Infrastructure Bill [HL]
Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Baroness Verma(10 years, 1 month ago)
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Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton
My Lords, I said that this was one of the stories that is circulating. I asked the Minister for an assurance that the companies that are drilling and maintaining the wells would not appoint the people who will judge their safety, either while they are being built or when they are being used.
Baroness Verma
My Lords, I am grateful for the correction, and I think I mentioned that issue in my response on independent well operators. Perhaps I may clarify the position as regards the concerns of the noble Baroness. The Health and Safety Executive scrutinises well design and monitors progress to ensure that the operator is managing risk effectively, and will continue to do so throughout the life cycle of the well. An independent well examiner will also review its design and construction. To date, onshore operators have used separate companies to provide this service; they have not delivered in-house.
Green Climate Fund
Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Baroness Verma
Baroness Verma
My Lords, my noble friend raises a couple of issues that we would dispute in a longer debate. What we do recognise is that a change in weather patterns is happening across the globe and that climate change is occurring; it may have slowed down but that is a good thing, and it could well be that some of the measures we are taking today have helped that to occur. If we are to respond seriously to climate change and changing weather patterns, we need to be able to put in place things that mitigate and adapt to those different patterns.
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)
My Lords, would the Minister care to confirm my understanding that, on greenhouse gases, this agreement is binding?
Baroness Verma
My Lords, the UK Government asked for a 40% carbon emissions ambition to be reached. That is something the Prime Minister put forward earlier this year. I am glad to say that all the European countries have agreed to that 40% greenhouse emissions target.
Energy: Green Deal
Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Baroness Verma
Baroness Verma
My Lords, wherever information is coming from, it is a really good deal and I suggest that my noble friend take it up.
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)
My Lords, would the Minister accept some gently given advice that Question Time is for questioning Ministers, not for Ministers to question the Opposition?
Baroness Verma
My Lords, I know what Question Time is for, which is why I come very prepared to answer the questions.
Energy: Fracking
Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Baroness Verma
Baroness Verma
My Lords, my noble friend raised a number of very important points. As noble Lords are aware, we are in the early stages of exploration at the moment. There will be areas of the landscape that will not be suitable for fracking, as my noble friend rightly pointed out. However, we are in the early stages, and as the Government are determined to ensure that we are dependent not on coal but on gas and low-carbon energy sources, my noble friend made some very important points.
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton
My Lords, I declare an interest as a resident of Lancashire who is aware of the enormous beauty of the Trough of Bowland. Will the Minister join me in condemning the alleged remarks of protesters in the south of England that all the fracking could be done in the north? Will she join me in insisting that the beauty of Lancashire is as important as—not more important than—the beauty surrounding, for example, Guildford?
Baroness Verma
My Lords, again I accept the noble Baroness makes some very important points. I am sure that my noble friend did not say that Lancashire was not as beautiful. All parts of this great country are beautiful.