Energy: Gas Storage

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Skelmersdale

Thursday 28th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, the point of intervention is where we try to ensure that low-carbon generation gets the support to be able to supply energy at a cost that will be affordable to consumers. That is about ensuring energy security and cleaner energy, but also affordability.

[Lord Skelmersdale (Con)]

My Lords, I welcome the four new gas storage facilities that my noble friend spoke of in her original Answer. However, can she tell me when the first one was started?

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, my noble friend asks a question about the date that I cannot answer exactly. However, I will write to my noble friend on that and put a copy in the Library.

Energy Bill

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Skelmersdale

Tuesday 30th July 2013 Grand Committee

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Skelmersdale)]

My Lords, this concludes the Committee’s proceedings on the Bill, but before I let noble Lords go, I, on behalf of all Deputy Chairmen who have served this Committee over a very long period—and noble Lords feel it more than I do—wish noble Lords a very happy Recess.

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, I shall take just one or two more minutes of the Committee’s time to put on record my thanks to all chairs of the Committee’s proceedings. I also thank those who have worked behind the scenes: the clerks, Hansard, the doorkeepers and, of course, my very efficient officials from DECC, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who have been here to support the Government throughout our debates. I also thank all noble Lords who have participated in the Committee for the way in which we have conducted proceedings. We have had a good and thorough debate and have scrutinised the Bill in full. I particularly welcomed the spirit of collaboration that has been adopted with the aim of improving the Bill. We have been in broad agreement on the main objectives, and noble Lords have made some helpful suggestions for further improvement which the Government will consider very carefully. I wish all noble Lords a very happy Recess, and I reassure them that I will be working with officials during the Summer Recess to try to get all the information they require to them before Report stage.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees]

That definitely concludes proceedings on the Bill.

Equality Act 2010

Debate between Baroness Verma and Lord Skelmersdale

Wednesday 22nd December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend will be aware that during the passage of the Equality Bill there were consultations and meetings with people right across the caste system to ensure that both sides of the argument were put. I urge all noble Lords to allow the Government to consider the report carefully. I think that there will be a fair outcome if we see how it impacts on the wider context of legislation in our country.

[Lord Skelmersdale]

My Lords, is it not fundamental to this whole question that we have proper education in schools from the very earliest age?

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend is right about education, but I think that education needs to start within the communities in which such discrimination is practised. I understand completely how difficult it is for some communities to raise the question but, unless they deal with it themselves, legislation will not do so.