Syria

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Naseby

Monday 8th February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

My Lords, I, too, congratulate Her Majesty’s Government on calling this conference and on the UK showing the lead that it has in money and resources to help the refugees. Nevertheless, I am reminded of what happened in the Second World War. Is my noble friend clear that the Americans and Churchill found themselves having to work with Stalin? I cannot understand why the West, and the UK Government in particular, cannot bring itself to do business with Assad. There is no way out for peace in that country—and certainly no way to deal with Daesh—unless there is some dialogue and connection with Assad.

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, my noble friend absolutely puts the focus on Assad. Assad and his regime have got it in their hands to stop bombing their own people. If there is to be a political solution, it is incumbent on everyone to come around to the talks and ensure that we get a positive outcome that enables peace to take place.

Energy: Shale Gas

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Naseby

Wednesday 17th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Naseby]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on shale gas extraction in the United Kingdom.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma)]

My Lords, my department’s key objectives are to ensure that the UK has safe and secure energy supplies for the future. It is also committed to reducing carbon emissions. That is why we are encouraging a diverse and sustainable energy mix and therefore support industry’s endeavours in pursuing new energy sources in the UK such as shale gas.

[Lord Naseby]

I congratulate the Government on the recent announcement encouraging the extraction of gas by fracking. When your Lordships’ House realises that nearly 40% of the United States is now supplied by natural gas, does this not offer a huge opportunity for the United Kingdom to develop cheap and reliable domestic sources of energy, to create jobs, in particular in the greater Blackpool area, to reduce imports of gas and, finally, to improve the environment? At the same time, your Lordships’ House will remember that when North Sea oil was developed, it was a success because of the combination of government working with the industry. This must happen with shale gas as well.

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend is of course right that the Government are very alert to the possibilities for boosting growth and employment in Lancashire and across the country. If shale gas does prove to be commercially viable, there is every reason to suppose that it will be positive for the economy and employment. However, the industry is at a very early stage of development and we need to make sure that all our commitments to ensuring that it is safe and secure to extract are formally looked at.

Energy: Self-sufficiency

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Naseby

Monday 15th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, we need to make the most of all our domestic energy resources, and exploitation of shale gas reserves is just one way we can do this. We must also ensure that any development is sensitive to community concerns and consistent with our carbon objectives.

[Lord Naseby]

My Lords, if we are to continue with the aim of trying to achieve self-sufficiency, has not the time come to have another look at the Stern review, not because there is anything wrong with renewables but because the cost platform has so escalated in that area that it is highly questionable that we can now afford the proposals in that review?

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, the Government are very mindful of the points that my noble friend raises but, as I said earlier, we are looking at all forms of energy, including renewables. We may well revisit previous reports but the most important thing is that we look at how, in the future, we are going to have a sustainable energy system which ensures that all our homes constantly have light.

International Development Aid

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Naseby

Monday 7th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

I should first like to pay tribute to the great work that the noble Lord did when he was a Member of another place. I should also like to congratulate him on the work that he is continuing to do to ensure that the relationship between Scotland and the African countries is maintained. The United Nations is of course one of our key partners; but, as I said, we are going through the multilateral and bilateral review process. This process will ensure that we are able to target and focus all our aid budget on the programmes and countries that need it the most and where the outcomes are best achieved.

[Lord Naseby]

Is my noble friend aware that DfID’s practical help in demining in Sri Lanka has been enormously welcome and pretty successful? But as the refugees—more than 270,000 of them—have nearly all now returned home, the crying need is for infrastructure, particularly in the health field. Will she, with DfID, look at the possibility of building at least one hospital in the northern region of Sri Lanka?

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend is absolutely right about the work that DfID has done to try to reduce the suffering caused by landmines and the explosive remnants of war. As I have said several times over, we are coming towards the end of our reviews. These really can give us a greater focus on where our aid will go. However, healthcare and education are key to supporting the work that we do.