The minister defended the government's decision in 2013 to amend the 2006 attendance regulations to stop heads being allowed to approve term - time absence of up to ten school days. (schoolsweek.co.uk)
He also defended the government's «very ambitious targets» for emissions reductions. (sciencemag.org)
The environment secretary was forced to defend the government after an online storm about animal rights. (totalpolitics.com)