Contributions
1,387 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for seeking to specify the targets that the Government should set within each priority area. He asked if what he said was met with interest. Of course…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I will intervene very briefly. I reiterate that we await the outcome of the recommendations and will consider them very carefully. Getting the metrics right is absolutely crucial,…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. He speaks with a great deal of knowledge about worldwide issues, as he always does in the Chamber. On the grounds of what I have said,…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention.17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention, and I recognise all the work that she is doing on this issue; she speaks knowledgably and passionately about it. However, the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for amendments 1 and 85, which would include specific reference to “on land, and at sea” in clauses 1 and 6. The Bill requires that at least one…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman raises a good point. Before I read the inspiration that has been passed to me, let me say that the whole point of the significant improvement test, which is a…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Leeds North West and the shadow Minister for their input, and I acknowledge the input of the Chairs of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)I want to point out one other thing. The Office for Environmental Protection will be able to enforce against the Government if they do not set the targets. That indicates that the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)It is clear that there is flexibility in the power to set long-term targets by regulations, but clause 1(2) says that the Secretary of State “must exercise the power”. That brings…17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)We are muddling a lot of “musts” and “mays” here—it is a good job that Theresa May is not still Prime Minister.17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fifth sitting)We’ll see!17 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Thank you so much for coming in. How lovely to have some enthusiasm! I will build on that enthusiasm for a second. I know there are probably lots of things that people think…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Fourth sitting)Q So do you welcome the requirement in schedule 5 for consultation? Bud Hudspith: Yes, we welcome that. That was the point made before. Parts of it are fairly vague and we would…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)Q Do you agree that amending the water abstraction licences regime will help us to better manage our water resources? Perhaps our water company specialist might comment. Stuart…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)We have a couple more minutes. This is not a question, but an observation. The whole purpose of the Bill is to significantly improve the natural environment; that is why the…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)Q Can I quickly follow up on something? In the light of what you have all said, we already have a pretty heavy legislative framework for water and the water space; we already have…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)But it mentions the natural environment, and to be clear, that includes marine. That is why you are here. Chris Tuckett: Yes, which is great, and I really appreciate that. We…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)Q I would love to. I want to be clear about resource and water efficiency, which was mentioned earlier. That is catered for in clause 49. I take the points about needing to look…12 Mar 2020HANSARDEnvironment Bill (Third sitting)Q Just to encapsulate that, is it right to have the legally binding PM 2.5 target and to set the other targets when we have more evidence, given that we all want to be really…12 Mar 2020