Contributions
480 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsOur waste collection systems are completely different from those in Germany and France, where they have a wide network of bring banks for glass. We have the privilege of having…09 Jul 2026HANSARDWaste Crime Action PlanThe hon. Member is absolutely right that fly-tippers are despoiling our countryside, and I pay tribute to his local group for taking such great action to keep the beaches and…09 Jul 2026HANSARDWaste Crime Action PlanI was pleased to meet the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) to talk about the activities at these waste sites. Unpicking the work happening…09 Jul 2026HANSARDWaste Crime Action PlanMy hon. Friend is right that, under the previous Government, there was a large amount of illegally dumped waste—about 30,000 tonnes between 2018 and 2022. Enforcement action is…09 Jul 2026HANSARDWaste Crime Action PlanSince publishing the waste crime action plan in March, we have started clearing illegal waste at Kidlington, and we are investigating clearing up sites in Wigan, Sheffield and…09 Jul 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is right about our tree cover, which is why I am delighted to tell him that tree planting is at its highest rate for 20 years. As we endure our second heatwave this…09 Jul 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs we push the waste criminals out of the sector, there will be more business for legitimate operators. That also means that the carrier registration number has to be carried on…09 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026. It is a pleasure to serve under your…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026Let me tell the hon. and learned Gentleman a little about what Northern Ireland thinks. I am going to make my point, and then I hope we can get into a much longer debate.…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026What a peach of a debate! On the one hand, the Conservative party gave us gentle encouragement and asked questions about how the policy has been enforced in the interim. Once…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026No, I will not give way; I am replying to the debate. They reopened the debates on Brexit, which detained this House from 2016 until I left in 2019 and much beyond. When the…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026I will make a little progress, if I may. The changes will apply directly in Northern Ireland and will phase in over time. They apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026Let me begin by apologising to the hon. and learned Gentleman. I understand that he is a member of Traditional Unionist Voice. I did know that, but I forgot it in the heat. We are…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026I am not aware of any research, but there is work going on through our circular economy strategy, which we have co-designed with industry. As part of that, we have looked at…08 Jul 2026HANSARDDraft Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026I will undertake to do that. If I cannot do it myself, I will pass it on to my DESNZ colleagues.08 Jul 2026HANSARD Environmental ProtectionI beg to move, That the draft Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026,…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Environmental ProtectionI am responsible for many things, from forests and international biodiversity to peat and trees; I am afraid the courts are slightly outwith my jurisdiction, but I will pass that…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Environmental ProtectionWe need to take action at every level. For example, the person who does a weekend job for their friend, transporting half a skip of old kitchen waste that suddenly ends up on a…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Environmental ProtectionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We inherited a bit of a “pass the parcel” system: “Who is the landowner? Who is the local authority? What is the size of the dump? Is it…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Environmental ProtectionThe hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. The idea that we can send Environment Agency officials to deal—in some cases—with serious organised crime groups is simply for the…06 Jul 2026