Speeches by Chowns.

“Q The Bill talks about breakfast clubs, but says nothing about free school meals more widely. Would you like to see an expansion of eligibility for free school meals? Julie McCulloch: We would.”

“Q Clause 8 specifies that local authorities need to set out a local offer. You have talked about the need to avoid fragmentation, and about corporate responsibility across the country and across Departments. Would you like to see the Bill amended to require a national offer of support to care leavers, and what do you t…”

“Q Lynn, what is your view on the fact that the Bill does not contain provisions to give children equal protection from violence to adults? Lynn Perry: We think that this is an opportunity for that to be addressed in legislation. As a charity that works across the devolved nations, we have obviously seen change in other…”

“Q On balance, do you welcome the provisions in the Bill to ensure that all schools follow the national curriculum? Lee Owston: Obviously there is a review, from Professor Becky Francis, of what the national curriculum will contain, and we are speaking frequently with members of that review. From an inspector’s position…”

“I have been listening carefully to what the Minister has said. Does he agree that a vote on Second Reading is a vote on the principle of the Bill, and the objections that he has been raising are micro, technical ones? Does he not agree that the urgency of the climate crisis and the immense benefits associated with sola…”

“The Office for Environmental Protection published its annual report today on our progress in protecting the environment. Unfortunately, it is not good news: we are off-track on 20 out of 43 targets, and only five out of its 52 recommendations last year have been implemented. The report, which deals with the period unde…”

“I warmly welcome this ceasefire agreement, and like colleagues across the House, I fervently hope that the Israeli Cabinet will approve it, but I think we all recognise that, while the ceasefire may bring an end to the current extremes of violence, it will not end the conflict. A number of conditions need to be met for…”

“It is good that we are moving in the right direction. Do you not agree, however, that it is concerning that there is still quite a gap between what we anticipate what the Future Homes Standard and ultimately what a net zero carbon building standard will be? Would you not also agree that it is concerning that embodied c…”

“Thank you. I am hearing a somewhat more nuanced and cautious view from this panel than from some members of the previous panel who were fairly bullish about it. The Government have proposed setting up the Nature Restoration Fund. How would you respond to the suggestion that that might be a little bit like sinners buyin…”

“Thank you. I am hearing a somewhat more nuanced and cautious view from this panel than from some members of the previous panel who were fairly bullish about it. The Government have proposed setting up the Nature Restoration Fund. How would you respond to the suggestion that that might be a little bit like sinners buyin…”

“It is good that we are moving in the right direction. Do you not agree, however, that it is concerning that there is still quite a gap between what we anticipate what the Future Homes Standard and ultimately what a net zero carbon building standard will be? Would you not also agree that it is concerning that embodied c…”

“What we are anticipating coming from the Government not taking us to zero, is it?”

“Does the Minister agree that the problem with the way the £35 million was previously supposed to be spent was that it was the opposite of the “polluter pays” principle, because it was essentially a subsidy to the most polluting industry? Will she agree to find £35 million to support nature-friendly farming in the Wye c…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I thank the hon. Member for Monmouthshire (Catherine Fookes) for securing this debate on a hugely important issue that is of deep concern to residents in my constituency of North Herefordshire, which, like hers, is in the Wye catchment. The Lugg, which runs throu…”

“The Government have indicated that they want to shift more towards what I think they call a strategic, more regional approach to nature protection rather than a site-specific basis. Can I ask you, perhaps, Ms Pullinger, first, what you think are the environmental impacts of a shift in that direction in policy?”

“Thank you. Would other panel members like to comment on that?”

“We would be very interested in any suggestions for recommendations.”

“Thank you. I think you raise an interesting point about the analogy with carbon offsetting, but I think there is a crucial difference because whereas global warming is a global phenomenon, nature damage is very much a localised phenomenon. Offsetting is more complex in that context. Ms Lewis, anything to add?”

“Thank you. I think you raise an interesting point about the analogy with carbon offsetting, but I think there is a crucial difference because whereas global warming is a global phenomenon, nature damage is very much a localised phenomenon. Offsetting is more complex in that context. Ms Lewis, anything to add?”

“We would be very interested in any suggestions for recommendations.”