Contributions
1,387 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I feel a bit of backtracking going on here. Amendment 86 would mean that the significant improvement test could be met only if any targets within the four priority areas that have…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Member. If I may say so, he tables slightly tortuous amendments and it is often a case of trying to get one’s head around them. I reassure him that this is not a…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)The shadow Minister makes a very good point about the explanatory notes, although I always love having a look at them. Explanatory notes can obviously be used in the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I welcome the shadow Minister’s intention of ensuring that the Secretary of State looks at whether targets will achieve significant improvement in the natural environment as a…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman agrees that missing a legally binding target should lead to clear consequences and next steps. I do not believe that the amendment is…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for tabling the amendment. I am sure he agrees that the most critical thing is the meeting of long-term targets in order to deliver significant…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for tabling this amendment. Very quickly, I can give assurances that of course work is ongoing to clean up our air, because we have our clean air…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)The target deadline of 31 October 2022 works well for us to report back on our first environmental improvement plan three months later. We hope that some consultations will start…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I will give my speech then, Sir Roger. The amendment would undermine the intention to ensure that we set targets via an open consultation process that allows sufficient time for…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I could cut my speech short and just say that I am very pleased the hon. Member has withdrawn his amendment.17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for amendments 81 and 181. I hope he has already got the impression that we are absolutely committed to setting targets under a robust evidence-led…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)The shadow Minister knows that I will make no such commitment here. This has to be evidence based. Get the right evidence, then the decisions can be made. That is how this Bill…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I was going to mention Professor Alastair Lewis. Members will remember that he is the chairman of the UK’s air quality expert group.…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)The Government shares the shadow Minister’s desire to take ambitious action to reduce public exposure to air pollution and ensure that the latest evidence is taken into…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)Section 2 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 renames the National Assembly for Wales as the Welsh Parliament or Senedd Cymru. The changes will take effect from 6 May…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 28, in clause 1, page 2, line 15, leave out “the National Assembly for Wales” and insert “Senedd Cymru”. This amendment reflects the renaming of the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)The answer to the first part of his question is yes. Amendment 28 agreed to. Amendment made: 29, in clause 1, page 2, line 16, leave out “Assembly” and insert “Senedd”.— (Rebecca…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)That is a very perceptive question, which does not surprise me at all—my hon. Friend is always on the ball. The answer is no, the Welsh Assembly will remain. I will just add that…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)Of course I recognise the shadow Minister’s desire to ensure that, when these targets are set, they are based on the highest possible standards of evidence, practice and advice.…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)Very briefly, thank you, Sir Roger. I could not agree more with my hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin and Harpenden. He has hit the nail on the head in summing up the flexibility…17 Mar 2020