That this House praises record levels of UK food and drink exports, boosted by strong performances in all product categories, as published by the Food and Drink Federation as part of World Trade Week UK; welcomes the data showing that exports were worth ??9.23 billion in 2008, up 20 per cent. in value terms on the year before; recognises that UK food and drink manufacturers have built a strong international reputation for quality and innovation over many years, that the sector continues to perform strongly on the export stage, despite challenging global circumstances; and acknowledges this success as further evidence of the importance of the food and drink sector to the overall UK economy.

That this House praises record levels of UK food and drink exports, boosted by strong performances in all product categories, as published by the Food and Drink Federation as part of World Trade Week UK; welcomes the data showing that exports were worth ??9.23 billion in 2008, up 20 per...

That this House believes that food procurement practices by public bodies have the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing food miles, boosting the rural economy and improving nutritional standards; notes that not a single rasher of bacon fed to the UK's armed forces is from British farms; further notes the evidence in the Quality of Life Report which suggests that locally produced food need not be more expensive than imported food; accordingly urges public bodies to do everything they can within EU rules to source food requirements locally where they can do so at no additional cost; and calls on the Government to move towards a system where all publicly procured food meets British standards of production.

That this House believes that food procurement practices by public bodies have the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing food miles, boosting the rural economy and improving nutritional standards; notes that not a single rasher of bacon fed to the UK's armed forces is from British farms; further...

That this House notes with concern that 1.6 million people in rural areas live below the poverty line; recognises that poor access to transport, employment, health services, post offices and other services such as information technology can further isolate those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly; and calls on the Government to ensure that central and local decision-making takes into account rural communities and that policies help to release the vast untapped potential of the rural economy as well as tackling rural disadvantage.

That this House notes with concern that 1.6 million people in rural areas live below the poverty line; recognises that poor access to transport, employment, health services, post offices and other services such as information technology can further isolate those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly; and calls...

That this House notes with concern that an estimated average of 12,000 tonnes of meat products enter the country illegally each year from countries outside the EU; recognises that illegal meat imports present serious risks to both animal and human health, and threaten the survival of many species in the wild; regrets that only one in every 25,000 seizures of illegal meat results in a prosecution; and calls on the Government to improve border security via the introduction of a UK border police force and end the leniency shown to smugglers who are endangering human and animal health.

That this House notes with concern that an estimated average of 12,000 tonnes of meat products enter the country illegally each year from countries outside the EU; recognises that illegal meat imports present serious risks to both animal and human health, and threaten the survival of many species in the...

That this House notes with concern that since 1997 bovine tuberculosis has cost the taxpayer well in excess of ??600 million and resulted in the slaughter of over 200,000 cattle; notes that it is likely a record total approaching 40,000 head will be slaughtered in 2008; deplores the lack of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease; believes that a package of measures is required which addresses both cattle-to-cattle transmission and the reservoir of infection in wildlife; urges the urgent trialling of vaccines and the polymerase chain reaction test to identify live vectors of the disease; and calls on the Government to take the practical measures necessary to reduce the toll of bovine TB on wildlife, cattle and the British farming industry.

That this House notes with concern that since 1997 bovine tuberculosis has cost the taxpayer well in excess of ??600 million and resulted in the slaughter of over 200,000 cattle; notes that it is likely a record total approaching 40,000 head will be slaughtered in 2008; deplores the lack of...

That this House recognises that the UK is the largest producer of sheepmeat within the EU; appreciates that most sheep production is in upland areas where there are few alternative enterprises; notes that the requirement for compulsory electronic identification (EID) of all sheep under EU Directive 21/2004 may be possible for small lowland flocks but is in practice unachievable in extensive large upland flocks which rely on batch movement; believes that this requirement will cause another extra cost imposition on all producers which will make an already marginal enterprise uneconomic; does not see any benefit to food safety or disease control from such a measure; and calls upon the Government to insist on a derogation to make EID voluntary within the UK.

That this House recognises that the UK is the largest producer of sheepmeat within the EU; appreciates that most sheep production is in upland areas where there are few alternative enterprises; notes that the requirement for compulsory electronic identification (EID) of all sheep under EU Directive 21/2004 may be possible...

That this House recognises that current European Commission proposals on pesticides would remove a significant number of plant protection products from the market before suitable alternatives are available; acknowledges that food treated with banned products could still be imported from outside the EU; notes the UK Pesticide Safety Directorate estimates that these proposals might result in crop yield losses of up to 30 per cent. and could also significantly undermine amenity woodland and forestry; is concerned by the lack of scientific evidence to support these changes; and urges the Government to insist on a comprehensive, EU-wide impact assessment, covering potential effects on human health and the environment as well as consequences for crop yields, food prices and economic activity, before the new rules are permitted to come into force.

That this House recognises that current European Commission proposals on pesticides would remove a significant number of plant protection products from the market before suitable alternatives are available; acknowledges that food treated with banned products could still be imported from outside the EU; notes the UK Pesticide Safety Directorate estimates...

That this House believes that British consumers are entitled to know exactly how and where the food they are eating is produced, and that clear and unambiguous labelling stating the country of origin of the major ingredients is required to achieve this; and further believes that this will level the playing field for British farmers and enable British consumers to show their preference for home-grown food which is produced to high standards of animal welfare, health and safety and environmental protection.

That this House believes that British consumers are entitled to know exactly how and where the food they are eating is produced, and that clear and unambiguous labelling stating the country of origin of the major ingredients is required to achieve this; and further believes that this will level the...

That this House recognises that the UK is the largest producer of sheepmeat within the EU; appreciates that most sheep production is in upland areas where there are few alternative enterprises; notes that the requirement for compulsory electronic identification (EID) of all sheep under EU Directive 21/2004 may be possible for small lowland flocks but is in practice unachievable in extensive large upland flocks which rely on batch movement; believes that this requirement will cause another extra cost imposition on all producers which will make an already marginal enterprise uneconomic; does not see any benefit to food safety or disease control from such a measure; and calls upon the Government to insist on a derogation to make EID voluntary within the UK.

That this House recognises that the UK is the largest producer of sheepmeat within the EU; appreciates that most sheep production is in upland areas where there are few alternative enterprises; notes that the requirement for compulsory electronic identification (EID) of all sheep under EU Directive 21/2004 may be possible...

That this House notes with concern the inadequacy of consultation by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) on its proposals for airspace changes in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, the area known as Terminal Control North; further notes the failure by NATS to reply to specific questions from consultees with an interest in the proposals, including the Newmarket horse racing and breeding industry; and believes that the four week extension to the consultation period is insufficient to enable stakeholders and members of the public to respond to these complex matters, particularly given NATS' failure to inform affected parties of details requested including design parameters, flight procedures and alternatives considered.

That this House notes with concern the inadequacy of consultation by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) on its proposals for airspace changes in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, the area known as Terminal Control North; further notes the failure by NATS to reply to specific questions from consultees...

That this House is alarmed by the 52 deaths on the A14 in Cambridgeshire in the last 10 years; notes with concern there have been 12 serious accidents on the trunk road this year causing two fatalities; is concerned at the delays and spiralling costs of long-proposed improvements to this lethal highway; congratulates the Cambridge News on its A14 - We Need Action Now campaign; and calls on the Government and Highways Agency urgently to commence the upgrading of the A14 to full dual carriageway and near motorway standard throughout Cambridgeshire to prevent more accidents, deaths and injuries.

That this House is alarmed by the 52 deaths on the A14 in Cambridgeshire in the last 10 years; notes with concern there have been 12 serious accidents on the trunk road this year causing two fatalities; is concerned at the delays and spiralling costs of long-proposed improvements to this...

That this House notes with concern that carbon dioxide emissions from food transport for UK consumption increased by five per cent. last year; further notes that imports by air increased by 31 per cent. in 2006, equivalent to 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide; believes that the British farming industry and British consumers can play a key role in reducing food miles; calls on the Government to facilitate this by introducing country of origin food labelling; and urges public bodies to do everything they can within EU rules to source food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions locally.

That this House notes with concern that carbon dioxide emissions from food transport for UK consumption increased by five per cent. last year; further notes that imports by air increased by 31 per cent. in 2006, equivalent to 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide; believes that the British farming industry and...

That this House believes that the ??2 billion public sector food budget could make a significant contribution to reducing food miles and boosting the rural economy; is astonished that only three per cent. of lamb fed to our armed forces is from British farms; notes the evidence in the Quality of Life Report which suggests that locally produced food need not be more expensive than imported food; urges public bodies to do everything they can within EU rules to source food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions locally; believes that it is wrong for taxpayers' money to be used to buy food which has been produced using methods that would be illegal in the UK; and calls on the Government to move towards a system where all publicly procured food meets British standards of production.

That this House believes that the ??2 billion public sector food budget could make a significant contribution to reducing food miles and boosting the rural economy; is astonished that only three per cent. of lamb fed to our armed forces is from British farms; notes the evidence in the Quality...

That this House notes with concern that one in five people live in poverty in rural areas and that nearly half of those in poverty are in working households; recognises that poor access to transport, employment, health services, post offices and other services such as information technology can further isolate those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly; and calls on the Government to ensure that central and local decision-making takes into account rural communities and that policies encourage local opportunities as well as tackling rural disadvantage.

That this House notes with concern that one in five people live in poverty in rural areas and that nearly half of those in poverty are in working households; recognises that poor access to transport, employment, health services, post offices and other services such as information technology can further isolate...

That this House notes the financial hardship English farmers have suffered as a result of the Government's incompetent handling of the single payment scheme; believes that English farmers have been treated in a deplorable manner; regrets that errors and procedural mistakes in administering the single payment scheme could end up costing the taxpayer ??348 million; and calls on the Government to give all English farmers at least 80 per cent. of their due payment by 25th December, helping them to have the financial certainty they need to continue producing the best food in the world.

That this House notes the financial hardship English farmers have suffered as a result of the Government's incompetent handling of the single payment scheme; believes that English farmers have been treated in a deplorable manner; regrets that errors and procedural mistakes in administering the single payment scheme could end up...

That this House recognises the important role bioenergy can play in tackling climate change while encouraging energy security and increasing opportunities for farmers and rural communities; regrets that bioenergy represents only 1.5 per cent. of the total UK energy supply; is nevertheless alarmed by the environmental threat posed by the production for bioenergy of palm oil, sugar cane and soya in South East Asia and South America, the expansion of which is leading to a destruction of tropical forests and other highly prized ecosystems, such as the Cerrado in Brazil; calls on the Government to introduce as a matter of urgency a carbon and sustainability assurance scheme that reflects the impact of bioenergy throughout its life-cycle; urges the European Union to follow suit in developing Europe-wide assurance schemes; and calls on the Government to encourage a sustainable bioenergy sector through an ethical Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.

That this House recognises the important role bioenergy can play in tackling climate change while encouraging energy security and increasing opportunities for farmers and rural communities; regrets that bioenergy represents only 1.5 per cent. of the total UK energy supply; is nevertheless alarmed by the environmental threat posed by the...

That this House recognises that climate change makes Britain increasingly vulnerable to exotic animal diseases such as African Horse Sickness; notes that the spread of bluetongue disease into England is likely to have been driven by recent changes in the European climate; understands the devastating impact animal diseases of this kind have on the farming industry; and urges the Government to develop clear plans, including vaccination strategies and supplies, in order to be able to combat animal diseases as soon as they occur.

That this House recognises that climate change makes Britain increasingly vulnerable to exotic animal diseases such as African Horse Sickness; notes that the spread of bluetongue disease into England is likely to have been driven by recent changes in the European climate; understands the devastating impact animal diseases of this...

That this House notes with concern that since 1997 bovine tuberculosis has cost the taxpayer ??500 million and resulted in the slaughter of over 160,000 cattle; deplores the lack of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease; believes that a package of measures is required which addresses both cattle-to-cattle transmission and the reservoir of infection in wildlife; urges the urgent trialling of vaccines and the polymerase chain reaction test to identify live vectors of the disease; and calls on the Government to take the practical measures necessary to reduce the toll of bovine TB on wildlife, cattle and the British farming industry.

That this House notes with concern that since 1997 bovine tuberculosis has cost the taxpayer ??500 million and resulted in the slaughter of over 160,000 cattle; deplores the lack of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease; believes that a package of measures is required which addresses both cattle-to-cattle transmission...

That this House notes with concern that an estimated average of 12,000 tonnes of meat products enter the country illegally each year from countries outside the EU; recognises that illegal meat imports present serious risks to both animal and human health, and threaten the survival of many species in the wild; believes that posters, leaflets and 11 sniffer dogs are grossly insufficient to prevent illegal meat imports entering the UK; regrets that only one in every 7,413 seizures of illegal meat results in a prosecution; and calls on the Government to improve border security and end the leniency shown to smugglers who are endangering human and animal health.

That this House notes with concern that an estimated average of 12,000 tonnes of meat products enter the country illegally each year from countries outside the EU; recognises that illegal meat imports present serious risks to both animal and human health, and threaten the survival of many species in the...

That this House recognises the importance of public access to the coast and countryside for the health and wellbeing of the nation; supports the expansion of access alongside appropriate protection for sensitive habitats; and believes that this is best achieved through voluntary agreements with those who own and manage the land, rather than by the creation of more statutory powers.

That this House recognises the importance of public access to the coast and countryside for the health and wellbeing of the nation; supports the expansion of access alongside appropriate protection for sensitive habitats; and believes that this is best achieved through voluntary agreements with those who own and manage the...