Rural Economy Research Group’s Post

Transcript

Also like to have my congratulations to my noble friend on his maiden speech. I am declaring my interest as honorary president of National Energy Action, Vice President, honorary vice President, Association of the Drainage Authorities, honouring associate of the British Veterinary Association. I co-authored a number of reports on bricks and mortar with the Sustainable Business at Westminster Forum and on rural housing from the Rural Economy Research Group. I would like to share these with the noble Baroness Hayman for her greater enjoyment and education in her new role. In exploring the impact of house building and energy proposals for more onshore windfarms windfarms, I do urge a degree of caution. I pay tribute to the late Professor Mike O'carroll who set up Revolt Rural England versus Overhead Line Transmission opposing the erection of pylons in the North of England as the newly elected MP for the Vale of York in 1997, elected on the same day as the newly installed Baroness Smith of Malden. And I was faced with Labour's plan to build a second line of pylons down the spine of the constituency, transporting electricity all the way from Middlesbrough across North Yorkshire to the South through the National Grid to serve the South of England. This attracted public outrage. At the very least, these power lines should be placed underground, or alternatively, electricity generated from renewables should serve those closest to the source of the power generated. That includes energy from waste, on which this government so far has remained silent. Will the government commit to new energy from waste plants again to serve the local community with a sustainable source of energy but also disposing of household waste that might otherwise go to landfill? We should use, we should aim to use energy where created to the benefit of the local community. In addition, between 3 and 7% of energy lost is lost in overhead line transmission. They are vulnerable to extreme weather during Storm Arwen's power was lost in the North East of England and North Yorkshire for up to 9 days. Will the Government buy be minded to revise the National Planning Policy Framework and planning practice guidance to ensure joined up planning applications so that planning for offshore and on onshore wind farms include the sighting of substations as part of the original planning application? Labour have rightly prioritised cleaning up the rivers and waterways of sewage, but the problem of sewage in rivers and sea starts with the mass building of four and five bedroomed houses in inappropriate places pushing four or five times the amount of sewage into inadequate water pipes. Will the government make an early pledge to end the automatic right to connect promised since the Michael Pitts review after the 2007 floods? Will the Government commit today to implementing Schedule Three of the Food and Water Management Act 2010? Equally, will they introduce mandatory sustainable drainage systems for all new housing developments, one single measure that would help prevent sewage overflow into the combined sewers and from there into our rivers and seas? Defra must make water companies statutory consultees in the planning application process, particularly where it's the case that it's impossible to connect safely to existing pipes, often from antiquated, antiquated Victorian era. We're planning commissions. Applications must take the fact into account that they cannot simply fit and ensure that developers pay for these connections. What is the position of the government on building on functional floodplains? Labour and Opposition supported the amendment in my name and that of the noble Lady, Baroness Hayman of Alec. In the Levelling Up Act to prevent building on functional floodplains. Will the government now honour that commitment actually as they form a government? In particular, will the Government provide resources to local authorities to undertake the essential mapping exercise to establish which zones fall in zone 3B so as to exclude them from a major developments so essential to prevent future flooding? There are specific needs of housing and rural areas, as specified by the noble Right Reverend Prelate the Bishop of Saint Albans. In particular, there is a crying need for one or two bedroomed homes, which are affordable, and we have identified initiatives like. Rural exception Making a planning passport for rural exception sites that would help to remedy this. The government has pledged to grow the economy through reforming the planning system. But there must never lose sight of the fact that an Englishman's home is his castle, nor the fact that it is local planning authorities who are best placed to take planning decisions. The British public will not take kindly to housing developments built on areas prone to flooding, nor having unsightly overhead power lines and pylons being built alongside their houses. If the energy generator was used close to the source of supply, the need for overhead line transmission would be removed. Now, my Lords, we have to eat. I applaud. All of our farmers do to put food on our table. I pay tribute to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support and Services of which I'm a patron, RBI and FCN, these charities who support farmers in such difficult times as these we face currently. I make a plea to the new government to give farmers certainty to ensure that food security and self-sufficiency in production at home ensures a safe and affordable supply of food. Large wraths of land should not be lost to rewilding, solar energy production and tree planting. The role of farming and bringing environmental benefits such as the sequestration and storage of carbon should be recognised, celebrated and encouraged. Giving those. Farms currently in higher level stewardship agreements, the right to exit the old schemes early to move to a countryside stewardship agreement and the next few months would greatly assist them in this period of transition with the rapid reduction in basic farm payments. I urge the new government to support our farmers and exporting their goods by creating export opportunities in Europe and further afield. I applaud the introduction of the last government of agriculture attaches who worked effectively to promote our food and farming exports. I would welcome the negotiation by the Government of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with our European neighbours, which I believe is more appropriate than the negotiation of a veterinary agreement. The incoming government must strive to ensure that any food import into the UK meets the same high standards of animal health, animal welfare and environment as food produced here. Farm tenancy agreements are in urgent need of reform and I urge the Government to tackle this as a priority. 50% of farms in North Yorkshire and County Durham are tenanted and these tenant farmers deserve deserve the certainty and access to funds through LMS. Finally, will the Government take the opportunity of the debate today to ensure a vibrant future for our rural communities across Britain, with a strong and sustainable farming sector and housing which is fit? And affordable for those starting out on their career as well As for those nearer their retirement.