Environment Bill

Baroness Barker Excerpts

Committee stage
Monday 12th July 2021 Lords Chamber

The Government share the commitment of all those who spoke on the need to protect our trees and valuable peatlands. I hope that I have been able to reassure noble Lords on their points and that they feel able not to press their amendments.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Barker) (LD)]

I have received requests to speak after the Minister from two noble Lords. First, I call the noble Lord, Lord Marlesford.

[Lord Marlesford (Con) [V]]

My Lords, we have rightly heard much about the importance of protecting ancient woodland in Britain for global reasons. Is it not as important, and perhaps more urgent, to halt and prevent the loss of tropical rainforests, such as the Amazon? Has my noble friend considered the proposals that I made at Second Reading for the relief of national debt, both interest and capital repayment, equal to a multiple—possibly a high multiple—of the commercial value of the rainforest that we want to protect? Only if the rainforest were interfered with would the debt be reinstated.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Barker) (LD)]

We now come to the group beginning with Amendment 260B. Anyone who wishes to press this or anything else in this group to a Division must make that clear in the debate.

Clause 109: Use of forest risk commodities in commercial activity

Amendment 260B

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