Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThat the Bill be now read a second time.31 Oct 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillMy Lords, sadly, this Bill is necessary. Although cross-party talks continue, the United Kingdom Government must take forward certain essential legislation to maintain the…31 Oct 2019HANSARDExtinction RebellionI do not think that nuclear is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, but I recognise that thorium-based nuclear is certainly a way forward—its half-life is…31 Oct 2019HANSARDExtinction RebellionI believe trees are an essential element of this. At COP 26, I would like to see every world leader who comes to Glasgow plant a tree. As a result, there should be a forest that…31 Oct 2019HANSARDExtinction RebellionI am not quite sure which conclusions I can move towards. As a geologist, I note that we are now entering into a new geological period, which is known as the Anthropocene. Our…31 Oct 2019HANSARDExtinction RebellionThe important aspect is that the work we are doing is based on the work of the Committee on Climate Change. It is an independent body advising on these matters. No matter who…31 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsThe answer to the point raised by the noble Baroness is that we need to invest very carefully and very substantially. There will be impacts across our entire economy—all will have…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsMy noble friend has raised a point to which I do not have the exact answer. If she will permit, I will write to her setting out exactly how much energy is generated from waste and…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsIt is sometimes difficult to assess the rate at which we are decarbonising, but I can assure the noble Lord that, as we continue to phase out coal and to work carefully with the…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsI am happy to assure the noble Lord that nuclear will remain part of our strategy. It is indeed a low-carbon approach. We are strongly committed to small modular reactors and…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsWe are anchored to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and we have our own climate change committee putting the science at the heart of our work. However, the challenge…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsThe useful answer to the question is that we rely heavily on the Committee on Climate Change. Only this week, I had a meeting with its chief executive to examine shipping and…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsThe noble Lord raises an important question. All must do their part and, wherever my department is responsible, it will ensure that there is serious communication between the…29 Oct 2019HANSARDNet Zero Carbon EmissionsMy Lords, the Government welcome the review by the National Infrastructure Commission. There are existing powers and duties in place for regulators in relation to decarbonisation.…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsMy noble friend makes a point that is definitely worth making. I note that an issue we face constantly in the EU is the discrepancy between the ideal and the delivery. To look at…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsMy noble friend makes an important point, which I will answer in two ways, if I may. First, in this country, we have very much a service-based economy. In making rules and laws…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsI often wonder what will happen when the EU begins to diverge in directions that are not suitable to this country. We must make sure that the laws we make here are suited to our…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsAll the rights that we have accrued as a member of the EU are retained from EU law into our corpus of domestic law. That is the best place for them to be set out. Any changes to…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsI welcome the comments from the noble Lord. One of the important issues is the question about what a future trade agreement with the EU would deliver. I accept that he is saying…29 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Workers’ RightsI could not have put that better myself.29 Oct 2019