Airports: Runways
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Tebbit
Viscount Younger of Leckie
It is fair to say that the expression “long-running saga” can be redefined. On a serious note, the Government made it clear that rolling out the new runway was extremely important. In December 2013, the Airport Commission’s report stated that the need was acute and that by 2030 we needed to address the capacity issue. Failing to address it could cost passengers £21 billion to £23 billion in fare increases and delays, and £30 billion to £45 billion for the wider economy. I am unable to give a timetable at the moment, but the noble Lord will be aware that there are issues such as air quality that are being analysed at present.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, is it not clear that the Government cannot direct international airlines to which airport they will go? The alternative to Heathrow is not Gatwick, Stansted or Boris Island but Frankfurt, Schiphol and Paris.
Viscount Younger of Leckie
I am very aware that airports in Europe have been developing, but the transport network within the UK is exceptionally good, and we should always remember that. There is now a great opportunity—even more so after the result of the EU referendum—to spread ourselves more to markets abroad, and that is exactly what we are doing.
Local Authorities: Budget
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Tebbit
Viscount Younger of Leckie
The noble Baroness will know that the 2% adult social care precept will raise up to £2 billion by 2019-20, with a further £1.5 billion available to councils to work with the NHS to ensure that care is available for older people following hospital treatment, through the better care fund.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that those of us who have the privilege of living in East Anglia, particularly those of us who live in Bury St Edmunds, where we have an excellent council which has improved services overall and kept rates well under control, do not need an elected mayor? That will only raise costs, introduce another layer of government and lead to further escalation of these problems.
Viscount Younger of Leckie
That may be so, but I reiterate that we think it is right for the local area to decide these matters.
Drones
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Tebbit
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Indeed, I think I have outlined exactly what we are doing. It is important that we look at the facts first and then come back with a full report by September, which is not too far away. However, we are not being complacent about the safety issues and the risks concerned.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, should we not require that any person should have a licence before he may be permitted to buy or operate a drone?
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Yes, it is something that is on people’s minds. Of course, the US and Ireland are operating such a scheme but, as I said at the beginning, the question is: can this be enforced? This will also be part of the important review that we will carry out this year.
Volkswagen: Emissions
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Tebbit
Viscount Younger of Leckie
My Lords, as your Lordships might expect me to say, this involves a complicated device. One of the reasons for the delay, according to Volkswagen, is that it is trying to get to the bottom of the device that it fitted and is now looking to fix. It wants to make sure that the solution does not impact on vehicle performance, fuel consumption or driveability.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
My Lords, is it possible that the Americans have been able to take action because they are not subject to European Community law?
Viscount Younger of Leckie
My Lords, as I say, we are looking to get to the bottom of the decision in the US.
Northern Ireland: Defamation Law
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Tebbit
Viscount Younger of Leckie
I am very aware that the noble Lord, Lord McNally, who may or may not be in his place, was instrumental in pressing the benefits of the Defamation Act on the Northern Ireland Executive. The noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, will be more than aware of the Sewel convention and to that extent, Parliament remains sovereign. However, the UK Government will not normally pass primary legislation relating to areas in which a devolved legislature has legislative competence except with the agreement of that devolved legislature in the form of an LCM.
Lord Tebbit (Con)
Is it not strange that we are pressed in this Parliament to grant devolution to other parts of the kingdom, and when those other parts of the kingdom take a view about their law which is different to that held by members of this Parliament, we become all indignant about it? Surely that is what devolution is about. People may take odd decisions. So what? That is the consequence of devolution.
Viscount Younger of Leckie
I agree with my noble friend. He is correct that it is a consequence of devolution. However, there is a little more to it than that in that the civil law on defamation is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland. It remains the case that it is a matter for the Executive and we will see what happens with the Andrew Scott review.