Food Banks

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Lord Palmer

Thursday 20th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, we are working with business and others to encourage people to adopt a healthier diet. Industry is making voluntary pledges to cut salt, fats and calories, increase uptake of fruit and vegetables and label nutrients and calories on packs in out-of-home eating places. Of course, there are a number of other initiatives to do with school food.

[Lord Palmer (CB)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Bishop of Gloucester]

My Lords, research by Citizens Advice shows that the main reason people are referred to food banks is delay in the payment of benefits and benefit sanctions; anecdotally, this is also the church’s own experience from its involvement in the many food banks it helps to run across the country. Will the Minister tell us whether the Government are persuaded by this evidence and, if they are not, will he share with us what plans they have to carry out their own research into the reasons leading so many people to seek food aid?

--- Later in debate ---

[Noble Lords]

Oh!

[Lord Palmer]

My Lords, there was some confusion with the right reverend Prelate. I did in fact ask the Minister whether he agreed that it is surely a scandal in today’s society that food banks have to exist at all.

[Lord De Mauley]

I think I have just answered that, my Lords. Britain has a great tradition of charitable giving, and it would be a great mistake to interfere with that.

Horsemeat and Food Fraud

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Lord Palmer

Monday 11th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I have a lot of sympathy with much of what my noble friend said. She is right: our supply chains are complicated nowadays but that is how the market has developed and we have to work with that. She is also right that labelling is absolutely key. We must ensure that it is accurate.

[Lord Palmer]

My Lords, I have been involved in the food chain literally since I could walk, and an awful lot of people outside this Chamber or the other place would not know what bute was. Is it perhaps worth having a tiny statement by the Government telling people what bute is and the fact that it poses a very low risk to human health?

[Lord De Mauley]

Yes, my Lords. I have spoken at some length on bute, which, as I am sure noble Lords are aware, is a substance administered to horses with evidence of lameness or whatever to enable them to go about their business. The whole purpose of the passporting system is to ensure that a substance such as bute does not get into the food chain.

Employment: Rural Employment

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Lord Palmer

Wednesday 5th December 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

The noble Lord raises a very good point about broadband. I absolutely agree with him on that. The rollout of superfast broadband infrastructure is vital to boosting sustainable economic growth and creating jobs in rural areas. Online business, whether rural or urban, grow four to eight times faster than their offline counterparts. Broadband is a key government priority. We are working to deliver the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015, backed by a £530 million government investment to support rural areas.

[Lord Palmer]

My Lords, what estimates does the Minister have in his department for the exploration of shale gas in the countryside of the United Kingdom?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I think that that is a bit wide of the Question, but more will become clear shortly.

Aviation: Passenger Duty

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Lord Palmer

Wednesday 25th January 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Palmer]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the air passenger duty on private jets will not be implemented until 2013.

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, from April 2013 air passenger duty will for the first time cover passengers travelling aboard private or business jet flights. The changes will bring a substantial number of new operators into the regime and will require the introduction of special rules, tailored to business aviation. Given that the sector comprises many small operators, the Government decided to implement the change from 2013 in order to ensure that burdens both for HMRC and industry were minimised and that the system functions effectively.

[Lord Palmer]

I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Can he categorically confirm that every single private jet will in fact be liable for APD after 2013?

[Lord De Mauley]

Yes, my Lords.