Sport: Women on Governing Bodies
Debate between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Tebbit
Lord Ashton of Hyde
My Lords, that really is not in the remit of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, but I will refer the noble Baroness’s question to the relevant department.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, will my noble friend say whether the Government intend to publish quotas for all categories, not just men and women but all those in between and people who do not feel comfortable with one or the other of those categories? It would be so unfair if we did not—would it not?
Lord Ashton of Hyde
I can be very clear to my noble friend: we do not intend to publish quotas.
European Union: Regeneration Funding
Debate between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Tebbit
Lord Ashton of Hyde
I thank the noble Lord and look forward to being asked lots of questions by him in future. I am pleased to say that I completely agree with him. This vote does not change the fact that infrastructure is a key government priority. That was demonstrated in the 2016 Budget, when we accelerated the commitment to invest more than £100 billion in infrastructure. In the last Parliament, the average annual investment was 17% higher than in the preceding one.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, will my noble friend try to educate some Members of this House on the difference between spending and investing? One is very easy and one is a little more difficult. Secondly, will he confirm that no money has been coming into this country from the EU? It is British taxpayers’ money that has been routed through Brussels with a percentage creamed off to pay for the inefficiencies and corruptions in that place.
Tobacco: Illicit Trade
Debate between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Tebbit
Lord Ashton of Hyde
My Lords, the Government will certainly consult their European partners. The whole point about dealing with smuggling and illicit trade is that it is a cross-border matter, and therefore it is essential that there is a pan-European agreement on how to deal with it. The Government certainly intend to continue doing that.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
Will my noble friend say when the European Union finally ceased to subsidise the growing of tobacco in Greece? It was still being subsidised into the 1990s. When did it actually stop?
Lord Ashton of Hyde
I am afraid I do not know the answer to that, but I am sure that my noble friend will be able to tell me.
European Union: Single Market
Debate between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Tebbit
Lord Ashton of Hyde
I shall just give the example of flights, which have come down dramatically in price.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, as we are on this subject, could my noble friend clear up a little matter of fact? Were those letters that were published over the names of distinguished former military personnel and leading industrialists drafted by people being paid by Her Majesty’s Government who subsequently importuned those gentlemen for their signatures?
Lord Ashton of Hyde
My Lords, I am afraid that my briefing did not cover that. What I can do is commend to the House the speech made in the debate on 2 March by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, who made it very clear why it is preferable to remain in the EU.