Martyn Atkins

With all due respect, I don't think the FAQs address the most frequently asked question.

But since that question is likely to contain at least one profanity, I can understand why.

Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of

Just marvellous. Via @histparl.bsky.social and @fantasticlife.bsky.social

historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...

illustration of a town and natural landscape with text reading: Wavering support for nature schemes could see green spaces slip away. Read our report

We've published a report into the role of natural capital in the green economy.

Read the report here: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

Image of letter from EAC chair toby perkins to Energy secretary Ed Milliband

We’ve written to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband asking for more detail on their net zero plans, after details of the Government's plan for the Seventh Carbon Budget failed to materialise.

Read the letter here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

Yesterday afternoon Ed Gardner and the @lporchestra.bsky.social gave their thanks for all the incredible work Neville has done over the years in preparing the choir to the highest standard for our concerts with them.

#London #Retirement #Choir #Singing #NevilleCreed

Yesterday afternoon Ed Gardner and the @lporchestra.bsky.social gave their thanks for all the incredible work Neville has done over the years in preparing the choir to the highest standard for our concerts with them.

#London #Retirement #Choir #Singing #NevilleCreed

Thank you Sarah - it’s been a privilege to serve EAC and its members.

Committee Corridor podcast Listen and subscribe to the Committee Corridor podcast from UK Parliament.

Through select committees many MPs on all sides do work together.

Committee Corridor is a podcast highlighting this work.

The first episode in this parliament highlights the work of Defence Sel Comm on women in Armed Forces with @Meg_HillierMP @TanDhesi www.parliament.uk/business/com...

WATCH- Select Committees rightly spend great deal of time hearing from staleholders and experts.

Last week @commonseac.parliament.uk heard from great group of sixth formers from across the country who will be affected by housing growth and impact on nature.

Hear what they had to say, here:

Image of cosmetics with text reading: What are forever chemicals and how can we address their risks. We've launched an inquiry.

We've launched an inquiry into addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Find out more: committees.parliament.uk/committee/62...

A group of MPs have written to environment secretary Steve Reed to ask him how the government will achieve growth without trampling on environmental protections:

@commonseac.parliament.uk

bsky.app/profile/comm...

A letter from the Environmental Audit Committee to Steve Reed MP, Environment Secretary. https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/47487/documents/247320/default/

We’ve written to the Environment Secretary on recruiting a new Environment Agency Chair.

We're likely to seek the candidate’s commitment “to protect and improve water, land and biodiversity”, and to the delivery of the Government’s environmental targets.

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

A letter from the Environmental Audit Committee to the Environment Secretary: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/47483/documents/247138/default/

We’ve written to the Environment Secretary requesting more information to comments made at our evidence session in March.

We discussed issues from air quality to delivering environmental protections alongside growth.

Read the letter 👉 committees.parliament.uk/committee/62...

Benson: [expires]
Temple and Maclagan: you haven't parsed the code properly

There's literally too many amazing contributors to tag, but I'll try... Thank you @profnjallen.bsky.social @martynpatrick.bsky.social @carolinebha.bsky.social @profrosiecamp.bsky.social @tomcaygill.bsky.social @chloechallender.bsky.social @profsarahchilds.bsky.social @woodstockjag.bsky.social...

Environmental Audit Committee, “The agreement reached at the reconvened COP16 talks in Rome keeps 30x30 alive, offering a lifeline for the countless numbers of species around our fragile planet threatened with extinction.” Toby Perkins MP

Our chair @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social reacts to the agreement reached on nature finance at #COP16.

We're looking forward to hearing more from nature minister @marycreagh.bsky.social on how the Government expects to show leadership in this area

Image of the net zero and shipping report front cover

“There appear to be more questions than answers on the Government’s approach to decarbonising the shipping industry”.

Chair @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social reacts to the Government’s response to the net zero and shipping report, published today.

Read it here: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

You are very welcome!

Now returning to my box.

Expenditure of revenue raised (‘supply’) also requires Commons approval. The Govt has secured fast-track procedures for such approval, but they have to be invoked by particular calendar dates annually which are set in Commons standing orders.

It’s not the Finance Acts that ought to concern you, but the annual Supply and Appropriation Acts and their ilk.

Plus as Alex mentions the Commons requires the Govt to seek its approval each year for the maximum numbers to be retained by each of the armed forces.

/… However, the Govt power to appropriate the funds thus raised is strictly governed by Commons standing orders relating to supply, which enable the Govt to secure its supply legislation through abbreviated procedures only if the relevant Estimates motions are tabled by certain days each year.

/… sought in a series of separate bills which were each individually vulnerable to rejection by the Lords.

Bills of aids and supplies can only be introduced on the basis of a Commons resolution authorising their introduction.

Nothing to stop Chancellor introducing a multi year Finance Bill …/

The presentation of a Finance Bill, roughly annually, as part of the annual fiscal cycle is a convention: the Government began to adopt the practice of including all its fiscal legislation in an omnibus Finance Bill in 1860. Prior to that year the legislative authority for fiscal measures was …/

Watch Professor Heather Koldewey explain that nature can recover, and how protected areas can boost the resilience of marine biodiversity 👇

Image of houses and roads with text reading: Are local authorities equipped to protect nature in the bid to build 1.5 million homes? 2.30pm, Wednesday 5 February, Watch on Parliament live.

🍃 Are ecologists properly resourced to ensure nature protection in housebuilding?

🏘️ We're holding a session on environmental sustainability and housing.

➡️ Find out more: committees.parliament.uk/event/23214/...

“The new era for cleaner, greener aviation promised by Ministers must now be turbocharged as the Government gives its backing to a third runway at Heathrow. I welcome the Chancellor's commitment that any proposal must meet strict rules on noise, air quality and carbon emissions, but more detail is desperately needed on how this will be achieved. Aviation could be the largest emitting sector in the UK by 2050, and noise and air pollution from Heathrow already has a significant effect on the urban environment of west London.” Toby Perkins MP, Chair

Following Rachel Reeves' announcement of support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, our Chair, @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social calls for clarity on how the Government can do this and meet its commitments to the environment.

Find out more: committees.parliament.uk/committee/62...

Sadly not codified in the current standing orders for public business.

Our session with the DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband has just started.

Watch it live here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Is that the spreadsheet on second reading or the spreadsheet on the inevitable closure motion?