Speeches by Gardiner.

“Stages 3 and 4 should have been done by the end of last year. Do we have any update on when we are expecting that? In that case, would you like to see this Committee make a recommendation that they get on with the job?”

“I think our species has done more damage to the rest of nature than any other species that has ever lived, and we are in danger. If you look at the world wildlife curve, 69% of species populations have been depleted in the last 50 years. I do not think that the preservation of us should be the top of our list. We prese…”

“Absolutely right.”

“You talked about the extent of the time that it took for areas to recover once destructive activity such as bottom trawling had ceased. Can you recall how long it took for Lyme Bay to recover?”

“You are silver-tongued, you two. Just three weeks ago the Office for Environmental Protection announced that it was investigating DEFRA about its suspected failure to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status. That goes to the fact that of the 15 descriptors of good environmental stat…”

“That is very interesting. Is that something that you would like to see this Committee recommend—that when the JNCC gives advice, the Government, or the regulator in this case, should be obliged to respond to that advice and say how they have accounted for it and taken it on board? Would that be helpful?”

“Again, if this Committee were making comment in that area, we should emphasise that there must be net gain not only to offset the damage but to provide increased benefit and sustainability. Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the habitats regulations there is the possibility for derogation on some of the m…”

“That is a really important point about cumulative impact. How would we take that on board in this Committee and make that a recommendation to Government?”

“That would be really helpful.”

“Thank you. That is really helpful. I do not want to pass over the equally important point that you made, where you talked about how at the moment we have designation of features, rather than adopting a whole site approach. It would be extremely helpful if you wanted to suggest to the Committee in writing afterwards rec…”

“In the last year that was quantified, 69% of developed countries’ climate finance was in the form of non-concessional loans, which is pretty bloody useless to many of the countries, if you will excuse the phrase, Chair.”

“Let’s start talking figures. Under the International Climate Fund 3, which is ringfenced in our ODA, we have £11.6 billion currently allocated for climate-related ODA. Within that, as you know because I wrote to you two weeks ago about it, there is a separate ringfence for biodiversity, or the nature-based solutions th…”

“Indeed, but specifically around that ringfenced element of ICF 3 at the moment, which is £3 billion. Whatever that translates to in ICF 4—I am not trying to interfere with your discussions with Rachel here although on other areas I might be keen to—if we could designate it for an international climate fund in the way t…”

“One final thing. You were good enough to talk about the importance of cross-party working and you praised previous leaders of the Conservative party and Alok Sharma, who did an excellent job. In 2022 he put a marker down against the Mozambique LNG project, which is a major risk to the UK’s international reputation. Thi…”

“Please, and perhaps you could write to us about that. If we are going to show leadership, it has to be across the board. This is one way in which other countries would look and say, “They do it if it is in their financial interest”.”

“At the COP this year, it was a pleasure to have so many people coming up to us saying that it was great to have the UK back at the table. I want to open with that because it has shown that other countries have appreciated the fact that the Government have set off front foot from day one. I want to ask you about the new…”

“From one old fogey to another, I presume. I have never enjoyed a speech by the right hon. Member for Herne Bay and Sandwich (Sir Roger Gale) as much as the one he has just delivered; he did not bore the House in any way. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for South Cotswolds (Dr Savage) for introducing the Bill; it has h…”

“I commend the hon. Lady for bringing this Bill forward. Does she recognise that the sustainable farming incentive is moving to rewarding farmers who are further towards the bottom of the scale, rather than at the high end of it as we would wish to see? To reward farmers for rotation of crops, for example, seems to be g…”

“That has been picked up now, though, hasn’t it?”

“Let me drill down because we are pressed for time, and I want to push this as much as I can. When you are looking at the values, if you have a flat in London, close to the Thames, where some idiot has burrowed down into what was a basement, which was meant for flooding, and created a kitchen and bedroom down there and …”