Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnvironment BillI have a number of amendments to address, but before I do, I will take a step back and emphasise what these measures are designed to achieve. Worldwide agricultural expansion…12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillMy Lords, I have had commitments from the MHCLG that our protections for trees will be improved and enhanced, and will not move backwards, but I will continue to press home that…12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI thank the noble Lord for his intervention. We will talk a bit about similar issues in the next debate on due diligence, but it is certainly the case that, if we want forested…12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions on this important topic. The best time to plant a tree was, of course, years ago; the second-best time is now, so I am…12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI am very happy to meet and will be in touch.12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI am sorry that I have raised the noble Baroness’s suspicions. I have described the safeguards that are in place, and I will not repeat them because she will have heard what I…12 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI thank all noble Lords for their thoughtful and helpful contributions on these important issues. The drainage and sewerage management plans introduced by Clause 78 will deliver…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI am not sure that I can give the noble Lord a date, because that is not in the hands of Defra and certainly not in in mine. I can absolutely offer him an assurance, however.…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillMy Lords, flooding incidents have an utterly devastating impact on communities. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Whitchurch, for raising this important issue in her…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillIn moving government Amendment 194B, I will speak to all government amendments consequential to it. I am pleased to be introducing today a new biodiversity net gain requirement…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI am thankful to the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Whitchurch, first for her amendments but also for her support for biodiversity net gain generally. I shall begin with her…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI thank the noble Baroness for raising an important point. It is one that I also addressed in my remarks. We are not there yet and do not have all the answers. We are determined…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI understand that some may not have heard of this, but developers should have, because it is already current policy in the National Planning Policy Framework. Not everyone goes to…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillI will take up my noble friend on his offer for me not to respond, other than to say that I note his comments and, I think, agree with everything he is saying.07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillIt is impossible to answer the question, because it depends on the site and the type of ecosystem created, which determines the kind of protection that applies. My point is that…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillOn the first point, my noble friend is absolutely right. My comments relate to the fact—it is a fact, there is no doubt—that our biodiversity has decreased very sharply in recent…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment BillThe short answer to the first question is that, were such a thing to happen, it would be a breach of planning permission, and the local authority could enforce that. I am happy to…07 Jul 2021HANSARDEnvironment Bill07 Jul 2021