Contributions
4,729 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnergy: Welsh GovernmentThere are opportunities with the energy transition for investment in all communities throughout the UK, including, of course, in Wales. There are considerable investments in north…24 Apr 2024HANSARDEnergy: Welsh GovernmentI thank the noble Lord for that information. I was not aware of that, but now that he has mentioned it, I will of course chase it up.24 Apr 2024HANSARDOffshore Petroleum Licensing BillMy Lords, first, I thank everybody who contributed to what I think has been a positive debate on a number of important issues. Amendment 1 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady…23 Apr 2024HANSARDOffshore Petroleum Licensing BillFirst, I thank noble Lords for their brevity on this group. Amendment 20 seeks to amend the Bill to exclude Scotland. Of course, the vast majority of offshore oil and gas activity…23 Apr 2024HANSARDOffshore Petroleum Licensing BillI was just making the point that the licences provided for in the Bill, where granted, will give exclusive rights to explore an area. Additional permissions will be required…23 Apr 2024HANSARDOffshore Petroleum Licensing BillI thank all those who contributed. I start with Amendments 3 and 18 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Lennie, which seek to impose a new climate change test as part of this…23 Apr 2024HANSARDOffshore Petroleum Licensing BillThe noble Baroness, Lady Jones, tabled notice of her intention to oppose Clause 1 standing part of the Bill so let me begin my remarks by briefly outlining the purpose of that…23 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportThe noble Baroness is using the generality to refer to the specific. ISDS clauses are very useful in a whole range of different areas. I accept her point that there is some…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportAll such agreements are different. Many rely on international arbitration panels that are appointed by the complainant company and the defendant company with an independent…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportI thank the noble Baroness for her question. I cannot comment on cases that are currently ongoing, but we will certainly bear her comments in mind when we consider our policy on…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportAs the noble Earl is probably aware, there are discussions in the OECD at the moment about the use of these clauses. As I said, we are responsible for the ones that we have…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportAs I said, ISDS clauses work both ways. They also seek to protect the interests of UK companies investing in other overseas economies. Any state that wishes to regulate against…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportI am sure it would, but we are responsible for what clauses we agree to in the UK. We always protect our right to regulate, and we seek not to take actions that are arbitrary or…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportMy noble friend makes a powerful point; of course, it works both ways. We want to protect the interests of UK companies, which sometimes operate in very hostile, non-democratic…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportThis is a complicated area. Of course, these treaties are bilateral, and they also help to protect the investments of UK companies investing in other overseas territories.…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportMy Lords, investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms offer investors an independent means of legal redress to seek compensation following a breach of international investment…22 Apr 2024HANSARDSurplus Carbon EmissionsThe noble Lord makes a good point. A number of schemes around the country are taking advantage of that. Again, they are relatively small-scale; they will not provide the large…27 Mar 2024HANSARDSurplus Carbon EmissionsThe noble Lord makes a good point. We are considering that at the moment. It is important that if we roll out wind power on land, we do it with the consent of local communities.…27 Mar 2024HANSARDSurplus Carbon EmissionsThere is a degree of truth to what the noble Lord says. I do not characterise it as our having de-industrialised; we have some very successful manufacturing industries in this…27 Mar 2024HANSARDSurplus Carbon EmissionsAs we debated extensively last night, it will have a negligible impact.27 Mar 2024