Speeches by Hardy.

“Of course, domestic marine protected areas are not within the remit of the Bill because we are talking about areas beyond national jurisdiction. What I can say is that the UK Government have introduced a consultation looking at banning bottom trawling in 41 of our marine protected areas. That consultation is out now. W…”

“I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that will implement obligations in the United Nations BBNJ agreement in UK law and enable us to move towards ratification of this historic agreement. I am sure the Bill will be w…”

“I pay tribute to all the fishermen throughout the United Kingdom who play such a vital role in helping to feed our nation. The Bill also ensures that the UK has the necessary powers to implement decisions adopted at future meetings of the BBNJ conference of the parties, beginning with the marine genetic resource provis…”

“There are no current plans to open the eligibility around Flood Re. But you are right: it is one of those issues that ends up falling between lots of different people’s responsibilities, so I therefore wonder if a better answer would be for myself and the Ministers from the relevant Departments to sit and have a conver…”

“I would have to talk to my farming colleagues about funding opportunities if that is all right?”

“Are you talking about whether there is funding available generally to make the farms more resilient?”

“I do not want to give you a picture that I am imagining a huge reservoir on farms, more like the examples Jenny has given where they are able to store water more effectively on their farms. I do not want to give the wrong impression.”

“I love it; that sounds super exciting and a perfect example of where we want to be. It is completely about building resilience and everyone becoming more resilient, is it not? I will have to don my wellies and come and visit you.”

“I am happy to go away and look at the examples of where they have been badly monitored and badly enforced and get back to you on those specifics, if that is okay?”

“You are absolutely right and as I say, it underpins everything. I am genuinely pleased to still be here because water is so fundamentally important to absolutely everything, and we only realise its fundamental importance when we have had the driest spring since 1893. Water resilience is one of my top priorities and we …”

“You are completely and utterly right, and that is part of being more resilient; if you can hold the rainwater when it falls, that makes you more resilient for the drier summers. I know the EA has been piloting some examples around the country, looking at what more it can do to support farmers in helping with that resil…”

“Yes, absolutely. There are some things that we are looking at changing. One is around water efficiency of your white goods and things like that, and how we are using water more efficiently than we have in the past. We need water-efficiency labelling as well so that if customers are going to buy a new washing machine, t…”

“When temporary use bans—hosepipe bans—come in, I am really keen to communicate and explain why to the people who are having to abide by them. I am not sure that is always communicated well enough in terms of the huge impact the drought has had on farmers, livestock, nature, chalk streams, fish and so on. When we ask pe…”

“Obviously I was not here in 2022, so I might ask David—who was the official in 2022—to answer that one for me.”

“You are right, it has been an incredible time: the driest spring in England since 1893 and the hottest June on record. As well as talking about this year, with the way the climate is changing I am making the presumption that this is going to be a more regular thing that happens each summer. In terms of the immediate ac…”

“Let me take that and give it to Minister Creagh because she is responsible for the Circular Economy Taskforce and I would not want to misrepresent her. I will ask her a little about the plastic waste exports and if that is something she is considering with the circular economy, then I can make sure the Committee has a …”

“Yes, of course. As I say, a huge focus is on resilience to the changing climate in terms of water, but one of the most meaningful things is the changes around the Green Book. I know the ears of some people who work for local government prick up whenever you mention the Green Book—other people might not be quite as exci…”

“In terms of the Green Book changes, they have happened so people have to go via the Green Book whenever they are doing anything, and they have to make it climate resilient. So that is done. In terms of the research, that was set up in April this year so it is active and working right now. We are also looking at what ot…”

“Sorry, I misunderstood. You are quite right; we need to be able to manage all our water courses effectively. As I say, I am happy to pick up on the specifics in your area that you have mentioned, as I know how awful it was for the people who suffered with the floods last time.”

“Of course.”