Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025, whether he plans to also introduce a (a) cross-Departmental and (b) long-term strategic plan for the fishing and seafood sector.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government will always stand up for the British fishing industry and coastal communities. Launching the “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” and investing £360 million over the next 12 years will support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.
We will be engaging with other Government Departments to target investment where it matters most. For example, continuing our work with the Department of Business and Trade on promoting the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.
We recognise the calls from across the sector for a long-term strategy for fisheries and seafood. We are keen to engage with stakeholders to explore this further and shape a strategic approach that supports the industry's future.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025, whether the £360 million includes funding for offshore wind developments.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have launched the £360 million “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities. We will work with the fishing and seafood sector and coastal communities to understand how to target investment where it matters most.
Alongside this, on 21st May this Government published a working paper setting out proposals for mandatory community benefits for low carbon infrastructure and Shared ownership in Great Britain. Under the proposals developers would be required to contribute a set amount to a community fund. This work is being led through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Government supports offshore wind projects through the Contracts for Difference scheme, which guarantees a set price per MWh of electricity for 15 years, indexed to inflation.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued on the circumstances in which heather burning can be used to manage (a) moorland and (b) peatland.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra and Natural England are currently consulting with stakeholders to develop a refreshed Heather and Grass Management Code to replace the Heather and Grass Burning Code, published in 2007. The code will detail good practice on planning where to burn and how to burn safely and responsibly. This is in addition to detailed guidance published to support The Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce mandatory labelling of food products.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot, Martin Wrigley, on 28 January 2025, PQ 25017.