Business of the House

Barry Gardiner Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I just said, or whether he had already written the question before I got up to do so. We can fence with words, rebrands and whatever, but it has always been the case that “His Majesty’s Government”, or “Her Majesty’s Government” as was, is used on official documents. It is always the case that there is an outward-looking version, and I have explained why. If the situation were as the hon. Gentleman describes, we would all be right to get upset about it, but it simply is not.

[Barry Gardiner (Brent West) (Lab)]

May I begin by thanking my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House for his remarks about Kingsbury school, which for 27 years was in my constituency before it passed over to that of the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman)?

I want to raise with the Leader of the House schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021, which has still not been implemented. It introduced a mandatory due diligence obligation for businesses to ensure that they do not use illegally produced forest risk commodities. We are now five years on from the passing of that Act, and that provision has not been introduced. My right hon. Friend has made good suggestions that I hold a debate or that I ask the Minister written questions, and I have done both those things. Can we please have a debate in Government time about why this provision not yet been enacted?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry that my hon. Friend is frustrated, not least if the advice I have given him might not have come to anything. I apologise. However, because this is from my perspective a reasonably technical thing, I will arrange for a meeting with Ministers at which he can vent his frustration directly.