Barry challenges the Permanent Secretary over the influence her department has in government

This PAC session was entitled-’Achieving government's long-term environmental goals’. The witnesses for this session were:

Tamara Finkelstein, (Permanent Secretary, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); Sir James Bevan, (Chief Executive, Environment Agency); David Hill, (Director General to Environment, Rural and Marine, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); Marian Spain, (Chief Executive, Natural England; Philip Duffy, Director General, HM Treasury)

In his series of questioning, Barry examined whether government has the right skills and resources to deliver on its environmental ambitions, and whether there will be proper scrutiny of progress.

Barry also questioned the Permanent Secretary on the power and clout her department actually has, and their effectiveness in cross-government co-ordination.

You can watch the full set of exchanges below.

Barry questions enforcement of food standards in the public sector

The recent EFRA Select Committee meeting was focused on Food Procurement in the Public Sector. The witnesses for this session were: Andy Jeffery, Owner, Farringtons; and Greg Parsons, C0-Founder, South West Food Hub.

Barry questioned the witnesses on the lack of enforcement and review of food standards.

You can watch Barry’s contribution below.

Barry tackles the problem of health inequality in latest EFRA select committee

The witnesses for this evidence session on Air Quality were:

• Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Defra

• Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (DfT) Appearing via zoom:

• Dr Bill Parish, Deputy Director for Air Quality and Industrial Emissions in Defra

• Andrew Jackson, Deputy Director of the Joint Defra and DfT Air Quality Unit

Barry questioned Minister Pow on what the upcoming Environment Bill will do to tackle health inequality, especially in pollution hotpots such as those that live near motorways and main roads.

You can watch the full exchange below

Barry focuses on Nature Recovery in EAC questioning

The panel for the EAC public evidence session on Biodiversity and Ecosystems includes:

• Professor Kathy Willis, Natural Capital Committee,

• Julian Glover, Chair of the Landscape Review

• Craig Bennet, CEO of Wildlife Trusts

• Dr Ruth Little, University of Sheffield, lead researcher in cross-university Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) grant research on agri-environmental governance in the UK post-Brexit

Barry challenges the Permanent Secretary on delivery of Superfast Broadband

In Monday’s Public Accounts Committee, the session was titled ‘Improving Broadband’ and the witnesses were: Sarah Healey, Accounting Officer for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport DCMS), Susannah Storey, Director General for Digital and Media Policy in DCMS, & Raj Kalia, Chief Executive Officer of Building Digital UK (BDUK), DCMS.

Barry started by challenging the Perm Sec on the priorities of the DCMS in delivering broadband.

Barry also questioned the Perm Sec on what potential problems may be anticipated with the rollout of superfast broadband, and whether it was a mistake to prioritise coverage in the way they did.

You can watch the exchange below.

Barry questions Council leaders on Clean Air Zones and their Clean Air Strategy

In the latest EFRA select committee, Barry questioned Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, and Cllr Matthew Holmes, Dep. Leader Derby City Council on tackling air quality in towns and cities.

Barry’s first series of questioning focused on Clean Air Zones. We learnt that Bristol may go ahead and implement a clean air zone, whereas Derby has decided on traffic management instead. The question finished with Barry asking both witnesses about their clean air strategy.

Barry then rounded off the committee meeting by asking both witnesses how they are trying to balance air pollution with the need for economic recovery.

You can see Barry’s contributions below

Barry quizzes witnesses on why Biodiversity targets are becoming less ambitious

The latest EAC session is on the topic of Ecosystems and Biodiversity consisted of a panel of 3 of:

• Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Former Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and Associate Professor in Ecology at the University of Brasilia

• Kate Norgrove, Executive Director for Campaigns and Advocacy, WWF

• Prof Elisa Morgera, Professor of Global Environmental Law, Director, UKRI GCRF One Ocean Hub, University of Strathclyde

Barry’s questions were on the topics of:

• the loss of ambition and urgency in recent biodiversity targets

• the UK’s contribution to the Global Environment Facility

• how the CBD can create a system where the international system is supporting the achievement of their goals

• what unitary indicators we should be using as the fundamental ones for Biodiversity

You can watch Barry’s contribution in full below.

"Why was it abandoned?"- Barry interrogates Perm Sec on failed starter home programme

In this Public Accounts Committee session on Starter Homes, the panel consisted of:

Jeremy Pocklington, (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government); Tracey Waltho, (Director General, Housing and planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government); and Nick Walkley, (CEO, Homes England)

The starter homes programme was designed in 2015 to get first time buyers on the property market by offering discounts of 20% outside of London and 40% inside. The initial target was for 200,000 starter homes to be built. The programme was eventually abandoned with 0 starter homes being built.

Barry interrogates the witnesses on aspects of this programme such as:

• how and why it failed

• the funding and cost of the programme

• what happened to people already registered on the programme

• what is being done with affordable homes now

In his second round of questioning, Barry asked about additional powers to stop developers land banking, as well as asking why student accommodation was being counted in the new homes figures.

You can watch the exchanges below.

Barry interrogates two panels on all aspects of flooding and flood management

In today’s Environment, Foof and Rural Affairs select committee meeting, Barry questioned two separate panels on the topic of flooding.

The first panel consisted of Richard Dawson, (Adaptation Committee, Committee on Climate Change); and James Richardson, (Chief Economist, National Infrastructure Commission)

In Barry’s first round of questioning, the focus was on ‘resilience to flooding’

• He referenced the Government’s July 2020 policy statement and asked what evidence there is that the increase in funding will actually deliver maximum benefit.

• Barry also asked the panel to explain what “resilience to flooding” means in practice, before then moving on to ask the Committee on Climate Change what their position on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) is.

The second panel consisted of Ali Morse, (Acting Chair, Blueprint for Water), Rob Wesley, (Head of Policy, Water UK) and Richard Bramley, (National Farmers’ Union)

Barry’s first contributuion in questioning this panel came in the form of these supplementary questions.

a) Who is going to rebuild the surface water sewage system?

b) to explain separation and disconnection between foul and surface water sewage, particularly in urban areas

Barry then wrapped up the session by focusing a series of questions on working with communities.

One such question was- What can be done to make sure water companies do the necessary work with communities?(especially given their concern about the lack of maintenance of the whole drainage infrastructure)

You can watch all 3 of Barry’s contributions below.

Barry wants to know 'who will end up paying as we drive towards a cashless society?'

Today’s select committee session focused on ‘the production and distribution of cash’. Barry’s questions were put to two of the witnesses- Dr Ben Broadbent, (Deputy Governor, Bank of England) and Nikhil Rathi, (Chief Executive designate, Financial Conduct Authority).

Barry questioned Dr Broadbent on the drive towards a cashless society and how the regulatory framework in place may be affecting this demand.

Barry also pushed Dr Broadbent on the question of who will pay for the drive to reduce cash. Barry put it to the witnesses that it is the poor and disadvantaged that are going to be worst hit by this; and used the example of pay to use ATM’s.

You can watch the full exchange below.

Barry presses the Treasury Supremo on why funding for Brent businesses did not match the government’s announcements

In the recent Public Accounts select committee, Barry questioned Sir Tom Scholar, (Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury) about the governments announcement of £25,000 grants for retail and hospitality businesses.

Barry spoke of the disappointment of Brent businesses when they found out that instead of the proposed £25,000, the actual sum equated to about £367 for each of the 9,000 businesses in Brent.

Barry asked the Permanent Secretary what analysis, if any was done on the local sector when that money was allocated for the grant.

Barry puts the focus on Social Housing in Committee hearing

In the latest Environmental Audit Committee meeting the witnesses questioned were:

Sarah Kostense-Winterton,( Chair, Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group) Michael Lewis, (CEO, E.On) Jenny Holland, (Public Affairs and Policy Specialist, UK Green Building Council) Dr Pedro Guertler, (programme leader, E3G)

This session was focused on the Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes.

In his first line of questioning, Barry wanted to the witnesses to set out what specfically the strengths of addressing social housing decarbonisation are?

Barry then wanted to know, what are the key things that should be established so that the government spend the promised 3.8bn social housing decarbonisation fund as wisely as possible?

Barry’s questioning also focused on how the Local Authority Delivery scheme could be improved, and whether we should expect a problem in any aspect of the skills base.

You can see the full exchange below.

Barry queries how many Covid test kits will be available to care homes

In this weeks Public Accounts Committee meeting, the witnesses were:

Alex Chisholm, (Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office); Gareth Rhys Williams, (Government Chief Commercial Officer,, Cabinet Office); Sir Chris Wormald, (Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care); David Williams, (Second Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care); Emily Lawson, (Chief Commercial Officer, NHS England)

The main focus of the committee meeting was the supply of ventilators, but, Barry wanted to ask a very important question on the supply of testing kits to care homes.

You can watch the exchange below:

Barry demands answers on the handling of the Magnox contract

In the Public Accounts Committee the topic under discussion was ‘The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s management of the Magnox contract’.

The witnesses were Witness(es): Sarah Munby ,(Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy): David Peattie, (Chief Executive, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); Kate Ellis, (Commercial Director, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority)

Barry started by asking the Permanent Secretary about both the cost and value of the contract to the taxpayer.

Barry’s second round of questioning focused on the magnox report. Specifically, Barry wanted to know:

• When the Magnox report will be published

• Whether any current or past Minister has been referred to standards commission

• Whether anyone has faced charges for illegal and fraudulent activity

• Whether any former officers were involved in payoffs or golden handshakes

You can watch the full exchange below.

Barry interrogates the Home Office on support and accommodation for Asylum Seekers

In what was a fiery interrogation, Barry questioned witnesses from the Home Office on support and accommodation for Asylum Seekers in the latest Public Accounts Committee meeting.

The witnesses were: Matthew Rycroft CBE, (Permanent Secretary, Home Office); Shona Dunn, (Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office); Sean Palmer, (Director, Immigration & Protection, Home Office).

Barry probed the witnesses on the following issues:

• The lack of safe and legal routes for Unaccompanied Migrants

• The unacceptable delay in decisions and funding for migrants at risk of destitution

• Failures in contacting local authorities, CCG’s and GP’s when placing asylum seekers in accommodation

• The lack of sanctions for those responsible for these failures

• Penalties and Incentives for providers of asylum accommodation

• How the Home Office are prioritising those who are most vulnerable and ensuring that they are specially taken care of

• What work was done by the Home Office to assess whether Migrant Help’s original staffing and recruitment plans were sufficient

• The lack of engagement with NGOs and those who are providing a service for refugees

• The human impact on communities and the most vulnerable people

You can watch the full exchange below:

"All our major cities should have the power that London has through TFL" a witness tells Barry in EFRA committee

Barry was questioning two witnesses about what can be done to combat poor air quality in our cities in the UK.

The two witnesses were: Paul Swinney, (Director of Policy, Centre for Cities); and Subrah Krishnan-Harihara, (Head of Research, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce)

Firstly, Barry questioned the wintnesses on why a national framework for clean air zones is needed, rather than the current city by city approach.

The questioning then moved onto why a green recovery from the pandemic will not only be beneficial for the environment and air quality but also for local economies.

The final question was on the power that local authorities have to make the sort of investment and changes needed for improved air quality given all the other challenges they are facing as well.

You can watch the full exchange below.

Barry questions the Ministry of Defence on the cost of Military Jets

In Barry’s first appearance in the Public Accounts Committee the witnesses were:

Sir Stephen Lovegrove, (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence); Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB, (SRO Carrier Enabled Power Projection, Ministry of Defence); Charlie Pate, (Director General Finance,, Ministry of Defence); Sir Simon Bollom, Chief Executive Officer, (Defence Equipment Services, Ministry of Defence)

Barry started by asking Mr Pate whether the basic cost of the jets has come down. Barry then pointed out that given the relatively expensive capability and compatibility upgrades were to those jets, was it not a question of semantics to say the cost has come down.

Barry then went on to question Sir Stephen Lovegrove over whether there had been a change in policy since the 2015 announcement that stated the '“intention to buy 138 Lightning II jets, which will sustain Carrier Strike operations to the 2060s”.

You can watch the full exchange below

Barry probes witnesses on their companies commitments to Net Zero

In the Enviromental Audit Committee, Barry questioned three witnesses: Chris Hagg, (Head of External Affairs, CELSA Steel UK), David Morgan, (Director of Flight Operations, EasyJet) and Richard Ward, (Vice President Marketing, Strategy & Fullstream, Baker Hughes)

For each of the witnesses, his questions interrogation focussed on 3 central questions:

• Do you currently coduct sustainability reporting in line with the proposals of the taskforce on Climate related Financial disclosures?

• Will you publish a Paris aligned business plan?

• Will you align your executive pay with the progress acheived in executing that Paris agreed aligned business plan?

You can watch the full exchange below:

Barry grills the Secretary of State on Fish

Barry has questioned Witnesses George Eustice, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the wider topic of fisheries post-Brexit.

Barry started by asking the Secretary of State how we can be ‘taking back control’ when the Prime Minister committed to reciprocal tariffs with the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Barry explained how under these conditions, we would not be able to give any other country with which we don’t have a free-trade agreement any better or worse trading terms than the EU.

He then quizzed the witnesses on the UK’s application with the EU for 3rd country status. It was a fiery exchange that you can watch in full below.

Barry interrogates witnesses on Electronic Waste

In the Environmental Audit Committee meeting, Barry interrogated three witnesses: Rebecca Pow MP, (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); Chris Preston, (Deputy Director of Waste and Recycling, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs); Malcolm Lythgo, (Deputy Director of Waste Enforcement and Regulation, Environment Agency)

Barry started by laying out the need for illegal waste trackers for e-waste in the upcoming Environment Bill. He then went on to ask the witnesses 5 questions. These were:

1) What percentage of approved e-waste treatment facilities did the Environment Agency audit in the last year?

2) How many prosecutions have the Environment Agency enforced this year compared to 5 and 10 yrs ago?

3) What is the budget available to Environment Agency for enforcement and inspection regime, once the budget for flood defence has been taken out?

4) Does the Minister believe the budget is enough for the Environment Agency to be effective?

5) Why has the Government cut funding for the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan, which helped look at how to deliver a more durable product?

You can see the full exchange below: