Transport: Disabled Parking in London

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Thursday 27th April 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

The noble Baroness is right to raise this. The number of prosecutions is still low compared to the reports that are received, partly because of the need to produce evidence. I was involved in local government for 10 years and had responsibility at a local level for this. Part of it is education: a lot of people sometimes park inadvertently and think it is okay for a few minutes. The other, more serious, issue is the blatant abuse of parking places by fraudulent blue badge holders, an area where there also needs to be greater education. The roadshows, which are sharing best practice, will help to address the issue of enforcement more effectively.

[Lord Geddes (Con)]

Can my noble friend advise the House how often checks are made of the abuse of blue badges?

Shipping: Safety

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Monday 27th March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

The noble and gallant Lord is right to raise this issue. My understanding is that work has been done to ensure the survivability of ships for a longer time and that, if an evacuation is necessary, it can be conducted. In the case of the “Costa Concordia”, the ship was stable for up to an hour. Had the crew and captain been equipped in an appropriate manner, perhaps more lives could have been saved. Another area that we are looking at is the stability of ships, to allow them to return to port safely without the need for evacuation. The noble and gallant Lord asked how the two organisations were working together. I shall write to him on that.

[Lord Geddes (Con)]

My Lords, has consideration been given to a minimum thickness of hull for these vast cruise ships, particularly those going to Antarctica?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

Again, given the technical nature of that question, I will write to my noble friend. I assure him that on all types of ships, including the roll-on, roll-off ferries widely used by the travelling public, the issue of safety is extremely important. It is important to consider the nature, building and construction of ships—but, as we have said, we must also inform the travelling public on safety procedures and ensure that the crew, too, is well informed.

High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Committee: 1st sitting (Hansard): House of Lords & Committee: 1st sitting: House of Lords & Report stage: House of Lords
Tuesday 10th January 2017 Grand Committee

Relevant document: 7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Geddes) (Con)]

My Lords, it is now 3.30 pm and, as is usual at this time, I must advise the Grand Committee that if there is a Division in the Chamber while we are sitting the Committee will adjourn as soon as the Division Bells are rung—or as soon as your Chairman sees that they are being rung—and resume after 10 minutes.

Clause 1: Power to construct and maintain works for Phase One of High Speed 2

Amendment 1

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