My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans for securing this debate and all noble Lords who have contributed. I declare an interest: I had broccoli this afternoon and it was very nice indeed. I welcome the opportunity to respond on the steps that the...

My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans for securing this debate and all noble Lords who have contributed. I declare an interest: I had broccoli this afternoon and it was very nice indeed. I welcome the opportunity to respond on the steps that the...

My Lords, this may be a Question for Short Debate, but the right reverend Prelate has attracted a fine speakers’ list which includes many of my noble friends, and I am delighted to follow my noble friend Lady Shephard.

Noble Lords will know of my interest through my family’s business, and...

My Lords, this may be a Question for Short Debate, but the right reverend Prelate has attracted a fine speakers’ list which includes many of my noble friends, and I am delighted to follow my noble friend Lady Shephard.

Noble Lords will know of my interest through my family’s business, and...

My Lords, when I spoke in a recent debate on agriculture, I took as my text “Barley, Not Bulrushes”. I still think that is an excellent slogan: it sums up in three words the utter nonsense of current policies coming from Defra, the department responsible for feeding our nation, which...

My Lords, when I spoke in a recent debate on agriculture, I took as my text “Barley, Not Bulrushes”. I still think that is an excellent slogan: it sums up in three words the utter nonsense of current policies coming from Defra, the department responsible for feeding our nation, which...

My Lords, agriculture is possibly unique in its relationship to climate change. At the same time it is a major cause, victim and source of solutions. I have often spoken about the need for farming to reduce its environmental footprint, but I stress that this can and must happen at...

My Lords, agriculture is possibly unique in its relationship to climate change. At the same time it is a major cause, victim and source of solutions. I have often spoken about the need for farming to reduce its environmental footprint, but I stress that this can and must happen at...

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Framlingham has reminded us of the many different members of the brassica family, which include tenderstem and sprouting varieties of broccoli, mustard, oilseed rape, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and Calabrese—even the purple sprouting broccoli, which matches the colour of the right reverend Prelate’s episcopal garb.

Broccoli...

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Framlingham has reminded us of the many different members of the brassica family, which include tenderstem and sprouting varieties of broccoli, mustard, oilseed rape, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and Calabrese—even the purple sprouting broccoli, which matches the colour of the right reverend Prelate’s episcopal garb.

Broccoli...

My Lords, there is a lamentable tendency in the debates of the nation—and even in the discourses of your Lordships’ House—to elide from food security to self-sufficiency. We heard it a little just now. It was hinted at by the right reverend Prelate in introducing the Motion. He did not...

My Lords, there is a lamentable tendency in the debates of the nation—and even in the discourses of your Lordships’ House—to elide from food security to self-sufficiency. We heard it a little just now. It was hinted at by the right reverend Prelate in introducing the Motion. He did not...

My Lords, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans has, as always, set out his case with clarity and knowledge. The likely shortage of broccoli and cauliflower is due to the very wet and mild weather in the late autumn and run-up to Christmas, which caused early ripening,...

My Lords, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans has, as always, set out his case with clarity and knowledge. The likely shortage of broccoli and cauliflower is due to the very wet and mild weather in the late autumn and run-up to Christmas, which caused early ripening,...

My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans for securing this important debate. He is rightly concerned about the effect of extreme weather caused by climate change on our food security. His Majesty’s Official Opposition are firmly supportive of any measures that will protect our...

My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans for securing this important debate. He is rightly concerned about the effect of extreme weather caused by climate change on our food security. His Majesty’s Official Opposition are firmly supportive of any measures that will protect our...

My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate on securing this debate and welcome the Minister to his place.

I will share with my noble friend Lord Hannan the figures that I have received from the Library. Our exports to the EU of fruit and vegetables combined, in the 12 months...

My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate on securing this debate and welcome the Minister to his place.

I will share with my noble friend Lord Hannan the figures that I have received from the Library. Our exports to the EU of fruit and vegetables combined, in the 12 months...

My Lords, I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition. I thank those Members of your Lordships’ House who have signed up to engage today on what I believe is an important and topical issue. Our debate is about the shortage of great British broccoli and cauliflowers—and, of...

My Lords, I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition. I thank those Members of your Lordships’ House who have signed up to engage today on what I believe is an important and topical issue. Our debate is about the shortage of great British broccoli and cauliflowers—and, of...

My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate on again bringing a very timely issue to this House. Food insecurity is a serious matter and is increasing across the world, partly because of global conflict, the pandemic and of course climate change. Our severe weather events in the UK—the result...

My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate on again bringing a very timely issue to this House. Food insecurity is a serious matter and is increasing across the world, partly because of global conflict, the pandemic and of course climate change. Our severe weather events in the UK—the result...

Lords question for short debate on, following reports that the United Kingdom faces shortages of broccoli and cauliflower this spring, what steps they are taking to support farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.

Lords question for short debate on, following reports that the United Kingdom faces shortages of broccoli and cauliflower this spring, what steps they are taking to support farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the supply of fresh UK grown cauliflowers in shops.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the supply of fresh UK grown cauliflowers in shops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average cost was of a (a) conventionally and (b) organically produced (i) turkey, (ii) chicken, (iii) duck in (A) 1979, (B) 1985, (C) 1990, (D) 1995, (E) 2000 and (F) 2002; what the average cost was...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average cost was of a (a) conventionally and (b) organically produced (i) turkey, (ii) chicken, (iii) duck in (A) 1979, (B) 1985, (C) 1990, (D) 1995, (E) 2000 and (F) 2002; what the average cost was...

Table showing what amounts, by commodity, of fruit & vegetables have been withdrawn from market under EEC regulations in UK so far in current year, & each year for past 7 years; what proportion of that amount has been destroyed or left to rot, & what proportion has been put...

Table showing what amounts, by commodity, of fruit & vegetables have been withdrawn from market under EEC regulations in UK so far in current year, & each year for past 7 years; what proportion of that amount has been destroyed or left to rot, & what proportion has been put...

What amounts, by commodity, of fruit & vegetables have been withdrawn from market under EEC regulations in the UK so far in the current year & each year for the past 7 years; what proportion of that amount has been destroyed or left to rot; & what proportion has been...

What amounts, by commodity, of fruit & vegetables have been withdrawn from market under EEC regulations in the UK so far in the current year & each year for the past 7 years; what proportion of that amount has been destroyed or left to rot; & what proportion has been...