Contributions
3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEU: British MusiciansThe Government recognise the importance to musicians of the continued ability to tour, for both artistic and economic reasons. We are open to negotiating reciprocal arrangements…03 Jun 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Clement-Jones and Lord Fox, for tabling this amendment. As your Lordships have heard, this amendment seeks to test our thinking on the…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesMy Lords, the BBC is responsible for the over-75 licence concession—not the Government. The Government are disappointed with the BBC’s decision to restrict the concession to those…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe noble Lord seeks to protect the health of our nation and that particularly includes old people. As I understand it, they are especially vulnerable to the impacts of Covid-19,…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe Government are not removing free TV from older pensioners. The Government struck a deal with the BBC over the licence fee settlement in 2015 which was described by the…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe noble and right reverend Lord will be aware, as I said earlier, that this has been decided. The transfer of responsibility for the licence fee was made in the Digital Economy…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe noble Baroness is right that the words “pension credit” were forming in my mind. We are clear that we want everyone who is eligible to claim this benefit to do so. People…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesI have the great honour of being the Minister for Loneliness—the only one, I think, in the world. We have recently launched a new campaign trying to address stigma around talking…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe noble Viscount raises an important point about the transparency and suitability of both the funding arrangement and the regulatory framework. The Government are open to…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesI can only repeat that it is the responsibility of the BBC to decide whether or not to extend the concession. This point was debated extensively in both Houses under the Digital…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Television LicencesThe noble Baroness is absolutely right that the BBC has played a vital role in informing, entertaining and particularly, most recently, educating the nation during this pandemic.…02 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Museums, Galleries and Historic BuildingsI join other noble Lords in thanking my noble friend Lord Cormack for securing this important and fascinating debate. It has highlighted the breadth and vibrancy of the UK’s…21 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillMy Lords, I have listened carefully to the debate on this amendment and thank all noble Lords for their extraordinarily high-quality contributions. I particularly thank the noble…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillMy Lords, I will now respond to Amendment 2 and the points raised by noble Lords. This amendment would limit the use of the powers contained in Part 4A only to operators…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillI thank noble Lords for tabling Amendments 17 and 18. I will do my best to address the very valid points raised. I will clarify the intention of the amendments. Amendment 17 seeks…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Adonis, Lord Griffiths and Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, for tabling Amendments 15 and 16. As I have said several times in Committee, the…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillI thank the noble Lord for pressing this point. I cannot comment on the specifics of different layouts. As he noted, this is a very complicated area. We have tried to listen to…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillI shall answer that in two ways, if I may. Of course, I would be delighted to meet the noble Lord in conjunction with my noble friends Lord Ahmad and Lady Williams, and with the…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lords for tabling these amendments, which would allow telecommunications operators to apply to the courts for a Part 4A order without requiring a…19 May 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) BillI thank the noble Lord for his further questions. To cover the point about Openreach, the noble Lord will be aware that on 15 May the Financial Times suggested that BT was…19 May 2020