Speeches by Munt.

“And the warthogs?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I wonder if I might reiterate the request in respect of the walrus: I understand that it is protected by the Seal Products Regulations 2010, but I want to be clear about the loopholes in that legislation. Could the Government monitor the online and physical tr…”

“None the less, I ask the Minister to recognise that warthogs are declining in number and are on the red list. I am happy to discuss the issue with her later, but I want to ensure that we watch our warthogs.”

“And the warthogs?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I wonder if I might reiterate the request in respect of the walrus: I understand that it is protected by the Seal Products Regulations 2010, but I want to be clear about the loopholes in that legislation. Could the Government monitor the online and physical tr…”

“None the less, I ask the Minister to recognise that warthogs are declining in number and are on the red list. I am happy to discuss the issue with her later, but I want to ensure that we watch our warthogs.”

“I am reassured in part, but I would be delighted if we can look further at walrus. I do not understand why we would not protect the walrus and the warthog. Closing off the trade in the four species that the Minister mentioned might enhance people’s desire to hunt the walrus and the warthog, so I do not understand the l…”

“As chair, you need the ability to understand and oversee compliance with expenditure controls. Can you identify your historical experience with that order of work, and demonstrate your capabilities in that area?”

“Thank you.”

“You set up a committee to do that. Did you sit on that committee?”

“The essential criteria require you to have the “ability to gain the confidence of and build relationships with” quite a range of stakeholders, in both the UK and Europe, “particularly with Ministers and parliamentarians”. Can you explain a little about how you meet that criterion?”

“I am the Member for Wells and Mendip Hills, and am one of the vice-chairs of the APPG on whistleblowing and a director of WhistleblowersUK.”

“Rachel was a village postmistress in my constituency, and her life was smashed to pieces by the Horizon scandal. Her claim was decided by a body of professionals put together to work these things out. It was submitted, and the Post Office had 40 days to respond. On the 38th day, the Post Office asked two questions, whi…”

“T3. Last week, the Government released their latest departmental lobbying transparency data. The data was two months late and relates to the last months of the previous Government, namely April to June 2024. The public will learn who the new Government met during their first weeks in power only at the end of December, …”

“Thank you. That would be helpful, perhaps in writing to the Committee generally. Can I just focus on your bit of it?”

“Shall we talk about that a bit?”

“Very good, thank you. What is causing it to take so long? Accepting that there is a two-day median, what is happening with the others?”

“Forgive me, but is that not the stuff that the police do? Am I wrong?”

“It might be quite useful to see your graph of where your median is.”

“I give way to Josh.”