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1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsMy noble friend has probably given part of the reason why we are at our current position and the EU 28 is 22nd. It is because we are one of the most successful low-carbon…23 Jan 2020HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsMy Lords, this is an area that we obviously all need to consider globally. It is interesting that our country is ranked seventh out of 61 countries on the climate change…23 Jan 2020HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsClearly Defra, BEIS and the Department for International Trade have very strong collaborative working. It is absolutely essential that we recognise the climate emergency and the…23 Jan 2020HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsMy Lords, I will have to write to the noble Baroness about any assessment. But I can say—this is really important—that we in this country believe that we have enormous potential…23 Jan 2020HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsMy Lords, the Government have met regularly with a range of environmental organisations throughout the development of trade policy via advisory groups, ministerial round tables…23 Jan 2020HANSARDTrade Policy: Environmental AspectsMy Lords, as has been said, the Trade Bill is coming back before Parliament in this Session; that will be the opportunity for Parliament to give due consideration to this issue.…23 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionYes, I asked rather the same question of officials, if I may say so. The OEP must lay its annual statement of accounts before Parliament, including an assessment of whether it has…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, we plan for the OEP to be operational from 1 January 2021, at which point it will begin to perform its full statutory powers and responsibilities. It will therefore be…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionThe noble Lord is right: independence is key. The environment Bill will state that the OEP will be operational independent of Defra. Ministers will not be able to set its…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, until the end of the implementation period, we will clearly be subject to the oversight of the EU institutions. The point is that there will be no governance gap and the…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, at this stage we think that between 60 and 120 people will run the OEP. What the noble Baroness says is important. Clearly, we have the Committee on Climate Change. We…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionYes. The intention is very much for this to go beyond what we had with the EU’s oversight. This will be with our domestic legal arrangements. This will concern public authorities,…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, I must say that the OEP is predicated on the responsibility of public authorities. Clearly, if, for instance, a water company or a private individual contravened a law,…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionThe intention of the enforcement options is clear: to get the transgression rectified. The OEP will have the ability to issue an information notice; if that is not resolved, it…20 Jan 2020HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, the distinction is that under the EU arrangements the Commission may bring legal proceedings against a member state Government only. Under our domestic legal…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEngland Coast PathI may have to write to the noble Baroness on that precise stretch. I have not walked it yet; I have walked some of them. There are certainly advantages in terms of physical…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEngland Coast PathMy Lords, the figures I have for 2017-18 state that £350 million is spent in local coastal economies; that is with what we have already. It is estimated that it directly supports…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEngland Coast PathI can confirm that it is a footpath. However, having walked some of the stretch at Great Yarmouth, I know that parts of it absolutely are designed to enable disabled people to…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEngland Coast PathMy Lords, just to be clear, the first stretch of the path opened in 2012. I am in dialogue with senior officials at Natural England because, obviously, we wanted it to be finished…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEngland Coast PathI am most grateful for my noble friend’s confirmation from Natural England. I want to confirm the enthusiasm within Natural England to secure this path and all that it represents:…16 Jan 2020