Speeches by Davies.

“One thing that has come out of this session is that it is quite a chaotic space. All the stakeholders have different priorities and different pressures, even on whether this is considered a public health issue or an environmental one. Obviously, local authorities have a role to play, but do you feel there is sufficient…”

“Does that lead to any enforcement that you are aware of in London?”

“In terms of the relationships that local authorities have, those are mostly through MHCLG—there will be DHSC as well. Do you think that this whole piece of work should be taken off DEFRA and given to DHSC or MHCLG?”

“I appreciate the clarity that the Minister has provided, telling us that the overall effect of this country’s package of sanctions will mean that Russia is much more under the screw than it was. One of the effects of Trump’s war in Iran is that the cost of Russian oil has been inflated, and that is perpetuating the war…”

“That is very helpful. When you put the data into the local air quality management support website and portal, does anyone ever come back to you, or does it just sit there?”

“Councillor Porter, you obviously represent an area that is somewhat different from Mr Parkes’s.”

“In terms of the opportunities for local authorities to engage with central Government, there are issues with the data—how and where it is being collected, and where local authorities may even have a perverse incentive not to collect data. Is DEFRA’s local air quality management support website and portal the principal …”

“Many of these problems have been put in the “too difficult” box for too long; they are long term and difficult to fix. Does the hon. Member at least acknowledge that the Government’s investment through the national wealth fund of £600 million into small modular reactors is a real step forward and will bring people’s bi…”

“Are there any particular Government Departments that you feel acknowledge that this is a risk and threat, but just put it in the “too difficult” box, and therefore it does not foster the cross-governmental work in the particular corners of Government that we should be looking at in respect of this?”

“We know that climate change and the loss of biodiversity will be a driver of conflict and that it will change our access to natural resources. I will come to you first, if I may, General. Why does this not sit more prominently in the strategic defence review that was published last year?”

“I think there are two direct mentions of climate change in the SDR, and it generally talks about the melting of ice in the High North. Are conversations happening at NATO about the threat of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, and how that might drive conflict? You also talked a bit about tipping points, which…”

“Through NATO, how engaged is the United States—or not—on the threats that climate change and the loss of biodiversity will have on national security?”

“If the report that we are discussing today had come before the SDR, do you think that climate change and the loss of biodiversity would sit more prominently within it?”

“Thank you very much for your answers—they are very enlightening. I will turn to you, Mr Laybourn. I am very keen to find some tangible actions that the Government should take in response to what has come to light through this intelligence-led report. Do you think there are appropriate governance structures in place to …”

“Do you have a view on whether the National Security Council (Resilience) is helping to bring that together? I know it is chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and DEFRA sits within it. Can you see if it is making an impact at all?”

“In terms of the public, my perception is that many of them will not know about the Office for Environmental Protection, its remit, its role, or how they might be able to engage with it. Do you have any thoughts or plans about how you might engage the wider public in the Office's work?”

“Compared to some other regulatory bodies, where the public can engage them to raise an issue, can you think of anywhere you might want to draw upon good examples from other similar organisations? Similarly, are there other regulators that are falling short in that space that you might identify as ones that you would no…”

“Thank you, Chair. Compared to a great many regulators, the OEP is held in quite high regard by its stakeholders, including environmental groups. That is perhaps its leadership has been willing to push back where it has felt necessary. Having a change of chair may present an uncertain time for some of those stakeholders…”

“Is there an additional cost to the farmer with the low-emission technique?”

“I very much welcome what the Minister has said about the principles behind how we will use £400 billion of Government procurement to back companies up and down this country, and the workers behind them, by buying British. However, of course, many billions of pounds more are spent across the wider public sector, includi…”