Environment Bill: Public Bill committee proceedings - Mar 19

The Committee consisted of the following Members:

Chairs: † Mr Nigel Evans, Sir Roger Gale, Sir George Howarth

Afolami, Bim (Hitchin and Harpenden) (Con)

† Ansell, Caroline (Eastbourne) (Con)

Bhatti, Saqib (Meriden) (Con)

† Brock, Deidre (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)

† Debbonaire, Thangam (Bristol West) (Lab)

† Docherty, Leo (Aldershot) (Con)

Edwards, Ruth (Rushcliffe) (Con)

Graham, Richard (Gloucester) (Con)

† Longhi, Marco (Dudley North) (Con)

† McCarthy, Kerry (Bristol East) (Lab)

Mackrory, Cherilyn (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)

† Moore, Robbie (Keighley) (Con)

Oppong-Asare, Abena (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)

† Pow, Rebecca (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Sobel, Alex (Leeds North West) (Lab/Co-op)

Thomson, Richard (Gordon) (SNP)

Whitehead, Dr Alan (Southampton, Test) (Lab)

Adam Mellows-Facer, Anwen Rees, Committee Clerks

† attended the Committee

Public Bill Committee

Thursday 19 March 2020

[Mr Nigel Evans in the Chair]

Environment Bill

11.30 am

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow)

I beg to move,

That, notwithstanding the Committee’s order of 10 March, the Committee, at the conclusion of proceedings at the sitting starting at 11.30 am on 19 March, do adjourn to a time and date to be fixed by the Chair.

Following cross-party discussions and in the light of recent events, it is appropriate that proceedings in Committee be postponed.

I thank all Members on both sides of the Committee—those here, and those not here today—for the wonderfully positive way in which they have approached their scrutiny of the Bill. The Committee knows that the Bill is landmark legislation, so we take it very seriously. I very much look forward to our resumption at an appropriate point. The motion provides for the Committee to adjourn until a later date, and it is right that we take such action in the light of what is happening nationally.

Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) (Lab)

On behalf of Her Majesty’s Opposition, let me say that we appreciate the constructive way in which this has been handled. I thank the Clerks and staff. We look forward to resuming, because we have a lot of amendments to discuss, but I thank everyone for managing to smooth this out so swiftly. Thank you for your chairmanship, Mr Evans.

Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)

I echo the hon. Member’s comments. I am not aware of any discussion held between our Whips, but I am sure that one did happen. While I am extremely disappointed, as we all must be, that the Committee cannot continue at this point, I look forward to its resumption in the near future, once we have got through this terrible time.

The Chair

These are unprecedented times. They have even got me chairing the Committee!

Thangam Debbonaire

Aww!

The Chair

I know.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered, That further consideration be now adjourned.—(Leo Docherty.)

11.32 am

Adjourned till a time and date to be fixed by the Chair.