Members of the House of Lords were successful in their attempts to table Private Members Bills (PMBs) which would improve our environmental legislation in the forthcoming session of Parliament.
Several Peers for the Planet Peers, including Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, Lord Krebs and Lord Harries of Pentregarth were successful in the ballot which was drawn on Friday 19 July. The result means, cross-party peers will have several opportunities outside of the Government's legislative programme to address climate and nature issues.
Out of over 100 which were submitted, Baroness Ritchie’s, Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling) Bill came 5th and will be introduced to Parliament next week on 30 July and debated first on Friday 6 September. The Bill, if enacted would ban the destructive practice of bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Lord Krebs, who came 9th, will introduce The Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill in September and the Bill will have its Second Reading debate later in the year. His PMB would place a duty and objective on public bodies to work to achieve the UKs legally binding climate and nature targets.
Lord Harries’ Bill, the Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill, would require that any statements relating to British values for education purposes include, among other things, respect for the environment. In this context it would mean taking into account the systemic effect of human actions on the health and sustainability of the environment, for present and future generations. This Bill is likely to receive its Second Reading on 16 October.
Comments