Green Economic Recovery

Baroness Hayman Excerpts

Monday 14th December 2020 Lords Chamber

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

We shall go on because we cannot hear the noble Baroness.

[Baroness Hayman (CB) [V]]

My Lords—[Inaudible.]

[Lord Ashton of Hyde (Con)]

My Lords, we cannot hear the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman. Perhaps she could unmute herself manually and see whether that makes a difference.

[Baroness Hayman (CB) [V]]

My question was about the Economic Affairs Committee report published today. It makes it clear that recovery from Covid-19 and investment in a green economy for the future are far from divergent aims; they are complementary. Does the Minister agree with the contention in that report that government spending should be on policies more tightly focused on creating job opportunities that reflect the long-term context and that the Government should prioritise green projects that can be delivered at scale and quickly and can take place across the country?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I agree with the noble Baroness that we need to generate more green jobs and to build back better—that was the aim of the 10-point plan, and it is a central aim of the Government. The noble Baroness makes an important point and we shall endeavour to do exactly that.