Contributions
1,117 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDrink-DrivingThe noble Lord is right that we should respect the evidence. Scotland’s experience is relevant, but it is not the only evidence. The Government recognise that Scotland did not see…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingI said that we are consulting on the first comprehensive road safety strategy for many years. It is right to consult, because a number of things in the road safety strategy—not…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingI have to say there is a whole range of factors that go into it. The reason for the road safety strategy is that the death and serious injury rate has plateaued, rather than going…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingThe noble Lord is absolutely right: drug-driving is, as he said, on the increase. We are consulting on better detection of drug-driving, because it is a complex issue: there are…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingI am sure that our hearts go out to my noble friend and to many other people like him who have suffered this sort of terrible family or close relationship catastrophe. Of course,…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingThat is precisely one of the things that the Government have consulted about, because it is important that the maximum range of penalties and actions is available to deal with…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingMy noble friend is a great advocate for better policing of drink-driving. I understand the sad reasons why, and our hearts go out to everybody who has suffered bereavement or…01 Jul 2026HANSARDDrink-DrivingThe first comprehensive road safety strategy for some time was published a few months ago, and part of the consultation is indeed to look at lowering the limits for drink-driving.…01 Jul 2026HANSARDWest Midlands Combined Authority (Key Route Network) (Amendment) Order 2026My Lords, I am pleased to say that this draft order was considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee without any…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWest Midlands Combined Authority (Key Route Network) (Amendment) Order 2026That the Grand Committee do consider the West Midlands Combined Authority (Key Route Network) (Amendment) Order 2026.30 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsThe noble Lord is right that this is a serious problem on a significant scale. The Government acknowledge that more needs to be done. A recent consultation closed on 11 May and…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsI hope that the noble Lord received my letter of 12 June, in reply to his email to me on 14 May. If he took the simple action outlined in my letter, he should now have his licence…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsIf the noble Lord drops me a line with a few more details, I will look into that case. The rules demand more attention to medical conditions from the age of 70 onwards, and…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsI just thought I should say that so that nobody thought it was in somebody else’s name. It is important that, as people get older, they consider whether they are capable to…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsSome issues of government are more intractable than others. Given the statistics I quoted earlier about a 10% rise in medical licence notifications yet a reduction in the…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsMy noble friend is absolutely right: it is not acceptable. There are clearly more number plates that cannot be read by ANPR and more cloned number plates on the road these days…23 Jun 2026HANSARDDVLA: Staffing LevelsMy Lords, the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency regularly monitors staffing levels against demand for its services and changes staffing levels where necessary within agreed…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHS2 Ltd: ConsultantsThe recent Statement by the Secretary of State for Transport in the other place said that the project—with Mark Wild as the new chief executive and Mike Brown as the new chair of…22 Jun 2026HANSARDHS2 Ltd: ConsultantsFortunately, nearly all the steel for HS2 has already been purchased so, although it suffers from many things, it will not suffer from changes in steel prices going forward. If…22 Jun 2026HANSARDHS2 Ltd: ConsultantsThe noble and learned Lord needs to look at the Benches across from me, because phase 2a of HS2, which would have run from Handsacre to Crewe and then on to Manchester, was…22 Jun 2026