Speeches by Pitcher.

“No—where within the planning process? Jack Airey: The Bill puts much greater emphasis on local plan making. In my view, that is a really good thing. We need plans that really stand up to scrutiny, and we need promised homes to be actually delivered. The Planning Inspectorate has a big role there, and I think that is wh…”

“Q It sounds as though you are saying that you are ready to work across the private, public and voluntary sectors to deliver that. Marian Spain: We are already having those conversations as part of the preparatory work.”

“Q Thank you, Marian, for coming along today; that is massively appreciated. I have heard a few things today about genuine community benefits being essential—they must be delivered—and partnerships and relationships being hugely important in order to be able to facilitate those. Everybody we have talked to, including yo…”

“Q I am just trying to understand, Richard. I have watched programmes, I have worked in the world of climate and I spoke at COP26, so I have a bit of background. You have talked to us about the number of species that are dying out now and, globally, I know they are dying out 100 times faster than normal evolutionary rat…”

“Q Are you saying that it will make it worse? Richard Benwell: Yes, but it could make it better if you do it well. At the moment, it is worse because it allows developers to short-circuit the mitigation hierarchy and go straight to damage. It is worse because the level of certainty of environmental benefits is lower tha…”

“No, I am not talking about illness; I am talking about people with a long-term disability. We have talked about examples of people maybe having an illness that is degenerative, and it gets to a stage where they can still perform their duties, but they cannot come in and have to do that away from Parliament.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I am not talking about illness; I am talking about people with a long-term disability. We have talked about examples of people maybe having an illness that is degenerative, and it gets to a stage where they can still perform their duties, but they cannot come in and have to do that away from Parliament.”

“But having been Deputy Speakers, you could see that being replicated in the Commons in those very specific circumstances?”

“Okay, so you could see that happening in that particular situation?”

“Yes, specifically on your learning if that is okay, Baronesses. Is that the plural for Baroness—Baronesses? I don’t know what the plural is, so Eleanor and Rosie, if I may call you that, I want to ask about people with a long-term disability and your learning from the Lords in particular. I understand that there, if yo…”

“Do you think that a longer period between the closing of the nominations and the election taking place would affect the election process or the candidates in any way?”

“That is my follow-on question: do you believe that the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee should be elected for the duration of the Parliament, based on your experience?”

“You talked passionately about it already, Natascha. I know you were the Chair between 2010 and 2015. I know that the election is conducted very differently from the other Select Committees, being at the start of each Session rather than for the duration of the Parliament. Did that electoral cycle cause any issues in th…”

“Dawn and Natascha, do you think a longer period between the closing of nominations and the actual election taking place would impact either the election process or the candidates in any way?”

“Thank you.”

“But having been Deputy Speakers, you could see that being replicated in the Commons in those very specific circumstances?”

“Okay, so you could see that happening in that particular situation?”

“Yes, specifically on your learning if that is okay, Baronesses. Is that the plural for Baroness—Baronesses? I don’t know what the plural is, so Eleanor and Rosie, if I may call you that, I want to ask about people with a long-term disability and your learning from the Lords in particular. I understand that there, if yo…”

“Do you think that a longer period between the closing of the nominations and the election taking place would affect the election process or the candidates in any way?”