100 days on from the landmark Joint Intelligence Committee National Security Assessment, no parliamentary debate has taken place
100 days on from the landmark Joint Intelligence Committee National Security Assessment, no parliamentary debate has taken place
Parliament must debate matter of “grave importance”, says Green MP
It has now been 100 days since the Joint Intelligence Committee published its National Security Assessment which stated that global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is a threat to national security. Yet, there has still been no Parliamentary scrutiny. The report, which warns of serious risks to ecological stability and national security, has not been debated in Parliament.
Green MP Adrian Ramsay, Waveney Valley, first called for a debate on the report during Business Questions on 22 January. In response, the Leader of the House stated, "The member rightly points out that the report is to be welcomed. Once the report has been considered, I will look to find time for Members to debate these matters, given their importance."
Following this commitment, Adrian wrote to the Leader of the House, as well as the Cabinet Office and DEFRA, seeking clarity on when a debate would be scheduled and urging the Government to bring forward parliamentary scrutiny of the report.
He again raised the issue during questions in Parliament on 5 February and has continued to pursue it through further correspondence with Ministers and in external speeches. Despite repeated requests, there has still been no indication from the Government that a debate will be scheduled.
Speaking on the 100 days Adrian Ramsay MP said,
“It has now been 100 days since this critical report was published, following the Government's hand being forced via a Freedom of Information request. Yet Parliament has still not been allowed to properly scrutinise its findings. For an issue of such grave importance, this is completely unacceptable. At the election, the Government promised a transparency revolution: no power without accountability, and no accountability without transparency. That must apply to matters of national security and how we restore the natural environment that we all depend on. It is incumbent on the Government to have a debate immediately after the King's Speech"
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