Baroness Wilcox: I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 11 and 12 together. They can be described as probing amendments. They are identical, replacing the phrase "renewable sources" with "sustainable sources". This is the Sustainable Energy Bill. The simple question is why is the issue suddenly being confused by this change in terminology? In the Bill as originally presented to the other place there was a Clause...
Baroness Wilcox: I have heard the Minister's answer. I still think that this is a "sustainable" energy Bill. As I said when we started the Bill this afternoon, we want the Bill to pass, so I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Baroness Wilcox: rose to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to rising levels of personal debt and its social consequences. My Lords, I am grateful for this pause in the consideration of the Hunting Bill which enables us to consider something almost as weighty—personal debt and its social consequences. The level of personal over-indebtedness in this country is a grave and deteriorating...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, will the Minister confirm that the Statistics Commission review will include the treatment of £110 billion of PFI liabilities shown in table C20 of the Red Book 2003? Will he accept that the present treatment of these government debts is not in conformity with generally accepted accounting practice, and that if it were, it would put the Government in breach of both their own golden...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I am delighted to hear how seriously the Minister is taking this subject. I believe that he answered the question that I am going to ask, but I am not sure so I should like to have it on the record. We have our own Wicks Committee on Standards in Public Life which has put forward excellent recommendations. Does the Minister accept, or has he already said, that there is a case for...
Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government: What effect the tax legislation introduced in the Finance Act 2003 will have on the development of "spin-out companies" in Britain's universities.
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Does he agree that, as it stands, this tax measure is a massive discriminatory disincentive for our bright university innovators?
Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are confident that the research programmes currently being undertaken are adequate to enable them to offer the general public clear guidance on the possible risks of deep vein thrombosis when flying.
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I declare an interest. I chaired the Science and Technology Select Committee on aircraft travel and health, which pointed up the worries that people have about deep vein thrombosis. Is the Minister as disappointed as I am that the Department for Transport did not fund an effective research programme conducted by British scientists over which we could have had some control? Now that...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, Members on these Benches become worried when they hear a prestigious noble Lord, a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, having to ask Ministers on his own Front Bench a Question such as this in the House. We, too, are worried that the Government may not stick to the line they are purporting; that is, that we shall be able to control our own tax affairs in this country. Perhaps I...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I am pleased to participate on one of the few occasions that we have in this House to debate money matters. It is a great shame that the huge wealth of experience and expertise to be found down this end is not mined more often. Whenever it is, the ensuing discussion is, without exception, of the highest quality. Tonight is no exception. We have covered a broad range of issues. I...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, we on these Benches congratulate the noble Lady, Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, on introducing this important and long-overdue Bill. It is a pleasure to support her in principle. I found it deeply moving to hear her express her sorrow at the decline of the port of Fraserburgh that her family founded, and which has been such a thriving port in my recent memory and used by my family....
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, it is a difficult time for Royal Mail, and a very difficult time for the unions. It is a big organisation and one for which I and many noble Lords have great affection, so it is very hard to see the organisation going through such a difficult time. I speak almost in sympathy with the Minister. Given that the Government are the major shareholder in the company, can he reassure us...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, given that both the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy and the National Home Energy Rating responded to the Government's consultation of August 2003 by suggesting that stamp duty rebates would be helpful in stimulating the general demand for energy efficiency, why did the Government rule out those proposals?
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord St John of Bletso, for introducing this timely debate, which has enabled us to hear his expert analysis of where we are today. It also enabled us to hear from other speakers, and I refer particularly to the tour de force by my noble friend Lord Northesk. It makes me feel weird standing here, as I am no techie. I am proud to say that I am now on...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, does the Minister agree with the OECD statement that, "improving the quality of public services in a cost-effective way in such priority areas as health and education will be a major challenge"? If so, will he explain why the Government's approach to public services is one of more tax, more spending and more failure, rather than enacting any meaningful reforms?
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, the debate on this annual order is a valuable opportunity to examine the key issues surrounding national insurance contributions, which have come into the spotlight since the Chancellor's decision to raise them last April. We are particularly privileged this year in that, in contrast to last year, we have the opportunity to discuss the order in this House before it goes to another...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Woolmer, and the European Union Sub-Committee B for their terrific work. It made me feel very nostalgic. The first six years that I was in this House I served on Select Committees and particularly on the European Union Select Committee Sub-Committees D and C. Terrific work is done for this House and for the other place because there is no level of...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, I have no particular axe to grind with the Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2004 and The Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2004. They up-rate child benefits and guardians' allowances in line with the retail prices index inflation measure of 2.8 per cent. However, I would be grateful if the Minister would answer one quick...
Baroness Wilcox: My Lords, in 1998, when the value bands were set, our colleagues in another place rehearsed the arguments for cash deposit ratios and for the levels at which they should be set. I do not wish to detain the House any longer than is necessary, but I find it interesting to note that, six years ago, Members of another place were calling cash ratio deposits a "connoisseur's piece" and "the last...