Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies

WATCH Barry quizzing Andy Samuel, Chief Executive, North Sea Transition Authority, on the so-called “ambitious” target of reducing emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 - given they are based on an assumption that there will be less production by then, rather than actually reducing them on each oil field.

In part 2, Barry seeks answers about the electrification of oil and gas platforms.

Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels

Barry used this week’s Environmental Audit Committee meeting to question leading representatives of three oil and gas companies – BP, Shell and Harbour Energy – on why they think they shouldn’t pay the levels of tax that the public think they should.

The day after record temperatures brought the UK to a near standstill, it was a timely, lively and eye-opening session.

WATCH Barry’s questioning here 🔽

How are NHS England and integrated care boards really tackling rural mental health?

Let’s start with what practical difference Integated Care Boards (ICBs), and all the other acronyms in our NHS, are really doing to improve mental health care for rural people?

WATCH Barry at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee quizzing Claire Murdoch, National Director for Mental Health, NHS England, Amantha Allen, Chief Executive, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, DEFRA ministers and others 🔽

Cross-questioning the candidate

Barry took part in a joint session of EFRA and the Environment Audit Committee, grilling Alan Lovell, the Government’s preferred candidate to be the Chair of the Environment Agency.

He focussed in particular on why Mr Lovell had proposed a restructuring and integration of Natural England and the Environment Agency. The answers he got raised more questions than answers about the candidate’s knowledge and suitability for the role.

WATCH some of the highlights 🔽

Lies, damned lies and semantics

When the business secretary says he is minded to “change the definition of green” in the green taxonomy, so that natural gas is classed as green, would you say that he’s colour blind, or is he using semantics to change the meaning of the word? To what extent should further investments in gas production be classed as green?

WATCH Barry questioning representatives of the energy, oil and gas industry, along with other experts and campaigners in the field, on whether the government’s strategy on securing energy supplies by increasing domestic oil and gas production is compatible with the UK’s climate change commitments and ensuring a just transition for workers.

Supporting our fishing industry and its workers

EFRA held the first session of its inquiry into the UK Seafood Fund (UKSF) on 7 June, looking at how the UKSF will help overcome the challenges facing the fishing industry, ports, processors, training and coastal communities.

Barry started by asking Barrie Deas, chief executive at the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, what steps are being taken to ensure that the smallest of ports, with the smallest of boats, are getting the support and funding they need to survive in the post-Brexit environment.

In part two of the session, Barry delved into issues around attracting unskilled people into the seafood industry, including the barriers to training and development, and how the fund can help colleges deliver skipper courses and other learning remotely.

WATCH both sessions 🔽

Flying to Net Zero?

As part of the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the ability of technologies, fuels and operational efficiencies to reduce the aviation sector’s emissions and what government action is needed to meet its stated targets, Barry asked Emma Gilthorpe, CEO of the Jet Zero Council, how fast the UK is moving relative to our objectives, and whether we’re putting in enough resources to get there.

WATCH his questioning 🔽

What are the environmental standards implications of the Australia Free Trade Agreement?

Barry quizzed Professor Lorand Bartels, chair of the Australian Trade and Agriculture Commission, on the implications for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks and for environmental standards, of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and the UK.

In part 2, Barry questioned DEFRA minister Victoria Prentis, Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food, Department for Environment, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Minister for Trade Policy, Department for International Trade and James Clarke, Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department for International Trade.

WATCH 🔽

De-carbonising British Steel

What are the site specific plans?

What are your plans to invest in green technology?

How is it proposed to use to use the local Hydrogen infrastructure facility when it’s available?

WATCH Barry questioning British Steel’s Environment and Sustainability Director Lee Adcock during this Environmental Audit Committee session 👇

What is the issue with rural mental health?

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee session today was specifically on rural mental health and why suicide rates are above the national average for those that work in agriculture.

Barry was frustrated with the information that was being given but a lack of a real in depth explanation as to why these issues arise. He made the comparisons that as an MP in an urban area when talk of exhaustion is spoken of, that can always be said for an Amazon worker in Brent North, working long shifts with little break and walking 10 miles per shift.

It could also be said when talking of insecurity many farmers may well own the land the farm is on whereas a worker in the gig economy in Brent North would face greater stress and insecurity over their role.

There was further evidence provided in the briefing of the negative impact that can be from the farming community, whereas someone in Brent North living in what can be an isolating and faceless city and not knowing anyone can always face pressures with no community at all.

Sadly the panel was unable to offer the depth of answer that Barry wanted to dig into rather than more of a broad overview.

Barry then spoke of what effect and research there has been into the love lives of farmers, many farmers when seeking a partner will have to find someone who would marry into the farm and how difficult that may be. The panel confirmed that certain case studies have shown younger farmers have struggled from loneliness and struggled to hold relationships. The following exchanges can be viewed below

When is necessary spending considered a fiscal risk?

Barry grilled experts at the Environmental Audit Committee on aligning U.K economic goals with environmental sustainability and had quite the time of it.

The OBR had submitted evidence which said that economic GDP growth led to a cleaner environment to which Barry rubbished this as a fallacy of the base line. Quite rightly the only way many countries end up as great polluters in the first place is through getting rich. A second part is a geographical fallacy as the U.K now exports its emissions.

The other concerning point Barry raised is that the OBR identified the costs associated with climate change are a long term ongoing risk of fiscal concern. However, they also described necessary spending to move to net zero is described as a major risk of fiscal concern.

Barry then made the point that any other type of “necessary spending” wouldn’t be considered a fiscal risk due to its proposed necessity. The witness from the OBR’s answer made for particularly interesting viewing.

The full exchanges can be viewed below

Import check unreadiness at EFRA Select Committee

Barry was at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee who were focussing on import check readiness post Brexit and the effect it has had on supply chains across the sector.

Barry started his grilling by asking industry experts why one third of traders responding to HMRC said it was very easy to find information on gov.uk on changes to the process of moving goods from the UK to the EU in which it was admitted there had been problems.

In the second half the Secretary of State, George Eustice was present to be questioned and Barry asked if he agreed with the Chief Executive of the British Ports Association that the issue in delays were this side of the channel and that we were not ready. Mr Eustice disagreed much the the Committees displeasure.

The exchanges can be viewed below

Barry raises concerns over Australian Trade Deal

Barry raised several concerns at today’s EFRA Select Committee which was focused on the Australian Free Trade agreement.

Barry posed questions to the panel of experts over the lack of consultation on how Government conducts trade deals and evidence of people being told what to do with little to no direction.

Barry outlined that when negotiating trade deals there should be a period of consultation and a publicly agreed mandate.

Barry also asked the panel whether the way we are currently structuring how we go about trade negotiations adequate and the answer was a resounding no!