My noble Friend the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change today made the following statement:"In advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 7 December, I am writing to you to outline the agenda items which will be discussed. I will represent the UK.""The first item on...

My noble Friend the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change today made the following statement:"In advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 7 December, I am writing to you to outline the agenda items which will be discussed. I will represent the UK.""The first item on...

In advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 7 December, I am writing to you to outline the agenda items which will be discussed. I will represent the UK. The first item on the agenda is an update on the energy efficiency package (made up of a Directive...

In advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 7 December, I am writing to you to outline the agenda items which will be discussed. I will represent the UK. The first item on the agenda is an update on the energy efficiency package (made up of a Directive...

The Bill would introduce: a carbon capture and storage incentive to support the construction of up to four UK demonstration projects, to be chosen in a competition; mandatory social price support to lower energy bills (social tariffs) for the most vulnerable, which would replace the current voluntary agreement which expires in 2011. It would also add ensuring security of supply and protecting consumers to the objectives of the regulator, Ofgem; increase the regulator’s powers to deal with exploitation of electricity distribution constraints by generators; and increase Ofgem’s power to fine companies. It would give the Secretary of State the power to ban cross-subsidy between gas and electricity accounts.

The Bill would introduce: a carbon capture and storage incentive to support the construction of up to four UK demonstration projects, to be chosen in a competition; mandatory social price support to lower energy bills (social tariffs) for the most vulnerable, which would replace the current voluntary agreement which expires...

My Lords, I must first declare an interest in that I am a non-executive director of the Bridgeman Art Library, a company owned by my wife and family. The company is a photographic archive and a member of the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies. In turn, the association...

My Lords, I must first declare an interest in that I am a non-executive director of the Bridgeman Art Library, a company owned by my wife and family. The company is a photographic archive and a member of the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies. In turn, the association...

My Lords, I am deeply grateful that the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, has spoken in the way that she has. Until that point, I thought that this was becoming a dangerously unbalanced debate, with the notable exception of the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, and, to some extent, my noble friend...

My Lords, I am deeply grateful that the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, has spoken in the way that she has. Until that point, I thought that this was becoming a dangerously unbalanced debate, with the notable exception of the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, and, to some extent, my noble friend...

Digital Economy Bill (HL). Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Digital Economy Bill (HL). Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

That the Bill be read a second time.

That the Bill be read a second time.

My Lords, when we talk about the digital economy, we are talking about every business that runs a website or transfers data digitally; every firm that sells goods online or whose creative or intellectual property is represented by digital content; and every business that enables these business models to exist....

My Lords, when we talk about the digital economy, we are talking about every business that runs a website or transfers data digitally; every firm that sells goods online or whose creative or intellectual property is represented by digital content; and every business that enables these business models to exist....

Impossible!

Impossible!

That is about right; on reflection, he has made rather more. In any event, I was rather put in my place at the State Opening. The cameras roamed over those of us waiting and, I am told, for a moment or two dwelt on me, which noble Lords might think...

That is about right; on reflection, he has made rather more. In any event, I was rather put in my place at the State Opening. The cameras roamed over those of us waiting and, I am told, for a moment or two dwelt on me, which noble Lords might think...

My Lords, I am responding first from this side but I should perhaps make it clear that the views I set out are mine alone and, probably to its relief—do not bind my party in any way. This is also not a bid to move from here to the Front...

My Lords, I am responding first from this side but I should perhaps make it clear that the views I set out are mine alone and, probably to its relief—do not bind my party in any way. This is also not a bid to move from here to the Front...

My Lords, as has been mentioned already this afternoon, I have some previous interests that are relevant to the Bill. However, as I am currently languishing in post-ministerial purdah, I do not believe that I have any current interests or conflicts which I need to disclose. Earlier, in opening the...

My Lords, as has been mentioned already this afternoon, I have some previous interests that are relevant to the Bill. However, as I am currently languishing in post-ministerial purdah, I do not believe that I have any current interests or conflicts which I need to disclose. Earlier, in opening the...

My Lords, at the last minute, I was not able to take part in the debate on the gracious Speech, so I start by saying how sorry I am that the noble Lord, Lord Carter, our DCMS "Goat", has gone to pastures new. Not long ago, I welcomed him to...

My Lords, at the last minute, I was not able to take part in the debate on the gracious Speech, so I start by saying how sorry I am that the noble Lord, Lord Carter, our DCMS "Goat", has gone to pastures new. Not long ago, I welcomed him to...

My Lords, I am sure that I am not the only noble Lord in this House to be extremely disappointed to miss out on the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam. If he has written it out, perhaps he will e-mail it to us so that we catch it...

My Lords, I am sure that I am not the only noble Lord in this House to be extremely disappointed to miss out on the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam. If he has written it out, perhaps he will e-mail it to us so that we catch it...

My Lords, I have in a sense been given my cue by my friend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester. I acknowledge that well known commandment, "Thou mayest not speak if thou art unable to remain for the wind-ups", and merely give notice that my noble friend Lord...

My Lords, I have in a sense been given my cue by my friend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester. I acknowledge that well known commandment, "Thou mayest not speak if thou art unable to remain for the wind-ups", and merely give notice that my noble friend Lord...

My Lords, I join the general welcome for this Bill as an encouraging sign of the Government’s determination not only to deal with the pressing issues of copyright and digital piracy—which, as several noble Lords have said, is a breaking of the commandment: "Thou shalt not steal"—but to enable this...

My Lords, I join the general welcome for this Bill as an encouraging sign of the Government’s determination not only to deal with the pressing issues of copyright and digital piracy—which, as several noble Lords have said, is a breaking of the commandment: "Thou shalt not steal"—but to enable this...