I support one of the points made by the right reverend Prelate. I am sure that the principle underlining this Bill, and other Bills, is not that we have a totally random system of subsidies but that we have a consistent system of subsidies, a point to which the Minister...

I support one of the points made by the right reverend Prelate. I am sure that the principle underlining this Bill, and other Bills, is not that we have a totally random system of subsidies but that we have a consistent system of subsidies, a point to which the Minister...

I thank the Minister. She knows that I have the highest regard for her. But can I take it one by one, if I may put it that way? I am particularly grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, for her broad support for the idea. She said that it...

I thank the Minister. She knows that I have the highest regard for her. But can I take it one by one, if I may put it that way? I am particularly grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, for her broad support for the idea. She said that it...

My Lords, I rather cut short my thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, but she will perhaps forgive me for that. I think I thanked the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, and was addressing some remarks to the noble Lord, Lord Deben. I made one remark about this being a...

My Lords, I rather cut short my thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, but she will perhaps forgive me for that. I think I thanked the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, and was addressing some remarks to the noble Lord, Lord Deben. I made one remark about this being a...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken, not least the Minister, for a very positive and helpful conclusion. I will disappoint her if she thinks that I am inclined to leave the matter here. Some alterations are needed and some of this material needs to be altered by an...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken, not least the Minister, for a very positive and helpful conclusion. I will disappoint her if she thinks that I am inclined to leave the matter here. Some alterations are needed and some of this material needs to be altered by an...

I am pleased about that. It may have been the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, and as he is not here, he cannot deny it. I thank my noble friend Lord Whitty for his broad support. I totally take his point about the need to make some adjustment. I say to...

I am pleased about that. It may have been the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, and as he is not here, he cannot deny it. I thank my noble friend Lord Whitty for his broad support. I totally take his point about the need to make some adjustment. I say to...

My Lords, expenditure on energy in Britain before tax is now about £76 billion. With tax, it is about £145 billion. That is of the order of just over 10 per cent of total UK expenditure. The statistical series which is the most obviously pertinent for this discussion is the...

My Lords, expenditure on energy in Britain before tax is now about £76 billion. With tax, it is about £145 billion. That is of the order of just over 10 per cent of total UK expenditure. The statistical series which is the most obviously pertinent for this discussion is the...

37A: After Clause 101, insert the following new Clause— ““PART 4A Energy revenues and taxes: price effects Statement on energy revenues, taxes and subsidies (1) The Treasury shall publish an annual financial statement of all fiscal instruments, including revenues, tax expenditures and subsidies, currently in force which relate to the...

37A: After Clause 101, insert the following new Clause— ““PART 4A Energy revenues and taxes: price effects Statement on energy revenues, taxes and subsidies (1) The Treasury shall publish an annual financial statement of all fiscal instruments, including revenues, tax expenditures and subsidies, currently in force which relate to the...

I think that the noble Lord is wrong. On reading the literature, heating is inelastic is because people do not want to freeze to death, whereas they can drive less in their cars. This is the difference between the two elasticities.

I think that the noble Lord is wrong. On reading the literature, heating is inelastic is because people do not want to freeze to death, whereas they can drive less in their cars. This is the difference between the two elasticities.

I am comparing the price elasticity of home heating with the price elasticity of petrol for your car. That is my main point. It is precisely because people do not generally in this country freeze to death that price elasticity is different. It is necessary to note that, in practice,...

I am comparing the price elasticity of home heating with the price elasticity of petrol for your car. That is my main point. It is precisely because people do not generally in this country freeze to death that price elasticity is different. It is necessary to note that, in practice,...

My Lords, now that the point has been put in terms of a mechanism, I begin by not having any knowledge about whether a conflict is likely. Assuming that it is conceivable, as in the case made by my noble friend Lord Whitty—my noble friend Lord O’Neill has questioned whether...

My Lords, now that the point has been put in terms of a mechanism, I begin by not having any knowledge about whether a conflict is likely. Assuming that it is conceivable, as in the case made by my noble friend Lord Whitty—my noble friend Lord O’Neill has questioned whether...

Perhaps my noble friend can clarify one further point. There is support on all sides of the Committee for ensuring that when the legislation has been enacted—possibly without the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Alton—guidance will be given to local authorities on dealing with the ridiculous assertions that some...

Perhaps my noble friend can clarify one further point. There is support on all sides of the Committee for ensuring that when the legislation has been enacted—possibly without the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Alton—guidance will be given to local authorities on dealing with the ridiculous assertions that some...

This point will come up later on an amendment that I shall move about location. I would have thought it axiomatic that, if the board is not to be a charade, it must be able not only to monitor resources and the quality of any official statistics but actually to...

This point will come up later on an amendment that I shall move about location. I would have thought it axiomatic that, if the board is not to be a charade, it must be able not only to monitor resources and the quality of any official statistics but actually to...

I do not know how far my noble friend will have been briefed on the whole history of the RPI, but I was a member of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee for many years. There were frequent changes as new products came on the market—there were changes certainly every...

I do not know how far my noble friend will have been briefed on the whole history of the RPI, but I was a member of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee for many years. There were frequent changes as new products came on the market—there were changes certainly every...

Again, I am grateful to start this debate rather than say that I have the answer. I do not understand the answer that I have been given. What does it mean when it says in a newspaper that Shell has announced profits of £82 billion? In some sense, it must mean globally, and yet quite...

Again, I am grateful to start this debate rather than say that I have the answer. I do not understand the answer that I have been given. What does it mean when it says in a newspaper that Shell has announced profits of £82 billion? In some sense, it must mean globally, and yet quite...

moved Amendment No. 163:"Page 69, line 23, at end insert ““, and" (   )   the duty to settle all taxation liabilities arising upon the company under the legislation of any country or territory in which the company may operate, having apportioned income in accordance with best accounting practice to that country or territory within...

moved Amendment No. 163:"Page 69, line 23, at end insert ““, and" (   )   the duty to settle all taxation liabilities arising upon the company under the legislation of any country or territory in which the company may operate, having apportioned income in accordance with best accounting practice to that country or territory within...

moved Amendment No. 155:"Page 69, line 5, at end insert ““, and" (   )   always interpret his duties so that he can demonstrate that he has at all times acted within both the spirit as well as the letter of the company’s constitution and all laws that might apply to it.”” The noble Lord...

moved Amendment No. 155:"Page 69, line 5, at end insert ““, and" (   )   always interpret his duties so that he can demonstrate that he has at all times acted within both the spirit as well as the letter of the company’s constitution and all laws that might apply to it.”” The noble Lord...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving way. Am I not right in thinking that the Liberal Democrats support the concept of enlightened shareholder value? If so, and they do not think it means what is in the Bill, is it not reasonable for me to ask what they think...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving way. Am I not right in thinking that the Liberal Democrats support the concept of enlightened shareholder value? If so, and they do not think it means what is in the Bill, is it not reasonable for me to ask what they think...

My noble and learned friend the Attorney-General is quite right in saying that this is a question that will arise again under Amendment No. 163—but I insist on the fact that we are living in a world where ethical principles are recognised as very important. It is very hard to know how...

My noble and learned friend the Attorney-General is quite right in saying that this is a question that will arise again under Amendment No. 163—but I insist on the fact that we are living in a world where ethical principles are recognised as very important. It is very hard to know how...

I thank my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General for that response. This is not the place for an academic discussion but I do not really see this debate as such. I am genuinely puzzled because in so many forums where we work we find it hard to deal with jurisdiction-skipping. The problem...

I thank my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General for that response. This is not the place for an academic discussion but I do not really see this debate as such. I am genuinely puzzled because in so many forums where we work we find it hard to deal with jurisdiction-skipping. The problem...

Again, I thank my noble friend, not least for his courtesy in responding to some of my questions, which I know are off the wall to some degree. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 165A not moved.] Clause 156 agreed to. Clause 157 [Duty to exercise independent judgment]:

Again, I thank my noble friend, not least for his courtesy in responding to some of my questions, which I know are off the wall to some degree. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 165A not moved.] Clause 156 agreed to. Clause 157 [Duty to exercise independent judgment]: