Office for Students: Appointments

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The challenge in making up the board is to have a broad range of skills and experiences from within the sector and beyond. I can say now, to reassure the noble Baroness, that the board is well represented with experience of higher education, with the vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England, a former vice-chancellor of the private university BPP, a bursar and fellow of New College, Oxford and the chair of a performance and theatre college. It is deliberately meant to be a broad church.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, did a conversation take place between Boris Johnson and his brother, Jo Johnson, prior to this appointment?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I certainly cannot answer that and I am not going to be drawn into it.

Product Recall: Tumble Driers

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Wednesday 18th October 2017 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

Absolutely. I am sure that will be taken into account in looking at the possibility of setting up this central hub. I thank the noble Countess for that point.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, did I hear the Minister refer to a 40% return for one manufacturer? Is it not the reality that the percentage of goods returned on recall is between only 10% and 20% nationally across the board, taking all these products, leaving potentially millions of white goods out there that could, in certain circumstances, be a fire risk? Also, is it not a question of what the manufacturers fit to their equipment? Why do white good manufacturers insist on using backs in plastic materials, knowing that they can be set on fire, when they could be substituted with a metal back?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The noble Lord is correct on the figures. The average recall success is 10% to 20%. We believe that 40% is a great improvement on that, but of course there is more to be done. Whirlpool has taken its responsibilities very seriously. Letters, emails, texts and phone calls have been used to track down those who have bought its white goods. But, as I said earlier, there is more to be done. A central hub could be a way forward to help with the noble Lord’s question.

Hurricane Irma

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Viscount Younger of Leckie

Friday 8th September 2017 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My Lords, I regret that the time for the PNQ has ceased. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

Can I please object to the truncation of these proceedings? This is an extremely important matter and the House should have been given more time.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

This is a PNQ and the time permitted is 10 minutes.