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Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
03 March 2026
Lead MP
Chris Hinchliff
North East Hertfordshire
Lab
Responding Minister
Mary Creagh
Tags
ClimateForeign AffairsBenefits & WelfareAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Word Count: 9419
Other Contributors: 23
At a Glance
Chris Hinchliff raised concerns about environmental protection and biodiversity in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Hinchliff called for clear red lines for nature, including no further weakening of environmental protections, no funding cuts to environmental bodies, and a fully funded nature recovery plan to meet legally binding targets. He urged the government to invest in environmental restoration work and to consider it as a means to boost employment.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Chris Hinchliff expressed deep concern about the declining state of biodiversity in England. He highlighted that not a single one of England's rivers is in good overall health, just 7% of woodland is in good condition, and 85% of heathland has been lost. He cited the extinction risk faced by one in six species in the UK and the threat to ecosystem services such as water, food, and clean air. The MP also noted the potential loss of cultural and national identity due to the disappearance of iconic species.
Abtisam Mohamed
Lab
Sheffield Central
She supports the hon. Friend's red lines for nature campaign and emphasises the importance of protecting nature to ensure communities have access to green spaces for happiness and fulfillment.
Anna Gelderd
Lab
South East Cornwall
Nature in South East Cornwall underpins the local economy and wellbeing, highlighting the resilience of species like the Cornish black bee and the return of the Cornish chough. Anna Gelderd calls for decisive action to address sewage discharges and improve transparency at South West Water, and asks the Minister to focus on rural and coastal areas and use Cornwall's unique natural heritage as a pilot area in future Government schemes.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Ayoub Khan raised concerns about the Wood Lane playing fields in his constituency, noting that the council's bankruptcy could lead to the sale of the fields.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
Barry Gardiner praised a previous speaker for their environmental advocacy and criticized the lack of Parliamentary debate on the national security risks posed by ecosystem degradation. He pointed out that the regulatory system for environmental protection is under-resourced and ineffective, with only 496 out of 2,778 serious pollution incidents inspected before being downgraded to minor incidents in 2024. Barry Gardiner requested an intervention from the Minister.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Catherine West intervened to point out that political will, as demonstrated by the Mayor of London with initiatives like the reintroduction of white storks and beavers, and by boroughs like Haringey planting thousands of trees, gives hope for making progress in environmental protection.
Danny Chambers
Lib Dem
Winchester
Danny Chambers highlighted the issue of 4x4 vehicles driving along the River Meon in Droxford, damaging the riverbed and disrupting the spawning of rare Atlantic salmon. He stressed that the South Downs National Park, local people, and Winchester City Council support stopping this practice but have been unable to get Hampshire County Council to change the river's designation as a public highway or implement traffic regulation orders.
Edward Morello
Lib Dem
West Dorset
Edward Morello notes that chalk streams are globally rare ecosystems with only 85% found in England. In West Dorset, the Rivers Trust sewage discharge map shows that the South Winterbourne was affected by storm overflows 223 times in 2020, for over 2,641 hours. He proposes a blue flag style standard for chalk streams and calls for mandatory, regular testing and enforceable consequences for failure. He also pleads for the upcoming water White Paper to make water companies statutory consultees on all new planning projects and to mandate rainwater harvesting on all new builds.
Gideon Amos
Lib Dem
Taunton and Wellington
Intervening in support of Anna Gelderd, Gideon Amos questions the Government's decision to accept recommendation 19 of the Fingleton review, which he argues will weaken the duty to support national parks and landscapes.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He seeks to intervene but the details of his contribution are not provided. Jim Shannon acknowledged the significant loss of biodiversity and the efforts of Ards and North Down borough council to plant and rewild council land. He asked the Minister to support councils willing to take action to protect biodiversity.
Joe Morris
Lab
Hexham
He asks if the Minister will work with organisations like Northumberland national park to determine how to protect ground-nesting birds such as the curlew in his constituency.
John Milne
Lib Dem
Horsham
John Milne focused on the biodiversity net gain industry (BNG) and its potential to restore nature at scale, citing a project in his constituency. He warned against proposals to exempt sites under 0.2 hectares from BNG, arguing that this could undermine the industry and damage rural economies. He urged the Government to defend BNG and empower rewilding and restoration projects.
Luke Murphy
Lab
Basingstoke
Luke Murphy welcomed the inclusion of chalk streams in the national planning policy framework and urged the government to protect and restore these vital habitats.
Martin Rhodes
Lab
Glasgow North
Martin Rhodes discusses the importance of natural infrastructure such as wetlands, mangroves, and peatlands in mitigating and adapting to the environmental crisis. He highlights the global biodiversity framework's aim to conserve 30% of land and waters by 2030 and emphasises that the decline of nature undermines economic development.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
Michelle Welsh discussed the importance of protecting natural environments and biodiversity, citing the example of Whyburn Farm and Misk Hills in her constituency, which are threatened by speculative planning applications. She called for the area to be recognised as a country park and urged the Government to ensure communities have a voice in environmental protection.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Neil Hudson highlighted the environmental importance of Epping Forest, which hosts numerous species and habitats. He expressed concern about actions such as fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, and called for the Minister to collaborate with the Home Office to tackle these issues. Hudson criticised the Government's intrusion into the green belt with housing planning and excessive solar development, arguing that it harms biodiversity, food security, and local communities. He also questioned the Minister about the publication of local nature recovery strategies and the adequacy of the Government's actions to protect biodiversity and habitats.
Olly Glover
Lib Dem
Didcot and Wantage
Olly Glover discussed the challenge of balancing housing growth with environmental protection in his constituency, mentioning the Letcombe Brook chalk stream and the River Thames. He praised local organisations for their efforts in environmental conservation and education, such as the Earth Trust, Sustainable Didcot, and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Pippa Heylings
Lib Dem
South Cambridgeshire
Pippa Heylings criticises the Government for refusing to publish the full national security report on global biodiversity loss and highlights the Office for Environmental Protection's confirmation that the Government remains largely off track to meet environmental commitments. She calls for an annual climate and nature statement from the Government and expresses concern over proposed recommendations 11, 12, and 19 of the Fingleton nuclear regulatory review.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Rachael Maskell highlighted the importance of protecting the tansy beetle in York, stressing the impact of flooding, drought, and pollution on the beetle's habitat. She called for a nature security assessment to address the threats to the tansy beetle and other species.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
He congratulates the hon. Friend on securing the debate and criticises the slogan "Back the builders, not the blockers" for undermining care for biodiversity and the natural environment.
Roz Savage
Lib Dem
South Cotswolds
Roz Savage discussed the economic benefits of natural environments, arguing against the reduction of nature to monetary value. She emphasized the moral duty to halt extinctions and protect all species, regardless of their perceived utility or charisma.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Norfolk, particularly the Brecks and its chalk streams, is home to over 12,500 species, 2,000 of which are endangered. Terry Jermy is concerned that the Fingleton review recommendations could undermine the hard work being done by conservation organisations in his constituency. He highlights the potential economic cost of environmental damage, warning of a 12% reduction in GDP due to flooding, water treatment wastage, loss of tourism, and the destruction of agricultural land.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Tim Farron expressed concern over the closure of the sustainable farming incentive and the limited reopening window in June, highlighting that smaller farmers may not be able to apply. He argued that farmers should be supported to both care for the environment and produce food, noting that 55% of food consumed in the UK is produced domestically.
Tristan Osborne
Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
Tristan Osborne highlighted the importance of protecting oceans and asked the Minister to provide an update on the ban on bottom trawling, enhance marine protected areas, and reduce plastic pollution as part of the circular economy review.
Government Response
Mary Creagh
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under the chairship today. I congratulate the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Chris Hinchliff) on his opening speech and thank colleagues for their contributions. The Government's 2025 environmental improvement plan will accelerate progress towards Environment Act targets, improving species abundance, reducing extinction risk, and restoring or creating over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich land. We aim to protect 30% of the UK's land and sea by 2030. The Minister addressed biodiversity net gain, local nature recovery strategies, protected landscapes, species recovery, landscape recovery, tree planting, overseas territories biodiversity, and marine ecosystems. Over £500 million will be invested in landscape recovery, with a further £1 billion for tree planting and forestry support. The Government will deliver over 1,000 targeted actions for chalk stream restoration and commit to sustainable soil management, bringing 40% of agricultural soil into sustainable management by 2028 and increasing to 60% by 2030.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.