Speeches by Davies.

“I certainly think there are people in my local area who would love to engage with an activity like that. What Government initiatives are there to restore ancient woodland, and how are they being delivered? I know that the Government—correct me if I am wrong—have an aspiration to create and restore 500 hectares of wildl…”

“Time is short, but I wonder if I might bring you in, Mr Knight. Are you familiar with the environmental improvement plan?”

“Can the public help with the inventory, if they are enthusiasts?”

“Well, I shall inquire as to how it is getting on.”

“Is there enough synergy between the environmental improvement plan and the NPPF, or are they diametrically opposed on this?”

“I think I have 30 seconds.”

“That is very interesting. I would also note that sometimes it is felt that legislation or Government measures have come through that have probably been at odds with your priorities. I am thinking particularly about the decision on APR, because we know that small farmers often are very good at being stewards and custodi…”

“Yes, but does it reflect a sense within Government that they—”

“It is really good to hear about that collaboration. As you say, what comes through your Department is fundamental for human life. I just wonder, although your collaboration with DESNZ is clearly good, to what extent the priorities of your Department are reflected in the things that are done to you by either the Treasur…”

“Thank you for joining us, Secretary of State. When we stood for election in 2024, we would have both talked a lot about Labour’s five missions for Government. I think the first one is that we must have the fastest growth in the G7, and the second was that Britain was to be a clean energy superpower. It is clear to see …”

“My hon. Friend is generous in giving way. He is making important points about potential overreach of the state. Might I suggest that this is not the end for the Bill and that if there are concerns—people are rightly raising issues—we can progress them in Committee and at subsequent stages to ensure that the Bill is whe…”

“My hon. Friend is making a very good speech and putting victims at the heart of what she is saying. I share some of her concerns about the legislation as it stands, but does she agree that we should vote for it today, so that we have the opportunity to influence it and improve it in the interests of public trust as it …”

“I thank the Chancellor for her statement, because this is a worrying time for not just our national security, but our economy. I am pleased to hear about the work going on with the Competition and Markets Authority in respect of consumers of heating oil, but may I suggest that she has a conversation with her colleagues…”

“Do you find that you are able to be totally independent as a public body?”

“This Government have a plan to roll out perhaps 150 nationally significant infrastructure projects over the course of this Parliament and they have done over 30 already. To what extent do you think the designation of nationally significant infrastructure projects bypasses protection for peatlands as a vital habitat?”

“Have you ever suggested to Government, through Natural England as the independent adviser, to have the carbon calculator?”

“Are we quite transparent, when we have a wind farm on peatland, about how much carbon-capturing peat we have lost? Is that information readily available?”

“Do you think that we would be able to find that out ourselves quite easily, or would you perhaps let us know?”

“We have some questions about the relationship with infrastructure and how we manage the trade-offs with the natural world, or peatlands more specifically. This is a question that Governments have been thinking about for many decades in this and comparable countries. Mr Wilson will ask some questions about this too. Bui…”

“We know that one hectare of peatland can sink 5,000 tonnes of carbon. Do you know how much peatland we have lost overall to wind turbines and whether the balance has been tipped in favour of reducing our dependence on carbon-generating fuel as a consequence of that?”