Marine Protected Areas: Bottom Trawling

Debate between Baroness Blackstone and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Wednesday 15th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes some really important and sensible points. The reason we are doing it site-specific and tailored is to ensure that we limit fishing only where genuinely necessary and avoid placing restrictions on activities that do not damage the seabed. Sometimes, management measures will involve a ban across the whole site, but it is important that we get that balance. That is what we are looking to do.

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, following on from what the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, said about the disastrous effects of this practice and the fact that it is now six months since the consultation ended, will the Minister take into account the fact that one of the main campaigners against this awful practice has been Sir David Attenborough? It is his 100th birthday on 8 May. Perhaps the Minister will agree that we could congratulate him by announcing the implementation of this ban for his birthday.

State of Climate and Nature

Debate between Baroness Blackstone and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, can the Minister confirm that contrary to the dire predictions made by the noble Lord who speaks for the Opposition, the OBR’s analysis of the costs of reaching net zero suggests that, contrary to earlier estimates, they will be much lower because of the decline in the costs of clean technologies?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I can be very brief in my response. I can confirm that, agree with the noble Baroness and thank her for bringing it up, because the costs of not acting are huge. We must do it and work with others right around the globe to achieve it. Our clean energy mission and moving into cleaner, greener jobs for this country will be a central part of that work.