“We welcome new advice from ICES
on the condition of cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the news that they have
returned to above the maximum sustainable yield trigger. 

“With the news that North Sea cod
has received Marine Stewardship Council accreditation, fishermen are to be
credited for working hard with reduced catching levels over the past fifteen
years to help UK fish stocks to recover.

“Going forward, the UK must work
collaboratively with the fishing industry and our European neighbours to
deliver the best outcomes for our fish stocks, the wider marine environment and
the industry, creating the minimum of disruption to our fishermen.“

“Our
thoughts are with families and businesses impacted by the devastating flash
flooding in Cornwall.

“I
would like to pay tribute to our emergency services for their work and for
everyone providing support to those affected at the multi-agency centre in
Truro.

“Labour
is calling on the Government to match its words with actions: to ensure that
the Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service are provided with all necessary
resources and that businesses and residents receive the support they need in
the aftermath.

“In
the longer term, the Government must ensure that its strategy on climate change
mitigation and flood defence is fit for purpose and that climate change is not
brushed aside as an afterthought during the Brexit negotiations, leaving
communities to pick up the pieces.”

Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on the BBC annual report, said:

“The BBC is one of the world’s greatest broadcasters and we
shouldn’t be surprised that its top stars – who millions of people tune in to
watch and listen to every week – are well paid.

"Labour recognises the BBC’s dilemma: the need to give
licence payers value for money while operating in a competitive commercial
environment against other broadcasters who do not have to disclose what they
pay.

“It’s wrong that only a third of the BBC’s highest paid stars are
women, and we welcome Lord Hall’s commitment to close the gender pay gap by
2020. It would be good to see a similar commitment, and similar levels of
transparency, from other media organisations – especially those who are
criticising the BBC today.”

Richard Burgon, Labour’s Shadow Justice
Secretary, commenting on HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ Annual Report for
2016-17, said:

“This report makes it clear that the crisis in our prisons is
getting worse by the day.

“Our prisons are becoming ever more dangerous for prisoners and
staff alike. Assaults on staff are up by over a third and it is a stain on the
nation that not a single young offenders institute inspected was deemed safe.

“The Conservative Government’s failure to get a grip of this
crisis, including dropping prison reform from the Queen’s Speech, is making it
more difficult to turn prisoner’s lives around and to reduce risk to the
public.

“Drastic Conservative cuts to prison budgets and staff numbers are
driving this prisons crisis. Labour would tackle it by recruiting thousands of
new prisons officers and increasing staff retention by improving terms and
conditions.”

Paul Blomfield MP,
Labour’s Shadow Minister for Exiting the EU, commenting on the House of Lords EU
Committee report on Brexit: the EU data protection package, said:

“Labour has
repeatedly raised concerns about security information and data sharing, which
we heavily rely on to investigate and prevent terrorism. 

“It’s
clear that the Government has no idea what maintaining close criminal justice
and law enforcement ties with our European neighbours will look like, and no
plan to make data sharing work.

“The
Government’s chaotic approach to the Brexit negotiations and intransigent red
line on the European Court of Justice, meaning we could crash out without a
deal on anything, risks threatening our safety.”