Lord Ravensdale Portrait

Lord Ravensdale

Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary

Became Member: 3rd April 2019


4 APPG memberships (as of 24 Jan 2024)
East Midlands, Energy Studies, Engineering, Nuclear Energy
2 Former APPG memberships
Midlands Engine, Trade and Investment
Lord Ravensdale has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Ravensdale has voted in 264 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Callanan (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
(37 debate interactions)
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
(10 debate interactions)
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Legislation Debates
Energy Act 2023
(9,043 words contributed)
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
(5,858 words contributed)
Subsidy Control Act 2022
(2,171 words contributed)
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View all Lord Ravensdale's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Ravensdale, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Ravensdale has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Ravensdale has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 14 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
14th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rise of greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser production since 1990; and what plans they have for lowering such emissions.

UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions from the fertiliser manufacturing industry between 1990 and 2020 (the latest available year data) have fluctuated between 525 and 812 thousand tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, with no clear trend.

To reduce future emissions the Government is promoting better nutrient use efficiency through the Sustainable Farming Incentive. The Government is supporting the development of new technologies to manufacture less environmentally damaging fertiliser products through the Farming Innovation Programme and plans to reform the fertiliser regulatory regime.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, what plans they have to implement the recommendation in the report Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero, published on 26 September 2022, to bring forward to 2033 the target to phase out the installation of new gas boilers; and when they will make an announcement about any such plans.

The Heat and Buildings Strategy set out our aim to phase out the installation of new and replacement natural gas boilers from 2035, to ensure all heating systems used in 2050 are compatible with net zero. This would mean when consumers replace their heating source, they replace it with a low-carbon or low-carbon ready appliance.


We are considering the recommendations made by my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Kingswood in the Independent Review of Net Zero, and will respond in due course.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan on 14 December 2021 (HL Deb col 205) that an obligation on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) would "have regard to its projects contributing to our climate change targets and environmental goals", why the ARIA framework agreement, published on 17 February, does not include their aforementioned commitment; and when they plan to edit the framework agreement to include it.

I thank the noble Lord for raising this matter. The ARIA Framework Agreement will be updated as soon as possible to include this commitment, without prejudice to ARIA’s freedom to have maximum autonomy over its research and project choices.

Viscount Camrose
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
6th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for investment in zero emissions electricity systems to stimulate economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, including (1) additional renewables capacity, (2) additional nuclear capacity, and (3) storage, transmission and distribution systems.

In his speech of 30 June, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear that in recovering from COVID-19, we must build back better, build back greener, build back faster, and to do that at the pace that this moment requires. Our economy must be cleaner, more sustainable, and more resilient.

Renewable and low carbon energy are important in the delivery of our Net Zero target and will help drive new jobs and growth across the UK.

The Government announced on 2 March 2020 that, in addition to offshore wind, onshore wind and solar projects can bid for contracts in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round planned for 2021. At the budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an ambitious support package for our low-carbon economy including £800 million funding to deploy the first carbon capture and storage cluster in the UK. These announcements reflect our commitment to reach our net zero target, through a sustainable, diverse, and resilient energy system and capture economic opportunities in doing so.

Nuclear power has the potential to play a key role in achieving net zero and as the Prime Minister noted in his 30 June speech is an important UK innovation sector. We consulted on a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) financing model to enable new nuclear projects last year and are considering the responses we received – we will publish our response in due course. We also awarded an initial £18m R&D grant, under the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to a Rolls-Royce led consortium developing an SMR design last year, with a decision to be taken on possibility of further grant of c.£200m later in 2020. Economic recovery post Covid-19 is clearly a new context in which future investment decisions will be taken.

Electricity storage has a key role to play in decarbonising our energy system. We are facilitating investment in storage through delivering the actions set out in the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, including creating a best-in-class regulatory framework and reforming markets. Energy network regulation is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator, and Ofgem is considering how the upcoming network price controls, for example, can help stimulate the recovery while delivering net zero at the lowest cost to consumers. Government will continue to engage with Ofgem on these issues.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to enable venues such as the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham to stage national and international trade exhibitions and events.

My Department is taking a number of steps to support the reopening of the business events and exhibition sector.

We seek to reopen business events and conferences in Step 3, subject to a capacity cap. Attendees at outdoor business events will be capped at 50% capacity, up to 4,000 people. Attendees at indoor business events will be capped at 50% capacity, up to 1,000 people.

Step 3 will take place no earlier than 17 May, and at least five weeks after Step 2, following a further review of the data and the four tests.

As part of our efforts to get such events back in full operation, we have launched the Events Research Programme to explore when and how large events can return with reduced social distancing requirements.

The Government’s Covid-19 Secure guidance for the visitor economy will be kept up to date over the coming months, in line with the reopening process for the sector.

The Global Travel Taskforce reported on 9th April with recommendations aimed at facilitating a return to international travel as soon as possible, while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants of concern. We will confirm by early May if non-essential international travel can resume on 17 May.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for Visit England to encourage tourism in England; and what steps they intend to take to support the visitor economy after the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic have ended.

The Government is taking a number of steps to encourage tourism once restrictions are eased. We are working with VisitBritain, VisitEngland and local partners to champion the UK’s diverse tourism offer through the Enjoy Summer Safely campaign.

We will continue to work with industry to provide assurance regarding when people can safely visit attractions - as demonstrated through the We’re Good to Go industry standard, which has been used by over 45,000 businesses. In addition, the £56 million Welcome Back Fund will help councils boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas.

The Government is taking a number of steps to support the visitor economy’s recovery. The Global Travel Taskforce last year committed the Government to publish a Tourism Recovery Plan in support of the sector. The Government intends to set out proposals in the spring, including plans for a marketing campaign to welcome visitors back to the UK as soon as it is safe to do so.

Budget 2021 included £700m of extra funding to support our world-leading arts, culture and sporting institutions - protecting the venues which make London and the UK an attractive destination to visit.

In total, over £25bn has been provided to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to invest in skills, training and educational opportunities for people of all ages working in the tourism industry.

The Skills for Jobs White Paper, published in January 2021, sets out our blueprint to reform post-16 education and training. It is focused on giving people the skills they need, in a way that suits them, so they can get great jobs in all sectors, including the tourism industry.

A range of provision is already available for young people aged 16 to 24 to equip them with the skills and experience they need to progress in their chosen careers, including traineeships, which provide unemployed young people with employability training, work experience and English and mathematics skills.

We have also launched T Levels, which are a high-quality technical alternative to A levels. With longer teaching hours and a meaningful, 45 day minimum industry placement, employer designed T Levels will be excellent preparation for skilled work or further training.

Through the Plan for Jobs, we are investing £1.6 billion to scale up employment support schemes and training to ensure young people have the skills and training to go on to high-quality, secure and fulfilling employment. This funding is delivering real change on the ground, including through the new Kickstart scheme providing 6-month jobs for young people furthest from the labour market, incentive payments for employers taking on new apprentices, the largest ever expansion in traineeships and considerable growth in the number of sector-based work academy programme placements, to enable unemployed individuals to acquire the skills needed for local jobs.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, also announced £375 million for the National Skills Fund at the Spending Review in November 2020. This includes £95 million funding for a new level 3 adult offer and £43 million for skills bootcamps, as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Currently, adults between the ages of 19 and 23 are eligible for full funding for their first full level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or 2 full A levels. From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who is looking to achieve their first full level 3 qualification will be able to access a fully funded course which will give them new skills and greater prospects in the labour market.

We have also introduced skills bootcamps, which are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector specific skills and fast track to an interview with a local employer. Skills bootcamps have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers, and are open to all adults aged 19 or over, who are either in work or recently unemployed.

Apprenticeships are available to individuals of all ages and backgrounds providing opportunities to earn whilst learning the skills and knowledge required to work in the tourism industry.

There are 600 high-quality apprenticeship standards to choose from that have been designed by employers to meet their skills needs. Employers in the tourism sector can take advantage of standards in a number of occupational routes. Within the hospitality and catering route for example, standards include hospitality team member, hospitality supervisor and hospitality manager. Other available standards include travel consultant and cabin crew. The full list of standards can be found here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/?routes=Catering-and-hospitality.

To help employers in all sectors, including tourism, to offer new apprenticeships we have increased the level of incentive payments. Employers can claim up to £3,000 for each apprentice they take on as a new employee between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 under the government’s Plan for Jobs.

22nd Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their commitment in the Queen’s Speech to end trophy hunting imports will apply to all hunting trophies; and if not, whether there will be exceptions for certain (1) animals, and (2) countries.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species very seriously, which is why we are banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species, as set out in the Government's manifesto. Our approach will be robust and effective and will deliver the change we promised to help protect thousands of species worldwide.

This year we have already introduced our Animal Sentience and Kept Animals Bills to Parliament and we intend to legislate further to protect animals abroad as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will be setting out our detailed plans shortly, including by publishing the Government's response to the consultation on trophy hunting imports which will set out in more detail the scope of our intended ban.

22nd Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their response to the consultation that closed in February 2020 on trophy hunting imports; and what plans they have to introduce the Animals Abroad Bill.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species very seriously, which is why we are banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species, as set out in the Government's manifesto. Our approach will be robust and effective and will deliver the change we promised to help protect thousands of species worldwide.

This year we have already introduced our Animal Sentience and Kept Animals Bills to Parliament and we intend to legislate further to protect animals abroad as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will be setting out our detailed plans shortly, including by publishing the Government's response to the consultation on trophy hunting imports which will set out in more detail the scope of our intended ban.

21st Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the Integrated Rail Plan before the House rises for the summer recess.

We intend to publish the Integrated Rail Plan soon. Given the long-term significance of the IRP, it is important that Government carefully considers the priorities and evidence from metro mayors, council leaders, and representatives from the North and Midlands as well as the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment, ahead of setting out our plans.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of their overseas aid budget is spent directly on climate mitigation and adaptation; and how much of that is spent or allocated to countries in (1) Africa, (2) the Middle East, and (3) South Asia.

In 2020 the UK spent over £1.3 billion of Official Development Assistance addressing climate change through multilateral and bilateral channels. Of this at least £224 million of bilateral climate finance was spent in Africa, £2 million in the Middle East (through the "SEED OPTs" programme), and £81 million in South Asia. The UK's main climate programme in the Middle East ("PHENOMENAL") started the following year in 2021. In line with our international obligations our official International Climate Finance figures are reported through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, for which 2020 is the most recent year of reporting.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
27th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities when she stated that they "intend to do a fuller review of the national planning policy framework to ensure it contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation as fully as possible" (HC Deb col 787), when they will do so.

The existing National Planning Policy Framework is clear that the planning system should support the transition to a low carbon future. Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long-term implications, in line with the objectives and provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008.

We will publish proposed changes to national planning policy in due course, including those arising from the introduction of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the creation of National Development Management Policies.

Baroness Penn
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
8th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 4 September (HL Deb col 282), whether the consultation on their approach to measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings will be launched before the end of the year; and which “specific interventions” will be included in the consultation.

The Government remains committed to consulting on our approach to measuring and reducing embodied carbon in due course.

Government is listening to calls for a change to the Building Regulations. This consultation, and the in-depth research which informs it, will support the development of future policy.

Baroness Penn
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
19th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their plans about the support they intend to provide to leaseholders in buildings below 18 metres in height that require fire safety remediation work; and what additional support they plan to provide to those leaseholders beyond the provision of the Government-backed loans they announced on 10 February.

Between 11 metres and 18 metres the risk profile of buildings is different and will not always require the same level of remediation when risks are identified. However, we want to make sure the residents and leaseholders in these buildings also have peace of mind and financial certainty. That is why the Government has announced a generous financing scheme which will mean that buildings of 11-18 metres in height will be able to access finance for the remediation of unsafe cladding, with a commitment that leaseholders will not need to pay more than £50 a month towards this. By providing this financing scheme we are ensuring that funding is available for remediation, accelerating the process and making homes safer as quickly as possible.

On 10 February the Government announced it will provide an additional £3.5 billion, which builds on steps already taken to support leaseholders, including £1.6 billion of funding to remediate unsafe cladding, the £30 million waking watch fund to help end excessive costs and new legislation in the Building Safety Bill which will ensure homes are made and kept safer in future. This brings the total investment in building safety to an unprecedented over £5 billion.

We realise the need to get unsafe cladding remediated as swiftly as possible as public safety is our first priority. We will publish further details as soon as possible.