Vehicles: Insurance

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Wednesday 4th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My noble friend makes an extremely important point. On 2 May, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport hosted a cross-government insurance summit with the insurance industry to take stock of the action taken since the Prime Minister’s summit in February to reduce the cost of motor insurance. We are working closely with the industry to outline further measures being taken to reduce premiums.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

Will the Minister explain why, while the number of motor accidents has gone down, the number of personal insurance claims has gone up? That means that the cost of insurance has risen substantially. Did the summit that he has just referred to discuss this, what conclusions did it come to and what action has been taken as a result of its conclusions?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, we are working with the insurance industry to reduce the level of fraud. We are aware, for instance, that at 76%, the UK has twice the average percentage of whiplash claims as a proportion of personal injury claims. So we are well aware of the problem and we are working on it.

--- Later in debate ---

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I suggested very good reasons as to why it would not work.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

It does work.

[Earl Attlee]

We also have a much better system, which is continuous enforcement, and we will clamp down on those motorists who do not insure their vehicles.

Airports: Heathrow

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Monday 28th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that we will do exactly that.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that more and more flights from Scotland are being cancelled by airlines so that they can free up slots for other destinations? Is it not about time that the Government stopped dithering and made a decision to go ahead with a new runway at Heathrow?

Arrangement of Business

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Monday 12th December 2011 Grand Committee

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I was referring to the end of the proceedings on the Statement. If the Committee wants, it can start considering the report but my advice is to adjourn.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, what is happening in the Chamber is fairly open-ended. If we adjourn, by the time the Statement and all the interventions are finished it could be quite late. A number of noble Lords wish to speak in this Committee and it could drag on and on. It might create problems for the Grand Committee in terms of the time we are able to meet. I counsel us to continue.

[Lord Tunnicliffe]

My Lords, perhaps I may suggest a compromise—that we proceed with the debate and adjourn when the Statement is notified.

Asylum Seekers: Medical Treatment

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Monday 14th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the issue is whether the person being returned is fit to fly. That decision is made by NHS health professionals, not by UK Border Agency staff.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, Mr Nick Clegg promised that the coalition would end the detention of the children of asylum seekers. Why, eight months after the election, has that not been done?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, we want to get the AV Bill through.