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The Government is Protecting Our Waterways

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  •   Sep-29-2023
  •   Politics
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Over the past several months, many local people have raised their concerns about the standards of our waterways. I know many are, quite rightly, concerned at reports of sewage being discharged into our rivers. In Wycombe, our water is managed by Thames Water. In the region operated by Thames Water, 86% of bathing waters were rated Good or Excellent in 2022 but pollution incidents have been significant. Since 2010, the company has been made to pay over £35 million for […]

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The Government’s Pragmatic and Proportionate Approach to Net Zero

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  •   Sep-21-2023
  •   Politics
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Last month, I wrote a blog post detailing the Government’s pragmatic approach to address climate change, considering what people can reasonably afford. I wrote: “We must recognise that we have a choice. We can either reduce our emissions and tackle climate change in a pragmatic and proportionate way, or we can follow Labour and give in to climate extremists who wish to reduce our living standards, overthrow capitalism, and who ignore the very climate science they claim to represent.” You […]

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A Pragmatic and Proportionate Approach to Tackling Climate Change

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  •   Aug-11-2023
  •   Politics
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The new head of the UN’s IPCC climate panel, Jim Skea, has recently said that increases of 1.5 degrees do not pose the existential threat many politically motivated activists often claim, explaining that “the world won’t end if it warms by more than 1.5 degrees”. I have long argued that the science should be presented accurately, and now implausibly high emissions scenarios should be treated as such. I was therefore pleased to see that the Scientific Steering Committee had taken […]

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Our policy on trees and how you can steer it

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Trees are often raised with me by local people in Wycombe.  The Conservative Party 2019 manifesto committed us to tree planting: We will invest in nature, helping us to reach our Net Zero target with a £640 million new Nature for Climate fund. Building on our support for creating a Great Northumberland Forest, we will reach an additional 75,000 acres of trees a year by the end of the next Parliament, as well as restoring our peatland. The Conservatives website […]

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Experiencing an electric motorcycle: the Agility Saietta R

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  •   Oct-12-2014
  •   Fun, Politics
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As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Motorcycling, Motorcycle Action Group recently asked me to experience an electric motorcycle. I was skeptical. Find out how I got on: A review will appear in their magazine shortly. As part of the future of motorcycling, especially in town, electric motorcycles are good news. Related: my article after taking evidence on electric vehicles while I was on the Transport Committee.  

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Today: no global warming for 18 years

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  •   Oct-1-2014
  •   Politics
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Via CNS News.com: The Earth’s temperature has “plateaued” and there has been no global warming for at least the last 18 years, says Dr. John Christy, professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at the University of Alabama/Huntsville. Further, when asked why the UN climate models were all wrong, Dr Christy said, You’re going back to a fundamental question of science that when you understand a system, you are able to predict its behavior. […]

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Underground access – shale gas

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  •   Jun-6-2014
  •   Politics
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The Government is currently running a consultation on proposals to reform the procedures for securing underground access to oil and gas deposits. The consultation aims to find the right balance between the legitimate interests and concerns of landowners, and the benefits to the community and nation at large of permitting development where that development is otherwise acceptable in planning and environmental terms. Several constituents have contacted me about the proposals that were detailed in the Queen’s Speech: it should be […]

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Speech on the “Green Investment Bank”

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A speech in committee on the so-called Green Investment Bank, which appears to have had a greater impact than I had forseen: 4.45 pm Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): I fear that we are, once again, gathered together to make our constituents poorer and to promote special-interest rent seeking. I am rather surprised that we are gathered together in this Committee. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has pointed out that Opposition Members wish to use direct intervention in the […]

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Protecting the green belt

My question yesterday as a supplementary to an oral question on green belt protection: Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con):Will my right hon. Friend take steps to diminish planning inspectors’ powers over those who are democratically elected? Mr Pickles: My hon. Friend must have come across some grumpy planning inspectors. By and large, they are there to introduce the national planning policy framework, and to ensure that decisions are made in accordance with it. Local democratically elected representatives have a duty to […]

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The Government’s plan to “decarbonise the transport fleet”

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Following a Transport Committee oral evidence session on Low Carbon Vehicles, I have received a letter from the Minister, Norman Baker MP (no relation). It’s not necessary to reproduce the lot, but I do wonder if car enthusiasts, or indeed drivers generally, realise that: … the Carbon Plan 2011 showed that we need to virtually decarbonise the car fleet by 2050 and new cars by 2040 to meet our 2050 80% GHG reduction target. To have a reasonable chance of […]

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Steve Baker is the Conservative MP for Wycombe.

Steve was first elected to Parliament in 2010. He was previously an RAF engineer officer then a consulting software engineer. Find out more...

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