Contributions
2,184 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSolar PanelsWe have had issues around energy efficiency improvements to heritage and listed buildings. It is important to get the balance here right, though. Of course, we want to drive…12 Feb 2025HANSARDSolar PanelsThe noble Baroness raises a very important question for all the growth that we are predicting for our country. My colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are…12 Feb 2025HANSARDSolar PanelsI agree with the noble Baroness that the fitting of more efficient energy methods contributes to both the energy security of our country and the efficiency of those buildings. It…12 Feb 2025HANSARDSolar PanelsI thank the noble Baroness and congratulate Leicester on the work it is doing in this space. It is important to say that current standards, introduced in December 2021, already…12 Feb 2025HANSARDSolar PanelsI thank my noble friend for his comments. Of course, it is vital that we get on now and get this moving as quickly as possible. The future buildings standards consultation…12 Feb 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Local GovernmentI can give the noble Lord a very straightforward answer to that. No, we will not delay it, because we have a number of partners in local government coming to us who want to take…12 Feb 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Local GovernmentWell, it very much seems that Cumbria is our happy place this afternoon. I worked very closely with the politicians in Cumbria to get to where we are and am very pleased to see…12 Feb 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Local GovernmentFirst, I share the noble Lord’s concern about mistrust in politics, but local government is the most trusted part of the political system, far more trusted than national…12 Feb 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Local GovernmentI thank the noble Lord for his offer to visit the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum. I have already been there. However, I did pick up his point about the need to enhance and promote…12 Feb 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Local GovernmentI thank both noble Baronesses for their questions. The number one mission of our Government is to unlock growth in our regions. It is to this end that we are working very hard to…12 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasIt is very important that people do not lose their sense of place as this devolution programme goes forward, and they will not. The places will still exist. I have been talking to…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasI have heard this view from the Liberal Democrats for many years in local government. The first past the post system means that the electorate decide who is in charge of our local…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasWe believe that everybody should have proper representation. While we are undergoing the devolution programme in the rest of England, we will not be looking at those metropolitan…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasMy noble friend is absolutely correct. There has to be a focus on numbers to ensure that they are roughly equitable, but there are also other important considerations. Reflecting…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Fuller, for asking an important Question on fair electoral arrangements for local government following the proposed local government…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasI am delighted to hear that the noble Lord is educating himself on the socialist principle of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. I hope that that will continue; I am happy to help if he needs…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasThe boundary commission is focused on making sure that the structure of the electoral wards and divisions meets the needs of the council concerned; that is, in respect of the…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasI have met a huge number of local government representatives and MPs in the last couple of months. They are all determined to ensure that this process goes through smoothly…11 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government: Electoral QuotasOn the noble Lord’s first question, we have a priority programme and have already set out who is in scope for that, and we have a local government reorganisation going on. Any…11 Feb 2025HANSARDPermitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL]I thank the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, for bringing this very important issue before the House again, and for his work on his Bill. I give my personal welcome to the noble Baroness,…07 Feb 2025