Contributions
1,387 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for looking into this issue and for the amendment. Some habitats include ancient woodland, with which I have a great affinity, having been chair of the…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his amendment. It is definitely worth enquiring about this register, so I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk about it. Clause 91 makes…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for that and I reiterate my first sentence. The Government will not introduce broad exemptions from delivering biodiversity net gain, and we have made that…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank hon. Members for their comments. The hon. Member for Cambridge asked a lot of questions, so if I do not cover them all, we will put something in writing because I could…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware of this, but although he suggests that the metric is a new thing being imposed on people, it has been used for about five years, and is…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for moving the amendment. Paragraph 16 of schedule 14 sets out that the Secretary of State may impose further procedural requirements relating to how a…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)My point was that what we are introducing in the Bill is much stronger than what was in the 25-year environment plan. That was the point I was making. I will press on—17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank both hon. Members for their comments. The 25-year environment plan has been referred to, and I would say that Opposition Members are talking about weakening the…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I hear what the hon. Lady says, but I still stick to my point that restricting the ability to set a low percentage requirement might force Government to exempt any development…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I reiterate how closely we are working with other Departments and on the “Planning for the future” White Paper to make sure that biodiversity remains the significant objective…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I welcome the hon. Member for Cambridge as he takes the floor this afternoon. This is a tremendously exciting part of the Bill, through which we can all be a part in doing our…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for his acknowledgement of the importance of the long-term maintenance of biodiversity gains in order to ensure that we provide that long-lasting…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)Clause 92 makes provision for the Secretary of State to set up a system of statutory biodiversity credits. Some developers might find that there are no suitable local habitat…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I will intervene. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree that local authorities in particular will want a system that works, not some flim-flam, half-developed thing that is…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I appreciate that the intent behind the amendment is to ensure that action that might be taken under the biodiversity duty is effective and is targeted where it is most needed. At…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)There are some fantastic creatures and 56 habitats of importance on that list, as set out under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Interpreting…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)Apologies; I was mistaken earlier. It was the shadow Minister who tabled the amendment. In addition to all these matters, the Secretary of State will conduct a two-yearly review…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I take the point that the hon. Gentleman made earlier. I put on record that I hear what he has said. We will not fall out. Things will not stop after 30 years. For example, while…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)Our purpose in strengthening the current biodiversity duty is to ensure that public authorities take robust action to drive nature recovery. It is absolutely not the intention for…17 Nov 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Seventeenth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Putney for tabling the amendment. I understand entirely the desire to ensure an appropriate level of scrutiny when this delegated power is exercised.…17 Nov 2020