Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle: ...that. Mr Cable came to the conclusion that there had been some last manoeuvre of the aircraft before it finally crashed. The manoeuvre involved the aircraft climbing up in a flare. To try to find out more about that, he asked Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, to do a simulation. He gave the details of the position of the aircraft and such information about its mechanical state as he could...
Alan Whitehead: ...on mineral supplies, and would also leave behind an environmental residue that would be impossible to sustain. Secondly, even if we could use all the mineral energy supplies known to us, or even find some more, the act of burning them could not be sustained by the planet in terms of the CO2 emissions that that burning would generate. Thirdly, well before 2050, the diminishing availability...
Alan Campbell: ...the past—I, too, am a student of history, and I listened with interest to the comments from those on the Opposition Benches—but about the livelihoods of hundreds of people who go to sea or work onshore in our constituencies. That is why I welcome the Minister's inviting us to discuss these matters with him soon, and to access scientific advice. He will know that we are in regular...
Anne Begg: ...appreciate the fact that Scottish fishermen have strong feelings about the fact that their livelihood could be decimated if the proposals from the EU Commission are implemented. However, there are onshore repercussions too and I hope that hon. Members will not mind if I concentrate on them, as I am sure that many contributors will talk about the offshore side of the industry. As they...
Frank Doran: ..., not just because of the downturn in the oil industry—the price is high and the North sea industry seems to be suffering a little at present—but for other reasons. For some reason that I find it difficult to understand, the work permit system that operates onshore does not apply in the offshore oil and gas industry or in most of our inshore shipping. For example, the new ferry from...
Margaret Ewing: ...issue is extremely important. My memory goes back far enough for me to remember the days when Tony Benn was the Secretary of State for Energy in the 1970s. Those of you who read what I sometimes find to be his very tedious diaries, will know that he ruled in favour of nuclear energy rather than Salter's duck and claimed that he had been misled by civil servants. The SNP's record is...
Iain Smith: ...for such a practice by having fewer days at sea to fish. The regulations should be about what is fished, not how it is fished. Like George Lyon, I welcome the Scottish Executive's efforts to find a way round the problem through its consultation paper. Even at this stage, the European Commission should recognise its folly and change the regulation in question. If a boat goes out from 5 in...
Michael Weir: ...paper from the Library gives details—of the example of the Rover taskforce set up when BMW announced the closure of the Longbridge plant. There was some discussion about the difficulty of finding out where the money for that came from, but page 18 of the research paper makes it clear that the Government converted promised regional selective assistance of £129 million into more general...
Rhoda Grant: On behalf of the Labour party, I, too, welcome Winnie Ewing back to the chamber—it is good to see her here. It goes without saying that we did not choose the position that we find ourselves in. However, we are where we are and we must protect our fishing industry. I support decommissioning because we must take steps to protect the days at sea that we have secured. The minister stated that...
Mr David Jamieson: ...rates paid to foreign seafarers on United Kingdom ships often compare favourably with rates for other jobs in the countries concerned. This is an important matter, so I have taken the trouble to find statistics for comparable rates paid to seafarers in a number of countries, to discover whether that is the case. For example, a Filipino chief officer earns an average $2,400 per month; that...
Michael Jack: When I first looked at this matter, it seemed that one area of betting was getting away with it and another was not. However, on examining the substantive clause to which the amendment refers, I find that that is not the case. A change is proposed to impose higher taxation on the exchanges than at present. I want to follow up, with a question to the Economic Secretary, a point that the hon....
George Howarth: ...and there is some doubt about what is going on. My hon. Friend justifiably pointed out that, because of the Chancellor's changes, many bookmakers who had located themselves offshore had come back onshore. He said that that was welcome, as indeed it is. The danger now is that foreign layers could use—I suspect that they are using—the betting exchanges because they have an unfair...
John Home Robertson: ...Scotland and of creating jobs in Scotland. The Parliament would expect me to make that point. In their memorandum, the bill's promoters have rightly stated that Scotland has "the most productive onshore and offshore wind energy resource in Europe." Members of all parties will agree that we should encourage the development of that plentiful source of natural energy as a valuable supplement...
Robert Smith: ...That should not, however, take away the recognition of how hostile the environment is. I went on an interesting visit to a construction yard, where I saw the benefits of bringing the safety culture onshore. Safety has been improved offshore, and the same language has now started to be used onshore. At one time, people offshore used to say, "It's a very hostile environment, and we have to...
Tim Yeo: ...favoured by the Government and, in theory, by the Liberal Democrats. I say "in theory" because, in spite of their slavish endorsement of more wind farms in general, it is almost impossible to find a specific proposal for an onshore wind farm that the Liberal Democrats locally are prepared to support. Furthermore, wind power's lack of reliability means that it will usually require back-up...
Nigel Griffiths: ...low base. In 2002, only 1.7 per cent. of the UK's electricity was generated from renewable sources eligible for the renewables obligation. However, we are doing all we can to meet the target. Both onshore and offshore wind development will be critical to achieving that. Onshore wind power generation is an established technology and will make a major early contribution, while offshore wind...
Roseanna Cunningham: ...in the near future. What Sarah had to say about that was very important. The subject matter of the report is very broad. I cannot hope in the course of this speech to cover all the committee's findings and the Executive's responses to them, so I will concentrate on three specific areas: alternative energy, transport and rural businesses. The recommendation with regard to fisheries would...
Lord Chorley: ...issues. I should have liked to speak to the planning Bill but time is so short that I must press on to my main theme—that is, the Government's renewable energy policy and, specifically, onshore wind power and draft Planning Policy Statement No. 22. The first point I wish to make is that wind turbines are both inefficient and intrusive. Moreover, wind is unreliable—it comes and goes...
Mr Martin O'Neill: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am conscious of the time limitations, so I may find it difficult to accept any intervention. I realise that the Department of Trade and Industry's role is somewhat marginalised and that the Liberal Democrats have already suggested abolition of that Department. Energy and employment matters require some consideration—I shall come to them in a moment—but at...
Sarah Boyack: Earlier this week, I met Scottish Water to discuss that very issue. If the member contacts Scottish Water again, he will find that work is going on with the local council to resolve the problem, which goes back to some of the historic planning problems that Alex Johnstone mentioned. I want to concentrate on diffuse pollution, which is much harder to control. That is where we could expend much...