Contributions
478 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025My Lords, we are in favour of and support these proposed changes. The original regulations allowed the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Offshore Petroleum Regulator…17 Jun 2025HANSARDSocial Energy TariffMy Lords, some 16% of our energy bills are made up of levies, which the MCS Foundation has found could be costing bill payers some £300 per year. Does the Minister agree with the…16 Jun 2025HANSARDEnvironmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill [HL]My Lords, I rise to speak in support of this Bill, as I did at Second Reading. I too will oppose the amendment put forward by the noble Lord, Lord Hamilton of Epsom, because it…13 Jun 2025HANSARDEnvironmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill [HL]My Lords, very briefly, I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Trenchard, for bringing his amendment, which seeks to remove Great British Nuclear from the Bill. I just remind noble…13 Jun 2025HANSARDEnvironmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill [HL]My Lords, I will speak very briefly. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Evans of Rainow, for his amendment proposing to add the Canal & River Trust to the list of public bodies in…13 Jun 2025HANSARDWildfiresMy Lords, this has been an excellent debate. I thank the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, for bringing it and for his excellent speech. Having recently asked an Oral Question on this…12 Jun 2025HANSARDNational Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy GenerationMy Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Browne. My university career was spent studying nuclear strategy, so I welcome the work that the Nuclear Threat…21 May 2025HANSARDPublic Transport: Expansion and ElectrificationMy Lords, what role do the Government see for hydrogen in fully decarbonising the rail network? Could alternative zero-emission options, such as hydrogen trains, be the solution…19 May 2025HANSARDMotor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025I think there is confusion here. This regulation is fundamentally about removing restrictions, not placing them. I think the noble Lord is confused on this point.19 May 2025HANSARDMotor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025I apologise—the amendment. This seeks to broaden the scope of these regulations to include alternatively fuelled vehicles that are not zero-emission. I question the perceived need…19 May 2025HANSARDNuclear: Small Modular ReactorsMy Lords, this Government are clearly committed to making progress on SMRs, primarily to help power AI. AI will be a great consumer of power but equally has great opportunities to…19 May 2025HANSARDMotor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025My Lords, I will first turn to the regulations and then to the fatal amendment. The Liberal Democrats broadly welcome these regulations, which represent a sensible step forward in…19 May 2025HANSARDWater: Supply and InfrastructureMy Lords, we are on course for possibly the driest spring on record, having received only 35% of the expected rainfall. Our farmers are at the forefront of this fight against…14 May 2025HANSARDMethane (Environment and Climate Change Committee Report)My Lords, before I start my speech, I will reflect the comments that we have just heard. I did not manage to get into the noble Viscount’s Oral Question today, but I am deeply…13 May 2025HANSARDClimate Change: Wildfire Strategy and Action PlanTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the increased risk of wildfires caused by climate change; and when they will publish a Wildfire Strategy and…08 May 2025HANSARDClimate Change: Wildfire Strategy and Action PlanMy Lords, we are having a bad wildfire year, with 439 wildfires and 95 square miles burned already. By mid-April, the total burned area will be the second worst on record.…08 May 2025HANSARDClimate Change: ProgressMy Lords, the hottest day, the second wettest winter and the second worst harvest on record have all been in the last three years. Given that this report did not find evidence for…06 May 2025HANSARDInfrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025My Lords, I will speak in favour of this order. I thank the Minister for outlining its purpose. The Liberal Democrats have always championed renewable energy. For too long, this…06 May 2025HANSARDEnergy Prices: Energy-intensive IndustriesMy Lords, our industrial energy prices are too high and our transition to net zero must not come at the cost of specific industrial sectors. The Minister has noted that the…06 May 2025HANSARDEnergy Grid ResilienceMy Lords, I thank the Minister for the Statement on the power outages across the Iberian peninsula. Our thoughts are of course with the 55 million people across Spain, Portugal,…06 May 2025