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House
Session
Month
Department
Member
Primary member
More
Davies of Oldham, Lord (51)
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
My Lords, will the Minister recognise that, with his reply, he has disappointed a wide range of opinion in the House, including— to complete the position—Her Majesty’s Official Opposition? He will know that earlier this year we were looking positively towards this issue. We would have thought that the present Government would adopt something more than just a straightforward negative stance on a situation where it is quite clear that, with SIPPs being able to invest in these companies, there is a good case that ISA investors should be able to as well.
My Lords, will the Minister recognise that, with his reply, he has disappointed a wide range of opinion in the House, including— to complete the position—Her Majesty’s Official Opposition? He will know that earlier this year we were looking positively towards this issue. We would have thought that the present Government would adopt something more than just a straightforward negative stance on a situation where it is quite clear that, with SIPPs being able to invest in these companies, there is a good case that ISA investors should be able to as well.
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
20 December 2010
I did not want to be controversial in the week running up to the holidays. I pointed out that ISAs were introduced by the last Government and that they have been a successful channel for savings. I gently point out, however, that the last Government had from 1999 to May 2010 if they had wanted to make AIM shares eligible for ISAs, but they chose—rightly, I think—not to do so. We have not taken a decade to mull over this, but we have thought about it carefully in the last few months.
Subjects
Eligibility; Individual savings accounts; Small businesses; Shares
Date
20 December 2010
Reference
723 c824
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, is the Minister briefed on his obvious point? This is the second question where we have had a response from the Front Bench which is driven by the necessity for cuts and not for protection of the quality of the service. Will he address himself to that question?
My Lords, is the Minister briefed on his obvious point? This is the second question where we have had a response from the Front Bench which is driven by the necessity for cuts and not for protection of the quality of the service. Will he address himself to that question?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 December 2010
My Lords, the necessity for the cuts arises from the party opposite...
My Lords, we are committed to maintaining an effective coastguard service.
Subjects
HM Coastguard
Date
8 December 2010
Reference
723 c189
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the successive attempts by the noble Lord to define bankruptcy have looked quite pathetic...
Well, his latest definition would indicate that every mortgage holder in Britain was bankrupt because they have substantial debts. The issue is whether these debts can be managed. He must draw a distinction between the situation of Ireland at the present time, or of Greece in recent times, and that of the United Kingdom, where, as has been indicated, our debt repayment is over a 14-year period.
My Lords, the successive attempts by the noble Lord to define bankruptcy have looked quite pathetic...
Well, his latest definition would indicate that every mortgage holder in Britain was bankrupt because they have substantial debts. The issue is whether these debts can be managed. He must draw a distinction between the situation of Ireland at the present time, or of Greece in recent times, and that of the United Kingdom, where, as has been indicated, our debt repayment is over a 14-year period.
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 December 2010
My Lords, leaving aside the fact that the mortgage payers of this country would be somewhat upset to be thought of as having brought it upon themselves by reckless expenditure, the point is, as the IMF succinctly put it in its report of 27 September 2010: "““The consolidation plan and implementation of early measures to tackle the deficit—one of the highest in the world in 2010—greatly reduces the risk of a costly loss of confidence in fiscal sustainability and will help rebalance the economy””."
That was what the IMF had to say.
Subjects
Borrowing; Public sector; Public finance
Date
7 December 2010
Reference
723 c116-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister not recognise the great anxiety about this situation? He says that ““we””—I presume that he therefore speaks on behalf of the Government—have no knowledge of the report either. This is a totally unsatisfactory situation when lessons need to be learnt about such an important development. Will he not therefore look at the extent to which Her Majesty’s Government can emphasise to the FSA the desirability of making more public the position it has taken up?
My Lords, does the Minister not recognise the great anxiety about this situation? He says that ““we””—I presume that he therefore speaks on behalf of the Government—have no knowledge of the report either. This is a totally unsatisfactory situation when lessons need to be learnt about such an important development. Will he not therefore look at the extent to which Her Majesty’s Government can emphasise to the FSA the desirability of making more public the position it has taken up?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 December 2010
My Lords, that is what we are doing, but we are acting within the constraints of the Financial Services and Markets Act, which was brought in by the previous Government in 2000.
Subjects
Financial Services Authority; Management; Royal Bank of Scotland
Date
7 December 2010
Reference
723 c124
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I quite appreciate the Minister approaching this issue with some care, because he will know the anxieties of the general public about the questions over the damage which heavy lorries do to our roads and the pollution that they create. However, is there any reason why he should delay the charging of heavy goods vehicles, given that at present he is all too well aware of the unfairness of foreign lorries coming into this country and using our roads without cost?
My Lords, I quite appreciate the Minister approaching this issue with some care, because he will know the anxieties of the general public about the questions over the damage which heavy lorries do to our roads and the pollution that they create. However, is there any reason why he should delay the charging of heavy goods vehicles, given that at present he is all too well aware of the unfairness of foreign lorries coming into this country and using our roads without cost?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 December 2010
My Lords, we discussed lorry road-user charging recently at Question Time. We are working on it and will announce on it in due course.
Subjects
Large goods vehicles
Date
1 December 2010
Reference
722 c1476
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, it is all right for the Minister to say at the Dispatch Box that he will encourage local authorities and the police to be more active, but the Government have plans to reduce significantly the resources available to the police and to cut local authority budgets by 30 per cent. Will he also address the question of whether the Highway Code is entirely clear about the obligations of motorists with regard to parking at bus stops?
My Lords, it is all right for the Minister to say at the Dispatch Box that he will encourage local authorities and the police to be more active, but the Government have plans to reduce significantly the resources available to the police and to cut local authority budgets by 30 per cent. Will he also address the question of whether the Highway Code is entirely clear about the obligations of motorists with regard to parking at bus stops?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 November 2010
My Lords, my officials take great interest and care in drafting replies to all Parliamentary Questions. During their research, it was discovered that there is an error in rule 240 of the Highway Code: it does not list bus stop clearways as somewhere you must stop. However, at the next printing that error will be corrected.
Subjects
Bus services; Parking offences
Date
22 November 2010
Reference
722 c957
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, what is the Minister’s explanation for the length of time that is being taken over the introduction of the scheme? The Government courted the heavy goods vehicle industry in this country by saying in their manifesto that they intended to introduce a scheme. The coalition agreement and the business plan of the department stated that the scheme would be introduced, and yet we are now looking at a delay of at least four years before a scheme is introduced. Why is this, and will the Minister also rule out a charge that must be paid not just by foreign heavy goods vehicle operators but also by home-based hauliers?
My Lords, what is the Minister’s explanation for the length of time that is being taken over the introduction of the scheme? The Government courted the heavy goods vehicle industry in this country by saying in their manifesto that they intended to introduce a scheme. The coalition agreement and the business plan of the department stated that the scheme would be introduced, and yet we are now looking at a delay of at least four years before a scheme is introduced. Why is this, and will the Minister also rule out a charge that must be paid not just by foreign heavy goods vehicle operators but also by home-based hauliers?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 November 2010
My Lords, on the noble Lord's substantive point, we are anxious to avoid making the mistakes of the previous Government, who spent £60 million of public money on a satellite lorry road-user charging scheme that achieved absolutely nothing.
Subjects
Large goods vehicles; Tolls
Date
18 November 2010
Reference
722 c838-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister is responsible for the efficiency of his department and he will know the calamitous position that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs was in earlier this year with regard to the settlement of our fellow citizens’ taxation matters. How does the Government's proposed determination to tackle tax evasion and avoidance square with a determination to cut 13,000 posts in HMRC over the next few years?
My Lords, the Minister is responsible for the efficiency of his department and he will know the calamitous position that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs was in earlier this year with regard to the settlement of our fellow citizens’ taxation matters. How does the Government's proposed determination to tackle tax evasion and avoidance square with a determination to cut 13,000 posts in HMRC over the next few years?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 October 2010
My Lords, I have already explained to the House that we are targeting considerable extra resources where it matters in order to get in extra revenue. That is critical. The noble Lord talks about the calamitous position, but where did the calamitous position arise from? This is the result of an exercise to bring forward and modernise the reconciliation systems in our income tax system, which has been sorely needed for quite a few years.
Subjects
Corporation tax; Income tax; Tax yields
Date
28 October 2010
Reference
721 c1311
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, we respect the Chairman of Committee’s reservations about the proposal, but does he recognise that the Government and Opposition are as one in seeking to encourage cycling? Therefore, this proposal is constructive. I wish him well in his efforts to find a docking station somewhat closer than the existing one. I say for the benefit of the House that there is a most discreet and effective docking station right next to the National Gallery. I cannot think of a more enjoyable trip by bike than that between here and the National Gallery on a very wide and safe road.
My Lords, we respect the Chairman of Committee’s reservations about the proposal, but does he recognise that the Government and Opposition are as one in seeking to encourage cycling? Therefore, this proposal is constructive. I wish him well in his efforts to find a docking station somewhat closer than the existing one. I say for the benefit of the House that there is a most discreet and effective docking station right next to the National Gallery. I cannot think of a more enjoyable trip by bike than that between here and the National Gallery on a very wide and safe road.
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 October 2010
I am glad that the noble Lord supports the scheme and that he has time during a busy working day to bike between the National Gallery and here; generally, I have not. However, as I said earlier, we are pursuing this. I will make certain that Transport for London and, obviously, the House authorities take note of the enthusiasm expressed at this Question and will redouble their efforts to try to find a docking station.
Subjects
Bicycles; Hire services; House of Lords; Facilities
Date
27 October 2010
Reference
721 c1194
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, is not the real problem for the foreseeable future that, with interests rates low, the returns on annuities will be well below people’s expectations? Could not the Government think more radically about this in the longer term? Could we not think of following the pattern adopted by some other European Governments on annuities, whereby people would be able to purchase government bonds at a slightly better rate of interest than obtains at present and at the same time contribute to the Government in the shorter term sums which would help the Exchequer?
My Lords, is not the real problem for the foreseeable future that, with interests rates low, the returns on annuities will be well below people’s expectations? Could not the Government think more radically about this in the longer term? Could we not think of following the pattern adopted by some other European Governments on annuities, whereby people would be able to purchase government bonds at a slightly better rate of interest than obtains at present and at the same time contribute to the Government in the shorter term sums which would help the Exchequer?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 October 2010
My Lords, low interest rates are vital to the growth of the economy. In that context, it is important that people are able to choose between a wide variety of savings products. As well as making more flexible people’s choices about their retirement savings, the Government offer not only the opportunity to invest in gilt-edged securities but a range of products through NS&I.
Subjects
Annuities
Date
21 October 2010
Reference
721 c887
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, did the Minister notice that the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, as a loyal supporter of the coalition, failed to mention the very great investment indeed made by the last Labour Government in the west coast main line, which has raised the performance of the train service to the level it has reached today? Does he also accept that while we welcome his statement today about electrification in the north-west, he knows that the shortage of rolling stock is an acute issue, and that this relates to investment decisions on Thameslink in southern England? The two are related because of surplus rail stock that is destined to go to the north-west. Will he confirm that he will take that on board, because there is not much point in producing an infrastructure if you do not have the rolling stock to roll on it?
My Lords, did the Minister notice that the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, as a loyal supporter of the coalition, failed to mention the very great investment indeed made by the last Labour Government in the west coast main line, which has raised the performance of the train service to the level it has reached today? Does he also accept that while we welcome his statement today about electrification in the north-west, he knows that the shortage of rolling stock is an acute issue, and that this relates to investment decisions on Thameslink in southern England? The two are related because of surplus rail stock that is destined to go to the north-west. Will he confirm that he will take that on board, because there is not much point in producing an infrastructure if you do not have the rolling stock to roll on it?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 October 2010
The noble Lord made several points, many of which were correct. I want to make it quite clear where we are on electrification. In 2009, it was announced that the following lines in the north-west would be electrified: Manchester to Liverpool via Chat Moss, which we plan to complete by 2013; Liverpool to Wigan North Western by 2014; Manchester to Bolton and Preston by 2016; and Preston to Blackpool North by 2015. That is what we are planning to do.
Subjects
Railways; North West
Date
18 October 2010
Reference
721 c707
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I ride a bike—in fact, I was riding one this morning—so I declare that interest, but, in balance, I also drive a car. Let us get the issue of bike problems into some kind of perspective. What percentage of the road accidents in which our fellow citizens died last year were due to lawbreaking by cyclists, and why are the Government abolishing Cycling England, which seeks to train cyclists?
My Lords, I ride a bike—in fact, I was riding one this morning—so I declare that interest, but, in balance, I also drive a car. Let us get the issue of bike problems into some kind of perspective. What percentage of the road accidents in which our fellow citizens died last year were due to lawbreaking by cyclists, and why are the Government abolishing Cycling England, which seeks to train cyclists?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 October 2010
My Lords, we will have to wait for the comprehensive spending review later next week to answer that question.
Subjects
Cycling; Road traffic offences
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c514
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, should we not have high expectations for improved efficiency in HMRC’s tackling of tax evasion and avoidance, given that Sir Philip obviously understands the subtlety with which one can so organise one’s affairs as to minimise a contribution to the nation?
My Lords, should we not have high expectations for improved efficiency in HMRC’s tackling of tax evasion and avoidance, given that Sir Philip obviously understands the subtlety with which one can so organise one’s affairs as to minimise a contribution to the nation?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 October 2010
My Lords, just as good buyers create efficient suppliers, so good government commissioning should create efficient government and value for money. That, I am sure, is what all noble Lords seek. I am sure the House will endorse the setting up of this review and applaud the outcome.
Subjects
Cost effectiveness; Revenue and Customs; Government Efficiency Review
Date
7 October 2010
Reference
721 c219
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Will the Minister reconsider the inadequate answer that he gave to my noble friend a moment ago? This Question is about traffic offences and congestion charges are part of traffic offences. My noble friend asked about the vast sums of money owed by certain diplomatic missions for their offences with regard to congestion charges in London. We want a better answer from the Minister.
Will the Minister reconsider the inadequate answer that he gave to my noble friend a moment ago? This Question is about traffic offences and congestion charges are part of traffic offences. My noble friend asked about the vast sums of money owed by certain diplomatic missions for their offences with regard to congestion charges in London. We want a better answer from the Minister.
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 October 2010
My Lords, I accept the noble Lord’s point. We will exercise pressure on diplomatic missions when they are not paying their fines or congestion charges. However, the noble Lord will understand that it is a difficult problem, which is why the previous Government found it just as difficult as we will find it in future.
Subjects
Enforcement; Foreign nationals; Parking offences; Road traffic offences
Date
6 October 2010
Reference
721 c114
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, is it not the case that the local authorities are anticipating cutbacks in resources as well? Will the Minister take responsibility for the statement on his department’s website that, "““Without safety cameras to reduce speeding and make … roads safer, around 100 more people would be killed each year””?"
Is the Minister going to deny that?
My Lords, is it not the case that the local authorities are anticipating cutbacks in resources as well? Will the Minister take responsibility for the statement on his department’s website that, "““Without safety cameras to reduce speeding and make … roads safer, around 100 more people would be killed each year””?"
Is the Minister going to deny that?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 October 2010
My Lords, we are discontinuing funding for new cameras, but local authorities may install new cameras if they wish. It is up to local authorities to make decisions to suit local conditions.
Subjects
Accidents; Cameras; Finance; Safety; Roads; Speed limits
Date
5 October 2010
Reference
721 c3
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, is the reduction in the use of ministerial cars a reflection of the priorities of the Government in cutting public expenditure or is it a reflection of the fact that more than half the Cabinet are wealthy enough to be able to afford their own cars and drivers?
My Lords, is the reduction in the use of ministerial cars a reflection of the priorities of the Government in cutting public expenditure or is it a reflection of the fact that more than half the Cabinet are wealthy enough to be able to afford their own cars and drivers?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 October 2010
My Lords, whether the Cabinet is wealthy or not is immaterial. The objective is to reduce the government deficit and we will do that any way we can, including by reducing expenditure on the Government’s car fleet.
Subjects
Ministers; Official cars
Date
5 October 2010
Reference
721 c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister has referred to the Green Paper on two occasions. Is he aware that an official identified it as very green because it reflected the inability of the Business Secretary to convince the Chancellor to adopt a more constructive approach to this issue? Does this not reflect usual tensions within the coalition? Does the noble Lord also recognise that the Budget has been received in such a way as to reduce the level of demand in this country rather than increase it?
My Lords, the Minister has referred to the Green Paper on two occasions. Is he aware that an official identified it as very green because it reflected the inability of the Business Secretary to convince the Chancellor to adopt a more constructive approach to this issue? Does this not reflect usual tensions within the coalition? Does the noble Lord also recognise that the Budget has been received in such a way as to reduce the level of demand in this country rather than increase it?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 July 2010
My Lords, it is not very productive to reduce everything to trying to find chinks of light between different parts of the coalition. It would be more helpful to have a substantive discussion about the Green Paper. It was published under the joint signatures of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and sets out a wide-ranging agenda of possible measures to increase lending to business. As I said, I encourage anybody with views on it to contribute to the debate over the summer.
Subjects
Business; Banks; Loans
Date
28 July 2010
Reference
720 c1291
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, given the range of opinions that exist on the coalition Benches, from Europhiles to Eurosceptics, would it be possible for the Minister to prevail on the Leader of the House to provide a little niche corner for the noble Lord, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, as he speaks neither for these Benches nor on behalf of these Benches, so he should not speak from them?
My Lords, given the range of opinions that exist on the coalition Benches, from Europhiles to Eurosceptics, would it be possible for the Minister to prevail on the Leader of the House to provide a little niche corner for the noble Lord, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, as he speaks neither for these Benches nor on behalf of these Benches, so he should not speak from them?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 July 2010
My Lords, I am not sure what the question is or what it has to do with Article 125, but we were all entertained by it.
Subjects
EU countries; Economic situation; EU grants and loans
Date
19 July 2010
Reference
720 c849
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, we on this side wish the Minister well in the attempt to control Japanese knotweed. Will he emphasise that it is not just gardeners and people who own cultivated land who are concerned about it, but our public services? Knotweed represents a heavy cost on our railway system because of the threat that it represents.
My Lords, we on this side wish the Minister well in the attempt to control Japanese knotweed. Will he emphasise that it is not just gardeners and people who own cultivated land who are concerned about it, but our public services? Knotweed represents a heavy cost on our railway system because of the threat that it represents.
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 June 2010
My Lords, the noble Lord is right to emphasise the costs, as did my noble friend in her supplementary question. It can cause major structural damage. We estimate that the costs of managing it are about £150 million a year but, as the noble Lord will remember from when he had to deal with the matter, back in 2003 the cost of total eradication was estimated at £1.5 billion. Now, obviously, it would be a great deal more. We should wait to see what this psyllid can do and whether it leads to a much better control of Japanese knotweed.
Subjects
Weed control; Non-native species; Japanese knotweed
Date
24 June 2010
Reference
719 c1422-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the noble Lord forgive me if I look upon the word "scope" as a somewhat weasel word in this context? If he is interpreting the position as one in which the length of trains and the length of stations are not to be changed, and the range of Crossrail—the areas which it will serve—is not to be changed, where on earth are the economies to come from?
My Lords, will the noble Lord forgive me if I look upon the word "scope" as a somewhat weasel word in this context? If he is interpreting the position as one in which the length of trains and the length of stations are not to be changed, and the range of Crossrail—the areas which it will serve—is not to be changed, where on earth are the economies to come from?
Asked by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 June 2010
My Lords, the economies will come from best-value engineering solutions. For instance, the noble Lord will be aware that innovative engineering solutions were used for the station box at Canary Wharf station. That is a good example of where economies can be made. In 1997, Crossrail was but a faint blip on my radar. I pay tribute to noble Lords opposite for their work on Crossrail, particularly brokering the funding package and obtaining parliamentary approval for the Crossrail Act 2008. We support the project and will run with it.
Subjects
Elizabeth line
Date
23 June 2010
Reference
719 c1312
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords