Consumer Interests: World Consumer Rights Day

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

Monday 17th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

There are some steps that consumers can take themselves—but, having said that, we are looking at this very closely. The first port of call, as I said, would be Citizens Advice. It will be in a much better position in future to give proper advice on that particular point.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Minister please go back to the supplementary question asked by my noble friend about payday loans? He responded that the ideal solution was well informed, well educated consumers. Surely, people who are under stress and in poverty ought to be protected from such rates of interest, rather than rely on the consumer to be able to investigate at a time of great stress in their lives?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The noble Baroness is correct. Payday loans remain an issue, and we continue to liaise with colleagues in the Treasury to take steps to resolve that important issue.

National Lottery

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

Tuesday 18th December 2012 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I agree with my noble friend. He gives me an opportunity to say that the Health Lottery has raised more than £28 million for good causes. Its turnover last year was £119 million. Although it has not been long since its inception, it has been highly successful and has benefited more than 30,000 people across Great Britain. Relations have been developed with strategic partners, including the Alzheimer’s Society and the Carers Trust.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, can the Minister explain to the House why his answer to the question from my noble friend Lord Collins was “the Gambling Commission” and not “government policy” in determining what should happen?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I will stick to my original answer: my understanding is that it is up to the Gambling Commission to decide these matters.

Arts Funding in North-East England

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

Wednesday 28th November 2012 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

As mentioned before, it is not our business to interfere with how local authorities spend their funds. Arts Council England is working extremely closely with Newcastle City Council at the moment to find a way forward through the problems highlighted today by the noble Earl. The Government have a number of initiatives on the go, including the Catalyst programme which is designed to release endowments and to encourage legacy giving. There are many initiatives afoot to help the arts and culture sector.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, the Minister chose very different areas for his comparison in Maidenhead and Windsor and Newcastle upon Tyne. Will he go back and look at the disproportionate cuts for areas in the north of England as opposed to the south of England? Will he look at the apparent reported failure of many of those seeking to get young people into work, particularly in areas where the Government, contrary to the Minister’s statement, are telling local authorities what to spend, and where? If local authorities would take on, particularly, young unemployed people from an arts background, in the parks and gardens, in housing and a lot of other areas, the Government would be able to let their right hand know what their left hand was undoing.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

Funding for the arts sector is still dependent on a growing economy and while we have some way to go, we are on the right track. The economy shows signs of healing and in two years the Government have cut the deficit by a quarter. To take up the noble Baroness point, more than a million new jobs have been created in the private sector, the economy is growing and this can only be beneficial to the arts sector.