Cyclists: Safety

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Earl Attlee

Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that it is extremely unwise to cover one’s ears when riding a cycle, because you cannot hear traffic approaching or someone sounding their horn. I am not sure that it is necessary to make it illegal.

[Baroness Sharples]

Would my noble friend agree that cyclists should wear some form of identification? I was nearly knocked over outside Millbank. I shouted at the cyclist—I did not swipe him—but please could we have some identification on them?

Daylight Saving

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Earl Attlee

Wednesday 22nd May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the department’s admission that there would be casualty savings is not new, but the available savings for each year as we reduce the overall number of casualties are only approximately one-third of the annual reduction in casualties that we expect. I would be delighted to have a debate in your Lordships’ House, but of course that is a matter for the usual channels.

[Baroness Sharples]

Will my noble friend congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Tanlaw, in asking this question over more than 30 years? I have heard him do so many times.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I look forward with bated breath when the noble Lord stands to see whether he will ask about something else. One has to be persistent, but whether the noble Lord will achieve his desired outcome I cannot say.

Railways: London Midland Rail Franchise

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Earl Attlee

Wednesday 31st October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, first of all, there is no shortage of potential recruits to be train drivers, although a potential train driver needs to have certain attributes. The problem with the west coast line is one of franchising and procurement, but here the problem for the train operating company is in retaining and recruiting sufficient drivers to meet its obligations.

[Baroness Sharples]

Does not the present problem arise because the drivers were required to work during the Olympics, and now they need leave?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, my noble friend is more or less right. The problem is that the chickens are coming home to roost because leave was restricted during the Olympics period, so the drivers want to have their leave now. In addition, we are experiencing the problems of the half term, when drivers naturally want to be at home with their families.

Gypsies and Travellers

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Earl Attlee

Tuesday 6th March 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, as I have said, we have not seen the full government policy because that will be announced shortly. The previous Government’s model of top-down pitch targets under regional strategies has not delivered. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of caravans on unauthorised developments increased from 728 to 3,895.

[Baroness Sharples]

If they are Travellers, why do they not travel rather than getting settled in one spot?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, some Travellers are static, partly because there are not the opportunities around the country and their patterns of work are changing. It would be better in those circumstances if they remained static so that their children could be properly educated, as suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Laming.

Roads: Cyclists

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Earl Attlee

Wednesday 13th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord. I know that all noble Lords are extremely concerned about that type of offending. It adversely affects noble Lords, because they tend to be a little bit older than the average member of the population.

[Baroness Sharples]

Can my noble friend tell us how many successful prosecutions there have been against cyclists who have gone against red lights?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the short answer is no. The reason is that most offences are dealt with by fixed penalties—the penalty is about £30—but detailed records are not kept because that would not be a good use of public funds.