I join with others in thanking all the committee members—particularly the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for choosing the topic and providing excellent leadership—our outstanding secretariat and our adviser, Professor Geoff Boxshall, FRS. I mention FRS because, as will emerge in my remarks, one of the problems we have encountered is...

I join with others in thanking all the committee members—particularly the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for choosing the topic and providing excellent leadership—our outstanding secretariat and our adviser, Professor Geoff Boxshall, FRS. I mention FRS because, as will emerge in my remarks, one of the problems we have encountered is...

In introducing this debate, I pay tribute to those who prepared and published two previous reports on relevant and related matters: the late Lord Dainton, whose report was published in 1992, and the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, happily a member of this committee and still with us, whose report was...

In introducing this debate, I pay tribute to those who prepared and published two previous reports on relevant and related matters: the late Lord Dainton, whose report was published in 1992, and the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, happily a member of this committee and still with us, whose report was...

I join with others in thanking our chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for proposing that we return to the subject of systematics and taxonomy. I can record with some pride that I am the only person, I think, who has served on all three committees. I know that others...

I join with others in thanking our chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for proposing that we return to the subject of systematics and taxonomy. I can record with some pride that I am the only person, I think, who has served on all three committees. I know that others...

I join the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, in thanking our clerks and our special adviser for all their hard work. The noble Lord reminded us that your Lordships’ committee has been concerned about the state of systematics and taxonomy since 1992. Since then we have been bringing this concern to...

I join the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, in thanking our clerks and our special adviser for all their hard work. The noble Lord reminded us that your Lordships’ committee has been concerned about the state of systematics and taxonomy since 1992. Since then we have been bringing this concern to...

Thank you very much. I join with others to congratulate the chairman of the committee, the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and the supporting staff, whom I found particularly helpful. I was very pleased to be invited by the chairman to serve as a co-opted member of a committee on systematics...

Thank you very much. I join with others to congratulate the chairman of the committee, the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and the supporting staff, whom I found particularly helpful. I was very pleased to be invited by the chairman to serve as a co-opted member of a committee on systematics...

It is a great pleasure to start the winding-up speeches at the end of this fascinating debate. As I listened, it occurred to me that, had the Minister not had such an eminent background, he might have been slightly intimidated by the galaxy of scientific talent ranged against him today,...

It is a great pleasure to start the winding-up speeches at the end of this fascinating debate. As I listened, it occurred to me that, had the Minister not had such an eminent background, he might have been slightly intimidated by the galaxy of scientific talent ranged against him today,...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for securing this debate and for leading the committee in producing this report. I am grateful to him and to his colleagues for their recommendations. The report has not only focused the Government’s attention on this vital scientific discipline—an underpinning infrastructure, as the...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, for securing this debate and for leading the committee in producing this report. I am grateful to him and to his colleagues for their recommendations. The report has not only focused the Government’s attention on this vital scientific discipline—an underpinning infrastructure, as the...

I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Sutherland of Houndwood for his excellent chairmanship of the committee and for introducing the debate. I also extend my thanks to the committee secretariat and our special adviser, Professor Boxshall. As has been mentioned, I have been involved with the story of the...

I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Sutherland of Houndwood for his excellent chairmanship of the committee and for introducing the debate. I also extend my thanks to the committee secretariat and our special adviser, Professor Boxshall. As has been mentioned, I have been involved with the story of the...

I simply thank all those who have taken part. The quality of the debate demonstrates very well what a rare privilege it is to be chairman of such a committee and such a group in preparing this kind of report. Perhaps it is going too far to say that the...

I simply thank all those who have taken part. The quality of the debate demonstrates very well what a rare privilege it is to be chairman of such a committee and such a group in preparing this kind of report. Perhaps it is going too far to say that the...

Lords debate on motion to consider the reports of the Science and Technology Committee on Systematics and Taxonomy: Follow-up (HL 162 2007-08) and Systematics and Taxonomy Follow-up: Government Response (HL 58 2008-09). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to consider the reports of the Science and Technology Committee on Systematics and Taxonomy: Follow-up (HL 162 2007-08) and Systematics and Taxonomy Follow-up: Government Response (HL 58 2008-09). Agreed to on question.

That the Grand Committee do consider the reports of the Science and Technology Committee on Systematics and Taxonomy: Follow-up (5th Report, Session 2007-08, HL Paper 162) and Systematics and Taxonomy Follow-up: Government Response (First Report, HL Paper 58)

That the Grand Committee do consider the reports of the Science and Technology Committee on Systematics and Taxonomy: Follow-up (5th Report, Session 2007-08, HL Paper 162) and Systematics and Taxonomy Follow-up: Government Response (First Report, HL Paper 58)

My Lord Chairman, may I have your permission to speak seated in my wheelchair?

My Lord Chairman, may I have your permission to speak seated in my wheelchair?

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and his committee and welcome their work on systematic biology and taxonomy, which has reminded us of the importance of taxonomical skills. How appropriate that this debate should take place in the year of the bicentenary of the birth of Darwin, who was...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and his committee and welcome their work on systematic biology and taxonomy, which has reminded us of the importance of taxonomical skills. How appropriate that this debate should take place in the year of the bicentenary of the birth of Darwin, who was...

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the agenda for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in the light of the report of the Science and Technology Committee 'What on Earth? The Threat to Science Underpinning Conservation' (HL 118 2001/02). Motion Withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the agenda for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in the light of the report of the Science and Technology Committee 'What on Earth? The Threat to Science Underpinning Conservation' (HL 118 2001/02). Motion Withdrawn.

What opportunities exist under the provisions of the Darwin initiative for British-based taxonomists and entomologists to study the inventory of known species and to explore the development of inventory taxonomy of species thought likely to exist but not yet identified at research institutes and universities in the United Kingdom.

What opportunities exist under the provisions of the Darwin initiative for British-based taxonomists and entomologists to study the inventory of known species and to explore the development of inventory taxonomy of species thought likely to exist but not yet identified at research institutes and universities in the United Kingdom.

What measures Her Majesty's Government has taken to implement the recommendations of Lord Dainton's Report on Biological Taxonomy. - Includes figures for research fellowships.

What measures Her Majesty's Government has taken to implement the recommendations of Lord Dainton's Report on Biological Taxonomy. - Includes figures for research fellowships.

What action Her Majesty's Government is taking to train sufficient scientists in methods relating to the identification of species to enable the United Kingdom to fulfil obligations under the Biodiversity Convention; and what assessment has been made of the shortage of taxonomists.

What action Her Majesty's Government is taking to train sufficient scientists in methods relating to the identification of species to enable the United Kingdom to fulfil obligations under the Biodiversity Convention; and what assessment has been made of the shortage of taxonomists.