Public Expenditure: Investment in Science

Debate between Lord Hunt of Wirral and Baroness Wilcox

Wednesday 22nd December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

I am sorry, my Lords—none whatever. We are as one, as far as I am concerned.

[Lord Hunt of Wirral]

My Lords, will my noble friend accept from a former Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology how much she and her colleagues are to be congratulated on what is a strong settlement? Will she also recognise that on all sides of this House there is a positive commitment to the importance of the science budget? Can she share with us the figure for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I thank my noble friend for that question. On how much of what we say applies to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, I can confirm that the research council fund across the United Kingdom is without geographical bias. My department works closely with the Governments and funding bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to come to these decisions. It seems a fair decision, and we have had a strong settlement. I think the science community is surprised by how well we have managed to do, given that when we came in we faced real financial problems. Science is so important to this country.

Daylight Saving Time

Debate between Lord Hunt of Wirral and Baroness Wilcox

Thursday 24th June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

I am afraid we do not have evidence that agrees with that completely. If we did, we would act on it immediately and change the time zones. People have been trying to get this right for a very long time and we will continue to do so.

[Lord Hunt of Wirral]

My Lords, I declare an interest as deputy president of RoSPA. I congratulate the Minister on her brilliant start to handling a difficult departmental brief. She inherited this issue from her predecessor, who we knew under several titles, including Last of the Time Lords. Does she accept that there is now a feeling that the campaign for lighter evenings—the Lighter Later campaign—would cut energy costs, save lives, cut emissions and should now be carefully considered?

[Baroness Wilcox]

That is exactly what we are going to do. I have referred to the Lighter Later campaign and said that it has made a persuasive case for change on environmental, safety and well-being grounds, and we will consider all the evidence. I thank my noble friend for his kind remarks.