Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me regarding animals and live export.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding American XL Bully dogs.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the proposed "People's Plan for Nature".

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about planning policy and local wildlife.

Wildlife sites are vital to our countryside and our environment and it is a vital duty to protect them and keep them secure for the future.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about cats and the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about Investment Zones and the protection of nature.

I am glad to see we are in agreement about how important the protection of nature is, and I am sorry that some campaigning groups have spread alarmist fears over Investment Zones.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding solar farms on farmland.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about dangerous dogs.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the use of snares,

When improperly used snares can cause immense suffering to both target and non-target animals.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the production of pâté de foie gras.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the conservation of the elephant and ivory sales.

Ivory is one of the world's most iconic and treasured species and it should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol. 

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the use of snares.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. 

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about storm overflows.

This is the first Government to set out expectations that water companies must take steps to significantly reduce storm overflows. This instruction will now be put on an enhanced legal footing.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about our upland areas. 

The Government is firmly committed to protecting our uplands, the wildlife that thrives there, and the people who live there too.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about Great Big Green Week and COP26, which is being held in Glasgow in November this year. 

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the protection of hedgehogs.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about trophy hunting.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the health of our waters.  

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about improving access to the countryside.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the use of neonicotinoids. 

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about maintaining UK food production standards.

Underwater noise from ordnance clearance and other activities can have a significant impact on vulnerable marine species.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your correspondence about Super Trawlers.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about animal sentience.

First and foremost, I believe animals are sentient beings who can feel pain and suffering and I would like to reassure you that strong action is being taken to reduce their risk of harm.

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about controlling the spread of bovine TB.

As an animal lover, I am deeply concerned over the treatment of animals who are used in scientific research. I am proud of Britain's long tradition of kindness to animals and preventing and punishing cruelty to them.

It's vital that people across the UK have confidence in the food they eat, so I welcome the Government’s very clear commitment that future trade agreements must uphold our country’s high food standards. Ministers have made clear these standards will not be watered down in pursuit of any trade deal.

I put my name to the two amendments moved by Neil Parish which would have added special and specific mandates above and beyond the already existing high standards that exist in food production and import

The decision to leave the European Union has created an historic opportunity to deliver a Green Brexit, where environmental standards are not only maintained but enhanced.

In framing any financial assistance scheme, the Secretary of State must have regard to the need to encourage the production of food by producers in England and its production by them in an environmentally sustainable way.

Oceans are currently facing unprecedented challenges, including climate change and over-fishing. It is more important than ever to take action to ensure our seas are healthy, abundant and resilient.