Fracking

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

Cuadrilla has removed all its fracking equipment from the Preston New Road site and no work whatever is anticipated to continue there. The noble Lord will be aware that drilling can take place for a whole range of reasons, not just for the wider energy world. We will continue to monitor it to the highest possible standards where it can continue to be done.

[Lord Geddes (Con)]

My Lords, could the Minister advise the House of Her Majesty’s Government’s view on tidal energy?

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

Love it—we should be doing a lot more of it.

Housing

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Thursday 14th September 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth]

My Lords, the noble Lord may be aware that affordability is basically 80% of market rent. He will probably be reassured by some of the things coming forward which are to be presented in the Commons and which I will be repeating. He is obviously right that it is important that we help those people who cannot afford an affordable rent. We are doing that. We are looking at bespoke deals, for example, and we are progressing that with Leeds and the West Midlands.

[Lord Geddes (Con)]

My Lords, what encouragement are Her Majesty’s Government giving to modular housing—common in both the United States and Scandinavia—which is both less expensive and much quicker in construction?

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth]

My noble friend is right that modular housing is more prevalent in Scandinavia, the United States and large parts of Europe. He will recall that it was referenced in the White Paper. We are keen to progress it. It can deliver housing very quickly and more reasonably and is very adaptable. He is right to draw attention to it and the department is certainly looking at it.