Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill

Debate between Henry Smith and Lindsay Hoyle

Report stage
Friday 17th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Just to clarify the point, the Bill is limited to the United Kingdom. It would affect only this country and not other countries. I call Henry Smith.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

It is a privilege to speak in this debate and consider the amendments and new clauses tabled by my hon. Friends the Members for North Herefordshire (Sir Bill Wiggin) and for Christchurch (Sir Christopher Chope). I am grateful for the constructive way in which they and the Government have consulted on them. I am happy that new clause 4 will be accepted, as it would establish an advisory board on how a trophy import ban will operate when it becomes law. Amendment 1, which would remove the Secretary of State’s discretion to add species, will also be accepted.

New clause 4 covers many of the concerns that my hon. Friend the Member for North Herefordshire set out. I trust that across the House we want to see the best conservation of endangered species around the world, whether that is in Africa, North America, parts of Asia or elsewhere. The Bill is about banning the importation of endangered species’ body parts into this country not only from Africa, but from around the world. I note that my hon. Friend will not press the amendments on the sunset clause, on monitoring and on how the Bill would work in respect of Northern Ireland, but new clause 4 covers many of those concerns.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Henry Smith and Lindsay Hoyle

Tuesday 29th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Henry Smith.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

T10. Sorry—I did not know I had a topical question, Mr Speaker. Can I get assurances from the Government that airports such as Gatwick will be supported as they recover strongly from the covid-19 pandemic?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Henry Smith and Lindsay Hoyle

Monday 7th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let us go to Henry Smith.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con) [V]]

I welcome that the recent Queen’s Speech said that the sovereign borders Bill will come forward in this Session, but in recent weeks thousands of illegal migrants have crossed the English channel, as we have heard. What actions will the Department take now to ensure that both the French authorities and the UK Border Force are not aiding and abetting such illegal and dangerous crossings?