Ben Goldsborough MP: speeches

Speeches

• 7 Apr 2025 · New Towns · Hansard source

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  The housing crisis is an issue in not just our city centres but our rural communities. A new town would be excellent for our area of South Norfolk. It would help tackle our local housing crisis and ensure that we could deliver affordable housing for local people, where they need it.

• 21 Jan 2025 · Haddiscoe gravel pit application · Hansard source

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  I rise to present a petition about the proposed quarry in Haddiscoe, and I really hope that the Government will take note of the 242 petitioners who have signed it. This demonstrates that an overwhelming majority of residents wish for the Government to know how much this quarry will undermine the health and wellbeing of the village. The petition states: “The petition of residents of the constituency of South Norfolk, Declares that the potential for a future gravel pit near Crab Apple Lane in Haddiscoe is a serious concern… The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that planning and mineral strategies consider issues such as air pollution and local opinion. And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [ The petition of residents of the constituency of South Norfolk , Declares that the potential for a future gravel pit near Crab Apple Lane in Haddiscoe is a serious concern to residents, that an application for a gravel pit in the same location has previously been rejected due to concerns about harm to Grade 1 listed buildings and the impact of increased noise, dust and traffic, and that these concerns remain . The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that planning and mineral strategies consider issues such as air pollution and local opinion . And the petitioners remain, etc. ] [P003033]

• 8 Oct 2024 · Farming and Food Security · Hansard source

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  It is lovely to hear a bit of cross-party action to start off; I will try not to spoil that tone. Today’s debate is a vital one on the future of not only South Norfolk’s food security but that of the UK. For too long, those who have put food on our table have worked our land but sadly been taken for granted. I stand here as the first Labour MP for South Norfolk in 74 years. That should show the House that rural communities up and down the country have wanted change, and it is for us to prove that we are ready to take up that mantle. In South Norfolk we are lucky, because we have the innovation of the Norwich research park. Those who are local—I can see nodding from the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman)—will know that these are the centres of excellence that will drive our agriculture forward in agritech and high-end industry. The innovation of the John Innes Centre is second to none as it strives to meet the increasing demands and pressures on the national and international food security system. The gene editing techniques that it has been developing and working on have the potential to transform British agriculture by increasing yields and crop resilience, and to help us face the climate crisis that we are all heading towards. I welcome the news from the Front Bench that the Government will be taking action on precision breeding. That is a great step forward in what we needed to see. There is an incredible opportunity in the heart of South Norfolk to transform our food security and to support farmers on the frontline who are dealing with the consequences of climate change in producing more food with less impact on the environment. As we address the challenges facing our farmers and the urgent need to secure our food supply, it is important to highlight the amazing work of the Earlham Institute. The Earlham Institute is a beacon of life sciences training and innovation, and its contributions are vital to tackling food insecurity and safeguarding our future. Its cutting-edge research is developing the latest tools and approaches to monitor and predict how diseases evolve and spread. This kind of knowledge is critical for the future of British farming, as it will allow us to anticipate and mitigate the risks that threaten our food security. The Earlham Institute’s contributions go far beyond research. It is also a hub for training the next generation of scientists and ensuring that Britain remains at the forefront of life sciences and agricultural innovation. I am immensely proud to represent the constituency that is home to such important institutions. The Earlham Institute is doing the hard work necessary to safeguard our food security and supply. Faced with the challenges of water security—sadly, I note that that was missing from the Opposition’s motion—farmers tell me when I meet them that there is a huge barrier in the way of their collecting the water that they need and building the reservoirs that they want on their land because of action taken by the Environment Agency. Why on earth should we stand in the way of farmers who want to protect their land from drought, while also protecting local areas from flood risk, by capturing water to use at a lower cost than tapping into the mains water that we all need? I hope that my Front-Bench colleagues will work with me to secure planning reform on this issue, so that we can build more reservoirs on farming land to help with food security. Farmers have also raised concerns with me about biodiversity net-gain regulations, which are currently slowing down our progress on food production. I recently visited Fischer Farms, just over the border, and it is a great step forward. I hope that we can adopt these measures.

• 30 Jul 2024 · Building Homes · Hansard source

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  Residents in Hethersett, Mulbarton and Loddon have sadly had their fingers burnt by the old planning policies that were in place under the previous Government. Can my right hon. Friend give me assurances that section 106 will be strengthened to ensure that public infrastructure will be in place so that our new housing is accessible for everyone and gives them the resources they need to live a very happy life?