rose—

rose—

I thank my right hon. Friend for graciously giving way. He might want to clarify that this debate is a bit of a game, and is not exactly about fracking. If we are talking about fracking, scientific evidence and data is so critical—it is everything we base our policies on....

I thank my right hon. Friend for graciously giving way. He might want to clarify that this debate is a bit of a game, and is not exactly about fracking. If we are talking about fracking, scientific evidence and data is so critical—it is everything we base our policies on....

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

What a pleasure it is to be back to continue our consideration of this vital legislation, which will set us on a sustainable trajectory for the future. I know that so many colleagues have been looking forward to today with great anticipation, as indeed have I.

Although the journey of this...

What a pleasure it is to be back to continue our consideration of this vital legislation, which will set us on a sustainable trajectory for the future. I know that so many colleagues have been looking forward to today with great anticipation, as indeed have I.

Although the journey of this...

I am pleased the hon. Lady made that intervention, because of course I would like to pay tribute to Surfers Against Sewage, which has played a key role in all this for such a long time. Coming from the south-west, as I do, I very much know about the good...

I am pleased the hon. Lady made that intervention, because of course I would like to pay tribute to Surfers Against Sewage, which has played a key role in all this for such a long time. Coming from the south-west, as I do, I very much know about the good...

As the hon. Gentleman will know, or I hope he knows, we launched our tree action plan just last week. It sets out the raft of measures we will use to enable us to plant our commitments and target on tree planting, which is 30,000 hectares by the end of...

As the hon. Gentleman will know, or I hope he knows, we launched our tree action plan just last week. It sets out the raft of measures we will use to enable us to plant our commitments and target on tree planting, which is 30,000 hectares by the end of...

I am going to continue.

The Bill also contains a coherent package of new duties, tools and support to drive improvement for nature: a 10% biodiversity net gain requirement on new development; a strengthened duty on all public authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity—they will be able to do a lot...

I am going to continue.

The Bill also contains a coherent package of new duties, tools and support to drive improvement for nature: a 10% biodiversity net gain requirement on new development; a strengthened duty on all public authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity—they will be able to do a lot...

I always give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I always give way to the hon. Gentleman.

If the hon. Gentleman stays in the Chamber, he will hear what I say about trees—

If the hon. Gentleman stays in the Chamber, he will hear what I say about trees—

Of course he doesn’t, Mr Speaker, and he won’t be able to now. I hope he will be pleased by what he hears about what we are doing to protect trees.

Finally in this toolbox of measures to improve nature, we have conservation covenants to protect natural features of the land...

Of course he doesn’t, Mr Speaker, and he won’t be able to now. I hope he will be pleased by what he hears about what we are doing to protect trees.

Finally in this toolbox of measures to improve nature, we have conservation covenants to protect natural features of the land...

I will give way to my right hon. Friend, a former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I will give way to my right hon. Friend, a former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I thank my right hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to mention our peat action plan, which was launched just last week. Restoring our peatlands

is a crucial part of improving nature. It is essential that we get the 30,000 hectares that we have pledged to restore restored. We...

I thank my right hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to mention our peat action plan, which was launched just last week. Restoring our peatlands

is a crucial part of improving nature. It is essential that we get the 30,000 hectares that we have pledged to restore restored. We...

Okay—I will look up at the video screens. The hon. Lady will say that we need to lock in the protections of the habitats and wild birds directive as they are now, but if we are to deliver on our ambitious new target and reverse the downward trend of recent...

Okay—I will look up at the video screens. The hon. Lady will say that we need to lock in the protections of the habitats and wild birds directive as they are now, but if we are to deliver on our ambitious new target and reverse the downward trend of recent...

I thank my hon. Friend for that. I know that there are a lot of strong advocates for trees. We have some very strong measures in the Bill, as I hope he will already know—we have worked very hard on our tree protections. We believe that they, in conjunction with...

I thank my hon. Friend for that. I know that there are a lot of strong advocates for trees. We have some very strong measures in the Bill, as I hope he will already know—we have worked very hard on our tree protections. We believe that they, in conjunction with...

I thank all hon. Members who have tabled amendments. However, the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), in his tirade at the beginning seemed totally unaware of just how many measures this Bill will introduce to look after and protect our environment,...

I thank all hon. Members who have tabled amendments. However, the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), in his tirade at the beginning seemed totally unaware of just how many measures this Bill will introduce to look after and protect our environment,...

I again thank all Members who tabled amendments and who contributed to this afternoon’s debate, demonstrating yet again the strength of feeling and the desire to improve and enhance the environment through this landmark Environment Bill. I can only say that I was slightly disappointed that the shadow Minister, the...

I again thank all Members who tabled amendments and who contributed to this afternoon’s debate, demonstrating yet again the strength of feeling and the desire to improve and enhance the environment through this landmark Environment Bill. I can only say that I was slightly disappointed that the shadow Minister, the...

Clause 130, discussed with Government new clause 31 (Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity) and Government new schedule 1 (Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity), as amended, agreed to. Clause 131 agreed to. Clause 132, as amended, agreed to. Clause 133 agreed to. New clause 4 (Memorandum of understanding) agreed to. New clause 24 (Guidance on OEP's enforcement policy and functions) agreed to. New clause 25 (Species conservation strategies) agreed to. New clause 26 (Protected site strategies) agreed to. New clause 27 (Wildlife conservation: licences) agreed to. New clause 31 (Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity) agreed to. New clause 1 (The environmental objective) negatived on division (5 to 9). New clause 2 (Environmental standards: non-regression) negatived on division (6 to 9). New clause 3 (Well consents for hydraulic fracturing: cessation of issue and termination) negatived on division (5 to 9). New clause 5 (Environmental and human rights due diligence: duty to publish draft legislation) negatived on division (5 to 9). New clause 7 (Waste recycling: duty to maintain an end use register) debated and withdrawn.

Clause 130, discussed with Government new clause 31 (Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity) and Government new schedule 1 (Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity), as amended, agreed to. Clause 131 agreed to. Clause 132, as amended, agreed to. Clause 133 agreed to. New clause 4...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of increased shale gas exploitation on UK groundwater.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of increased shale gas exploitation on UK groundwater.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of regulatory protections for people handling fracking waste water contents (brine) from the effects of radium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of regulatory protections for people handling fracking waste water contents (brine) from the effects of radium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policy on fracking in the UK of the findings of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University on the radioactivity of fracking waste...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policy on fracking in the UK of the findings of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University on the radioactivity of fracking waste...