Economy: Growth

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Wednesday 15th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

Wales is certainly receiving all the attention that we can give it. Wales has its own way of behaving and of running itself, and that is how we think it should be. I would of course mention that we are to have the Silk commission on further devolution for Wales soon, and we shall be interested to see that next year.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, does the noble Baroness accept that there is no balanced growth in Wales and that, at the moment, income per head in Wales is about 76 per cent of the United Kingdom average? That clearly shows massive need in both real and relative terms. Does she accept that there must be an altogether new approach to initiatives to stimulate growth in Wales?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I agree that Wales needs attention; that is why we are having this new piece of work done to find the very best way forward. I hope that by next year, the Silk commission will have come back with good suggestions for Wales.

Payday Loans

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Tuesday 10th January 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, can the noble Baroness kindly tell the House what use is made by judges in England and Wales of the statutory powers vested in them that allow them to ameliorate or even to disallow conditions in a loan agreement that are unconscionably harsh upon a vulnerable borrower?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I do not have the answer to that question today, but I will certainly look into it, write to the noble Lord and put the answer in the Library.

Loan Companies: Interest Rates

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Thursday 3rd November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, would the Minister accept that in many credit contracts, judges in a civil capacity have a considerable jurisdiction to strike out and amend their unconscionable terms? Will she see to it that the greatest publicity is given to this power which has long been vested in civil judges?

[Baroness Wilcox]

The answer is yes.

Public Disorder: Business Damage

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Tuesday 13th September 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

Yes, I can assure my noble friend of this. First, all 35 affected local authorities have now indicated that they will provide support for affected businesses through the high street support scheme. Companies without insurance can seek compensation from their police authority under the Riot (Damages) Act. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is delaying tax payments for businesses needing help. Companies House has agreed to an extension for affected companies unable to file accounts or other documents, and a charitable high street fund has been set up. I am delighted to answer the Question, not because riots are something that I want to talk about, but because it is marvellous to see how much help is being given all over the country. This is society at work—I will not even say the big society.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, the Minister referred to the Riot (Damages) Act 1886, under which claims can be made against the police for damage to property. While it is entirely appropriate that innocent persons' property that has been damaged in that way should recover, does she not consider that now it may be appropriate that such payments should be made by the Treasury rather than by the police, bearing in mind that that Act was passed 125 years ago in circumstances very different from those prevailing at the moment?

[Baroness Wilcox]

We will look at the lessons that we can learn from this. As the noble Lord says, it is the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 that applies. It does not include vehicles: we have had a little difficulty with people who have had their vehicles damaged. However, we can always refer them on to other areas and other ways in which they can claim damages. We will learn lessons from this, as we do from all these bad things.

Fair Employment Agency

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Thursday 7th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

My noble friend speaks from her experience, which is usually very good on these matters. Yes, I agree—people should never feel that they cannot represent themselves in the courts. I have no doubt that the tribunal will look at this to make sure that people are very careful and that the advice that they are given does not make their case more difficult than it already is. It is very difficult to go into a court and give evidence; I have been there and I have witnessed it. People can be very nervous in doing so but, at the end of the day, if what they have to say is right and fair, they will win.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

Does the Minister recollect that, some weeks ago, the citizens advice bureaux published detailed accounts showing how much was saved from public funds by legal advice on employment? For every £1 spent, £7.13 was saved to the public purse. Will she confirm that these calculations have been checked and found to be accurate, and indeed show that a great denial of justice and a loss to the public purse are being brought about by these savage cuts?

[Baroness Wilcox]

The noble Lord knows how well the Government think of Citizens Advice. We take very careful note of everything it says, which is usually backed by very good figures and evidence. As we have already heard, it is asking for everything to be merged in this way. It has also campaigned on empty justice. Yes, we will listen to everything that it says and, with two big reviews going on, there is a fair chance that the things it is asking for will come about.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Tuesday 8th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

No, this is a local issue to be dealt with in Wales, for Wales, by its local governments. I am sure that they will take on board all the noble Lord’s recommendations.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

Does the noble Baroness accept that the deeper the cuts that affect citizens advice bureaux and legal aid centres, the greater will be the number of cases in our courts, both civil and criminal, that are unnecessarily taken to an elongated, bitter end, to the chagrin and distress of judges and magistrates?

[Baroness Wilcox]

Yes, of course I agree with what the noble Lord has said. We will do everything that we can to make sure that the advice that is needed by all our people is brought as close to them as possible. That is why local government, local work, localism and the big society are going to succeed where the previous Government failed.

Consumer Credit

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Thursday 3rd February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

I am aware of the debate this afternoon in another place and shall be interested to hear what comes out of it. I am interested in what the noble Lord said, but for the moment I cannot comment because the review is not out.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

While I appreciate the efforts made by Her Majesty's Government in relation to credit unions, does the Minister not agree that the scale has to be upped very considerably? In the Republic of Ireland, 50 per cent of personal credit is through credit unions. In Canada and Australia, the figure is roughly 20 per cent, but in this country it is only 0.5 per cent.

[Baroness Wilcox]

We have tried for years to interest the British and Northern Irish public in credit unions. It is just something that we never seem to have got the general public to sign up to. I know that in Canada and Germany credit unions are regarded as a wonderful idea, and so they are. You put your money in and can take a little bit out. It is a very simple system. In fact, I think one of the most successful credit unions in London at the moment is the black cab credit union. It does not take more than 12 people to get together to form one. It may be that this is a good advertisement, yet again, for credit unions.

Higher Education: Funding and Student Finance

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

You empower a student by allowing him or her to go through the whole of their university time without fear or worry for money. Only after they have started to earn more than £21,000 a year will they even start to pay back anything.

In fairness, we are looking at a very different way of thinking. The money will be returned as the people earn a great deal more. As we all know, anybody who has been to university will earn a lot more during their working life than if they had not. Very often, the money that has enabled students to go to and enjoy university has come from people doing jobs that do not pay a great deal, but those people are paying tax that feeds through to students. I refer to people who work in any one of a million jobs but who have not benefited from a university education. The money comes back eventually—slowly—through the system, and the next set of students go to university. It is important to look at this in the round.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

In relation to the capping of tuition fees, have Her Majesty's Government conducted any study of the possible and likely deleterious and injurious effect that this would have on higher education in Wales? If so, what conclusions were arrived at and what discussions were conducted with the Welsh Assembly and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I am afraid that I do not know. The devolved assemblies will carry on doing things in the way that they wish, and we will consult them. However, today I am speaking for universities in England. Of course, as time goes on and we go forward, we will debate and consult with all the devolved assemblies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to see how we can best work together and learn from best practice.

Higher Education: Funding

Debate between Baroness Wilcox and Lord Elystan-Morgan

Tuesday 12th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

Clearly, we are hoping to be able to fund students to do exactly what they want to, exactly when they want to do it. Therefore, given the way that these things are put together, at the end of the day we will decide just how much money they need, and we want to make sure that they get as much money as they need to do the course that they need.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, can the noble Baroness confirm that a study has been made of the possible prejudicial and deleterious effect of any adjustment of the cap in relation to higher education finances in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland? If not, can she give an assurance that such a comprehensive and rigorous study will be made before Her Majesty's Government come to any final conclusion in this matter?

[Baroness Wilcox]

My Lords, there will be consultation with the devolved authorities, of course, to see how this all progresses.