Peatlands: Commercial Exploitation

Debate between Lord McColl of Dulwich and Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Monday 9th September 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right. The merlin, the dunlin and the golden plover are all birds that are also significant in their impact on the ecosystems and important in the peatlands. That is precisely why we want to concentrate on restoring peatlands and reducing peat extraction. Interestingly, the worst damage is being done in the lowland areas of peatland.

[Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con)]

My Lords, why do we not go back to using manure, which was very effective?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, being a farmer as well as an amateur gardener, I say that manure by itself would be a little too rich for some of the seedlings which we all need to prosper, but my noble friend is absolutely right about using compost and manure. Using them in the right mix and getting the right alternatives—natural alternatives such as wool and bracken—is the way forward.

Deaf People: Telephone Services

Debate between Lord McColl of Dulwich and Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Thursday 13th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

I agree with the noble Baroness. The Government are actively pressing for implementation. I referred to the letter that the Minister for Communications has written to more than 80 FTSE companies, and I know that he has a forward date in his diary for responses to it and will be looking for implementation. I think that this is an issue on which we can all unite. It is a no-brainer, as they say. All people in this country deserve a fair service.

[Lord McColl of Dulwich]

Would my noble friend be interested to know that in medical schools great attention is paid to teaching would-be doctors how to communicate with deaf people, and that in the final exam they are carefully examined to ensure that they are in fact able to do so? Could this not be extended to schools and universities throughout?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

Clarity of language and in communication across the board should be in any implementation and indeed from early stages in education in nurseries and primary schools. Communication skills, ensuring that the message you want to get across is understood, are essential.