Cycling: Helmets

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Popat

Thursday 23rd October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to legislate that cyclists must wear helmets.

[Lord Popat (Con)]

My Lords, the Government take cycle safety very seriously. We have no plans to legislate to make cyclists wear cycle helmets. However, we encourage their use by all cyclists, especially children. We believe that this should remain a matter of individual choice rather than imposing additional regulations which would be difficult to enforce.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

I thank my noble friend. However, if cyclists wore helmets, would they not be more visible and certainly safer? Can we also persuade them not to ride on pavements? Is my noble friend aware that recently, on a crossing outside the House, I hit a cyclist on the back because he did not stop and his friends behind shouted, “Well done—why didn’t you hit him harder”?

[Lord Popat]

I think we can all agree that my noble friend is a force of nature inside this Chamber and, based on what I have just heard, outside it as well. There is an important point, however. Although the police have a role to play in enforcing the law, we need everyone to play their part to ensure that all road users and pedestrians respect each other. If we had more people with the courage and decency of my noble friend, the world would be a better place.

Cyclists: Safety

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Popat

Thursday 30th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, lately there have been conflicts and hostility between the cyclist and the motorist. The Government are doing everything possible, along with the Mayor of London and Transport for London. We have launched a THINK! campaign for motorists and cyclists to eliminate those problems.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Does my noble friend agree that the safety of pedestrians is equally important?

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, pedestrians should expect to be able to use the pavement and our roads safely, without any collision or confrontation with cyclists. Where cyclists cause problems, it is a matter for the police to take the necessary action. We want to see safe cycling, not dangerous cycling. The noble Baroness raises a very important point about pedestrians, who do sometimes have problems with cyclists, and the Government are taking the necessary action through the police to make sure that bad, dangerous or careless cycling on our pavements is prohibited.

Small Businesses: Late Payments

Debate between Baroness Sharples and Lord Popat

Tuesday 11th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, the Government are doing everything possible to encourage a culture of prompt payment. As I said earlier, 75% of FTSE 100 companies have already signed up to prompt payment.

[Baroness Sharples]

Can my noble friend say whether the ministries are paying their debts on time?

[Lord Popat]

The noble Baroness raises an important issue. The department is doing everything it can to speed up prompt payment, both for SMEs and for large companies.