Speeches by Blake.

“Mr Evans applied for early release of his civil service pension on health grounds because of terminal illness in November 2025, but sadly passed away this May. His case is still not resolved, despite repeated urgent representations from my office. Capita has failed inexcusably. What actions can be taken to ensure that …”

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“I declare an interest as a leasehold homeowner, which is very common in Sheffield. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green (Florence Eshalomi) for securing this important debate. I agree wholeheartedly with the recommendations of her Committee, and of Lord Best, about a regulator. I welcome …”

“I thank the Prime Minister wholeheartedly for this apology. Everyone present can see the pain, and the real need for this. I want to ask quite a technical point about the national online resource. Families often end up paying huge amounts of money to try to locate family members. Often, DNA is a way that people are reu…”

“Does anyone else want to come in on that? Given that we have other areas that will be very hard to decarbonise—aviation, and some industries—is this a good use?”

“To power—”

“I just wonder if you think that this is a good use of the carbon budget that we have.”

“There is a huge amount of investment accumulating. Do you not agree that perhaps—I know this was asked in the previous session—newer technologies, like green hydrogen, should be looked at? Obviously, they need more investment to become more affordable, but given the huge amount of energy consumption and the need for a …”

“If renewables are not universally—”

“I wonder whether the hon. Member will vote against this measure. That would tell her constituents very clearly her view on this matter. Back in 2008, under a Labour Government, the UK became the first country to introduce a comprehensive climate framework through the Climate Change Act, which set out the legally bindin…”

“I declare an interest as chair of the Climate and Nature Crisis Caucus. I also refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. It is a pleasure to speak in support of the Carbon Budget Order 2026. As I stand here, the UK is experiencing a frightening heatwave and a rare red weather warning, w…”

“Alongside the postcode lottery my hon. Friend outlines, the impact on young people accessing education has huge implications. Not being able to view that data also impacts our understanding of why children might not be attending school. Does he agree that that is why data is so important for under-18s?”

“You mentioned buffer zones. How big would a buffer zone have to be to protect from the nitrogen pollution that you mentioned? I wanted a bit more understanding of how far that would have to go to be effective. I can imagine a policy being written for 20 metres or three miles, so what scale are we talking about—or is it…”

“That is very helpful. Is there enough national guidance on such areas at the moment, or should we as a Committee be asking for more robust policies?”

“On other risks—right of access, right to roam and access to nature, which have all been kind of discussed—would you see any of those in conflict with protecting these important habitats?”

“That would be very helpful. I have a final question on animal management, which you mentioned. It is quite a controversial issue with deer, I am sure, but is there a set of policies that would enable better animal management that you would like to see us recommending?”

“What is the viability of habitat translocation as a solution to the threats you just outlined? There is a bit of scepticism out there about whether that is viable. What is your view on that?”

“It would be really helpful for the Committee to get a fuller understanding of the threats to ancient woodlands. Could each of you be as comprehensive as possible on the threats that ancient woodlands face?”

“That is very clear. Mr Phillips, I am interested in the PAWS we have been discussing. What level does it have to get to for the Woodland Trust to be satisfied that it is restored? Obviously, restoration is the ambition, but it would be useful for us to know what level of input needs to be there.”

“Are there any other views on that?”