Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: HousingI will be replaced as Deputy Speaker by the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, after this intervention. The noble Lord, Lord Balfe, is not there, so I call the noble Lord, Lord…18 May 2020HANSARDArrangement of BusinessMy Lords, Virtual Proceedings of the House of Lords will now resume. I remind Members that these proceedings are subject to parliamentary privilege and what we say is available to…18 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: HousingWe now come to the 30 minutes allocated for Back-Bench questions. I ask that the questions and answers be brief so that I can call the maximum number of speakers.18 May 2020HANSARDFood Supply and SecurityMy Lords, this is a timely debate and I echo the thanks that noble Lords have expressed to the noble Baroness. I was struck by the remarks of the noble and learned Lord, Lord…14 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Vulnerable PeopleMy Lords, I welcome the announced funding—I think it will do good—but I have one question. How do we promote the routes out of risk for those who are experiencing abuse? By what…12 May 2020HANSARDBeyond Brexit (European Union Committee Report)My Lords, as a former MEP, I should consider a two-minute speech a luxury. I will focus on a single point that the report does not cover in detail: climate change. The UK has been…12 May 2020HANSARDHigher EducationMy Lords, I am concerned about the potential disparity in support across the United Kingdom. Can my noble friend the Minister outline the measures to be taken by Her Majesty’s…06 May 2020HANSARDSmart MetersMy Lords, more than 19.3 million smart and advanced meters have been installed in Great Britain as of September 2019. The programme is making progress, with more than 1 million…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersIn order, the answers are no, £175 per year and 10—but I think the noble Lord will want a bit more detail than that, so I will give him that. The important thing is that once…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersSometimes the answer is slightly amusing, I am afraid. In answer to the question about how many such meters exist, out of the current 19.3 million the figure is way too high at…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersWe need to recognise that when a smart meter stops being smart, it does not stop being a meter. It still records the consumption of gas and electricity, but it stops being able to…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersThe noble Baroness is correct to state that there have been some challenges in the rollout of the smart meter programme. I will say no more on that particular point, but there is…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersI am sorry to heart that unfortunate news about the meters. There should be a pre-screening stage when you fill in a series of questions regarding your house, the thickness of…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersA sensible supplier will keep a hold of customers by offering the best quality of service. If they do not, I have no doubt that a smart man such as the noble Lord would move…10 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MetersYes, I agree with all of those things. The smart meter gives you a very visual sign of what you are consuming, and it should be able to highlight when you are consuming at the…10 Feb 2020HANSARDDomestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill [HL]My Lords, this has been an interesting and important discussion on a Bill that addresses an issue which I believe we all care very much about. As we look at the challenges facing…07 Feb 2020HANSARDDomestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill [HL]I will give that commitment; I think I can do that. This may not be in the consultation, but I think that would make perfect sense. We need dates to be meaningful, and 2025 is the…07 Feb 2020HANSARDClimate ChangeMy Lords, as expected, this has been a wide-ranging debate, covering a great many aspects of energy. I have before me a big lump of coal, which I picked up on the beach of St…06 Feb 2020HANSARDGreenhouse Gas EmissionsNever will it be moved away, not that I will never confirm.05 Feb 2020HANSARDGreenhouse Gas EmissionsMy Lords, 2020 will be a vital year for climate action and we will set out our ambitious plans in the run-up to COP 26 through a number of sectoral strategies, including the…05 Feb 2020