Speeches by Blake.

“This is a strange question. How will you make sure that species are not wrongly deemed as invasive because they are moving? How do you maintain protection if they are new to someone’s environment, and they are eating something that you are concerned about protecting? How do you keep up with nature to make sure that we …”

“As the marine environment changes, how can the UK ensure that it is providing protection to species that may be displaced or migrate to different areas than they would ordinarily live in—for example, if they migrate north to waters that become warmer?”

“Are there any specific mechanisms that you think would be helpful to ensure that flexibility and adaptability?”

“A final question, because I am aware of time. Do you think that the information that allows policymakers and regulators to make decisions is the right information and of adequate quality? Do you think the guidance that is produced provides sufficient protection for the species that migrate?”

“Do you think that policymakers and regulators are getting the right information to be able to make good quality decisions about species that migrate?”

“I have a scientific background, and my personal view is that Government quite often do not realise that science is sometimes a continuing debate. They will get one paper and say, “That is the one”, but science is an iterative process.”

“You say that there is a bit of a mixed view about why the activity is still allowed within the UK MPAs. Can you explore that a bit more for me?”

“Would you improve anything?”

“Did Cornwall Insight get it massively wrong?”

“It sounds like you feel that something would be lost with this suggestion, but would it be easier to run the whole mission out of your Department, working across Government and with stakeholders as necessary rather than the situation we have? It sounds as though you do not agree with that.”

“To drill down a bit more, how are you avoiding overlap and duplication among all the organisations that have oversight?”

“Several organisations and bodies are involved in overseeing the delivery of clean power by 2030, including Mission Control, NESO, the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission, the Clean Power Mission Board, the AI Energy Council and your own Department. Who ultimately has responsibility for the oversight?”

“Okay.”

“Welcome, Secretary of State. I want to ask about something that happened today. Cornwall Insight has released a report that says that the Government will miss their 2030 clean power target by 32 GW, equivalent to tens of millions of homes’ worth of power. Do you recognise that figure and do you agree with the report’s …”

“Last November, witnesses told us about the importance of infrastructure for making sure that the right houses are built in the right places. Are there any specific approaches to providing infrastructure that can minimise the environmental consequences of housebuilding?”

“Do you think we should see nature and the environment as part of the infrastructure in a much more formal way?”

“Last November, witnesses told us about the importance of infrastructure for making sure that the right houses are built in the right places. Are there any specific approaches to providing infrastructure that can minimise the environmental consequences of housebuilding?”

“I want to briefly follow up on the social and environmental objectives of the planning system. We have touched on a couple of aspects with you, Ms Pullinger. Do you feel that warm homes and the impact on social, financial, and health outcomes should be more heavily weighed as that is a spin-off benefit of being carbon …”

“All right. Thank you.”

“Switching back to infrastructure, can you point to an example—say in planning a neighbourhood, so at neighbourhood level rather than individual property level—an example of something actively delivering better outcomes for nature, the environment and carbon?”