Emma Reynolds MP: speeches

Speeches

• 4 Jun 2026 · Support for Farmers: Fuel Costs · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for welcoming the cut to red diesel fuel duty. I can reassure her that we have recently published draft guidance for SFI 2026 and will be opening the first window soon for small farms and those without an agreement. We are looking at what can be done—I think she was about to ask this—about farms with agreements that are expiring either later this year or early next year, to see whether we can ensure that they can apply before their agreements expire for the coming period.

• 4 Jun 2026 · Support for Farmers: Fuel Costs · Hansard source

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  This Government are taking decisive action to support farmers with rising fuel costs. We have cut red diesel fuel duty to its lowest level in 20 years, reducing rates by a third, and we have asked the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure that there is no market abuse.

• 4 Jun 2026 · Support for Farmers: Fuel Costs · Hansard source

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  The National Farmers’ Union president, Tom Bradshaw, said: “The government’s decision to scrap the planned rise in fuel duty is good news, and the cut to red diesel duty is a welcome, well-targeted measure.” I think I heard the hon. Lady welcoming that measure. Of course, we are keeping all plans under review and all scenarios, given the conflict in the middle east. We are consulting on plans to change fertiliser rules, so that farmers can diversify their sources of fertiliser, and we are working with farmers to give them access to Government tools to boost the efficiency of their fertiliser use.

• 4 Jun 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  We will make that clear at the time of opening.

• 4 Jun 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I was aware of my hon. Friend’s love of kayaking. I am not a kayaker, but I am passionate about improving people’s access to nature. Earlier this year I was with the King when we opened the King Charles III coastal path, and last month we launched the first national river walk. As my hon. Friend says, we are also committed to publishing an access to nature Green Paper soon.

• 19 Mar 2026 · Snare Traps · Hansard source

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  As outlined in our manifesto, this Government are committed to bringing an end to the use of snare traps. We set out this commitment in our animal welfare strategy, and are actively looking to bring a ban on snares into force as quickly as possible.

• 19 Mar 2026 · Snare Traps · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for his interest, and share his view that the use of snare traps is cruel and indiscriminate. We are looking at and consulting on whether we can introduce a closed season for hares.

• 19 Mar 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Lady had 14 years to do what she is talking about.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Member for that question. We are committed to banning trophy hunting. It is a manifesto commitment, and we will take it forward.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 · Hansard source

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  Pet owners have been facing rising vet costs for years, and that is why we are consulting on updating and reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for the first time in 60 years to improve price transparency and ensure pet owners get a better deal.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 · Hansard source

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  The short answer is yes. I know you also have an interest in this issue, Mr Speaker. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s tireless campaigning on this important issue. The consultation will look at a range of issues, and she is right that that will include modernising the regulation of veterinary professionals. We will also look at requiring vet practices to publish price lists for common treatments and improving price transparency so that pet owners get a much better deal.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. I am glad to hear that his wife has had such a profound influence on his cat-loving habits. We need to look at all elements of price transparency, including insurance.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I found Sir David Amess to be a really good and generous friend; I went on a number of parliamentary visits with him, and I thank the right hon. Member for what he said about Sir David. We are committed to banning hunting trophies. It is a conservation issue, so it will not be in the animal welfare strategy, but we will be taking measures forward separately.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  May I start by thanking the right hon. Gentleman’s wife for her service over the Christmas period? I am glad to hear that, by the sound of it, he will be spending a lot of time in his kitchen. We promised that we would publish the strategy before Christmas, and we will do precisely that, but obviously we would like to discuss the strategy with colleagues from across the House when it has been published.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I want to reassure the shadow Minister that we will publish the animal welfare strategy before Christmas, as we have promised. He is right that we face a number of significant issues. We will be tackling those issues head-on. I disagree with the shadow Minister’s characterisation of our Government. This will be the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation. However, I agree with and echo his thanks to the vets, farmers and regulators for their work all year round, but particularly over the festive period.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I say politely to the right hon. Gentleman that the time to raise those issues was earlier today.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I have ordered my meat from my local butcher already. It is a bit late in the day, but I thank my hon. Friend for the reminder to those who may not have done so already. We want to make sure that there is transparency, and we are working on labelling. It will not be part of this strategy, but we are looking at it separately.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  The short answer to my hon. Friend—I am sure you will appreciate this, Mr Speaker—is yes.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I know that the hon. Member is active on the issue of farrowing crates. Some 50% of the sow herd give birth outside, but we are looking at what more we can do to deal with the rest that do not; that is a priority for the Government.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  In the new year, we will issue a consultation on banning trail hunting, as we committed to do in our manifesto. My hon. Friend is right in the things she says about it.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  As the hon. Member will probably know, that is a joint responsibility with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which leads on it. We are working closely with DSIT. It released a strategy recently that ensures we can use alternatives more quickly to phase out animal testing. I would be happy to discuss it with him, but it is led by DSIT rather than DEFRA. It is seen as an animal welfare issue, but it sits with DSIT.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  That is raised with me in my constituency too. It is a tricky issue, however, because there are lots of people across the country who, at different religious festivals and obviously on Guy Fawkes day, enjoy fireworks. It is about getting the balance right.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I am sure that there will be opportunities in the new year to have a discussion about the animal welfare strategy. I will be able to confirm the answer to the hon. Member’s question when the strategy comes out.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I could not agree more. I was not a Member of this House during the last Labour Government, but as a proud Labour member, I am proud that that Government banned foxhunting. I reiterate what my hon. Friend says: those who engage in this illegal practice should face the full force of the law.

• 18 Dec 2025 · Animal Welfare Strategy · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Gentleman, on behalf of the whole House, for what he has just said, and for his service, before he became a Member and since. This is a really important area, and we absolutely appreciate that the Veterinary Surgeons Act needs updating. I can reassure him that we are continuing to pursue opportunities to do that.