Transport: Buses

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Lord Tebbit

Thursday 24th October 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

The noble Lord is right that that is one proposal on the table. It is not set in stone that it will indeed be allowed to happen, but it is important that we make sure that people feel able to take up electric vehicles. They are very important to our future carbon strategy, and of course we are looking at the impact on buses.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware of the problems that are sometimes faced by rather old-fashioned people seeking to take a journey by bus who want to proffer their fare in money—cash?

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I thank my noble friend for his question. I am aware that that may be an issue for an increasingly small number of people.

Egypt: Suspension of Flights

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Lord Tebbit

Monday 22nd July 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I am reluctant to go into great detail about security matters but I can assure the noble Lord that the Government remain in close contact with all UK airlines about security matters that could affect their operations. We are also in contact with our partners around the world, as appropriate.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, is it not reasonable that the airline concerned, which has the first responsibility for the passengers it carries and the crews it employs, should be the organisation that we trust to take a sensible precautionary decision? I am sure that the noble Lords and Baronesses asking these questions from the other side of the House would have an awful lot to say if we were to lose an aircraft or any crew members or passengers because of a terrorism problem on that route.

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I thank my noble friend for his observation; I know that he speaks with great experience. It is entirely reasonable for individual airlines to make appropriate operational decisions. In the case of British Airways, it has taken the decision that it has as a precautionary measure.

Humanist Marriage Ceremonies

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Lord Tebbit

Thursday 22nd November 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

My Lords, nobody is denying humanists marriage. Humanists and, indeed, any couple can make private, non-legal arrangements following a civil ceremony. What we want to do, and I am sure the noble and learned Baroness would agree, is to make sure that the law is right and that we take into account all possible considerations from humanists and many other groups which also want to see a change in the law.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that talk about getting England and Wales, the largest country of the United Kingdom, into line with the others is a lot of nonsense? Devolution is there to provide that the various parts of the kingdom can go their different ways. So why should we have to come into line with the others?

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

And sometimes I agree with my noble friend.

Fracking: Policing

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Lord Tebbit

Monday 9th October 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend not agree that if the police and the authorities were to give in to the nimbys who are against fracking, the nimbys who are preventing planning consent being given to deal with the housing shortage crisis would be at it as well? It is nimbyism and it needs to be put down.

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I refer my noble friend to my previous answer about protesting being a vital part of our democratic society. However, he raises a very important point. The most recent figures from the public attitude survey carried out by BEIS show that the vast majority—90%—of the public feel that they simply do not have enough information about fracking. That and not the fact that it is taking place is where the problem lies.