association has laid out several critical recommendations, which I pose to the Minister: first, an urgent summit on border policy; secondly, a review of commodity risk categorisation; thirdly, enhanced pest and disease testing capabilities; and finally, active international engagement to reassure the global horticultural market and the fresh produce supply chains that the UK is open for trade in a safe and secure manner.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“However, as NFU Sugar rightly points out, that is no silver bullet. A truly effective response must form part of a broader integrated strategy, in order to address the challenges posed by viruses. Will the Minister provide an update on the actions being taken to support the British sugar industry? Specifically, what is being done to accelerate precision breeding efforts, improve aphid management and ensure sustainable yields for farmers in the face of mounting climate-related challenges? I do not want to focus solely on agriculture. Horticulture is another vital industry for the UK where biosecurity is a critical concern. If plant diseases breach our defences, the consequences could be devastating, not just for growers but for the environment and the wider economy.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“If the aphids carry over the disease from the previous year to the new year, they can infest crops as early as spring, compounding the threat to the British sugar beet yields. The year 2020 serves as a stark warning. A mild winter, combined with early aphid migration, created a perfect storm, leading to a catastrophic loss for many growers. Without interventions, those conditions are likely to become more frequent. NFU Sugar has predicted that the UK sugar beet crop area could shrink by up to 25%, if a sustainable solution is not found for virus yellows. Genetic engineering offers a promising path forward, and I welcome the Government’s proactive steps in that area, especially as the Norwich Research Park in my constituency hugely benefits from precision breeding legislation.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is not just livestock, but crops that are a concern for biosecurity. Virus yellows are key for East Anglia because they cause sugar beet diseases. The sugar beet industry is a cornerstone of the British agricultural economy, supporting around 9,500 jobs. It is anchored by four British Sugar factories, all located in the east of England. The sector faces a significant threat from virus yellows, a devastating group of diseases caused by three different viruses. Those viruses are transmitted by aphids, which feed on the sugar beet crops. Unlike growers on the continent, UK farmers are particularly vulnerable to the virus, due to our maritime climate. Typically, cold winters suppress the aphid population, reducing the risk of transmission. Milder winters, driven by climate change, allow aphids to survive for longer and thrive.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“We are one of the biggest pork markets—which was obviously a huge deal for the former, rather than the current, Member for South West Norfolk. The UK pig industry is worth £8 billion annually, and faces a potential crisis if African swine fever breaches our borders. The disease is present in multiple European countries, and the consequences of an outbreak could cost between £10 million to £100 million, according to the National Farmers Union. I welcome the Government’s September 2024 ban on personal imports of pork from high-risk areas, and DEFRA’s £3.1 million investment into the Dover Port Health Authority, which was a much-needed step forward. Given the critical importance of the pork industry to Norfolk, I urge the Minister to outline the further steps he will take to prevent an African swine fever outbreak in the UK.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Will he consider a state-backed scheme to help affected farmers to re-enter the poultry industry following an outbreak? Currently, compensation for AI is paid out to the owners of birds, but many farms operate on a contract basis and so miss out on that compensation. Again, I would love it if the Minister could tell us that he will consider steps to ensure that contractors receive their fair share of compensation from insurers. Of course, there will always be a perpetual worry about border security. Farmers in South Norfolk tell me that they are really concerned about the controls on meat and livestock entering the UK market. Will the Minister consider reassessing the level of controls on those imported goods to give our farmers peace of mind? African swine fever is a huge issue for Norfolk.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“There were mass sea bird die-offs, and widespread highly pathogenic avian influenza protection zones were put in place across the majority of the country, but particularly in Norfolk. Recent cases of H5N5 in Yorkshire and H5N1 in Cornwall highlight the continuing threat that avian influenza poses to our poultry market. In addition to biosecurity, there are pressing financial issues. South Norfolk farmers have told me that they find it near impossible to get insurance cover for avian influenza outbreaks, creating the risk that producers will be forced to leave the industry. I would love it if the Minister could say that he will investigate the possibility of picking up where the insurance providers are dropping the ball and failing to provide support.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Farmers in South Norfolk and across affected counties have been resilient and conscientious in the face of this outbreak and the restrictions placed upon them, but those living within the restriction zone have been hit by a double whammy, as some abattoirs have implemented price deductions. Some sites looking to cover the additional costs associated with the disease have imposed price cuts of up to 50p per kilo. That impact is being handed down to farmers, despite their having selflessly gone above and beyond to protect their livestock and that of their neighbours. Will the Minister meet me to ensure that farmers are not subjected to more price deductions, and to discuss the long-term measures we can take to prevent future outbreaks? The 2022-23 avian influenza outbreak was devastating.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It was first identified in the small village of Haddiscoe, and a 20 km temporary control zone was swiftly established, but the situation sadly escalated. By 30 August, Norfolk and Suffolk were placed under restriction zones, and on 2 September they were extended to Essex. By mid-November, control zones stretched from Lowestoft to Southampton, and from Brighton to Scarborough. Some infected animals may experience productivity issues, including a reduced milk yield. In the most severe cases, the disease will cause abortions, malformations and fatalities. However, it is important to note that bluetongue does not affect people, and the meat and milk from infected animals remains safe.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I bring this matter to the House today because South Norfolk has been directly affected. Many will recall the bluetongue outbreak first identified in Haddiscoe on 26 August this year and the chaos wrought by the largest avian influenza outbreak in 2022-23. I will press the Minister on a number of points, including the need to strengthen our border controls, reappraise the insurance industry’s practices, improve the preparedness of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and collaborate closer with trade bodies. I commend the Government on the much-needed investment of £208 million to transform our biosecurity at the Weybridge site, which is an essential step forward. Hon. Members will remember the recent bluetongue outbreak, which began in my constituency.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I beg to move, That this House has considered biosecurity. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain, for my first time leading a Westminster Hall debate. Hon. Members may wonder why I have secured a debate on such a wide-ranging issue as biosecurity. Our changing climate means that new diseases can thrive here in the UK, and more interconnected supply chains put unprecedented pressure on our borders. Stability is vital for food security and economic growth, but biohazards can undermine our vital horticulture and agriculture sectors. These risks are not abstract concepts but tangible realties for the communities we represent. I thank hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Minister, for their support since being elected, because I have faced such biosecurity threats in the South Norfolk constituency.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I gently ask a question about the insurance issue that I raised in my speech. Insurance is a huge part of the sectoral fragilities that we see in relation to this issue. Would the Department be able to look into insurance companies that refuse to give avian influenza insurance payments?”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Friends for attending and raising issues from across my good county of Norfolk, such as the mega-farm issue in South West Norfolk. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on UK food security, my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters) also brought his expertise. This debate will go on, and I know we will have many more discussions about this. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered biosecurity.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“What was great about this debate was the unanimity of voice in the personal stories that we heard from across the United Kingdom about the impact of biosecurity fragility, not only on the individuals who farm our land but on those who work to protect our farmers and horticulturists. What has shone through in the debate is our ability to pull together in our national interest. We know that party politics does not determine that—that we need to work together to find a route to protect the agricultural and horticultural sectors, as well as our human health. As has been noted by hon. Members regardless of party, pathogens can cross from animals to humans; we saw it with covid-19 and with other diseases worldwide, so we must be vigilant. I thank my hon.”
House of Commons4 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is vital that we give value for taxpayers’ money, yet Conservative-run Norfolk county council’s doomed Norwich western link road is costing taxpayers £27,000 per day—that is nearly £50 million so far for not an inch of tarmac. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Norfolk Tories give us Liz Truss not just in Whitehall, but in county hall?”
House of Commons3 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“In Long Stratton, there is a beloved former local authority building called South Norfolk House. It has won numerous awards for its innovative architecture and its ahead-of-its-time design focus on energy efficiency, but it has been refused listed status. This could be a fantastic community asset for the town; it could be an arts hub. Will the Minister meet me to discuss its future?”
House of Commons28 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“T3. In 2021, the UK exported £9.1 billion-worth of creative goods and £45.6 billion-worth of creative services, but we can and must do better. May I press the Secretary of State on what she is doing to support the creative industries’ co-ordinated strategy for growth?”
House of Commons28 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“T7. Next year will mark the 180th anniversary of Wymondham train station, but sadly it is not accessible to all. A great birthday present for my station would be to make it so. Will the Minister meet me and the Wymondham access group to ensure that we can deliver that for the future?”
House of Commons21 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Allotment holders in Wymondham were saddened to hear that they have only one year left on their plots before Anglian Water ends their lease early. Can we have a debate in Government time on the need for water companies to live up to their corporate responsibility and, in Wymondham’s case, help allotmenteers move to a new site?”
House of Commons14 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“T3. As a proud member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, I want to raise with the Minister the amazing work that it has done to produce the estimate that around three quarters of workers in typically low-paid sectors are paid weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly, rather than monthly. That is not recognised by universal credit. Will the Minister promise to meet USDAW and other trade unions to make sure that this matter is investigated?”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I greatly welcome what was announced in the Budget—more than £200 million for investment into biosecurity—but we must work closely with the Home Office to make sure that our border security officers are fully trained in this area to recognise the issues coming to our shores and protect our farmers, agriculture and horticulture, which provide so much to South Norfolk and to the United Kingdom.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The outbreak spread across the eastern coast, and we are living with the consequences. There are extremely sad situations when people take animals to market and lower prices are being charged for no reason, even though they are being moved within the market control area. That is an issue that we see with our biosecurity. This week we have also seen the first measured case of the new variant of avian influenza coming to our shores, which should worry us greatly. From speaking to the APHA, it concerns me that it is fighting on so many fronts. Sugar beet has a longer growing season, so there are aphids for longer because they are not killed off by the frost, and we therefore have more yellow leaf. We have bluetongue and avian influenza and over the seas we have African swine fever as well. These are great risks to UK biosecurity.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It was a fantastic event, and it was important to raise awareness that horticulture should not be overshadowed by agriculture. Both are aspects of our economy. The House of Lords report on horticulture recently showed that the sector supports 674,000 jobs and contributes about £28 billion to UK GDP and about £6 billion in taxation. It is not something to be sniffed at. We also need to bear in mind that our country was the forerunner in horticulture, and we have lost that crown over the years to the Dutch. There is no reason why we should not regain that crown, and we should be pushing for that as a new Government. The other issue that I would like to concentrate on is biosecurity and the APHA. As was mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, bluetongue was sadly first found in Haddiscoe in my constituency.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“To follow a bit of a theme, they have a smaller water footprint—going back to my first issue of what is important for Norfolk, we need proper use management of our water system. It would be great if my hon. Friend the Minister would look into BNG requirements on controlled environment agriculture to make sure that we can grow this industry, tackle our climate emission targets and be at the forefront of this sector around the world. Next up, horticulture is important for my constituency of South Norfolk. I have Viking Nurseries, which I will visit in couple of weeks’ time. Hon. Members’ teams may have noticed that I sponsored the Horticultural Trades Association in Parliament, which gave out 153 house plants. I hope that we brightened up the Houses of Parliament and all offices across the estate.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I believe that these are vital not only because we can get higher yields from less land, but because they are better for the environment and help us meet our climate change targets. However, there is an issue in the current legislation on biodiversity net gain, and I would appreciate it if the ministerial team would consider it. Because these are closed structures, in their essence they are not net gain providers of biodiversity. At the same time, these structures decrease land use because they can increase production on a smaller site. They also use fewer damaging pollutants that leach into the area because they are, by their nature, closed systems. They reduce carbon emissions because they are able to precisely grow and engineer the plants that we need.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Unfortunately, the Environment Agency and other planning authorities are proving to be more of a barrier than a supporter of this construction, which means that our farmers have to tap into more drinking water, which is more expensive and drives up prices for them. The floods Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (Emma Hardy), who is not in her place, has been working closely with me, and I look forward to working with her to push forward new policies that ensure that reservoirs can be built on agricultural land to develop water security. It is important to talk about new innovations in agriculture. All too often, we think of the more traditional methods—the herbicide era and the pesticide era—but we are going into a new era of vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I would like to address four issues in the short time that I have. The first is water security. We have heard a lot about flooding today, but as my hon. Friend the Minister will know, in Norfolk we have the opposite issue—water shortages are more of an issue for us. I will also speak about controlled environment agriculture—a new development phase that we can turbocharge in this country—as well as the horticultural sector, which is vital for us, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. In Norfolk, as in the Minister’s constituency in Cambridgeshire, we need to look at water security in a lot more detail. When speaking with farmers last Thursday, one of the issues that came up was the building of reservoirs on agricultural land.”
House of Commons11 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“A report from May 2022 showed that only nine of the 32 prison education institutions inspected were judged “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted; additionally, less than 40% of prisoners took courses up to GCSE level. Does my hon. Friend agree that if we are to tackle rehabilitation, we must improve prison education across the estate?”
House of Commons5 November 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Q6. When the Prime Minister and the Chancellor discuss the importance of supporting working families, I think of the dedicated farmers in South Norfolk. The Prime Minister has consistently acknowledged the critical role of food security and the need for farmers to have certainty to plan. Can he confirm what action our Government will be taking to back British farming in constituencies like mine?”
House of Commons30 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“SEND provision in Conservative-run Norfolk has collapsed after years of adversarial mismanagement by the county council. I welcome the steps that my hon. Friend has taken so far. Will she commit to recognising the value of co-production to ensure that SEND family voices are valued and money is spent wisely?”
House of Commons24 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The past 14 years have shown that Governments ignore the prison estate at their peril. My right hon. Friend rightly says that we must redesign punishment outside the secure estate. Will she elaborate on how offenders will have their liberty curtailed and how the public will be made aware of that liberty being taken away?”
House of Commons22 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“A constituent in Hethersett sadly lost her 17-week-old puppy Mini to the deadly parvovirus. This devastating disease takes animals’ lives very quickly, but can be held at bay by vaccination. May we have a debate in Government time on the importance of people vaccinating their pet dog, and on the responsibilities of good owners?”
House of Commons17 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Prisons have two vital functions: punishment and rehabilitation. Reoffending has gone up, because after 14 years under the Conservatives prisons have become colleges of crime. We need to get the basics right and we need to get the fundamentals right on prison education reform. Will my right hon. Friend look at how we can improve literacy and numeracy skills in our prison estate?”
House of Commons17 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“We want to drive towards net zero and we need to drive forward with the industrial upgrade to our national grid, but we end up in a situation where we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater, putting people off our future development towards being a green superpower for the rest of the world to follow.”
House of Commons15 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“That is not something for which the National Grid is held to account, and it does not ensure that local people have a say over what is coming back to them. The situation becomes even direr when we talk about solar farms. The industry body is responsible for setting out guidance on what should happen to all member bodies within it. Again, that creates an issue where those residents in areas considering having infrastructure in their back garden do not feel heard. They do not feel that they are being listened to in terms of what they want and where they need it.”
House of Commons15 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is important to remember in this debate that we live in a wasteland of regulatory framework for compensation. Individual businesses that take on such projects to grow their own enterprises—don’t get me wrong; they are private enterprises and there to make a profit—must work within a regulatory framework to make sure they are held to account and made to pay for the local people who have to face those developments in their area. We have seen locally that the National Grid, for example, provides its own funding and grant-based system, but funding is not granted to individuals; it is only general. It takes into account such things as social, economic and environmental benefit, but those are judged by the National Grid’s own criteria.”
House of Commons15 October 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗