Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Sep 2026
Health Bill
"I am sure that many Members from across the House are aware of the campaign in memory of Hugh Menai-Davis, the son of my constituents Ceri and Frances who tragically passed away at the age of just six. As part of that campaign, the amendments that I have tabled to …..."Chris Hinchliff - View Speech
View all Chris Hinchliff (Lab - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Health Bill
Written Question
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Asked by:
Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's joint guidance entitled Biodiversity net gain, updated on 31 July 2026, what assessment she has made of the potent impact of changes to evidential requirements for claiming the de minimis exemption on the number and type of applications that will be eligible for the exemption.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out previously in Government consultation responses, any changes to the de minimis exemption for biodiversity net gain will be considered in the round and alongside other BNG reforms. The new 0.2-hectare exemption which came into force on 6 August 2026 is expected to significantly reduce the number of developments claiming the de minimis exemption. Planning Portal data for August 2026 shows that use of the de minimis exemption more than halved, from 81% in July 2026 to 37% in August 2026 following the introduction of the 0.2-hectare exemption. The Government expect similar trends going forward. Prior to 6 August, roughly 80% of planning applications have been exempt from BNG, with around 80% of those exempt claiming the de minimis exemption
Written Question
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Asked by:
Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 have claimed the de minimis exemption from biodiversity net gain each year since 2024.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out previously in Government consultation responses, any changes to the de minimis exemption for biodiversity net gain will be considered in the round and alongside other BNG reforms. The new 0.2-hectare exemption which came into force on 6 August 2026 is expected to significantly reduce the number of developments claiming the de minimis exemption. Planning Portal data for August 2026 shows that use of the de minimis exemption more than halved, from 81% in July 2026 to 37% in August 2026 following the introduction of the 0.2-hectare exemption. The Government expect similar trends going forward. Prior to 6 August, roughly 80% of planning applications have been exempt from BNG, with around 80% of those exempt claiming the de minimis exemption
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2026
Economic Growth
"I will ask a slightly different question from the one I originally intended to ask. Every time we come to this Chamber to discuss the economy, we spend a lot of time debating public spending, but we never seem to discuss our trade deficit. We have not been in surplus …..."Chris Hinchliff - View Speech
View all Chris Hinchliff (Lab - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Economic Growth
Division Vote (Commons)
7 Sep 2026 - Health Bill -
View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Lab) voted No
- in line with the party majority
and in line with the House
One of
311 Labour No votes vs
0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 170 Noes - 316
Division Vote (Commons)
7 Sep 2026 - Health Bill -
View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Lab) voted No
- in line with the party majority
and in line with the House
One of
317 Labour No votes vs
0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 77 Noes - 317
Speech in General Committees - Wed 02 Sep 2026
Draft Nature Restoration Levy regulations 2026
"It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Alec. I will try to keep my questions brief. I want to be clear from the outset: I am not here to oppose the principle of the regulations—indeed, I agree with the Minister that they must work for …..."Chris Hinchliff - View Speech
View all Chris Hinchliff (Lab - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Draft Nature Restoration Levy regulations 2026
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 02 Sep 2026
Representation of the People Bill
"As we have heard many times in today’s debate, there is a vast difference between trade unions—which are made up of millions of members making small contributions that are collectively donated to the Labour party, which they support—and corporations and rich individuals seeking influence and to further their own vested …..."Chris Hinchliff - View Speech
View all Chris Hinchliff (Lab - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Representation of the People Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 02 Sep 2026
Representation of the People Bill
"A political system, even one with regular elections, is not really a democracy if rich individuals and corporations are able to use their wealth to buy access and influence, and shape decisions in a way that ordinary citizens will never enjoy. That is what new clause 25, tabled in my …..."Chris Hinchliff - View Speech
View all Chris Hinchliff (Lab - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Representation of the People Bill
Division Vote (Commons)
2 Sep 2026 - Representation of the People Bill -
View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Lab) voted Aye
- in line with the party majority
and in line with the House
One of
322 Labour Aye votes vs
0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 411 Noes - 102