Results 1-20 of 654 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Nick Herbert

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Oct 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: The Commission's draft reformed CAP is reported to include a third pillar on climate change. Farming must play its part in reducing carbon emissions, but does the Minister agree that Lord Stern's call for people to give up eating meat was totally irresponsible and damaging to our livestock industry?

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Oct 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: Lord Stern said—and I quote directly from his interview: "Meat is...wasteful... A vegetarian diet is better." Britain's livestock producers are listening carefully to the Government's answer. Does the Minister agree with those comments or not?

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Topical Questions (29 Oct 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: The reason why the Secretary of State has suddenly announced another data loss by the Government is that Farmers Weekly obtained the information and will report it tomorrow. If the loss was discovered earlier this year and an investigation done, as the Secretary of State said, why have the public not been told until now? This looks like a cover-up. Will he accept responsibility for another...

Closed Circuit Television (Monitoring and Promotion): Schedule 22 — Repeals (27 Oct 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: In responding to the Secretary of State, I begin by paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), whose private Member's Bill in 2001 highlighted the urgent need for a marine Bill. Eight years later, I am sure he will share our pleasure that we are finally speaking in the Third Reading debate of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill. I know from my own conversations...

Closed Circuit Television (Monitoring and Promotion): Schedule 22 — Repeals (27 Oct 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: I agree with my right hon. Friend. It was a shame that there were, apparently, reasons, I believe they were largely technical, why the amendment could not be accepted. It created a power for the Secretary of State to have regard to the issues of a whole ecosystem. It is true that rather too much of the work of nature conservation is process-driven, so we have to remember that creating a...

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Rural Economy (2 Jul 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: May I add my own congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker? It appears that the recession is already taking its toll on DEFRA, which has had its budget cut by £200 million since the pre-Budget report. Will the Minister confirm to rural communities that DEFRA's budget is frozen for the next three years—what the Prime Minister would call a "zero per cent. rise"—which means that it...

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Rural Economy (2 Jul 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: Why does the Minister not at least have the courage to repeat what the Secretary of State admitted on "Any Questions?" last week, when he said that the DEFRA budget was "going to be less"? Rural communities are being hit hard in the recession and they want the truth about what lies ahead. Rising unemployment and debt interest mean that the Government's own plans show spending cuts of at least...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: The American poet Walt Whitman once described the sea as "a continual miracle". His description captures both the beauty and the importance of our marine environment. The waters surrounding our island contain a rich and diverse collection of species. Indeed, our seas contain double the number of animal groups found on land. It is estimated that more than 44,000 different types of plant and...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: I agree: what is the point of the 2001 manifesto commitment if it is not honoured? I was simply making the point that the Bill has been delayed and that there is considerable concern among conservation bodies that it should now get safely on to the statute book, because the measures that it contains are urgent and necessary. As my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge said back in October 2001...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: Depending on the conditions set for the zones, one benefit would be to ensure sustainable fishing, but I shall deal with the specific concern about the common fisheries policy, because without reform of that policy we shall not achieve the sustainable management of our fisheries that we want. In that sense, I agree with my hon. Friend's point. Many of us will have received e-mails from...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: That point needs further examination and perhaps the Minister will reply to it. It would depend on the level of protection afforded in the marine conservation zone; different levels can be afforded to different parts of the zone. On coastal access, although we support the principle of a coastal path, we are keen to ensure that the scheme is workable and respects the interests of landowners....

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: I think my hon. Friend would accept that there is considerable demand from organisations concerned about the countryside for a coastal path for the parts of the country that are not already covered, so that the coast can be enjoyed in places where that is not possible at present. The Bill is enabling legislation; no timetable has been set and of course the costs will have to be taken into account.

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: I have a lot of sympathy with the hon. Lady's point. Obviously the path in her part of the world was designated under different legislation, but the voluntary approach is a wise one. We have been concerned to ensure that localism is built into the provisions so that there is proper local consultation and involvement. The success of the path in Cornwall is an indication of its significance for...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: I shall draw my remarks to a conclusion, if I may. The Bill goes some way to addressing a number of key challenges facing the marine environment, but we need to ensure that the European Union plays its role. Marine conservation zones must be respected by all who use our waters but, without EU co-operation, zones beyond 12 nautical miles will not be enforceable for European fishing vessels....

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Nick Herbert: The hon. Member for Brent, North (Barry Gardiner) had better raise his points in his own speech, and the Minister will reply. It is vital that we do not underestimate the importance of the marine environment. The Bill represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the protection that our seas need. We have waited a long time for it, and Conservatives are pleased that after many years...

Bill Presented: Food, Farming and the Environment (18 Jun 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: We are pleased to hear that no options have been ruled out. I hope that the Government will consider a compulsory scheme, should it prove necessary. Will the Minister clarify the status of the negotiations with the supermarkets? As I said earlier, the Secretary of State talked about the matter months ago and I wonder what progress has been made towards a voluntary agreement. We would all...

Bill Presented: Food, Farming and the Environment (18 Jun 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: Mine too.

Bill Presented: Food, Farming and the Environment (18 Jun 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: I feel sure that we all let the hon. Gentleman know that we were visiting his constituency, and I apologise if we did not. I just wanted to draw to his attention the fact that my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), the Leader of the Opposition, also attended the Royal Bath and West, and spoke strongly in support of the farming industry.

Bill Presented: Food, Farming and the Environment (18 Jun 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: We have waited more than six years for a debate on farming in Government time, so this debate is extremely welcome. It is also a timely opportunity, and I congratulate the Secretary of State on being here to move the motion himself. The recent collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain has sent tremors through the farming community and serves to remind us that farming is not an industry that can be...

Bill Presented: Food, Farming and the Environment (18 Jun 2009) has video

Nick Herbert: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the decline in small local abattoirs has been one of the highly regrettable trends in contemporary agriculture. It undermines the cause of local food production, which people support. I hope that we will be able to arrest that decline in future. Professor Lang also states: "For a country blessed with such fine growing conditions as the UK not to grow the...