I understand the concerns raised about the proposed powers in relation to public protests. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are vital rights that I wholeheartedly support, and I can reassure you that the Government is clear that the right of an individual to express their opinion and protest is a cornerstone of our democratic society. 

The right to protest, however, is not unqualified and cannot be at the expense of public safety. Demonstrations on roads disrupts thousands of people's journeys and endangers the lives of road users and police officers. Recent protests led by Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain clearly highlight this issue.

For example, during Extinction Rebellion’s protests of April and October 2019, some of London’s busiest areas were brought to a standstill for several days. This had a disproportionate impact on commuters and small businesses, with the policing operation for the two extended protests costing £37 million - more than twice the annual budget of London’s violent crime taskforce.

Despite this, I would like to reassure you that the measures contained in the Bill do not seek to disproportionately target climate protesters. The changes proposed by the Government in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill aim to improve the police’s ability to manage protests, regardless of the issue being protested, enabling them to balance the rights of protesters against the rights of others to go about their daily business, and to dedicate their resources to keeping the public safe.

Of course, I completely agree that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, and I can assure you that I recognise the importance and urgency of action on this issue. While I welcome the UK was the first G7 country to legislate to achieve net zero by 2050 and we are decarbonising faster than any G20 nation, I recognise there is more to do, and I applaud the Government's ambition in this area.

The recently published Net Zero Strategy sets out the Government’s long-term plan to finish the job of cutting emissions by 2050. I welcome that the strategy includes details on how the Government will build a secure, home-grown energy sector which ends the UK's dependency on volatile foreign gas prices, which will help protect consumers and businesses. I am glad that, by 2035, the UK will be powered entirely by clean electricity, subject to security of supply.