Contributions
1,496 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)We have the Minister’s explanation of how the word “significant” is to be defined: it is not to be defined, effectively. We also have what I would kindly say is a descriptive,…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Thank you, Chair. Following your advice, I will wind up on this group of amendments. In so doing, it is conceivable that I might refer to some of the amendments during the course…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)What the Committee needs to understand is that the inclusion in the Bill of the application of policy as set out in subsection (1) does not apply to the armed forces. Subsection…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Indeed, my hon. Friend is absolutely right. It would not be difficult to draft something that would both protect the activities that I think we all agree the MOD and the Army need…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Sorry, amendment 94—03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Amendment 94, which I believe is in this group—03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I stand corrected. So we are discussing amendments 93 and 114 in this group and discussing amendment 94 in the next group. I will remove my remarks on amendment 94 and save them…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Two per cent.03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 94, in clause 18, page 11, line 20, leave out paragraph (b). This amendment removes the exceptions for tax, spending and resources from the requirement to…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)As I always am, I will be polite. The Minister, with great aplomb, read out words from a piece of paper that was placed in front of her to explain what the clause means, but she…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)The phrase “due regard” comes in here, importantly. The truth is that clause 18 is a blank cheque in the opposite direction—a blank cheque for Ministers to invoke if they decide…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)The Treasury would have had that leeway, because of the phrase “have due regard”. There are clearly circumstances in which emergencies or other issues mean that Ministers may at…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Forgive me, but I think the Minister has elided “is” and “ought”. Yes, the Treasury may do those things and put them in the Green Book, but under clause 18 it does not have to,…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 20 ordered to stand part of the Bill . Clause 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedule 1…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 195, in clause 20, page 12, line 16, at end insert— “(1A) The Secretary of State must— (a) consult on the criteria and thresholds to be applied in…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I am afraid that we come to another discussion about the definition of a word in the Bill, which I know will cause some Members to groan. Nevertheless, as we saw in the last…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his intervention, but that is not quite right, really. The Secretary of State must report on developments and on international environmental protection…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)Mr Gray, if I gave that impression then I am sorry, but I thought I was speaking to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 4, which is that the chief executive “must act in accordance…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Ninth sitting)The hon. Member is quite right to draw attention to good parliamentary mechanisms. I do not want us to be diverted into a long discussion about the Executive and the unwritten UK…03 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 91, in clause 16, page 10, line 6, leave out “proportionately”. This amendment removes ministerial estimates of proportionality as a limitation on the…03 Nov 2020