Contributions
634 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this group. On this side, we share the passion that has been expressed across the House for a biodiverse and environmentally…29 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I too support Amendment 148. As the noble Baroness, Lady Young of Old Scone, has said, it is a modest but sensible little amendment with broad support, as we have seen…29 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for tabling her amendments in this group. I know that the whole House respects her for her commitment to the issue of sustainable drainage, and I…29 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, we all share an appreciation of our heritage trees. The Fortingall yew in Perthshire is estimated to be around 2,300 years old, and there are oaks on the Blenheim estate…29 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, not for the first time in this House, I will strike a slightly contrary note. I believe Amendment 89 is well intentioned but goes a bit too far in calling for all…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I shall speak to my Amendment 87BA. The most important vehicle for nature recovery in this country is via the local nature recovery strategies being developed by the 48…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I support Amendment 88 and congratulate noble Lords on all the excellent speeches we have heard so far in support of it. The provision of green space is terribly…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I will comment briefly on these amendments. The Government may say that if you stop these conversions of hotels, where will we put the people? The noble Baroness, Lady…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillI am grateful to my noble friend for giving way. When I looked at the figures last year, I found that 1.1 million homes were approved that were not built. That is quite a few…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, in view of the speech by the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, saying that she is opposed to the measure, I feel it is my turn to stand up and say that this…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I strongly support Amendment 119 and agree with the excellent case set out by my noble friend Lady Neville-Rolfe. My support comes from two cases in my constituency some…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I am in the rather frightening position of agreeing with Amendment 48 in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Pinnock and Lady Bennett of Manor Castle—no doubt they…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I support Amendments 53, 54 and 55 but express some concern about Amendment 52. My noble friend Lord Moylan is absolutely right to call for an impact assessment before…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillI take the Whip’s comment with a slight pinch of salt—albeit not on my mushrooms. The amendment refers to mushrooms, and I am citing an example of mushrooms because it is relevant…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, contrary to my noble friend, I support Amendment 62—in part. The “in part” is because I do not want climate change to freeze out biodiversity, which is ultimately far…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I speak on these amendments not with any great authority on them but because I had some experience of a heritage village being destroyed to create a reservoir when I was…20 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, there are 3.3 billion barrels of oil easily available in the North Sea. An independent study by Westwood Global Energy Group for Offshore Energies UK suggests that up to…20 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillThat is in the sentence that I am just about to say. The Secretary of State’s obsession with net zero is now leading to the destruction of some of our finest British countryside,…20 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I rise briefly to support my noble friend. When I was chair of the Delegated Powers Committee under the last Government, we published a report regretting the trend that…20 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly to Amendment 294, submitted by the noble Baroness, Lady Grender. I apologise that I was not in the Chamber this morning to participate: I had to…17 Sept 2025