UK Clothing Sector: Safety

Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Monday 13th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The right reverend Prelate makes a good point. Many retailers in this country have individuals on the ground. Primark, for example, has somebody on the ground; they are working hard to deal with the aftermath of the disaster and looking ahead at remedies.

[The Earl of Clancarty]

My Lords, what is the Government’s response to Muhammad Yunus’s call for an international minimum wage for those working in the garment industry, the level of this wage to be agreed upon by the foreign buyers?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The issue of wages is clearly linked. We have obviously been talking about a very serious health and safety issue with the factory collapsing. I alluded to wages before and, again, further pressure needs to be brought on organisations to be sure that a decent wage, however defined, is paid out in these particular countries.

Public Libraries

Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Thursday 10th January 2013 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Clancarty]

My Lords, among the figures recently released, is the Minister aware of the 8% reduction in full-time library staff in the past year? That is almost double the number in the previous year, which will have had a significant effect on opening hours and other library services.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I am not aware of the figures that the noble Earl has given. However, I can say that this is part of the technological changes that are taking place. With his long interest in the arts, I am sure that the noble Earl will be aware that various changes are going on, particularly in terms of the move towards e-book lending, for example, and wi-fi. The issues are changing dramatically in terms of demand and we need to react to that.

Arts Funding in North-East England

Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Wednesday 28th November 2012 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Clancarty]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Newcastle City Council’s plans to remove funding for the arts, what plans they have to safeguard arts funding in north-east England.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

Local authorities have to make difficult decisions on behalf of local taxpayers about how to deploy their budget. Sustained investment in culture has made Newcastle a centre of culture, contributing to the regional economy and quality of life. This Government are working hard to safeguard our arts infrastructure in a difficult spending review settlement where we have limited cuts to protect front-line organisations. We have increased the arts’ share of lottery proceeds from 16% to 20% and invested £100 million in helping arts organisations increase their fundraising capability, including organisations in the north-east.

[The Earl of Clancarty]

My Lords, do the Government accept that local authority funding of the arts, which has no statutory provision and is irreplaceable, is at best a hugely effective, proven means of providing arts services throughout the country and a significant factor in regional regeneration and the national economy? Witness the support given to Tyneside’s Live Theatre, which premiered “The Pitmen Painters” which went on to international success. When will the Government understand that such funding of the arts is not an add-on to be then easily removed at a stroke, but an important and necessary stimulus to the nation’s financial as well as creative growth?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I applaud the noble Earl’s tenacity in again raising protection of the arts. He is right to do so, against continuing challenging economic conditions and particularly with his focus on Newcastle. Newcastle City Council’s plans are still consultative, and it will be up to local taxpayers to give a response. The Arts Council, which already supports 42 out of the 700 national portfolio organisations in the north-east, is working closely with Newcastle City Council to achieve a positive outcome. Finally, it is encouraging to report from the recent annual local authority arts survey that, contrary to adverse publicity, there is some stabilisation of local arts spending. For the 2012-13 year, the budgets reflect an average of £384,900 per local authority compared with £381,600 for 2011-12.