It is unconscionable that the Crown Estate should be profiting from the factory farming of salmon. It is clear that the current rules for the Crown Estate are not good; they are not good enough for the environment or for animal welfare, they are not working to protect to salmon populations from this toxic industry. Continue reading “Crown Estate Bill Report Stage”
Following the launch of her Biocide Bill Natalie Bennett continues her good work on Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) by initiating a debate on this crucial environment and health issue Continue reading “Biocides and anti-microbial resistance”
Privatisation of rail has given us higher fares and generated a fat profit for all the state-owned German and French rail companies, which took advantage of UK taxpayers. I congratulate Labour on bringing this to an end. But why not end the disastrous mistake of water privatisation that will cost £12.5 billion in this Parliament alone, only to pay shareholders and creditors, but which will still result in waterways full of faeces, agricultural run-off, other chemicals, drugs, paint, bleach and plastic? If water companies collapsed, we could buy them for pennies and run them ourselves. Continue reading “Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill Second Reading”
Who Watches the Watchdogs? is an extremely interesting report but we produce reports and they are then often ignored Continue reading “Who watches the Watchdogs?”
Last night Jenny won the River and Seas Award at the Nature 2030 Political Purpose awards! The award was presented by James Wallace of River Action. The awards are designed to recognise the efforts of UK politicians who have supported and championed environmental causes over the last year, incentivizing more politicians to devote their time to protecting nature. Continue reading “Jenny wins River and Seas Award”
It does not sound like much of a plan – that if a water company became insolvent or were in serious breach of its principal statutory duties or an enforcement order, it would enter special administration. I declare an interest as a member of the advisory board of River Action. I will put a plan forward; I am happy to share it with the Government because it is better than that one. The plan is that, as soon as any water company fails—and several are looking as if they are on that path now—we take it back into public ownership.
Fujitsu is still a major government contractor which gives money to the Conservative Party. Fujitsu should be in the dock and prosecutions should already have begun. If you let major corporations run your Government, taxpayers will be ripped off and find that they are paying out millions when things go wrong. Fujitsu should pay the costs back to sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses, not us taxpayers. Continue reading “Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill Second Reading”
The Renters (Reform) Bill is the smallest of steps; it must be tougher in order to be fairer.
Firstly we need rent controls, the Mayor of London has asked for these powers and Greens at all levels of government will fight to give him them. Local mayors and local authorities know their areas and understand the local housing market. This Government should give them the power to make that choice.
Secondly, we Greens would lengthen the notice periods for rent increases and stop landlords using spurious grounds to evict people.
Thirdly, we will support all the amendments that aim to make life easier for student renters. I declare an interest here, as I now have grandchildren who are starting out in the world as students, so they clearly have a vested interest in this. Continue reading “Renters (Reform) Bill Second Reading”
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb 