Speeches by Bool.

“Silverstone put Northamptonshire on the map this week with the best attended grand prix ever: 564,000 people visited over three days, which is amazing. The next date I want Members to put in their diaries is the Blakesley Show on 1 August. In its 141st year, it is the perfect opportunity for locals to celebrate our far…”

“My constituent Guy Smith runs Sky Birds Sales, which successfully imports budgies. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has drastically changed its approach to batch testing, which is devastating his business. Will one of the Ministers meet me and my constituent to discuss this issue?”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“In terms of EU resources, we are worried about the illegal meats transfer. Northern Ireland has access to databases like the rapid alert system for food and feed, and yet it is still struggling with the entry of illegal meats. What confidence do we have in that system that will help us to tackle our issues?”

“On the issue of support for businesses, Brackley Antique Cellar is a unique business that has 200 dealers, but business rates are really affecting it. Antique spaces often take on unique properties, and business rates are really hurting them. Will the Minister reconsider the business rates for businesses such as Brackl…”

“I think the problem in the farming road map is that you are talking about giving certainty, but if I am a beef farmer now, how do I have any certainty that I should have invested in stock? The point is that they are trying to plan, but they do not know where the Government are going or whether you will suddenly say tha…”

“No, just those particular areas.”

“I appreciate that you say you cannot share details with us, but the relationship once SPS is in place very much concerns me. With dynamic alignment, we will become a rule-taker rather than a rule-maker. Where will our influence be? I know that Norway and Switzerland have said that they always have to try to influence u…”

“It is interesting that you are stressing the contribution. My fear is that we still do not have a proper seat at the table or a more effective voice, and things will just depend on what way it goes. One question at the moment is that the EU itself is divided over its policy around live animal transport. I know that tha…”

“Can I put a pitch that we are not just a contributor but a director of this whole thing? I think that sometimes we underestimate our abilities at the negotiating table; we should be much, much stronger. One thing that we are worried about is that there seems to be a delay in the parliamentary scrutiny of EU legislation…”

“You will appreciate that they need to know that you are not going to suddenly completely turn the table over.”

“As a final plug, on the SPS it would be useful at some point if we could perhaps have the Cabinet Minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, before the Committee—we have invited him twice, but he has not come—to reassure us about what is coming forward. Should he still be in place shortly, can I ask you to recommend that he come t…”

“We will welcome seeing that, because it is something that this Committee has been very concerned about for a long, time and we need to see more action. In terms of what we can and cannot bring into the country, when we last spoke, it was said that 90% of travellers were aware of the rules on personal imports of meat an…”

“5. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the development of large-scale solar farms.”

“My apologies, Mr Speaker; my voice is going—it has nothing to do with England on Monday. These large solar schemes will need battery energy storage systems, but there are growing concerns about the safety of these systems. Other countries are looking at more prescriptions, whether through more regulation or technical p…”

“Apologies for my voice; it is nothing to do with England or with shouting. Do you have any updates on the SPS negotiations that you can share with us?”

“I think this is an important moment for us to remind all our constituents to check their insurance policies and make sure that they have sufficient cover, but on a practical note, may I ask whether the Minister expects the flood protection certificates to have the same status as energy performance certificates? Obvious…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. The farming sector is vital. I know that because 88% of my constituency is agricultural land. Farms are a unique sort of business because they not only have to make our food and protect our countryside but, like all businesses, have to make a profit. We must…”

“The UK-EU SPS agreement is going to be vital, and we need to understand its terms, particularly about the implementation period, as it will have an impact on our trading deals with other nations. Given that it is due to be implemented next year, and time is ticking, can we have more detail on the agreement, or can the …”

“Yes, I think you are right. At the moment, as I understand it, there being no statutory duty to consider wildfire risks in land management is one of the big problems. Another question is: do we think there should be a national wildfire strategy in England, just to make sure that everyone is supported on all levels? I a…”