Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 09 Mar 2026 Energy Markets
"My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend the Minister on the Statement that has been made. In supporting the Government’s policy on alternative renewables, I ask that particular attention is given to Northern Ireland, where two-thirds of the population is reliant on fossil fuels, particularly oil, for central heating. I …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government whether the consultation announced in their PFAS Plan: building a safer future together, published on 3 February, will include an option for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances to be banned in all consumer products manufactured or sold in the UK...." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her response. PFAS are considered to be harmful to the environment, and by the time we collect enough evidence that a substance is harmful, it is too late—it is prevalent in the environment and costly to clean up, if that …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I will speak to the amendments in the names of the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, and the noble Lord, Lord Dodds.
I support a smoke-free generation policy, which is central to the Bill. We who support a smoke-free generation want to achieve better-quality health for all, particularly young …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I refer to my registered interest as a member of the Government’s Veterinary Medicines Working Group. In so doing, I commend the work of my noble friend the Minister in achieving agreements with the European Union in that regard. Further to that, can I urge her, working with …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his answers so far. He will recall that I have written to him on several occasions about an anomaly in the electronic travel authorisations that results in an impediment being placed in the way of the development of tourism in …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his detailed and clear response. Does he agree that one should be very careful about what you argue and campaign for, because sometimes you get what you want? Does he agree that those who argued for the hardest possible Brexit …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer, which clearly illustrates that the Government see the urgent nature of climate change mitigations. On changing weather patterns, which are characterised by persistent rain during the winter period and drought during the summer period, what will the Government …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of changing weather patterns in the occurrence of recent floods and flood warnings; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the impact of, and adapt to, heavy rainfall, including improved water storage and management...." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech
"My Lords, building on the work that my noble friend the Minister has outlined, and considering that AI is changing the world of work and that superintelligence poses an even greater threat to the UK job market, can my noble friend outline what the Government are doing to reassure workers …..." Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech