Public Transport: Remote Communities

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Monday 9th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

The noble Lord ought to know that, in respect of ferry transport to the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly, new ships and methods of transport are being procured and built in order both to provide up-to-date transport and to reduce carbon emissions on those services. We reject absolutely the concept that somehow these ferry routes have to survive under conditions of excess carbon emissions when modern ships, and indeed the technology I referred to in respect of the potential new service to the Isles of Scilly, are there for the very purpose of reducing carbon emissions but increasing connectivity.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, perhaps my noble friend the Minister could point to the noble Lord opposite that the mayhem that will be caused by prices will be far outstripped by the mayhem caused by climate change. I refer him to the latest projections, which show that climate change is increasing rapidly and that, unless we take decisive action on carbon emissions, we face a very frightening future indeed.

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I agree with my noble friend absolutely. More to the point, the ferry operators recognise that, too, as befits the ordering of new ships with reduced carbon emissions and the experimentation to the Isles of Scilly to which I previously referred.