Natural England proposed that overall livestock grazing limits should be reduced to reduce overgrazing, and it was not specific to ponies—it was about overgrazing by sheep and cattle. Ponies can help to graze invasive grasses and promote biodiversity. The people who developed the Change.org petition were doing the right thing, but does the Secretary of State share my view that it was cynical of the Conservative party to develop a shadow petition to gather voter intention data?

Natural England proposed that overall livestock grazing limits should be reduced to reduce overgrazing, and it was not specific to ponies—it was about overgrazing by sheep and cattle. Ponies can help to graze invasive grasses and promote biodiversity. The people who developed the Change.org petition were doing the right thing, but does the Secretary of State share my view that it was cynical of the Conservative party to develop a shadow petition to gather voter intention data?

Much of the commentary on the defence investment plan is on the threat to the UK mainland, our interests and our assets. First, does the Secretary of State think that it is more useful to think about the Russian threat to NATO in general terms? Secondly, now we have the DIP, is the UK still 31st out of 32 NATO members, when it comes to our commitment to strengthen and modernise the armed forces?

Much of the commentary on the defence investment plan is on the threat to the UK mainland, our interests and our assets. First, does the Secretary of State think that it is more useful to think about the Russian threat to NATO in general terms? Secondly, now we have the DIP, is the UK still 31st out of 32 NATO members, when it comes to our commitment to strengthen and modernise the armed forces?

Whether the Strategic Defence Review requires updates to reflect recent developments in UK-US relations.

Whether the Strategic Defence Review requires updates to reflect recent developments in UK-US relations.

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 24 June.

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 24 June.

Q14

.

Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

Tony Blair suggested that at the beginning of his premiership he was at his most popular and least capable, and talked about ending his time in office at his least popular and most capable. For the sake of people in the south-west and across the country, what tips can the Prime Minister offer his successor?

Q14

.

Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

Tony Blair suggested that at the beginning of his premiership he was at his most popular and least capable, and talked about ending his time in office at his least popular and most capable. For the sake of people in the south-west and across the country, what tips can the Prime Minister offer his successor?

At the end of March, the Foreign Affairs Committee published a report into disinformation diplomacy. We investigated how malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy in the UK from overseas using information manipulation and interference, with such techniques as spoofing, bots and co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour. The Committee recommended that the Government demand greater transparency from social media companies in relation to the algorithms exploited by malign actors overseas. What discussions are being had with other Government Departments to make that so?

At the end of March, the Foreign Affairs Committee published a report into disinformation diplomacy. We investigated how malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy in the UK from overseas using information manipulation and interference, with such techniques as spoofing, bots and co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour. The Committee recommended that the Government demand greater transparency from social media companies in relation to the algorithms exploited by malign actors overseas. What discussions are being had with other Government Departments to make that so?

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will (a) publicly condemn the (i) human rights situation and (ii) use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia and (b) make representations to her Saudi counterpart on (A) those issues and (B) instances of under-18s...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will (a) publicly condemn the (i) human rights situation and (ii) use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia and (b) make representations to her Saudi counterpart on (A) those issues and (B) instances of under-18s...

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 22 April.

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 22 April.

Q7

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Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

Leaders can delegate responsibility but cannot delegate accountability. Lord Carrington learned that in the Army, and he lived it as Foreign Secretary when Argentina invaded the Falklands. In 1982, he held himself accountable for the failures of Foreign Office officials and resigned, even though he was later cleared of responsibility. Does the right hon. and learned Member not believe in ministerial accountability?

Q7

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Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

Leaders can delegate responsibility but cannot delegate accountability. Lord Carrington learned that in the Army, and he lived it as Foreign Secretary when Argentina invaded the Falklands. In 1982, he held himself accountable for the failures of Foreign Office officials and resigned, even though he was later cleared of responsibility. Does the right hon. and learned Member not believe in ministerial accountability?

What steps her Department is taking to support grassroots sports clubs.

What steps her Department is taking to support grassroots sports clubs.

Residents in Devon want visible community policing. The new towns taskforce recommended a new settlement called Marlcombe in east Devon. When new towns are built, how are additional police officers allocated to the area?

Residents in Devon want visible community policing. The new towns taskforce recommended a new settlement called Marlcombe in east Devon. When new towns are built, how are additional police officers allocated to the area?

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of fraud in relation to (a) Pension Credit and (b) the Winter Fuel Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of fraud in relation to (a) Pension Credit and (b) the Winter Fuel Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure levels of flood recovery funding reflects the cumulative impact of successive named storms on the same communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure levels of flood recovery funding reflects the cumulative impact of successive named storms on the same communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's policy of considering the legal basis and policy rationale when approving foreign nations’ use of UK military bases for operational purposes also applies to the use of the military base at Diego Garcia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's policy of considering the legal basis and policy rationale when approving foreign nations’ use of UK military bases for operational purposes also applies to the use of the military base at Diego Garcia.

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following the conclusion of the public inquiry into the Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Port of London Authority is operating in a fair and transparent manner in relation to the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following the conclusion of the public inquiry into the Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Port of London Authority is operating in a fair and transparent manner in relation to the...

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 28 January.

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 28 January.

Q5

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Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

The Met Office reports that climate change is driving wetter winters, but the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement yesterday, on the same day that much of the west country disappeared under floodwater. My part of Devon is submerged, and needs better flood defences. Would the Deputy Prime Minister like to invite his US counterpart on a fishing trip to the south-west?

Q5

.

Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD):

The Met Office reports that climate change is driving wetter winters, but the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement yesterday, on the same day that much of the west country disappeared under floodwater. My part of Devon is submerged, and needs better flood defences. Would the Deputy Prime Minister like to invite his US counterpart on a fishing trip to the south-west?

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to ensure that private lenders who arranged to provide money to countries under UK legislation are (a) prevented from suing those countries when they are in debt distress and (b) encouraged to participate in debt relief negotiations for...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to ensure that private lenders who arranged to provide money to countries under UK legislation are (a) prevented from suing those countries when they are in debt distress and (b) encouraged to participate in debt relief negotiations for...