Speeches by Blake.

“That is very helpful. You have hinted at the political challenge, but what role do you think UK parliamentarians can play at COP30 and beyond?”

“The UK has a track record of playing a leading role in the sectoral initiatives announced at previous COPs, as you outlined. Do the UK’s financial contributions match the ambition shown by these announcements? You hinted at that in your last answer to the Chair. Do you think there are limitations at the moment?”

“Mr Topping, what does leadership look like at COP in terms of actions that we can rely on to positively influence other parties? You clearly have a lot of experience of this. Do you have some concrete examples that you could point to?”

“Could I ask about methane for a second? What action will be taken to intensify methane reduction commitments among countries at COP30? His Excellency Antonio de Aguiar Patriota: The methane aspect of the equation is interesting. I understand it has been responsible for roughly 30% of global warming since pre-industrial…”

“Do you feel they are of good quality, essentially? His Excellency Antonio de Aguiar Patriota: Yes. The British and, I would say, the Brazilian also. They are quite specific in establishing a timeline for reaching net zero, which is by mid-century, with ambitious fixed goals for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by…”

“On the quality, how satisfied is the presidency with the NDCs that have been submitted? Particularly that from the UK, but also those from other high-emitting countries. His Excellency Antonio de Aguiar Patriota: Excuse me, I am not sure I understood.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency. I would like to start by returning to nationally determined contributions. All parties to the UNFCCC are expected to submit new NDCs by February, but over 60 have yet to announce a new one. What is Brazil doing to ensure that the remaining NDCs are not only submitted but are ambitious and of…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Pippa Heylings) for securing this debate. I prepared a much longer speech, but I will keep it brief. We know the destabilising forces that scarcity of food can unleash, and what that can mean to commun…”

“I associate myself with the Prime Minister’s condemnations of the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack on the Heaton Park synagogue and the arson attack in Peacehaven. The Prime Minister emphasised the UK’s commitment to humanitarian support. While we all welcome the ceasefire, we know that the humanitarian crisis is …”

“It is a privilege to speak in the debate, and I thank the co-sponsors and the Backbench Business Committee for allowing it to happen on the Floor of the House today. I also thank everyone who has spoken so far and so bravely, whether that is sharing their own experience or that of their constituents. These debates have…”

“Does the hon. Lady agree that it could seem counterintuitive to the public for new testing to be illegal and to require the Secretary of State’s intervention, and for testing in herds considered not to have TB to therefore not be possible, allowing undetected cows to be left in herds?”

“I thank my hon. Friend for outlining the argument so well. Badger culling has proved to be ineffective, unscientific and inhumane. Does she agree that we should not see an increase in culling or supplementary culls in no-risk areas, or the extension of any current licences?”

“I wonder whether my hon. Friend agrees that, as employers have told me, increasing the qualifying period will make the UK less attractive to international talent. That is particularly important for science and research in our universities.”

“That is a while ago now.”

“Given that so much of the UK is now at flood risk, do you see these risks or the patterns of these risks changing over time? How are you going to stay fleet of foot on that?”

“Just briefly on risk, you are focusing on high-risk areas. I completely understand that. Because we do not know enough about the harms, as our witnesses highlighted, are there potentially more resources needed to go down to what you would consider medium risk? How are you evaluating medium risk as well?”

“Monitoring is one gap that we are aware of, but the other recommendation that our predecessor Committee’s report focused on was giving a greater amount of the budget to mitigating pollution. You have only received an interim settlement. The third road investment strategy is now due next year. How certain are you that y…”

“Are you supporting citizen science in flagging any issues? I know the water companies support that, although I am not sure how successful that has been.”

“Okay, that is useful. Are you confident that the methodology has identified all the high-risk sites? The numbers that you have cited sound quite different from what we have heard from other witnesses.”

“That is the identification, but how many of those high-risk sites now have mitigations active and in place?”