This week the Government announced the new ‘three-tier’ system of restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19. I am pleased that this is a tiered approach that spares West Sussex from the sort of harsh measures required in virus ‘hot spots’ but it is still a regrettable imposition and unhelpful for the economic recovery we had been seeing over the summer that had been saving firms and jobs. On the bright side I am glad that schools and colleges are able to remain open. I also welcome the progress that has been made on testing. Whatever imperfections the system may have, by the end of September, a total of 7.6 million people had been tested since test-and-trace began - an impressive logistical feat.
I have been receiving a lot of correspondence on the Agriculture Bill that was approved by Parliament this week. There has been a lot of misplaced concern about protecting our food standards and ensuring that our farmers are not undermined. The manifesto I stood on was clear that in all trade negotiations, our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards will not be compromised. The Government will ensure any deals live up to the values of our farmers and consumers and I am pleased that all food coming into this country will be required to meet existing import requirements. Chlorine treated chicken is illegal now and will stay illegal in the future. The Amendment that some lobbied me about went too far in trying to impose uniquely British domestic requirements on foreign producers. This would prevent us ever reaching a trade deal with the EU as well as make illegal all imports from producers in developing countries such as those commonly sold under the ‘FairTrade’ brand.
On Friday I visited the Arundel Wetland Centre to discuss the importance of the conservation trust and the work of the much loved Arundel Wetland Centre. I have always been a great lover of wildlife, doing my best to learn the names of every bird species I came across from an early age, but it was fantastic to hear first-hand about how the WWT in Arundel is helping to educate younger generations about the value of the natural world.
As a sign of the times, the Centre is now providing facilities for those who wish to work in a different surrounding, by providing WiFi for local residents to visit and work from their café area. Increasingly, the environment around us is becoming a focal point in our lives, and planners should take more account of preserving (rather than paving over) the countryside and prioritise ‘live-work’ spaces when making their plans.
