Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill

We need to ensure that our Government listen to a range of experts, not just to those people with loads of cash who can use money and personal contacts to gain access to the detailed discussions. My biggest concerns are monitoring and enforcement: I simply do not understand how those two things will happen in any sort of efficient way. I would like us to become a world leader in pushing for the establishment of marine protected areas in places beyond national jurisdiction. While I am sure that most here would like this Bill to pass so that we can sign up to international law, I would say that it does not go far enough to protect our ocean.

Continue reading “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill”

Water and Sewerage Companies

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill

There is absolutely no techno fix for the pollution that aviation causes and the Royal Society worked out that to reach net zero for aviation fuel we need at least half the UK’s agricultural land to grow the raw materials. That means less fodder for livestock and higher prices for cereals and food. Last year, the 2025 UK harvest was the second worst on record. If the Government want farmers to grow jet fuel instead of food, prices in the shops are going to rise in order to keep the planes flying. As we enter the era of climate crisis impacting on world food production, our country will have less farming land available but will want more of it devoted to support the oxymoronic idea of sustainable aviation Continue reading “Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill”

Crime and Policing Bill Cmttee Stage Day 3

This Bill creates two new offences in Clause 56: child criminal exploitation and cuckooing. These are important steps. They recognise forms of exploitation that front-line workers, police officers and charities have been grappling with for years. However, the Bill currently does only half the job. It recognises the exploitation, but not the victim. When vulnerable children or exploited adults are used as tools by criminal networks, the criminal justice system should not compound their suffering by treating them as willing participants. These amendments I have tabled would complete the logic of the Bill and ensure that the law protects those who need protection most. Continue reading “Crime and Policing Bill Cmttee Stage Day 3”

Sentencing Bill Second Reading

This is obviously a Bill with good aims: to reduce the prison population and put more resources into probation and rehabilitation. However, the problem is that the prison population is going up in the long term because Governments keep coming up with new reasons to lock people up. Continue reading “Sentencing Bill Second Reading”

Crime and Policing Bill Committee Stage Day 1

Amendment 55A would require the Home Office to publish quarterly data on the issuing of anti-social behaviour orders and related injunctions. Specifically, it would ensure that these reports include the number of occasions when stop and search has been used by the police prior to the issuing of such orders, and the protected characteristics of those who have been issued with them. These powers can have serious and lasting consequences for those subject to them, particularly young people and those from marginalised communities. Yet at present, the public and Parliament have very limited visibility of how these tools are being applied. This would ensure transparency and accountability about how anti-social behaviour powers are being used across England and Wales. Continue reading “Crime and Policing Bill Committee Stage Day 1”