Speeches by Wilson.

“In the earlier session, we were told that one of the big problems was that there seems to be no joined-up approach when it comes to peatlands. Let’s take the example we are discussing at the moment. What discussions are there when targets are set for renewable energy by DESNZ and your own Department, when many of those…”

“Mr Denny, could I just come back to some of the questions that were asked of you? You had indicated that transitioning from the current usage of peat to alternatives could have an impact on your industry. You talked about economic impacts, competitiveness, et cetera. Are there any environmental impacts of moving from u…”

“We sometimes make recommendations for the best of reasons. For example, with Drax B power station, we decided not to use coal any longer and to use wood chip, and now we find that that has probably been more environmentally damaging than using coal. I can think of a plant grower in my own constituency who uses coir, bu…”

“It would be useful to have that. Because so many of the wind farms are located in peat-rich areas, could we maybe put on the record what the impact is on those peatlands when a wind farm is located on them?”

“Do you remember the all-party horticultural group? We highlight the importance of the horticultural industry to the UK economy. What are you finding that your competitors are doing? Are they rushing to transition in the same way as the horticultural industry in the United Kingdom is trying to transition? Indeed, are th…”

“The Chancellor raised a laugh at the start of her statement when she said she was following the right policies for this country—policies that have resulted in lower economic growth, higher unemployment, people staggering under an increased tax burden and businesses being damaged by employment taxes, and yet she has sho…”

“We should welcome the actions of America and Israel in trying to destroy a regime that, as the Prime Minister described, has exported terror all over the world, but why the weak-kneed response from the Government that we are limiting our bases to defensive actions. Will the Prime Minister clarify what he means by “defe…”

“At the start of this debate, there was a bit of to-ing and fro-ing as to who is to blame for this problem—was it the Conservatives, or the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition? I do not think that is the point. The point is that there is a problem, and we now have a Government who have the ability to deal with it. The second…”

“Northern Ireland would expect to do well out of this process, because proportionally we export much more of our industrial production than other parts of the United Kingdom. The Minister rails against the decision on Brexit and so on, but does he accept that since the United Kingdom as a whole voted to leave the EU, th…”

“Would the hon. and learned Gentleman accept that there is a further chilling effect? Namely, companies that might decide to invest in GB or in Northern Ireland may well feel that since they would be able to achieve less support in Northern Ireland than in GB, they will simply choose to invest outside Northern Ireland i…”

“Does the hon. and learned Member accept that the situation is even worse than that? If goods that are subsidised or get state aid in GB have a tenuous connection with markets in Northern Ireland, the EU can again limit the amount of state aid given, disadvantaging some producers even here in GB.”

“Yesterday I met two apprentices who were engaged in firms delivering defence contracts in Northern Ireland and were enthusiastic about the skills and their prospects, but Northern Ireland benefits minimally from defence contracts across the United Kingdom. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that more contracts…”

“Last week the Government pushed through the imposition of the emissions trading scheme on domestic shipping. That will have a huge impact on Northern Ireland, because so many goods are brought into Northern Ireland from GB, or sent there, on ferries. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact this will have on…”

“Of course we need a commissioner who has the power and ability to expose corruption and deal with it, but today’s statement was not required. We already knew that the Prime Minister made a bad judgment. What the public want to know is how he will be held to account for the things that he knew but ignored. Will the Mini…”

“Hamas would disagree with the hon. Member, because Hamas boasted that the killing of civilians would help to increase the resistance and put some fire into it. Before accusations are made against Israel, let us look at the record of Hamas on putting civilians in harm’s way, and basing their rockets and firing points in…”

“I draw Members’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The question was asked at the start of this debate, “Whose side are we on?” Let me make something very clear: I am on the side of the people who suffered one of the most horrendous terrorist attacks on 7 October 2023, when their citi…”

“No, I will not give way. This demand will be used to justify the intimidatory marches that we see week after week throughout the United Kingdom. It will be used to justify the barricading of Jewish businesses, the banning of Jewish students and academics from universities, and even the banning of Israeli sports fans fr…”

“I suppose the Committee would want to know what weight would be given, for example, to the environmental implications of diverging and not putting restrictions on as opposed to trade, employment or whatever. That was really what I was trying to get at. What would be the main criteria that would be applied when deciding…”

“Yes, but what would the criteria be simply on the outcome of the consultation? Would it be what industry said or what came back from whatever source of information you used? Surely there would be a criterion that you would apply. What factors would be included in that criterion?”

“In an earlier answer the Minister did say that where it was in the interests of the UK, the Government would consider divergence and, indeed, mentioned a couple of industries—pharmaceuticals and aerospace, I think. What criteria would be used for deciding whether we were going to diverge from the EU on these issues?”