Lords questions government on the environment and plans to avoid delays at ports
17 December 2020
At the start of business each day in the House of Lords, members question government activities and decisions in Lords Questions.
This week, from Monday 14 to Thursday 17 December, members quiz the government on climate change, the return of live performances, talks with the incoming US government and safeguarding the rights of the LGBTI+ community.
Catch up: Wednesday 16 December
Catch up: Thursday 17 December
Catch up: Monday 14 December
Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) questioned the government on the work of the Committee on Climate Change. Members discussed encouraging public behaviour change and ensuring the government meets its targets, including its plans to plant 30,000 hectares of trees per year.
Baroness Harris of Richmond (Liberal Democrat) quizzed the government on the operation of repair and reuse programmes in Scotland and Wales and plans to introduce similar programmes in England. Members discussed subjects including government plans to review the Zero Waste Plan in Scotland and finding ways to encourage the public to adopt repair and reuse.
Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat) asked the government about Pilot Environmental Land Management schemes. Members discussed giving prominence to public access and public education issues in all three areas of the scheme, and making the information gathered in the Environmental Land Management Systems pilot tests and trials available to the public.
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Non-affiliated) questioned the government on promoting a green economic recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members discussed topics including the government’s heat and building strategy, and ensuring fair access to the net zero hydrogen fund and other funding streams across the UK.
Catch up: Tuesday 15 December
Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative) pressed the government to support freelance arts sector workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring a return to live performances. Members discussed topics including government assurance that the recently announced fund to support the music and arts sectors will also benefit freelancer workers, plus government plans to support new graduates recruited into the creative industries who are not covered by the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) questioned the government on its assessment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade agreement. Members discussed the scale of the regional comprehensive liberalisation partnership and the UK’s involvement in its development, plus the impact of China’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Baroness Bull (Crossbench) checked government action in response to the report by the Care Quality Commission 'Out of Sight-Who Cares? Members discussed ensuring that people with autism and learning difficulties have access to community support, and addressing the use of seclusion and segregation in some care settings for patients who cannot advocate for themselves.
Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) questioned the government on addressing any increase and intensification of poverty in the UK. Members discussed restoring collective bargaining in the UK to increase UK household wages and government plans to improve digital connectivity in the poorest communities.
Catch up: Wednesday 16 December
Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat) questioned the government on its plans for the National Bus Strategy for England. Members discussed topics including bus delays due to roadworks, reallocating road space to allow busses to operate on time and government plans to improve the reliability of public transport.
Lord German (Liberal Democrat) asked the government for its assessment on the number of prisoners and children in custody who have tested positive for COVID-19. Members discussed topics including prisoners currently having less than an hour of out-of-cell activity each day, plus whether prisoners and staff will be given any priority with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat) quizzed the government on its engagement with theincoming government of the United States on their global priorities, including climate change. Members discussed the UK’s role in President-elect Biden’s recently announced climate summit and government plans to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) questioned the government on the impact on supplies of COVID-19 vaccines of departing the EU without a deal. Members discussed using commercial alternatives to Royal Air Force planes to transport the COVID-19 vaccine in the event of a no deal, plus whether the import of the vaccine will impact supply of essential medicines imported from the EU.
Catch up: Thursday 17 December
Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat) questioned the government on organisations representing the freight industry and arrangements to ensure that delays at ports and airports are avoided. Members discussed funding for additional passport checkpoints in Dover port to reduce lorry queues on Kent motorways, plus government arrangements for ports on the west coast of England and Scotland for the provision of goods travelling to Northern Ireland.
Lord Rooker (Labour) asked the government for its assessment on the publication by the Office for National Statistics 'National life tables – life expectancy in the UK: 2017 to 2019'. Members discussed reasons for the reduction in life expectancy compared to the previous decade and the decline in expected life span amongst disadvantaged groups.
Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour) questioned the government on the report by the Baring Foundation 'Leading the Way: The role of global Britain in safeguarding the rights of the global LGBTI+ community' and steps to secure the long-term sustainability of the global LGBTI+ rights sector. Members discussed subjects including budget cuts to the Strong in Diversity – Bold in Inclusion programme in sub-Saharan Africa, plus the UK’s role in tackling state sponsored homophobia.
Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour) asked the government how many people will have received COVID-19 vaccinations by 31 December, 31 January, 28 February, and 31 March. Members discussed topics including early access to the vaccine for the terminally ill and the provisions in place for those not registered with a GP to receive the vaccine.
Lord Blunkett (Labour) asked the government a 'private notice question' on the impact of the judgment by the Supreme Court on the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Members discussed government investment in sustainable aviation fuels and how the current move to online working could impact demand within the aviation sector in the future.