Contributions
529 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that public trust in companies and their governance is very important. I assure him that, according to the most recent survey, levels of…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, I do agree with my noble friend. I think that she will agree that we have done a great deal on corporate governance ever since we published the Green Paper in 2016, and…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceI agree with the noble Lord on the first part of his question, which is that this is a matter for companies, and it is right that they should get it right. On levels of trust,…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, the noble Baroness asks a difficult philosophical question. It is important to try to maintain public trust. In my response to the noble Lord, Lord Haskel, I tried to…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that good management is obviously the issue. Whether good management should go down the route that he seems to be suggesting—I was not quite…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, we have made clear our views about workers on boards. The FRC has also made clear in its revised code that it requires boards to have in place at least one director…29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, I believe that I have answered his question.29 Apr 2019HANSARDCorporate GovernanceMy Lords, I did not say that there has been a failure in corporate governance, rather that it is right that the Government should be doing what they have been doing; hence the…29 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyMy noble friend is quite right to draw attention to our strengths, particularly those in the university sector; for example, he will know that on a league table based on research…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyThe noble Lord takes a depressingly pessimistic view of that PwC report. It pointed out that advances in that sector could lead to growth of £230 billion between now and 2030.…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyThe noble Lord takes me slightly wider than the original Question. Again, it is a sign of the success of the university sector that it attracts people paying large fees into…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyAs always, my noble friend makes a valid point. We will see new jobs, better jobs, greater productivity and a general growth in the sector.10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyMy Lords, I cannot give any precise figures about how much is specifically targeted on the AI industry. The important point is to recognise, as did the PwC and other reports, what…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyMy Lords, we are creating an attractive environment, building the foundations and skills, data and ethics to allow businesses based on AI to start and scale. It is encouraging to…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyMy Lords, that will certainly be considered. In one of my earlier answers I referred to the AI sector deal, but I can also refer to the fintech sector strategy launched a year ago…10 Apr 2019HANSARDBusinesses: TechnologyMy Lords, the noble Lord rightly points to the importance of the fintech sector and the fact that London is its leading world player. We shall have to look carefully to ensure…10 Apr 2019HANSARDFuel PovertyThe noble Lord is right: it is for local authorities to do that, but he will also remember that we brought forward further regulations this year, which he and I debated in this…04 Apr 2019HANSARDFuel PovertyI suspect it is a benefit of which a large number of Members of this House are in receipt—I see one or two indicating that they are not. I note what my noble friend said. It is a…04 Apr 2019HANSARDFuel PovertyMy Lords, I will see whether those figures are available and if they are, I will make them available to the noble Baroness. In my original Answer, I was trying to address the…04 Apr 2019HANSARDFuel PovertyMy Lords, we should treat the figures with some caution. They are based on income below the poverty line, and thus are relative figures. That being the case, there is always the…04 Apr 2019