Contributions
4,729 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportThe Government amended the CBIL scheme on 30 July to exempt smaller businesses from elements of the undertaking in difficulty test. The British Business Bank has also clarified…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportWe continue to keep all these things under review. I hope that the noble Baroness will appreciate that our response so far has been tremendous. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme has…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportWe are, of course, willing to learn from the example of other countries. However, as my noble friend is aware, all existing member states, and the UK during its transition period,…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportInsurance cover is a matter of commercial contracts between providers and the insured; it would not be right for us to interfere in a contract that was lawfully made. My noble…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportI know that my noble friend is concerned about this matter and she is right to raise it. We will continue to engage with the business sector to find out what we can do to help…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportMy Lords, the noble Lord is right to be concerned about the high street, and I am sure that Weston-super-Mare is no exception. As he will no doubt be aware, we abolished business…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportThe noble Baroness is right to draw attention to the massive changes taking place in the retail sector, some of which were exacerbated by the Covid dynamic. There has been a lot…21 Sept 2020HANSARDRetail Businesses: Financial SupportThe noble Lord will be aware that, by 16 August, the Future Fund to help businesses had supported 590 investments with a total of £588 million.21 Sept 2020HANSARDMaritime IndustryThe Government agree with the need to increase diversity in the maritime sector if it is to meet the challenges of the future. Of course, we need to embrace talent from…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenMy Lords, the Hydrogen Advisory Council was established in July to formalise Government/industry engagement. The council and its working groups will inform the development of a UK…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenGreen hydrogen is relatively easy to make from electrolysis but it uses large amounts of electricity, so we need to work on improving the technology. However, these are all…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenThe noble Lord is entirely correct. He makes a very good point that this is an important new developing technology that we will want to support as much as we can. The UK is well…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenThe noble Viscount is of course referring to the different kinds of hydrogen, referred to as green and blue hydrogen. We take the view that both will be needed to meet the UK’s…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenI can certainly agree with the noble Lord’s first point; he is entirely correct. The energy White Paper should be out towards the end of this year.17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenThe noble Lord is entirely correct that a number of other countries are developing hydrogen strategies. However, the Government believe that the UK is currently well placed and in…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenThe noble Baroness is entirely correct. We are planning to publish a heat and buildings strategy in due course, setting out the immediate actions we will take. We are already…17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenWe are closely examining all these matters. The noble Lord makes a good point and these matters will be addressed in the hydrogen strategy, when it is published in due course.17 Sept 2020HANSARDEnergy: HydrogenWe will shortly set out a heat and buildings strategy, which will take account of these factors. As I mentioned earlier, we are already working with the boiler manufacturers…17 Sept 2020HANSARDMaritime IndustryThe Chancellor has made it clear that one of his priorities is to make the UK a science superpower, including leading on the development of technologies that will support the…17 Sept 2020HANSARDMaritime IndustryI agree with the noble Lord. The Government carry out their own research into the potential economic opportunities from low and zero-carbon emission shipping, and I recognise that…17 Sept 2020