On 24 April 2024 Barry questioned two representatives from the Enviornment Agency, grilling them on the government’s approach to maintaining and improving Britain’s biodiversity.
Barry argued that there is “more to be done” in this area.
Amazon fails to appear before the Committee: Electronic waste and the circular economy
On Wednesday 17 April, the Environmental Audit Committee held a follow-up session to its inquiry on electronic waste.
Electrical and electronic equipment are estimated to be Europe’s fastest growing source of waste, increasing by 3-5% year on year. UK households and businesses discard an estimated 2 million tonnes of e-waste each year.
MPs heard from organisations and experts working across the waste and recycling industries. However, Amazon declined an invitation to appear, despite being the primary UK marketplace for electronics. Committee Chair Philip Dunne has written to the company querying this, saying it raises concerns of how waste and recycling is being tackled “at board level”.
Thames Water have provided a catastrophic failure in service
“I’m not sure you have charted a plan in what you’ve said”, Barry told Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as he outlined the “catastrophic failure” of Thames Water.
In the second half of the same session, Barry put to the Minister that “there is a huge descrepancy in the number of checks you think will be required at Sevington and that they believe will be required at Sevington”. 1.1 million to be specific. This was part of Barry’s line of questioning on the operation of Britain’s ports.
"It has taken me 16 years to get someone to say that in front of a Committee, so thank you"
On the 20th of March 2024, Barry took part in an Environmental Audit Committee panel for the inquiry entitled “The role of natural capital in the green economy”.
The panel in question featured Susannah Stock, Banking Director responsible for Natural Capital, UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB); Paul Scaping, Public Policy Specialist, The Investment Association and Dr Scott Steedman CBE, Director-General, Standards, and Group Executive at British Standards Institution (BSI).
The government will give Drax £11bn by 2027 without properly monitoring the progress
On 20 March 2024, Barry questioned Andrew Bowie MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nuclear and Renewables), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on his department’s lack of monitoring on the issue of sustainable biomass.
The Minister stated that he disagreed with the National Audit Office in their conclusion that the government department lacked appropriate monitoring. A report which the Minister’s own permanent secretary agreed to.
Later in the afternoon, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committed hosted another session, this time questioning Alice Delahunty, President, National Grid Electricity Transmission; Christianna Logan, Director of Customers and Stakeholders, SSEN Transmission and Phil Jones, Chair, Energy Networks Association.
Why have food manufacturers made record profits while working families struggle?
On the 19th of March 2024 Barry grilled food manufactuers on why they have profiteered so much during a time when families are struggling to put food on the table.
Barry on X (formerly Twitter) stated:
“Big Food Bosses expected us to feel sorry for them and moaned about the increase cost of their supply chain. But they couldn’t explain why their profits had soared when families were struggling with the cost of living crisis.”
What can the UK learn from Germany in securing domestic supply chains?
On the 13th of March 2024 Barry took part in 2 panels with industry leaders asking how can the UK better secure its domestic supply chains.
In the thirdpanel, representatives from Siemons Energy claimed that due to a lack of political consistency the Government failed to secure investment from their industry.
The Committee first quesioned Andy Reay, the Head of Offshore Wind at Associated British Ports.
The second panel consisted of Alastair Evans, the Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, RollsRoyce SMR, Rich Everett, the Group Head of Supply Chain, Rolls-Royce SMR and Victoria Scott Interim Chief Manufacturing Engineer, Rolls-Royce SMR.
And finally the third panel featured Darren Davidson the Vice President for UK&I at Siemens Energy, Andrew Elmes Head of Net Zero Business Development, UK&I, Siemens Energy and Matthew Knight Head of Market and Government Affairs, Siemens Energy
Barry questions Government Minister on enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy
On the 12th of March 2024 Barry sat on a session of the Enviornmental Audit Committee in which they questioned the Departmnet for Energy Security and Net Zero on the issue of enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy.
This panel included Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP, Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Emily Bourne, Director for Energy Systems and Networks, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Eleanor Warburton, Director, Energy Systems Management and Security, Ofgem.
Education and Careers in Land-based Sectors
On the 5th of March 2024 Barry took part in a special Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee session held at Harper Adams University.
This was the second session of the education and careers in land-based sectors inquiry. The Committee took evidence from sector experts on a range of issues including:
• Meeting labour needs and addressing the skills gaps across the landbased sectors
• Career pathways into the sectors, including awareness, diversity, inclusion and coordination
• Connecting the public with the opportunities in the land-based sectors, including those seeking a career change
Heating our homes and securing the domestic supply chain
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee held two sessions on the 28th of February 2024, as it continues its look at how to boost the energy efficiency of homes and kicks off the oral evidence stage of its securing the domestic supply chain inquiry.
The heating our homes session, in the morning, focussed on workforce issues and international experiences. MPs questioned training providers about the challenge of preparing workers for retrofitting homes before hearing about the situation in other European countries.
The Committee then returned in the afternoon to examine the potential for UK manufacturing to play a greater role in the supply chain for low-carbon energy projects and the Government support available.
The first panel considered the current situation in the UK and the risks faced by the sector. MPs then had an opportunity with the second panel to explore comparisons with other countries, whether the Government could do more to engage internationally and the support needed for the UK to compete for resources.
Increased flooding in the UK will reveal weaknesses in our housing
On the 20th of February 2024 Barry sat on a session of the EFRA Committee investigating the issue of flooding.
The Committee questioned Julie Foley, Director of the Environment Agency, Tracey Garrett, Chief Executive of the National Flood Forum, Martin Lines, Chief Executive of Nature Friendly Farming Network and Councillor Emily O’Brien, Deputy Chair of the People & Places Board, Local Government Association.
The role of energy storage and emerging technologies in acheiving net zero
On Wednesday the 24th of January, 2024, Barry say on an Energy Security and Net Zero Committee session for the inquiry into how the UK’s energy mix needs to change to deliver enough capacity while delivering against Net Zero targets continues with a session focused on energy storage and the role of emerging technologies.
The first half of the session explored the potential benefits of investment in energy storage and whether the Government needs to change its approach. MPs also examined the specific issues around hydrogen storage and the potential of tidal range.
The second part of the hearing examined the issues around tidal stream, wave energy, space-based solar power and geothermal energy. It looked at how the Government might support emerging energy technologies and the potential costs to the public.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill hosts in second day of interviews
Thursday the 18th of January 2024 marked the second day of evidence sessions for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
Barry sits on this Committee and will be questioning a range of experts, stakehodlers and victims throughout the day.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill enters into committee stage
The 16th of January 2023 sees the first session of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill in its committee stage. Barry being on this committee questioned several panels. The first with Sebastian O'Kelly, CEO, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and Liam Spender, Senior Associate, Velitor Law. The aim of these panels is to gather evidence for the impact of leasehold on verious different stakeholders.
The second featuring the three co-founders of the National Leasehold Campaign, namely Katie Kendrick, Jo Derbyshire and Cath Williams.
The next panel only consisted of Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law, Law Commission.
"The game's up" - Barry grills Thames Water bosses
Is it right that at a time when Thames Water is failing to provide “key environmental and performance targets” that it still pay out dividends to it’s shareholders, such as Kemble Water Holdings?
This is the question that Barry posed to Thames Water bosses on the 12th of December 2023. This panel featured Alastair Cochran, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Cathryn Ross, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Sir Adrian Montague, Chair.
If Kembell Water faces some financial difficulty, “it would be Thames Water and the bill payers that ended up paying for whatever trouble the holding company go itself into”, in exactly the same way that Macquarie (a former shareholder) did and exactly in the way that Sir Montague claimed was “ancient history” earlier this year.
This was then followed up by a session with two senior officials from water regulator Ofwat, these being David Black, Chief Executive and Iain Coucher, Chair.
Launching the EAC report into the Financial Sector and Net Zero
On the 5th of December 2023, Barry, alongside his EAC colleagues, launched the Enviornmental Audit Committee report into the Financial Sector and Net Zero.
This launch was held live from Dubai at COP28 and was done alongside MPs Philip Dunne and Claudia Webb.
You can watch the full launch below:
Building the future of UK trade policy
On the 21st of November 2023 Barry sat on an Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee session for the UK trade policy: food and agriculture inquiry.
In this session Barry asked the panel of experts if, as other countries do, developing a “trade mandate” with Parliament for international trade negotiations would be valuable. Robert Sheasby, the Chief Executive at Agricultural Industries Confederation, described this suggestion as “a very sensible way to progress” in UK trade negotiation policy.
Alongside Mr Sheasby, this panel also featured Katie Doherty, CEO at International Meat Trade Association and Sean Ramsden, Director at Food and Drink Exporters Association.
Barry quizzes the Electricity System Operator, Ofgem and power operators
In its second evidence session examining how to make the electricity grid ready for Net Zero Britain, on the 15th of November 2023, the Environmental Audit Committee will be questioning industry leads about what challenges they may face.
This panel featured Akshay Kaul, Director General of Infrastructure, Ofgem, Eleanor Warburton, Director of Energy Systems Management and Security, Ofgem, Claire Dykta, Director of Markets, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Craig Dyke, Director of National Control, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO).
What can the UK learn from other countries on how to best introduce Nuclear Power?
Keeping the power on: our future energy technology mix - this was the subject of this weeks Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee session.
In it Barry questioned a panel of nuclear experts: Tom Greatrex (CEO, Nuclear Industry Association), Paul Spence (Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, EDF Energy), Ciara Fox (Senior Metallurgist, MoltexFlex) and Alastair Evans (Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, RollsRoyce SMR).
In this session Barry focussed on how the UK could efficiently introduce nuclear power and what role it would play in achieving Net Zero.
The public increasingly don't trust supermarkets - here is why
On the 14th of November 2023 Barry attended an Environment, Food and Rural Affair Select Committee session looking into how resilient is the UK’s food supply chain is.
This panel consisted of 3 experts Ms Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy at Which?, Professor Charlotte Hardman, Professor of Psychology of Eating Behaviour at the University of Liverpool and Dr Francesca Pontin, Research Data Scientist, Consumer Data Research Centre at the University of Leeds.
Barry asked this panel of experts why an avocado travelling from London is more expensive then one from Peru and questioned them on why the public’s trust in supermarkets is falling.