(10 years, 9 months ago)
Lords Chamber Baroness Kramer
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Baroness Kramer 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, it is crucial that we use research and research-based evidence to design effective programmes. As noble Lords will know, there are many different examples around the world, but under its current system, which we are obviously seeking to improve, the UK actually scores very well on international measures.
 Lord Howarth of Newport (Lab)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Lord Howarth of Newport (Lab) 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, will the noble Baroness be kind enough to explain, for the benefit of elderly drivers who may not know, what telematics are?
 Baroness Kramer
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Baroness Kramer 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, that, I am sure, his Lordship does know. It is basically a gizmo—if I may use such language—that is in the car, which constantly communicates the driving performance to the insurance company, so erratic driving and speeding are picked up on a live basis.
 Baroness Kramer
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Baroness Kramer 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, I do not know whether it is appropriate to comment but everyone seems to be doing so. I understand that the convention of the House is that speeches are not read. Although that convention is frequently held in abeyance, it means that your Lordships all have the capacity to consider and present the key points of their statements, perhaps with an opportunity for people to read the full speech on a later occasion.
 Lord Howarth of Newport
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Lord Howarth of Newport 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, surely the circumstances today are quite exceptional. It seems to me that the House would be very interested to hear what the noble Lord, Lord Birt, has to say. I am sure that he will confine his remarks to a reasonable minimum, but I think that we should hear his contribution to this debate.