Like all MPs, when Parliament is sitting, Martin attends the House of Commons every week from Monday to Thursday (or Friday when Private Members Bills are
debated).
He is a member of the 'Speakers Panel of Chairs', which means that he takes responsibility for overseeing of Delegated Legislation and 'Westminster Hall debates'
(back-bencher initiated debates on a wide-range of subjects). He also chairs the Welsh Grand Committee.
Until 2005, Martin was a member of the Welsh Affairs Committee, which has responsibility for holding the Executive to account on all government activities in
Wales.
After the last General Election he moved over to the Environmental Audit Select Committee, which is a cross-party body that monitors all aspects of government policy
and practice that impact on the environment.
The Committee, at the beginning of the current Parliament resolved to make combating climate change the foundation of all its work during the life of this
Parliament.
Since Martin has been a member of the committee it has conducted inquiries and published reports on :-
Greening Government
Sustainable Timber
Sustainable Procurement
Sustainable Housing
Energy
Sustainable Development reporting by Government
Draft Marine Bill
Carbon Emissions and Transport
Trade, Development and Environment
The World Trade Organisation
UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Regulatory Impact Assessments
The Stern Review and Beyond
Voluntary Carbon Offset Markets
Structure of Government and Climate Change
and
The Sustainability of Biofuels
In addition, every year the committee conducts an inquiry into the Government Pre Budget Report
http://mirror.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environmental_audit_committee.cfm
Link to Environmental Audit Committee Websit
The Gower peninsula was the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Britain. As the local MP, Martin has always been keen to see it
properly defended and improved.
In 2000, he played a leading role in Parliament in securing measures in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act that require higher levels of management
for AONBs across England and Wales.
The cross-party co-operation that achieved this improvement led to the formation of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which
includes members from both sides of the Commons and Lords. Martin has chaired this group since its inception. He says, "He says the All Party Group's job is to
press government to adopt policies that benefit these recognised, high quality protected landscapes and also to make sure that their management is adequately resourced. Working
alongside the National Association of AONBs, we are also a conduit for sharing best practice from across the country."
In 2008, the All Party Group has met with representatives of Energy companies to discuss with transferring of power cables from above to below ground with consequent
benefits for landscape. It is, also, focussing attention on the contribution that attractive countryside can make to our mental and physical health.
http://www.aonb.org.uk/”>Link to AONB Website
Martin is, also Vice Chair of the All Party Group on Earth Sciences and Treasurer of the All Party Group on Haemophilia. He is a past Chair of the
Welsh Group of Labour MPs.
More in formation about Martin's work in Parliament can be found in the Campaign and News sections of this site.
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