10 Dec 2024
Question
Support for Victims of Ecocide

1. ANALYSIS -----------

**Debate Structure: **

  • Initiated under the theme "Support for Victims of Ecocide," primarily focusing on environmental damage and its repercussions on communities.
  • Key question raised by Dr. Danny Chambers regarding departmental steps through the criminal justice system to support victims of ecocide.
  • Responses included references to ecological health and compensation for environmental damage, with further steps from the Environment Act 2021.

**Main Content: **

  • The critical dialogue focused on ecocide-related environmental damage, interlinking with broader ecological conservation strategies.
  • Departmental accountability for action plans concerning victims' rights, particularly those affected by ecological crimes like water pollution.

**Policy Terms & Legislation: **

  • Environment Act 2021
  • Victims' Code

**Named Entities: **

  • Dr. Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrats)
  • Alex Davies-Jones (Labour)

**Geographical Focus: **

  • Chalk streams in England, particularly Rivers Itchen and Meon in Winchester constituency.

**Numerical Data & Statistics: **

  • 85% of the world's chalk streams are located in England.
  • Only 17% of chalk streams are rated as having good ecological health.

**Political Stances & Departmental References: **

  • DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for water quality and related environmental issues.

**Cross-References: **

  • Related parliamentary discussions may involve water quality debates and prior discussions on Environment Act adherence.

2. SPEAKER POINTS ----------------

Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker, Party: Speaker, Constituency: Chorley)

  • **Key Points: **Highlighted issues with the question grouping system, stressing the need for thematic relevance in parliamentary processes.

Dr Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrats, Winchester)

  • **Main Arguments: ** Advocated for stronger measures against environmental damage, raised alarming statistics about declining ecological health of rivers.
  • **Concerns: **Inquired about implementing a sewage victims' compensation scheme.

Alex Davies-Jones (Labour, Pontypridd)

  • **Key Statements: **Asserted the commitment to ecological restoration through partnerships with civil society and businesses.
  • **References: **Reaffirmed government objectives under the Environment Act 2021, addressed departmental synergies in supporting victims.

**Speaker Points Unavailable for Additional Names Listed: ** Given the information, other listed speakers’ contributions are not explicitly documented in the provided transcript, thus refocusing back to the core debate analyzed.

Key Contributions

Original Transcript
Mr Speaker

Order. Before we come to question 6, I notice that it was grouped, but to be honest I cannot see a relationship between the questions or why they were grouped together. I hope a message can be passed back to the Department to say that we need to have relevance in the way questions are grouped.

Dr Danny Chambers
Winchester
LD
Question
UIN: 901723

6. What steps her Department is taking through the criminal justice system to help support victims of ecocide.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
Alex Davies-Jones

The victims code sets out the services and support that victims of crime are entitled to receive from the criminal justice system in England and Wales. That includes the right to access support, which applies regardless of whether they decide to report the crime directly to the police.

We provide police and crime commissioners with annual grant funding to commission local, practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for all victims of crime.

Dr Chambers
11:50

England is home to 85% of the world’s chalk streams, which are very rare habitats. In Winchester we are lucky to have the Rivers Itchen and Meon running through the constituency. We know that they are struggling, with only 17% of chalk streams rated as having good ecological health.

That is partly because of over-abstraction, partly because of pollution, and partly because of water companies dumping sewage in them. We know that that not only destroys biodiversity but makes people who swim in it sick.

Will the Minister, in addition to coming down harder on water companies, commit to implementing a sewage victims compensation scheme for that particular problem?

Alex Davies-Jones
11:53

I will ensure that the hon. Member’s comments are passed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Minister responsible for water quality.

I can confirm that we are committed to delivering for nature, taking action to meet our targets in the Environment Act 2021, and that we work in partnership with civil society, communities and businesses to restore and protect our natural world.

All content derived from official parliamentary records