Speeches by Buckley.

“I can hear how carefully you have analysed the value and the benefit. There is also an implied growth there, growth of the research, and we are hearing about the growing demands. Do you think that that will continue to sustain the one-plus or one-plus-plus? Do you think that will sustain us going forward? Will we ever …”

“It is the revenue for the delivery.”

“To follow up quite briefly, how did the experience shape your understanding of the logistical and scientific challenges that are faced by BAS?”

“Individual applications, piece by piece, so if none come forward, it will not be doing any trips?”

“Could you share with the Committee what your key takeaways were from the Committee’s visit to the Rothera research station?”

“To follow up quite briefly, how did the experience shape your understanding of the logistical and scientific challenges that are faced by BAS?”

“I did want to ask you exactly about the ship and I am pleased to hear some of those details coming forward. I was going to ask when the Sir David Attenborough will return to the north, but you seem to imply that that would depend on funding. Have I understood that correctly?”

“Individual applications, piece by piece, so if none come forward, it will not be doing any trips?”

“My other question was about balancing two roles. You touched on them. Given the significant investment that went into that vessel, how does NERC maximise its use, balancing the roles between supporting logistics and conducting the marine research that you mentioned?”

“I did want to ask you exactly about the ship and I am pleased to hear some of those details coming forward. I was going to ask when the Sir David Attenborough will return to the north, but you seem to imply that that would depend on funding. Have I understood that correctly?”

“Will the Minister please give us an update om the extent of the floods that resulted from the storm? Rural constituencies such as mine experienced a double whammy: we were battered by the storm, and then we were deluged once again by flooding. That double problem is also much more sustained.”

“We are anticipating that early next year your Committee will be providing that advice to the Government on the level that you will set the Seventh Carbon Budget, that overall limit for UK emissions from 2038 to 2042. You have already mentioned this morning that you expect it at the end of February 2025, is that correct…”

“You kindly offered that you would be willing to come back. We would like you to confirm that you will come back to this Committee and present the main findings of that advice?”

“That brings me on to my next question: what would be the benefit to Parliament and the public if Ministers published a draft delivery plan for the carbon budget before asking both Houses to set the overall limit in law? It is about the sequencing.”

“Thank you. We were going to come back to you about the presumption of sustainable development. I know you have spoken to it at great length, Professor Scott, but do either of the other two witnesses have any views on whether that is currently fit for purpose in the NPPF?”

“Interesting. Do you have a view about the environmental outcome report and whether that was preferable, or—”

“Making them publicly available earlier?”

“I am interested to hear that you feel that is stronger than the outcome report. Do you want to suggest any other improvements? You sound positive about them, but this is your moment if you want to raise any suggestions to improve them in any other way.”

“Coming back to some of the more pragmatic tools that we have at our disposal, how effective are the current environmental impact assessment requirements in the NPPF at identifying and mitigating potential environmental harms from proposed developments?”

“Thank you. We were going to come back to you about the presumption of sustainable development. I know you have spoken to it at great length, Professor Scott, but do either of the other two witnesses have any views on whether that is currently fit for purpose in the NPPF?”