Contributions
1,730 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesWith permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will update the House on the outcomes of COP15 on the convention on biodiversity, which was held in Montreal and from which I have just…19 Dec 2022HANSARDEnvironment Act 2021: Final Environmental TargetsI am repeating the statement made by my noble Friend the Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs, Lord Benyon, on Friday 16 December. Final Environmental Targets under…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI have never heard such rubbish from the Opposition. I am really quite sad about that. For a start, let us just get it clear: it was good that the hon. Member went to Montreal,…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesFar from it. I appreciate that the agreement was only closed earlier today, but it was a significant win for indigenous people and local communities, which is why it played such a…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesLet me just correct the hon. Gentleman on the last thing that he said. What was published the other day was about the targets, which, according to the Environment Act 2021, have…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesMy right hon. Friend may not know this, but I am mad for mangroves. They are amazing. Unfortunately we cannot grow them in this country, since we are not in the tropics, but we do…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI agree entirely with my hon. Friend. That is why it was important that when the Prime Minister went to Sharm el-Sheikh for COP27, building on our COP26 presidency where we…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI can say that our beaches are cleaner than we inherited them in 2010 from the Labour Government—that is clear. The hon. Lady must be very proud of the last Labour Government’s…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesThe hon. Lady is right to congratulate the world on recognising that and the UK on its role in making sure that nature and restoration were included in the text—and if she did not…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI certainly commend the children and volunteers to whom the hon. Lady refers. Fracking has nothing to do with what I am talking about today. That statement has already been made…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI think the hon. Lady is incorrect in her understanding about that. The targets are still in place on our aim to achieve for our rivers a 75% “good” ecological status by 2027.…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesThrough the Environment Act 2021, some targets on improving the environment are already in primary legislation. We have just confirmed pretty much the environmental targets that…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI thank the hon. Gentleman. I know that the people of Northern Ireland are also keen to see enhanced nature. I recall my trip earlier this year when I went to the Giant’s Causeway…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesWe have actually increased the amount of official development assistance going to environmental and climate change projects. I am excited about that. We will continue to see more…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesMy hon. Friend is right to highlight that collaboration, which is vital when it comes to recognising the importance not just of nature corridors, but of biosecurity, and it unites…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI thank my right hon. Friend for that. We both represent the magnificent county of Suffolk, which is why we are trying to make sure we continue that improvement of nature. I…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Convention on Biodiversity COP15: OutcomesI thank the hon. Gentleman. The Scottish Minister, Lorna Slater, was out in Montreal as well, and it is really important that the UK works together to improve nature. I give…19 Dec 2022HANSARDWater Company Fines: Environmental ImprovementsOn Wednesday 30 November, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that future funding from fines handed out to water companies that pollute our rivers and…02 Dec 2022HANSARDFunding for Woodlands and Timber IndustryToday we announced £20 million of funding to improve tree planting stocks, woodland resilience and domestic timber production, and to accelerate tree planting across England. The…29 Nov 2022HANSARDPublication of the UK Joint Fisheries StrategyThe UK joint fisheries statement (JFS) has been published today that sets the direction of fisheries management in the UK over the coming years. The four fisheries Administrations…23 Nov 2022