Data Science: Government Processes

Debate between Lord Maxton and Earl Howe

Tuesday 4th February 2020 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, public trust goes to the heart of the Government’s work on data science. People need to know that data is being used wholly ethically by government. They can be reassured on that score by the data ethics framework, which the public sector has to abide by, by the work of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, which advises government on how innovation in AI and data science can be deployed safely and ethically and, of course, by legislation, which protects personal data and people’s privacy.

[Lord Maxton (Lab)]

My Lords, is not the answer—to start with, anyway—a compulsory smart ID card for everybody in this country?

Health: Obesity

Debate between Lord Maxton and Earl Howe

Wednesday 19th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the fact is, as was recognised in our report, that most of us are eating and drinking more than we need to and we are not active enough. Being overweight or obese is a direct consequence of eating more calories than we need. Increasing physical activity is important but reducing the calories we consume is clearly key to weight loss.

[Lord Maxton]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that exercise is a vital part of tackling the problem of obesity? If the Government insist on local authorities cutting back on their expenditure, will not those same local authorities close gymnasiums, leisure centres and swimming pools, and sell off their playing fields? How does that help us to tackle obesity?