Speeches by Heylings.

“Across Europe, we have already seen 2,300 heatwave-related deaths—avoidable deaths—and the Met Office report says that things will just get worse. The Lib Dems and I have a really cool idea. Will the Secretary of State work with local authorities to open up public spaces with air conditioning, such as leisure centres a…”

“We welcomed the joint agreement signed in May between the UK and the EU, in which small steps were taken to address the impacts of the Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal on energy costs and bills. What further steps will the Secretary of State take to forge energy co-operation through a recoupling of the UK and EU elec…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for sharing his statement in advance. He is right: making the UK a clean energy superpower is the smartest and most strategic way to free ourselves from our dependence on expensive, volatile fossil fuels. However, as we have heard, accelerating the transition to renewables alone is not en…”

“Will the Minister clear up, once and for all, the further confusion over the proposed changes to the settlement period from five to 10 years? Will she clarify for the BNO visa holders living in my constituency whether the changes will be applied retrospectively or only prospectively, and will she confirm that those who…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I join other Members in congratulating the hon. Member for Tamworth (Sarah Edwards) on securing the debate and on her fantastic laying out of the situation. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy: they are 99% of UK businesses and over 5.5 million stron…”

“What is your recommendation to the Committee on that? What would a recommendation for the risk appetite look like?”

“Ms Spain, we heard you talk about how much the nature protection legislation and rules have held sway throughout planning and what is happening with house building. The Office for Environmental Protection has said that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would represent a reduction in the level of environmental protec…”

“Do you agree that that should be one of this Committee’s key recommendations from this inquiry?”

“I declare my interest as co-chair of the new APPG for local nature recovery strategies. It is very good to hear you talk about the fact that within the spatial development plan, the local nature recovery strategies will to some extent be doing a lot of the heavy lifting of saying which of the opportunity areas for natu…”

“The concern, particularly around the water cycle, is that according to the Environment Agency’s recent report we are looking at things that will need more than 10 years.”

“Could what has been worked on be impacted by coming to a cliff edge at the end of 10 years of an EDP? What guarantees that it will be sustained?”

“Thank you. Concerns about the strategic, long-term effectiveness of these measures include what happens at the end of the 10-year period for an EDP—the cliff edge or not the cliff edge. What do you think should happen following that 10 years? Could they be developed? Are they at risk of being developed at a later stage…”

“Absolutely. That is an innovative scheme, so we have to know that you can do that before you can release the other homes. It is a key concern in my South Cambridgeshire constituency. Many believe that the nature restoration fund works. It was originally designed for nutrient neutrality, and you could even look at water…”

“Mr Duffy, I have a similar question around the EDPs. Do you expect to be involved in the design and delivery of the environmental delivery plans and, if so, what resources do you have to fulfil that role?”

“That leads nicely to my next question. We have heard concerns as a Committee, which are shared among many environmental NGOs and other stakeholders, that Natural England would in a way be marking its own homework around the environmental delivery plans and the nature restoration fund. You are the regulator, the statuto…”

“Can you understand the concerns about whether there will be any independent oversight? You are designing, delivering and monitoring the plans, and the Secretary of State, with all the capacity they have, will be the ultimate arbiter if necessary. Do you understand that concern?”

“In conclusion, many thanks, Madam Deputy Speaker.”

“I, too, thank the Minister for advance notice of the statement today. Our thoughts are with the workers at the Prax Lindsey refinery who have heard this last-minute, shocking news today, which has put their futures and jobs on hold. We understand that this is just one refinery within the Prax Group, but the threatened …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. It is important to set the debate and the e-petition in the context of the last couple of weeks. Last weekend saw another hottest day of the year on record, triggering an official heatwave and accompanied by an amber heat health warning, which means that becau…”

“Will my hon. Friend give way?”