Vol. 812 Monday No. 4 17 May 2021

PARLIAMENTARYDEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT

ORDEROFBUSINESS

Introduction: Baroness Black of Strome...... 297 Questions Official Development Assistance: Landmine Clearance ...... 297 Eating Disorder Services: Referrals ...... 301 Social Care: Person-centred Dementia Care...... 303 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ...... 307 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings Statement...... 311 Queen’s Speech Debate (4th Day) ...... 321

Grand Committee Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and Local Authority Enforcement Powers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 Considered in Grand Committee...... GC 1 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order 2021 Considered in Grand Committee...... GC 16 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigative Powers of Prosecutors: Code of Practice) Order 2021 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) Order 2021 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Listed Assets: Code of Practice) Regulations 2021 Considered in Grand Committee...... GC 28 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2021 Considered in Grand Committee...... GC 29 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2021 Considered in Grand Committee ...... GC 29 Lords wishing to be supplied with these Daily Reports should give notice to this effect to the Printed Paper Office. No proofs of Daily Reports are provided. Corrections for the bound volume which Lords wish to suggest to the report of their speeches should be clearly indicated in a copy of the Daily Report, which, with the column numbers concerned shown on the front cover, should be sent to the Editor of Debates, House of Lords, within 14 days of the date of the Daily Report. This issue of the Official Report is also available on the Internet at https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2021-05-17

In Hybrid sittings, [V] after a Member’s name indicates that they contributed by video call.

The following abbreviations are used to show a Member’s party affiliation: Abbreviation Party/Group CB Cross Bench Con Conservative DUP Democratic Unionist Party GP Green Party Ind Lab Independent Labour Ind SD Independent Social Democrat Ind UU Independent Ulster Unionist Lab Labour Lab Co-op Labour and Co-operative Party LD Liberal Democrat LD Ind Liberal Democrat Independent Non-afl Non-affiliated PC Plaid Cymru UKIP UK Independence Party UUP Ulster Unionist Party

No party affiliation is given for Members serving the House in a formal capacity, the Lords spiritual, Members on leave of absence or Members who are otherwise disqualified from sitting in the House. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2021, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 297 Introduction: Baroness Black of Strome[17 MAY 2021] ODA: Landmine Clearance 298

House of Lords which is opposed on all sides of both Houses. Does he agree that clearing landmines is essential for development Monday 17 May 2021 and for meeting the STGs? One of the countries most affected is Angola, where Princess Diana brought the The House met in a hybrid proceeding. issue to the world. Will the Government maintain their support there, and elsewhere? 1 pm Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, first, I Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of Birmingham. welcome the Lord Speaker to his new role. This is the first Question that I am answering with the new Lord Introduction: Baroness Black of Strome Speaker on the Woolsack and I am sure I speak for the whole House in wishing him well for this Session. The 1.08 pm noble Baroness rightly raises the important work of demining, particularly in the context of the integrated Dame Susan Margaret Black DBE, having been created review. It very much remains a priority. She specifically Baroness Black of Strome, of Strome in the County of mentioned Angola. UK funding is key in supporting Ross-shire, was introduced and took the oath, supported the Angolan Government’s demining strategy and we by Baroness Valentine and Lord Judge, and signed an have seen success already, including the clearance of undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct. landmines in an area constituting about 3,700 football pitches and life-saving education being delivered to Arrangement of Business more than 86,000 people. Angola will continue to be a Announcement country of focus.

1.12 pm Baroness Goudie (Lab) [V]: Can this issue be on the table for the G7, the G20 and COP 26, because landmines The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): My are everywhere? We see that they are going to be left in Lords, the Hybrid Sitting of the House will now Gaza. We know that in other areas, such as Yemen begin. Some Members are here in the Chamber, others and Syria, when people do the clear up, they find more are participating remotely, but all Members will be landmines. Although there is the protocol, we must treated equally. I ask all Members to respect social ensure that landmines are no longer allowed to be distancing; if the capacity of the Chamber is exceeded, used in any dispute or any war. We absolutely have to I will immediately adjourn the House. Oral Questions ensure this. Can we have an undertaking that this can will now commence. Please can those asking be put on the agenda? supplementary questions keep them no longer than 30 seconds and confined to two points. I ask that Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, what Ministers’ answers are also brief. I can say to the noble Baroness is that we will continue to focus on this important work. We have seen the Official Development Assistance: importance of leadership in this respect. The UK will use our commitment, and the presidency of the 2008 Landmine Clearance cluster munitions convention, as an opportunity to Question bring more focus and more support to this important priority. 1.13 pm Asked by Baroness Northover Lord Mann (Non-Afl): I am certain the Minister will agree that we are the world leaders in landmine To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their clearance. Does he also agree that the soft power and financial support for landmine clearance will be good will that we build with countries where we show reduced as a result of the overall reduction in such leadership manifests in trade benefits? This is Official Development Assistance. therefore a huge own goal if it is not reversed.

The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, Development Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): notwithstanding the reduction, I agree with the noble My Lords, we have prioritised our aid to be more Lord that we remain among the leading donors, but strategic and remain a force for good across the world. we recognise the large gap between donor funding and On landmine clearance, this will mean a reduction in the resources required. We are now investing in research financial support compared to the previous financial into innovative financing options—for example, exploring year. However, we remain a leading donor in the the use of social impact bonds and public/private sector. The United Kingdom’s demining work will partnerships—to meet that funding gap. I assure the continue to save lives, limbs and livelihoods across the noble Lord that it remains an important focus, not just world, supporting those most in need and, importantly, in soft power but because we save lives by the investments delivering on our treaty commitments. we make.

Baroness Northover (LD): My Lords, I am sure the Baroness Sugg (Con): My Lords, conflict and its Minister will note that the first Oral Question of this legacy, such as landmines, disproportionately affects Session is on the cut to ODA, something which is not women and girls. Cutting support to these and other in keeping with the aims of the integrated review and programmes is undeniably going to make life harder 299 ODA: Landmine Clearance [LORDS] ODA: Landmine Clearance 300

[BARONESS SUGG] clearance is a multiplier. These cuts are going to have a for women and girls around the world. While full huge impact beyond simply removing landmines. They impact assessments of the cuts were not carried out, are going to affect economic activity in countries that there was an equalities impact assessment. Will my are the priority of this Government. Can the Minister noble friend the Minister commit to publishing this, in tell us what impact assessment this Government have line with the Equality Act 2010? made of these cuts on their own priorities, and when they will publish it? Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, my noble friend is quite right that an overall assessment Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I have was done. I will take the specific requirement to publish already alluded to the importance of transparency in back to the department. It is certainly our intention to our decisions, and I assure noble Lords that in all the ensure full transparency when it comes to this issue. decisions that have been taken across the board in the reduction—I have never shied away from the fact that Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD) [V]: My Lords, as Foreign it is a reduction—in our overseas development assistance, Secretary, Boris Johnson, while in Kiev, announced we have applied the criteria quite specifically but also funding for mine clearance in Ukraine. As Prime looked at programmes to ensure their continuity and, Minister, last year, he decried giving as much aid to importantly, scaling up as the economic conditions Zambia as Ukraine—the latter being vital for European will allow for. security, he said. Now, contrary to the integrated review’s humanitarian causes and security priorities, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD): My Lords, I the Government are cutting their support in this area. declare my interest as set out in the register as an The Minister has said “priority” three times in his ambassador for the HALO Trust, whose activities responses to this Question. What are the priorities and include essential mine clearance in Afghanistan and are any priorities safe from any cuts? other countries. The United Kingdom aid budget has been cut by one-third, whereas HALO support from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, on the United Kingdom Government has been cut by the broader issue of ODA, the noble Lord will be two-thirds. Why? aware of the seven areas prioritised by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. The noble Lord also Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, as mentioned Ukraine, and, again, our work there has I said in my Answer, we have made reductions, which I cleared more than 1.5 million square metres, the have not shied away from. But with the HALO Trust, equivalent—I am using football analogies today— among other key partners, we have an important of 210 football pitches, and educated people as well. relationship, and we continue to work with the HALO While there have been reductions—I was very upfront Trust quite specifically. Overall, as we have assessed in my original Answer—we are focused on continuing over a four-year period, we will be spending over our work in this important area, as one of the world’s £146 million in this area, including over £21 million leading donors. this year.

Baroness D’Souza (CB) [V]: My Lords, echoing the Lord St John of Bletso (CB): My Lords, with more noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, there appears as yet to be and more dependence on agriculture and sustainable no published information on the impact assessment of food supply in southern Africa, can the Minister give the reduction of ODA programme funding. Will the an assurance that the UK will continue to support not cuts affect priority projects,such as HMG’sannouncement just landmine clearance but landmine prevention? at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ gathering last week to provide education for an additional 40 million girls? Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I can Furthermore, as has already been mentioned, does the give the noble Lord that assurance, and that is why we fact that no legislation was brought forward in the need to ensure all international conventions are signed Queen’s Speech to reduce the statutory commitment up to by other countries. But also, importantly, in of 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%, resulting in an approximate country, it is not just about the clearance but about the £4 billion loss, indicate that HMG are having second education, so that once the countries are back on their thoughts? feet and able to sustain their own position, they are able to ensure the prioritisation of keeping land clear Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, on of mines as something that they give specific focus to. the issue of legislation, as I have said before from the Dispatch Box, we remain fully aware and cognisant of Lord Dubs (Lab) [V]: My Lords, I should make it our obligations both under law and to this House. Let clear that I attended the 2008 Convention on Cluster me assure the noble Baroness that we remain committed Munitions, and I have also observed the clearance to £400 million of funding for girls’ education, and we of cluster bombs and ammunitions in south Lebanon, look forward, with Kenya, to hosting the global education where I saw the teams working first-hand. The summit in July this year. consequence of the Government’s reduction in funding is that land will no longer be useable by villagers, and Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab): My Lords, let us children and women, particularly, will have their legs come back to the original question by the noble Baroness, burned off or be killed because they cannot farm and Lady Northover. The UNDP argues that landmine cannot go out and collect water.Surely it is a monumental 301 ODA: Landmine Clearance[17 MAY 2021] Eating Disorder Services: Referrals 302 tragedy when we are cutting the money when, otherwise, of the planned measures—calorie labelling on menus, we would be saving more lives. How can the Government for instance—are shown to exacerbate existing eating go on with this? disorders and increase the risk of their development in the general public? Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I appreciate the noble Lord’s personal insights into the Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, undoubtedly, the experiences, and I have certainly seen the value of our increase in referrals is something of concern. It is demining work across the world. But these are challenging something we are monitoring closely, with the round circumstances; noble Lords are fully aware of the table and the ministerial group dedicated to looking at challenges we faced on the domestic front. However, this. That shows the seriousness with which we regard that is why we are investing in research, including, as I it. The reduction in the impact of community services, said earlier in response to the noble Baroness, Lady which is the best way of addressing these kinds of Northover, on scoping new ways of working to ensure issues, has undoubtedly had an effect on urgent needs. that we can identify where the gaps are and then plug During this period, there has also been a large increase those gaps, including through innovative financial in the number of young people who have started mechanisms.The research of those particular programmes treatment, which is encouraging. If the noble Baroness will be completed in May, and I look forward to has evidence that measures such as nutrition information engaging with noble Lords in that respect. on packaging has an effect on anorexia, I would welcome correspondence from her. The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed. Baroness Thornton (Lab): My Lords, as the noble We now come to the second Oral Question. Baroness has said, we know that eating disorders among children and young people have increased during the pandemic. There is a very welcome increase in the Eating Disorder Services: Referrals grant of £11 million from the grant in 2018-19. Despite Question this, total spending by CCGs on children and young people’s community eating disorder services increased 1.24 pm by just £1.1 million, from around £54 million in 2018-19 Asked by Baroness Bull to £55 million in 2019-20. This increase is cancelled out if you adjust for inflation, and this means that Toask Her Majesty’sGovernment what assessment total spend flatlined in real terms. What are the they have made of the change in referrals to eating Government going to do to ensure that this money is disorder services since April 2020. spent on what is growing into an epidemic of eating disorders and the suffering they cause? TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof State,Department of Health and Social Care (Lord Bethell) (Con): My Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, the noble Baroness Lords, eating disorders are serious, life-threatening is entirely right that community eating disorder services conditions. We recognise eating disorder services are are critical. They are the backbone of our measures to facing increased demand from children and young address these difficult cases. But money for the treatment people, with 719 urgent cases starting treatment in of eating disorders comes from many different pots. the fourth quarter of 2020-21. That is why we made During 2021, a total of 10,695 children and young £10.2 million of additional funding available to mental people started treatment, which is up from 8,034 children health charities, including those that address anorexia, in the year before. So, clearly, resources are getting at the beginning of the pandemic, we convened a through to cope with a large number of people, and cross-government ministerial group to publish a mental that is an encouraging sign. health recovery plan and we are holding a ministerial round table on eating disorders. Baroness Jolly (LD): Is the Minister confident that all referrals to a community eating disorder specialist Baroness Bull (CB): My Lords, Q4 data on waiting can be managed without excessive travel on the part of times released last week showed, as the Minister said, the individual and their family and that, where necessary, 719 patients starting treatment for urgent cases of local in-patient services are available right across England? eating disorders, but this compares to 353 at this time last year. At this point in 2020, 18 people awaited urgent treatment, and 543 awaited routine treatment; Lord Bethell (Con): The noble Baroness refers to a those numbers are now 130 and 1,404. While much perennial issue in any national health service, which is has been said about the pandemic’s role in driving this the inevitable concentration of expertise in some hubs spike, most studies into young people’s mental health where there is particular specialist knowledge. But she over the last year were not designed to detect eating is entirely right that we should try to avoid excessive disorders so, beyond anecdote, the reason for this travel. That is why community eating disorder services increase, and therefore the best way to address it, is are so important, because they bring the treatment as not clear. What will Government do to better understand close as possible to the people who are suffering. this sharp increase? Does it represent broader and lasting behavioural changes among young people? Baroness Fall (Con) [V]: My Lords, the noble Baroness, Will the Government closely monitor the impact of Lady Bull, is quite right to raise this important issue their obesity strategy on referral rates, given that some today. Young people have had their lives turned upside 303 Eating Disorder Services: Referrals[LORDS] Social Care: Person-centred Dementia 304

[BARONESS FALL] TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof State,Department down over the last year, their plans put on hold and of Health and Social Care (Lord Bethell) (Con): My their prospects blighted and, with a sense that they Lords, we want a society where every person with have lost control, it is hardly surprising that we have dementia—andtheirfamiliesandcarers—receiveshigh-quality, seen a huge rise in mental health issues. Can the compassionate care from diagnosis to the end of their Minister give us an indication of the waiting rates at life. The Government are committed to sustainable the moment, especially for those diagnosed as urgent improvement of the adult care system and will bring cases? Is it his view that we have enough practitioners? forward proposals in 2021. We are working closely If not, does he have any plans to discuss the need for with local and national partners such as the Alzheimer’s more training and a recruitment drive? Society to ensure that our approach to reform is informed bydiverseperspectives,includingthosewithlivedexperience of the care sector. Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, my noble friend puts it extremely well. Young people have been under huge pressure during the pandemic. It is a huge tribute to Baroness Browning (Con) [V]: My Lords, I refer to the young people of Britain that they have borne it so my interests in the register as an ambassador for the well. I do not have to hand the statistics on waiting Alzheimer’s Society and as a carer. This is Dementia lists that she asked for, but I would be glad to write to Action Week. I am grateful to my noble friend and her with the details. We are recruiting right across the urge him that, as people with dementia are by far the NHS at the moment; it has been an extremely successful majority of users of social care, the promised reforms recruitment round, and those kinds of recruits will go deliver person-centred care to enable people with dementia to services such as those dealing with eating disorders. to live in places they call home, take part in activities they enjoy and live their lives safely with meaning, purpose and connection with others. Baroness Parminter (LD) [V]: My Lords, to return to calorie labelling on menus in restaurants, as raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Bull, there is limited Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, I am extremely evidence for its efficacy in reducing levels of obesity, grateful to my noble friend for raising Dementia Action but there is clear evidence from the Royal College of Week, a time to celebrate the contribution of those Psychiatrists eating disorders faculty—and anecdotal who care for people with these conditions. I know evidence from my daughter and others—that it can be from my own experience the incredible importance of responsible for triggering those with eating disorders. personalised care and of being able to have loved ones Can the Minister respond to what the noble Baroness, at home for as long as they can safely and reasonably Lady Bull, asked for and confirm that, should the be cared for there. My noble friend puts the experience Government introduce this labelling on menus, they of living with dementia for families and carers extremely will review its impacts not just on reducing levels of well. I entirely endorse her sentiments. obesity but on those suffering from eating disorders? Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab) [V]: Does the Minister Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, the eating habits of agree that person-centred care for dementia sufferers the nation have changed considerably in recent years. must include support for those who care for them? The amount of food that people eat that has been Since today’s survey by the Alzheimer’s Society says prepared by others has risen dramatically, and many that carers are at breaking point and 95% of carers say people have no idea what is in the food they are eating. that their caring has affected their physical or mental That is why we have moved to bring in calorie labelling health, how and when is that support to be provided? on food that is delivered and in restaurants. I am Will support for carers be an essential element in the acutely aware of the concerns of the noble Baronesses, proposals for social care reform when they eventually Lady Parminter and Lady Bull. We are committed to appear? engaging with eating disorder charities, Beat and other key stakeholders, and to listening very carefully to Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, I completely their concerns on this. acknowledge the pressure the pandemic put on both formal and unpaid carers. That is why we put £6 billion The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): My into local authorities, to help support them in the care Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. they gave to carers. However,I acknowledge the concerns of the noble Baroness about the pressure of the last year and reassure her that the full spectrum of social care will be considered in the forthcoming review. SocialCare:Person-centredDementiaCare Question Baroness Walmsley (LD) [V]: My Lords, Alzheimer’s disease has been described as a future epidemic. Without 1.32 pm a known cure, research into causes of and treatments Asked by Baroness Browning for Alzheimer’s and other dementias is vital. At the last election, the Government committed to a dementia To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans moonshot, which would double research funding to they have to ensure that future reforms to social over £160 million a year. Can the Minister say when care consider person-centred dementia care. this funding will become available? 305 Social Care: Person-centred Dementia[17 MAY 2021] Social Care: Person-centred Dementia 306

Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, according to the £100,000. According to the Alzheimer’sSociety,two-thirds briefing before me, the 2020 dementia challenge of this cost is currently being paid for by people with commitment to spend £300 million on dementia research dementia and their families, either in unpaid care or in over five years has been delivered already,with £344 million paid-for private social care,in contrast to other conditions, spent over four years. However, I am happy to clarify such as heart disease and cancer, for which the NHS that point with the noble Baroness, just to ensure that provides care free at the point of need. People with I have got my briefing correct. dementia should not bear the sole responsibility for saving and paying for their care. When will this Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl): My Lords, one Government address this key parity of esteem issue, cruel aspect of dementia is how the condition gradually end this disparity and protect people with dementia eats away at a sufferer’s individuality. In the context of from the catastrophic costs of care? this disorientation, with individuals forgetting who they are, one key to clinging on to personhood is Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, the Prime Minister family and friends. Can the Minister ensure that any has made it very clear that he is committed to bringing Covid inquiry looks at the specific problems of those forward proposals to address this issue before the end with dementia in care homes, who were deprived of of the year. He stands by that commitment. I look any visits from relatives and forcibly isolated from forward to the kind of cross-party and cross-society familiar faces, robbing them of the resilience to fight collaboration that will be necessary to address that the virus? Will he consider that, as a quarter of those massive generational challenge. who died of Covid had dementia, this one-size-fits-all approach to protecting the vulnerable did not work Lord Jones of Cheltenham (LD) [V]: My Lords, as and makes person-centred dementia care all the more someone who knows the demands of caring for a close important? relative with dementia, I ask the Government to ensure that there are enough high-quality short-term placements Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, I am afraid it is for person-centred dementia care to give carers the beyond my reach to define the terms of the inquiry, chance of an occasional break. Given that person-centred but I entirely endorse the noble Baroness’s depiction care is at the very heart of the care provided by our of the very cruel dilemma we have faced over the last hospices, do the Government have any plans to review year: between safety—the preservation of life—and the sector’s long-term financial situation and move it the care, love and consideration we owe to older on to a more sustainable footing? people, particularly those with dementia. It has been a horrible and extremely uncomfortable dilemma. I pay Lord Bethell (Con): I pay tribute to those who tribute to those in social care who have sought to deliver person-centred care. The noble Lord referred navigate it as thoughtfully as they could, but there is to hospices, and I am extraordinarily touched and no doubt that it has been a horrible moment. impressed by the way in which they delivered on an enormously difficult task during the pandemic. We Lord Laming (CB) [V]: My Lords, as we have heard, debated earlier the financial arrangements around hospices dementia is a cruel illness because it strips away both and the delicate state of their finances. We continue to individual personality and memory. Does the Minister be in touch with the industry and will take whatever agree that, learning the lessons of this past year, we measures necessary to ensure its financial stability. must in future do everything possible to reinforce the message to each sufferer that they are loved for who Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (CB): My Lords, they are, a unique person, rather than for what they will the Minister explain what plans the Government are, just another patient with dementia? have to invest in socially rented supported housing for people with early dementia? It is very clear that this Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, I entirely agree with would reduce short-term admissions to acute hospital the extremely touching way the noble Lord put that. beds, which will be necessary in order for us to meet To take a glass-half-full approach for a moment, I the challenges that the NHS faces with current waiting have been struck in the pandemic by the huge amount lists. If the Government have no plans for considering of public support for the protection of those who are this kind of supported housing, which many people older and vulnerable, including those with dementia. who can afford it purchase for themselves, can the It has been a very touching feature of the national Minister assure us that he will ask the Government to response to the pandemic that the country has come consider this issue? together to protect the most vulnerable, and I think there has been a national rethink about how we relate Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, the noble Baroness to those in that condition. puts the case for supported housing social care for those with low levels of dementia extremely well. It is Baroness Wheeler (Lab): My Lords, we know that slightly beyond the purview of the Department of the costs for families of caring for those with dementia Health, but the case she makes is strong. I would be can be long-lasting and catastrophic, as the Commons glad to go back to the department and find out if any Health and Social Care Committee has emphasised in measures are taking place. setting up a new inquiry,and from our excellent Economic Affairs Committee report on social care, which found Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Non-Afl) [V]: that the typical cost of an individual’s dementia care is [Inaudible.] 307 Social Care: Person-centred Dementia[LORDS] Commonwealth Heads of Govt. Meeting 308

Lord Ashton of Hyde (Con): The noble Baroness is “get out of jail free” card—from prosecution when muted; she needs to unmute. they commit criminal sexual offences against their wives? The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): I think we will have to move on. I call the noble Lord, Lord Curry Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I of Kirkharle. assure my noble friend—I am sure she is already aware—that we have put the issue of gender-based violence at the centre not just in terms of planning the Lord Curry of Kirkharle (CB) [V]: My Lords, I handover to Rwanda but at the heart of the work we hope I am unmuted. The impact of Covid has reinforced are doing within the G7 and our presidency, and we the evidence that early detection and intervention can will continue to do so. In terms of our own commitment help defer the worst impacts of dementia and significantly to fighting gender-based violence in the Commonwealth, help with the quality of life of those affected, their preventing sexual violence and girls’ education, they families and carers. Can the Minister reassure the will remain priorities during our continuing role as House that this will be given priority in the long-awaited Chair-in-Office. social care Bill? Baroness Helic (Con) [V]: My Lords, at the Lord Bethell (Con): The noble Lord hits the nail on Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the head. Our entire response to the pandemic has 2013, heads agreed to work taught us that early intervention and diagnostics are “to improve the monitoring and documentation of cases of absolutely critical, and that is at the very centre of not sexual violence in armed conflict without fear of reprisal and only the NHS Long Term Plan but the departmental empower victims to access justice”. priorities for the years ahead. This can indeed make a Can my noble friend tell the House what efforts have huge difference to the treatment of and prognosis for been made for this commitment to be renewed and those with dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, treated as a priority for the Commonwealth nations? and we are very much focused on taking that forward. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, in part I think I have already addressed my noble friend’s The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): My question. The issue of sexual-related conflict and Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. preventing it across the world remains a key priority We now move to the next Question. alongside, more broadly, gender-based violence and girls’ education. This is all part of addressing the core Commonwealth Heads of Government challenges we face, not just within the context of the Meeting Commonwealth but across the world. Question Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB) [V]: My Lords, I hoped that the Commonwealth would be recognised 1.43 pm for its even-handed condemnation of the abuse of Asked by Baroness Anelay of St Johns human rights—but this is not so. Westridently condemn human rights abuse in China or Myanmar but are To ask Her Majesty’s Government what their comparatively silent when Muslims in India are called priorities are for the Commonwealth in their capacity “termites” by the Indian Government, laws are passed asChair-in-Officepreparingforthe26thCommonwealth to deny them citizenship and forced conversions take Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Rwanda. place in Pakistan. Today, the common ethos of the Commonwealth is common hypocrisy.Will Her Majesty’s Government take urgent steps at the meeting in Rwanda The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and to reverse this trend? Development Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): My Lords, the UK looks forward to the gathering of Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, if I the Commonwealth family in Kigali and to a smooth could give a personal reflection—as someone who is transfer of the Chair-in-Office role to Rwanda. As my Muslim by faith, Indian in origin from my father’s side noble friend knows, the Commonwealth Heads of and Pakistani in origin from my mother’s side—I Government Meeting has been postponed a second assure the noble Lord that this remains a priority for time because of the pandemic, and we remain as myself and stress the equality and rights of every Chair-in-Office. We will continue to pursue the shared citizen across the Commonwealth, irrespective of faith, priorities which leaders set out on fairness, security, creed, sexual orientation or any other definition. It is sustainability and prosperity at CHOGM in 2018. important that we stand up for all citizens across the Commonwealth and for equal rights. Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Con): My Lords, delegates at this month’s meeting of the Commonwealth Baroness Blower (Lab): My Lords, does the Minister Women’s Ministers Action Group committed to putting agree that specific actions are needed—as called for by women’s issues at the very top of the agenda for the CHOGM in 2018—to provide 12 years of quality next CHOGM. Do the Government support that education for girls in particular, as this will be the proposal? What are the Government doing to support surest way to work towards both global social justice the reform of laws in those 35 Commonwealth countries and greater equality? If so, what specific actions will which still give husbands some form of exemption—a Her Majesty’s Government support and pursue? 309 Commonwealth Heads of Govt. Meeting[17 MAY 2021] Commonwealth Heads of Govt. Meeting 310

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, Her thoroughly assiduous in everything to do with Majesty’s Government have already supported girls’ Commonwealth matters, does he accept that a good education through £200 million of funding for nine deal more could have been done during Britain’s Commonwealth countries. We are holding the global chairmanship and should now be done not just to education summit with a Commonwealth country— fulfil communiqués but to strengthen the institutions Kenya—in July this year, and these issues will remain of the Commonwealth family? key priorities. It is a priority for our Prime Minister. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, on Lord Chidgey (LD): My Lords, the London CHOGM the personal note that my noble friend raises, having made a commitment to meet the SDG charter to end just come out of Ramadan and having been in Rwanda modern slavery, which affects 16 million people, or during Ramadan, I fully appreciate the importance of one in every 150 citizens in the Commonwealth and day and night work on the important agenda of the throughout Africa. The Government have already invested Commonwealth. However, we have published what we some £15 million in the Global Fund to End Modern have achieved, including our progress on the important Slavery, but will they now use the extended period as issues of Covid-19, girls’ education and cyber—which Chair-in-Office to strengthen the resolve of their is demonstrable of the prioritisations that we agreed Commonwealth partners where, at the last count, in 2018. only 29 out of 54 had national guidelines on identifying victims of slavery and to carry forward the London Baroness Prashar (CB) [V]: My Lords, I commend commitment as an essential priority at Kigali? the Minister and his team on the work that they have done in their capacity as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office. However, does the Minister agree that hosting COP 26 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I can will be a good opportunity for the UK to engage the assure the noble Lord that this will remain a key Commonwealth and set an ambitious agenda? Can he priority during our continuing role as Chair-in-Office, tell the House what steps he and his team are taking to including during our handover discussions with Rwanda. ensure that the Commonwealth is fully involved in COP 26? Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab): My Lords, as Chair- in-Office, the Government set a number of priorities Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, we following on from the last CHOGM. Can the noble are doing just as the noble Baroness suggested. We Lord tell us what assessment they have made of progress are engaging directly with different regions of the on these priorities in preparation for the next CHOGM— Commonwealth on the important priorities in the particularly the priority of ensuring the decriminalisation lead-up to COP 26. of homosexuality across the Commonwealth? There is a key role for civil society, so will this include a Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab): My Lords, commitment to fully support the Commonwealth Equality the Minister is absolutely correct that the Prime Minister Network? regularly expresses a firm commitment to girls’education; he did so again last week. Given that that is the case, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, it is why on earth are the Government cutting the budget not often that I say “Yes, yes and yes” to a Member of by hundreds of millions of pounds? the Opposition, but I do so in this particular instance. We have prioritised this. Three countries have Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, as the decriminalised homosexuality. We continue to work noble Lord will know, we have committed £400 million across the board. Yesterday, as the noble Lord will to girls’ education this year, and we will continue to know, we announced both our commitment to hosting bring added focus during the Global Education Summit an LGBT conference and the appointment of my later this year. noble friend Lord Herbert of South Downs as the PM’s special envoy on LGBT rights and the important Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Non-Afl): My Lords, role of civil society.The noble Lord and I have discussed quite rightly,the integrated review stressed the importance this matter extensively; I know that he has been a of global rule-making. Will the Government use CHOGM champion of it. It demonstrates the strength of this to pay particular attention to the sourcing and trading House that we are seeing progress in this very sensitive of precious and rare metals and gemstones? This is but important area. one area where trading security and fairness are often overlooked. Lord Howell of Guildford (Con) [V]: My Lords, I declare my interests as in the register. Does my noble Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The noble Baroness friend accept that the enormous Commonwealth network raises an important point. I will certainly write to her never sleeps and that, despite the regrettable postponement on the specific work that we are doing in that respect. again of the Heads of Government Meeting, vigorous Commonwealth connectivity continues at all levels Viscount Trenchard (Con) [V]: My Lords, does my and has in fact been intensified greatly over the past noble friend the Minister agree that our leadership of year or by Zoom technology? Does he also accept that the Commonwealth provides an excellent platform for the Commonwealth is a major transmitter of Britain’s global Britain to encourage a common approach to soft power as well as a growing source of our security? free trade, especially in agricultural products, which Further, although my noble friend himself has been would do so much to boost development in the poorer 311 Commonwealth Heads of Govt. Meeting[LORDS] Ballymurphy Inquest Findings 312

[VISCOUNT TRENCHARD] The vast majority of those who served in Northern member countries? Does he wish to see a commitment Ireland did so with great dignity and professionalism, in principle to a zero-tariff, zero-quota Commonwealth but it is clear that in some cases the security forces and free trade area, to be introduced in stages over time? the Army made terrible errors too. The duty of the state is to hold itself to the highest standards at all times. When we fail to meet these high standards, we Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, I must recognise the hurt and agony caused. cannot go into the specifics of my noble friend’s suggestion, although it is a practical one and I will There is no doubt that what happened in Ballymurphy certainly reflect on its importance. We are signing a in those awful few days also fuelled further violence raft of free trade agreements across the globe, including and escalation, particularly in the early years of the with Commonwealth friends and countries. I assure Troubles. The Government profoundly regret and are my noble friend that we will use our continuing role as truly sorry for these events, for how investigations Chair-in-Office to ensure that the ambitions to enhance after these terrible events were handled, and for the trade and co-operation and boost intra-Commonwealth additional pain that the families have had to endure in trade—for example, through the Commonwealth their fight to clear the names of their loved ones since Connectivity Agenda—remain key priorities. We have they began their campaign almost five decades ago. set an ambition, which we hope to achieve, of $2 trillion of trade between Commonwealth countries by 2030. In order to make lasting change, actions are required as well. The Belfast/Good Friday agreement was the The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith): My defining action that allowed Northern Ireland to begin Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. to move away from violence, but the events of the past continue to cast a long shadow, as we have seen. Those 1.55 pm who were killed or injured during the Troubles came from all communities, and they included many members Sitting suspended. of the security forces and Armed Forces. Immense and difficult compromises have since been made on all sides, including the early release of prisoners, which Ballymurphy Inquest Findings was so difficult for many people to accept. Statement To a very large extent, Northern Ireland has moved away from violence, so we stand by those compromises The following Statement was made in the House of and the progress made towards a more peaceful society. Commons on Thursday 13 May. Yet the desire of the families of victims to know the “With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to truth about what happened to their loved ones is make a Statement on the findings of the Ballymurphy strong, legitimate and right. The campaign for justice inquest. I want to put on the record the Government’s in Ballymurphy has reminded us all of that—if we acknowledgment of the terrible hurt that has been needed to be reminded at all. caused to the families of Francis Quinn, Father Hugh Mullan, Noel Phillips, Joan Connolly, Daniel Teggart, Twenty-three years after the signing of the Belfast/ Joseph Murphy, Edward Doherty, John Laverty, Joseph Good Friday agreement, thousands of murders remain Corr and John McKerr. unresolved and many families still yearn for answers. With each passing year, the integrity of evidence and I also want to pay tribute to the great patience with the prospects of prosecution diminish, and the which the families have conducted themselves during Government are not shrinking awayfrom those challenges. their determined campaign, which has lasted almost We are determined to address them in a way that 50 years. The Prime Minister is writing personally to reflects the time that has passed, the complexity of the families, having yesterday expressed his deep regret Northern Ireland’s troubled history and the reality of to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the compromises that have already been made. But, Northern Ireland and apologised unreservedly on behalf above all, we are determined to address them in a way of the state. that enables victims and survivors to get to the truth The findings of the coroner are clear: those who that they deserve. We must never ignore or dismiss the died were entirely innocent of wrongdoing. The events past; learning what we can, we must find a way to at Ballymurphy should never have happened. The move beyond it. The coroner’s findings this week are families of those who were killed should never have part of that often very painful process. had to experience the grief and trauma of that loss. They should not have had to wait nearly five decades The Government want to deliver a way forward in for the judgment this week; nor should they have been addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland; compelled to relive that terrible time in August 1971 one that will allow all individuals or families who want again and again in their long and distressing quest for information to seek and receive answers about what truth. happened during the Troubles, with far less delay and Over the course of the Troubles,more than 3,500 people distress. We want a path forward that will also pave the were killed, and tens of thousands injured, with families way for wider societal reconciliation for all communities, torn apart forever. The majority of those killed were allowing all the people of Northern Ireland to focus innocent civilians, such as those on the streets of on building a shared, stable, peaceful and prosperous Ballymurphy. future. I commend this Statement to the House.” 313 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings[17 MAY 2021] Ballymurphy Inquest Findings 314

2.01 pm The Ballymurphy killings were among a larger number Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Lab) [V]: My Lords, some of deaths that occurred during Operation Demetrius, years ago I met the Ballymurphy families and I was when the Army was systematically rounding up terrorist appalled, obviously, by their story.Ten innocent civilians suspects for internment without trial. Internment, died, including a priest, a mother of eight and a a deeply controversial sanction, was made worse by veteran of World War II, and 57 children were left poor intelligence leading to innocent, non-violent members without a parent. Since these events of over half a of the nationalist community being targeted—often century ago, all Governments, including the one of brutally,according to reports—by soldiers who perceived which I was a member, have let these families down. I almost anyone as a potential terrorist. Not surprisingly, applaud the families for their resilience and determination for such a draconian course of action, it was resented in getting to the truth of that terrible day in August and provoked demonstrations and, in the heightened 1971. tension this created, the Army reacted by firing living The conclusions of Mrs Justice Keegan are clear: ammunition and, as is now confirmed, killing innocent those who lost their lives were innocent and posed no citizens. Despite the fact that loyalist paramilitaries threat. Their deaths were without justification and also perpetrated acts of violence,it appears that Operation their fundamental right to life was violated. That these Demetrius was focused entirely on the Catholic families have had to fight for so long for the truth is a community.Paddy Murray, the solicitor who represents profound failure of the criminal justice system, and we the families of nine of the 10 victims, has said that must learn from this dreadful story. Other families in following the verdict further legal action is being planned. Northern Ireland are still fighting for answers. As Before the verdict, the Government appeared Northern Ireland Secretary, I initiated three public determined to press ahead with legislation to limit the inquiries and spent many hours trying to resolve this scope for future prosecutions on crimes related to the very difficult issue of the legacy of the past, including Troubles. The Secretary of State trod carefully around going to South Africa to look at their truth and the issue in the other place on Thursday but, nevertheless, reconciliation process. There is no simple answer, but made it clear that the Government are still planning the Government must ensure that there is the widest legislation. He talked about finding a solution that can possible consultation on legacy, including with all the work for “families in Northern Ireland”, but if the Northern Ireland parties, the Irish Government and Government are really committed to finding a solution especially,of course,with victims and their representatives. that works for families, does the Minister agree that I fully appreciate that the Government have apologised the victims of Ballymurphy, and indeed of all the for this tragic event but, frankly, they should go further. atrocities committed during the Troubles, and their The Prime Minister should have delivered the Statement families must come first? They must have confidence himself in the Chamber of the House of Commons, in any process that is established going forward; otherwise, like his predecessor David Cameron did on the Bloody the peace and reconciliation that everybody wants for Sunday inquiry. He should now travel to Northern Northern Ireland will be more difficult to achieve. Ireland to meet the families personally. After 50 years, I remind the Minister of the key principles set out they deserve no less. in the Stormont agreement. These are: “promoting reconciliation … upholding the rule of law … acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims and survivors Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD) [V]: My Lords, first, … I associate myself with the comments of the noble facilitating the pursuit of justice and information recovery” Lord, Lord Murphy, who has long experience of the and that the agreement is situation in Northern Ireland and this particular case. “human rights compliant … balanced, proportionate, transparent, Given the long and bitter history of the Ballymurphy fair and equitable.” killings and Operation Demetrius, which was the genesis Can there be any justification for setting these aside? of the events of 9-11 August 1971, I agree also that the Are the Government reassessing their position on any Prime Minister’s apology appears somewhat graceless limitation? Is it possible or acceptable to exempt veterans and inadequate. Sending a stereotyped collective letter, from prosecution without denying recourse to victims rather than making a public statement and apology in of terrorism? Is there any support for the Government’s Parliament, falls short of the sensitivity and compassion approach within the Province? Is it helpful or necessary required following such a clear and stark verdict. to introduce this into the mix at a time of such It has taken almost 50 years to get to this point— volatility and uncertainty? Without clear cross-community 50 years during which, as the verdict confirms, the support for any government proposals, will the victims were slandered and vilified, including by Government accept that pressing ahead would be the most senior members of the Armed Forces. As the insensitive and unwise, and should not be imposed? noble Lord, Lord Murphy, pointed out, Mr Johnson’s predecessor, David Cameron, whatever his faults, came to the House of Commons and made a sincere and Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): My Lords, I unqualified public apology over the Bloody Sunday thank the noble Lords, Lord Murphy and Lord Bruce, report. This event surely required nothing less. Once for their comments and their points. As is now apparent again, it reveals a dangerous lack of understanding of from the inquest verdict from Mrs Justice Keegan last or consideration for the raw wounds left by the Troubles Tuesday, we can all agree that the deaths of 10 entirely and the delicate path Northern Ireland is now treading innocent people in Ballymurphy over three days in as a result of the Prime Minister’s reckless haste to get August 1971 was one of the most appalling events of Brexit done without adequate concern for its impact all the years of the Troubles. It was a new and particularly on the Belfast agreement. dark low, the results of which may have—or are likely 315 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings[LORDS] Ballymurphy Inquest Findings 316

[VISCOUNT YOUNGER OF LECKIE] that protect those who served and provide better outcomes to have—exacerbated further incidents in subsequent for victims and survivors of terrorism? Finally, does years. Noble Lords will have read the Statement. In my noble friend agree that, while we do not defend the normal times in the House, I would be repeating it. A reputation of the British Army by defending the Statement such as this, one of such gravity and sensitivity, indefensible, as in this case, the vast majority of those deserves as much. who served did so with courage, professionalism and I start by emphasising that my thoughts are with restraint and all of us owe them and the RUC a huge the families of the Ballymurphy victims. It is sobering debt? for me to consider that I was 15 in 1971. The deaths left no fewer than 57 children—as the noble Lord, Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I agree with my Lord Murphy said—without a parent, with all the noble friend that the current system is working for no tragedy, the loss of loved ones, and the permanently one, failing to bring satisfactory outcomes for families changed lives that stemmed from this. I want to put on and placing a heavy burden on the criminal justice record again today the Government’s acknowledgment system, leaving society in Northern Ireland hamstrung of the terrible hurt that has been caused to the families by its past. But we must never forget, dismiss or ignore of the victims: Francis Quinn, Father Hugh Mullan, the past. We must find a way forward to move beyond Noel Phillips, Joan Connolly, Daniel Teggart, Joseph it, which is why the Government want to deliver a Murphy, Edward Doherty, John Laverty, Joseph Corr process that will, as I said earlier, allow all individuals and John McKerr. The events at Ballymurphy should or families who want information to seek and receive never have happened. The families of those who were answers about what happened during the Troubles. On killed should never have had to experience the grief my noble friend’s point about the Armed Forces, the and trauma of the losses, or the decades of waiting for UK Government are committed to delivering on their last Tuesday’s verdict. commitments to Northern Ireland veterans. The noble Lords, Lord Murphy and Lord Bruce, raised issues around the Government’s apology to the Baroness O’Loan (CB) [V]: My Lords, can the Ballymurphy families. I start by saying that it cannot Minister tell the House why the Statement and press change what they have endured. The PM, on behalf of release issued by the Northern Ireland Office do not the UK Government—the state—has apologised by state that nine of these 10 victims were shot dead by writing to the families. He has also spoken to the First the Army and that three of them were shot as they Minister and the Deputy First Minister. My right went to the help of people who had already been shot? honourable friend in the other place, Brandon Lewis, In the 10th case, because of a massive failing by the also apologised in his Statement last Thursday and, state, the coroner could not attribute responsibility. today, I add my own heartfelt apology, as I address the Given the families’ response to the coroner’s finding House. and that this country proudly proclaims its respect for The results of Mrs Justice Keegan’s report and the and adherence to the rule of law, surely we must apologies given will be followed by action to prevent continue to use our resources positively and in the others who have lost loved ones, from all communities, interests of truth and justice, rather than in trying to whether civilians, paramilitaries or solders, continuing prevent future prosecutions and abandoning the various to go through the same lengthyand traumatic experiences. agreements made between the UK Government and To answer the points made by the noble Lord, Ireland, supported by the political parties. Lord Murphy,that is whythe Government are committed, as spelt out in the recent humble Address, to address Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I agree with the the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. We are noble Baroness that it is important to get to the truth doing so in a way that allows all individuals or families and provide justice. With regard to her earlier points, who want information, including those from Ballymurphy, questions arising from the deaths of the victims at to seek and receive answers about what happened Ballymurphy are a matter for the coroner and should during the Troubles with far less delay and distress. be directed to her office. Again to answer a question raised by the noble Lord, Lord Murphy, it is important that we do this with all parties involved in Northern Ireland, from the Lord Empey (UUP): My Lords, if something is parties themselves to civic society and victims wrong, it is wrong. What happened in Ballymurphy in organisations, to ensure that we bring everybody along 1971 was wrong. My noble friend is aware that, in that with us in what is being proposed. year, 171 people were killed in Northern Ireland, including 60 members of the security forces. I suspect that there was no closure or truth for the vast majority 2.11 pm of them. Should the Government now provide resources Lord Caine (Con): My Lords, having met the to the existing, established and acceptable security Ballymurphy families a number of times, I commend forces so that, if fresh evidence is available, they can their dignity and tenacity and express the genuine pursue it, rather than spending hundreds of millions hope that the coroner’s conclusions, which are clear, of pounds on setting up new organisations that will provide them with some comfort. On the past, given take up to 15 years just to complete their case work? that the Stormont House agreement, which I helped to negotiate, is now nearly six and a half years old and Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I take note of that its legacy sections have yet to be implemented, is my noble friend’s points about the 171 people who it not right that we look at possible alternative approaches were killed that year. Today, our focus should be on 317 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings[17 MAY 2021] Ballymurphy Inquest Findings 318 the Ballymurphy victims, but my noble friend makes a tribute to them for their fortitude and determination. wider point, which is that, looking ahead, we must Truth and justice must be possible for everyone but, also focus on all victims of the Troubles.The Government sadly, there are too many victims in Northern Ireland are clear that any system to deal with the legacy of the who will never have justice, particularly those who saw past must be fair, proportionate and focused on many of the IRA terrorists given royal pardons or reconciliation to deliver for all those affected by the on-the-run letters by a former Prime Minister. Does Troubles. the Minister agree that there is now an imbalance of legacy trials against our state forces, the vast majority Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP): My Lords, the of whom did their best to protect people? Maybe it is report is clear, and our sincere sympathies are with the time for Her Majesty’s Government to announce their families and loved ones of those who lost their lives own public inquiries into unsolved terrorist atrocities. needlessly in the terrible events of August 1971 in Ballymurphy. Can the Minister also assure the grieving Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): Well, it is clear families of the many hundreds of victims who are that certain court cases that have been brought forward forgotten and were never named that their loved ones have been unsatisfactory.As the noble Baroness alluded will also receive recognition, even an acknowledgement to, we are talking about events that happened 40 to 50 or perhaps even an apology from the political years ago, so it is extremely difficult to find admissible spokespersons of the terrorist groups, some of which evidence that is helpful. But I go back to the point are in government in Northern Ireland today? Can that, in bringing forward issues on legacy, as we have they expect justice as a result of the forthcoming pledged to do, we must do our best to get to truth, find proposals on legacy? Will the Minister guarantee that justice and get the information that victims’ families the representatives of victims are fully consulted before want. the legacy proposals are brought forward? Lord Robathan (Con): My Lords, I know Ballymurphy Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I hope I can rather better than I would wish. The Statement says reassure the noble Lord that consultations are continuing that the Army made terrible errors. The 1st Battalion with civic society and victims organisations to help us Parachute Regiment showed itself to be out of control do what we have set out in the Queen’s Speech. As the and without any proper discipline, both in Ballymurphy Government have said, we will bring forward legislation and a few months later in Londonderry, on Bloody in this Session to address the legacy of the past in Sunday. I was 20 at the time, a probationary officer at Northern Ireland. I hope that those points reassure university. I could have told you that then. Now it is the noble Lord. 50 years ago—the same distance away as the Boer War was when I was born. This is tragic, but it is time to Lord West of Spithead (Lab): My Lords, the events move on from this terrible, shameful disgrace, and at Ballymurphy were a stain on the UK Armed Forces. from the many hundreds of murders committed by Our sympathy goes out to the families who have had terrorists. For instance, we will not be able to convict to wait so long to prove the innocence of their lost Gerry Adams for his involvement in the 1972 murder loved ones. More broadly in the context of resolving of Jean McConville, a mother of 10, or those responsible the contentious issue of historic investigations and for many other victims—police, Army and civilians—of prosecutions, will the Minister confirm that the the IRA and loyalist terrorist groups. Is it not now Government see no moral equivalence between our time to draw a line in the sand? servicemen, who left barracks daily at the risk of their lives, with the intention of ensuring the safety and Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): Well, my noble security of the people of Northern Ireland and their friend makes a point, to the extent that those who property, and the terrorists, who left home with the were killed and injured during the Troubles came from intention of killing and maiming citizens of Northern all communities and also included many members of Ireland and those protecting them? the security forces. The state must hold itself to the highest standards and acknowledge where its role has Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): The Government fallen short of these standards. As I said earlier, I hope want to find a way forward that provides information that the PM’s apology and my comments today make for all those caught up in the Troubles, helps families it clear that we are not afraid to do this, and that all to get the answers that they want and lays the foundation sides must look at their actions and work together to for greater reconciliation and a shared future for all enable Northern Ireland to move forward. This is why communities. As I said earlier, we must not dismiss the the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has committed past but find a way forward on reconciliation because to working closely with the Irish Government, Northern we must think about the future and young people in Ireland parties, civic society and the wider community, Northern Ireland. We must find a way not to dismiss in the weeks and months ahead. the past, but to secure the future of Northern Ireland, which is very bright. Lord Dannatt (CB) [V]: My Lords, I was serving in Belfast in August 1971, when a badly thought-through Baroness Hoey (Non-Afl): My Lords, I welcome the policy of internment was enacted. Many people died full apology given by Her Majesty’s Government to that month, including soldiers, paramilitaries and, the families of those killed in Ballymurphy. Fifty years tragically,innocent civilians such as the 10 in Ballymurphy. is a long time to wait for justice and this verdict. I pay Given that the collapse of the recent trial of soldiers A 319 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings[LORDS] Ballymurphy Inquest Findings 320

[LORD DANNATT] Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I can understand and C showed that prosecutions for alleged offences that the noble Baroness would like me to give a committed decades ago are likely to fail because of the timeline today. I am unable to do that, but I can lack of admissible evidence, and that the same would reassure her that, despite it being 50 years ago that the probably occur if any prosecutions were to follow the awful events in Ballymurphy took place, we pledged in Ballymurphy inquest findings, will the Minister comment the recent Queen’s Speech to bring forward details on the proposal for a qualified statute of limitations regarding legacy in this session. for all alleged offences connected with the Troubles that were committed before the signing of the Good Lord Dubs (Lab) [V]: Like my noble friend Lord Friday agreement in April 1998—policy that was proposed Murphy and other Members of the House, I met the more than 10 years ago in the Eames-Bradley report Ballymurphy families years ago. I was impressed by and successfully followed by the Dublin Government their determination in the face of intolerable grief and in 1924? sadness. What is puzzling is why the Prime Minister did not himself meet the Ballymurphy families. Surely Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I alluded earlier the right thing would be not to leave it to other to the recent court case regarding soldiers A and C, so Ministers but to go to Belfast, meet the families in I will not go over that again, but I take note of what person and express his apologies face to face. the noble Lord said. The Government are very clear that, as I said earlier, the current system for dealing Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): As I said earlier, with the legacy of the Troubles is not working for the Prime Minister has written to the Ballymurphy anybody, particularly the bereaved families, such as families to apologise directly for the events that unfolded those who lost loved ones in Ballymurphy in 1971, as between 9 and 11 August 1971, and the Secretary of the noble Lord said, whose grief has been compounded State also apologised as part of his Statement to the by the long and difficult process of waiting for answers Commons on 13 May. Both did so on behalf of the for so many years. Every family who wants them UK Government and I repeat that apology today. But deserves answers about what happened to their loved whatever the nature of the apology, it can do nothing ones, so, to answer the noble Lord’s question, the either to reduce the suffering that the families have Government want to deliver a way forward that will endured or to lessen the sincerity of our sorrow. provide information about what happened during the Troubles. Lord Craig of Radley (CB) [V]: My Lords, it is shocking that this coroner’s finding has been delayed Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Non-Afl) [V]: My for 50 years. Do the Government acknowledge the Lords, I have met the Ballymurphy families on many insuperable difficulties for the Crown Prosecution Service occasions and have always been impressed by their in preparing cases for trial about the Troubles in sincerity and tenacity to find out the truth about why Northern Ireland that will achieve clear outcomes due their loved ones were murdered. Will the Minister to the passage of time? Does the Minister agree that a ensure that the Prime Minister meets with the families decisive lead to seek a wide politically agreed solution to discuss their quest for truth as to why their loved to this dreadful legacy is now the only realistic one? ones were killed? Will he also ensure that the proposed legacy legislation reflects the Stormont House agreement Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): Yes, indeed—the and ensures that there will be no amnesty for those noble and gallant Lord makes a very important and who committed acts of murder, irrespective of whether sobering point about the delay. It is fair to say that it they were military or paramilitary, in our society? was further delayed by Covid, but we are talking about 50 years here and I am not making light of that; it is too long. I assure the noble and gallant Lord that, Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I will certainly as I have said before, we are determined to bring pass the request from the noble Baroness further up Northern Ireland forward and to address the legacy the ladder to the Prime Minister. The Government are matters. It is complex and sensitive. It is not easy, but looking closely at the report which has come from we are determined to do it. Mrs Justice Keegan. There are some 700 pages and, given that it came out last Tuesday, time is required to Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate (Non-Afl) [V]: My look at it carefully. Lords, it is surely right that a historic wrong that occurred during the Troubles 50 years ago in Northern Baroness Goudie (Lab) [V]: My Lords, I associate Ireland is acknowledged and that the names of innocent myself with the comments made by my noble friend victims are cleared of wrongdoing, which is what the Lord Murphy and the noble Lord, Lord Bruce. The inquest found. This was a time of extreme conflict, coroner’s report emphasises the end of a legacy in and injustices occurred on both sides. Unless there is Northern Ireland’s past. It is vital that the Government powerful and compelling new evidence, it heaps injustice have a clear policy on this with timelines, as they on injustice to charge British soldiers who are now currently have no policy and are failing. They must reaching the autumns of their years for acts committed consult with all the families and those giving support, under orders so long ago. Does the noble Viscount and the groups in Northern Ireland. Again, I emphasise account agree with me that some kind of commission that there must be a timeline, otherwise we will never to achieve peace and reconciliation on both sides of see the end of this. This is not a situation for the conflict is a more constructive way forward in totalitarianism: the Government do not know best. these very difficult matters? 321 Ballymurphy Inquest Findings [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 322

Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): It is true that response to the coronavirus pandemic was focused on there are a lot of challenges and difficulties because of two things: protecting lives and protecting livelihoods. the time that has passed, and the noble Lord makes To protect lives, we have secured access to more than some extremely good points about those challenges. 400 million vaccine doses and established the largest As I said earlier, this is a very sensitive, challenging testing infrastructure in Europe. The vaccine is and difficult matter. I reiterate that, in order to go now available to everyone over 38 years old. To forward, we must continue to bring with us as many protect livelihoods, the Government have provided an groups as we possibly can in Northern Ireland, to unprecedented level of financial support for businesses liaise with the Irish Government, and to bring on and individuals, protecting more than 9 million jobs board victims’ groups, civic society and the rest in with the furlough scheme, while helping millions of what we need to do. businesses to stay afloat. Today, we embark on the next phase of cautiously easing national lockdown Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP) [V]: My restrictions, including overnight stays between households Lords, will the Government learn from the reception and the reopening of hotels, pubs and restaurants of this apology—the rightful and understandable upset indoors. of the families of the innocent Ballymurphy victims, Building back better from the pandemic means who heard that it was going to be delivered from delivering decent, safe and well-designed homes for journalists and who were not consulted on its contents— everyone in our country. That is why the gracious which was not delivered by the Prime Minister personally, Speech includes a planning reform Bill. It will simplify in future apologies relating to events all around these and modernise the system, embracing digital tools to islands? Will they take further steps to support the allow people to visualise and engage with local plans. families of the Ballymurphy victims and acknowledge It will provide a quicker, simpler planning process, their disappointment at the way the apology was delivered? speeding up the delivery of the homes that the country needs.It will give a new focus to environmental protections, Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I believe that I streamlining environmental impact assessments. It will have already addressed, in several answers, the matter ask every local area to produce its own design code to of the apology. reflect its unique identity. It will ensure that developers pay for their fair share of affordable housing and 2.31 pm infrastructure, which is why we are exploring a simpler, faster and more transparent infrastructure levy. Sitting suspended. We must also take measures to ensure that those homes are a safe and secure environment to live in. I Queen’s Speech have been horrified by the testimony at the Grenfell inquiry, which highlighted where corners were cut and Debate (4th Day) lives unnecessarily put at risk. That is why the landmark building safety Bill will bring about once-in-a-generation 2.45 pm improvements to building safety in this country. The Moved on Tuesday 11 May by Lord Bates House may recall my remarks to the construction sector last year, when I said that that my goal as That an humble Address be presented to Her building safety Minister was to make it raise its game Majesty as follows: and thus put myself out of a job. Those noble Lords “Most Gracious Sovereign—We, Your Majesty’s who wish to see that day come to pass may wish to most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual consider supporting this legislation. The Bill will establish and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg leave the new building safety regulator, with clear duties and to thank Your Majesty for the most gracious Speech responsibilities for building owners and managers. It which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses will improve accountability and responsibility, ensuring of Parliament”. that residents are able to raise concerns and that building owners are held to account. The Minister of State, Home Office and Ministry Our commitment to fairness in the housing market of Housing, Communities and Local Government includes securing a fairer deal for future leaseholders. (Lord Greenhalgh) (Con): My Lords, on behalf of For too many, the dream of home ownership has been your Lordships’ House, I thank Her Majesty for her soured by leases imposing crippling ground rents, gracious Speech. I am greatly honoured to be called additional fees and onerous conditions. People’s homes on to open today’s debate on the Motion for an should be theirs to live in and enjoy, not an income humble Address. I am delighted to be joined by my stream for third-party investors.That is whythe Leasehold noble friend Lord Goldsmith, who will deliver what I Reform (Ground Rent) Bill will put an end to ground am sure will be an excellent summing-up. Given the rents for new leasehold properties, as part of the most wealth of experience represented on all sides of the significant changes to property law in a generation. House, both my noble friend and I look forward to a Last Thursday,we launched the Commonhold Council, spirited and well-informed debate. an advisory panel of leasehold groups and industry Today,I will outline the Government’splans regarding experts which I will chair, to inform the Government communities, welfare, transport and the environment, on the future of commonhold ownership. This follows which are at the heart of our agenda as we bounce back recommendations made by the Law Commission to and build back from the pandemic. The Government’s simplify and expand the commonhold system. It will 323 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 324

[LORD GREENHALGH] and take legal action where necessary.The Environment pave the way for millions of homeowners in England Bill will also give new powers to local authorities to to take greater control over their homes, with a greater tackle air pollution in their areas and make it illegal say on their buildings’ management, shared facilities for large UK companies to use key agricultural and related costs. Together, these reforms put us on a commodities cultivated on illegally deforested land. journey to give more security to millions of existing Twenty twenty-one will also be a monumental year leaseholders across England, making home ownership for animal rights, with our recently published Action fairer, simpler and cheaper. Plan for Animal Welfare. The plan will set out our The Government also want to deliver a better rental intention to recognise animals as sentient beings through sector that works for tenants and landlords. We will the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. We will strengthen bring forward a White Paper in the autumn detailing existing enforcement against animal abuse and ban the our broad package of reforms. This will include more import and export of endangered animal hunting detail on how we will reform tenancy law to abolish trophies. We will make further improvements to farm Section 21 no-fault evictions; measures to improve animal welfare in transport and slaughter, and support security for tenants in the private rented sector, farmers in sustainable food production. We will also empowering them to hold their landlord to account; take action to prohibit the unsuitable keeping of primates and measures to strengthen the repossession grounds as pets, raise standards in zoos and conserve animals for landlords when it is fair and reasonable to do so. in the wild. Shortly, we will bring forward a kept We will also outline proposals for a new lifetime animals Bill to tackle puppy smuggling and ban the deposit model, easing the burden on tenants when keeping of primates as pets. Later in the Session, we moving, and continue to deliver on the social housing will bring forward an animals abroad Bill to tackle White Paper proposals, including implementing the issues outside the United Kingdom. charter for social housing residents, and to legislate on Improving our transport infrastructure is a key part social housing regulations as soon as practicable. of our agenda to ensure that everyone has the opportunity As we look towards our future, we know that to succeed. The Government intend our railways to be people are worried—for themselves, for the people the backbone of a modern, affordable and green transport they love and for their communities. We have always network. We will publish a White Paper with proposals been honest that we will not be able to protect every to transform the railways and deliver for passengers, job and every business. Nevertheless, this Government ending the complicated franchising model and creating have done everything we can to protect our communities a simpler, more effective system. We also intend to through this difficult period. Weprovided over £7 billion deliver better bus services for England through our of extra support through our welfare system in 2020-21. national bus strategy, with more frequent, cheaper and We increased local housing allowance rates for universal reliable services, integrated services and ticketing, and credit and housing benefit claimants, so that they 4,000 new zero-emission buses. covered the lowest 30% of local rents, and we will I believe that Her Majesty’s gracious Speech affirms sustain this cash increase this year. We introduced the this Government’s commitments to build back a better Covid Winter Grant Scheme, now the Covid local future for our country, levelling up opportunities across support grant, with almost £270 million to support the United Kingdom; to make every part of our vulnerable households with the costs of food and country a great place to live and to start a family, own other essentials. In 2021-22, we are extending the a home and start a business; and to ensure that no temporary uplift to the universal credit standard allowance community and no person is left without hope or for a further six months, giving working tax credit opportunity. These are ambitions I am sure every part claimants an equivalent one-off payment of £500, and of this House shares. Over the course of today’s we have maintained our commitment to older people debate, my noble friend Lord Goldsmith and I look through a generous basic state pension, now worth forward to hearing your Lordships’ valuable insights over £2,050 more in cash terms than in 2010, thanks to on the measures I have outlined, especially of course the triple lock. in the maiden speeches of the noble Lords, Lord The Government’s commitment to building back Coaker and Lord Morse. better after the pandemic also means building back greener, and 2021 will be a landmark year for 2.57 pm environmental policy. In November, the UK will be hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab): My Lords, I With that global leadership position, alongside our thank the Minister for his introduction to today’s new-found independence from EU environmental laws, debate on the gracious Speech. I particularly welcome now is the moment to put a spotlight on this critical my noble friend Lord Coaker and the noble Lord, work. Lord Morse, and look forward to their maiden speeches The Environment Bill we are bringing forward is a today. I should begin by declaring a couple of interests: pivotal part of delivering the Government’s manifesto as chair of Rothamsted Enterprises, part of the commitment to create the most ambitious environmental Rothamsted agricultural research institute; and as a programme of any country on Earth. We will legislate member of the South Downs National Park Authority, to set long-term, legally binding targets to drive which has planning as part of its statutory remit. environmental improvements such as in air quality, Today’s debate takes place against a backdrop of resource efficiency and waste reduction. A new two global environmental emergencies: the rise in global independent office for environmental protection will warming, already heading beyond the 2% irreversible provide scrutiny and advice, investigate complaints ceiling; and the fall in biodiversity, which is declining 325 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 326 faster than at any time in human history. Both require achieve, as it represents 22% of the 2019 UK total. international leadership to achieve buy-in from the That is why we were so disappointed at the lack of world’s economies and to save our planet from its own ambition on transport in the Queen’s Speech. man-made destruction. We will have the opportunity In its sixth carbon budget, the Climate Change later this year, at the Convention on Biological Diversity Committee made it clear that: conference in China and then at the COP 26 event in Glasgow in November. “A comprehensive … package will be needed to deliver the … commitment to phase out new sales of petrol and diesel cars and Already, President Biden is leading the way but we vans by 2030.” must play our part too. Sadly, as the noble Lord, It recommends that, in addition, diesel heavy Lord Goldsmith, acknowledged recently, goods vehicles should be phased out by 2040, with “to speak with authority internationally, the UK needs to get its clear alternatives identified now. It identifies that a own house in order.” comprehensive recharging and refuelling infrastructure He then admitted: will be needed to support clean fuel for cars. It recognises “This is not the case at the moment.”—[Official Report, the urgent need for aviation and shipping strategies to 13/4/21; col. 1149.] deliver net zero, and urges an essential rethink to This is true. A leaked report from Defra recently “reduce travel demand” and focus on public rather revealed that there is still no plan to deliver on the than private transport—including, of course, a bold Government’s carbon emissions targets, while the recent vision to reverse the millions of miles of bus routes Public Accounts Committee report concluded that lost across the country. Where is the legislation to Defra does not have deliver all of this? “the clout to lead the rest of government” The Government have flagged up that a transport to deliver their environmental programme. Can the decarbonisation plan is in preparation. But where is Minister set out what steps Defra is taking to raise its the urgency? The Government have signed up to reduce game and prepare government for the huge challenges greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035, which is in the year ahead? only 14 years away. Where is the urgency that will drive this forward? Of course, we welcome the arrival of the Environment Bill to the Lords—as they say, third time lucky. It has We support the extension of High Speed 2 from been described as a flagship Bill but its history is one Crewe to Manchester but it is clear that lessons need of downgrade and delay, causing huge frustration to be learned from earlier mistakes. Can the Minister among all of us who have been waiting for this robust say what steps the Government will take to increase new legislation to set environmental targets that are consultation as part of this project? Will the Government truly meaningful. But now we have the opportunity support new railway stations in the smaller towns and we will want to work across the House to make around Crewe and Manchester? How will the Government this a landmark Bill of which we can all be proud. ensure that the extension is developed with more sensitivity In particular,we want to strengthen the environmental to its environmental impact, particularly on ancient targets in the Bill to makethem comprehensive,measurable and modern woodlands? Does the Minister accept and legally enforceable. We want to ensure that the that this project should be one small part of a government office for environmental protection has the powers investment in rail capacity to address the climate and independence it needs to hold the Government to change crisis and better connect our towns and cities? account. We will be tabling a range of amendments to Planning and housebuilding also have a crucial role reverse the decline in biodiversity, clean up our rivers to play in protecting biodiversity and delivering our and oceans, restore peatlands and afforestation, and net-zero obligations, so we will need to be reassured set WHO limits for air quality. that the application of biodiversity net gain principles In the meantime, we welcome the Government’s to new developments will trump the pressure to build new announcement on tackling the discharge of sewage on land at any cost. into rivers—only weeks after they voted down a similar Local people know what is best for the size and amendment we supported in the Commons. I hope the character of their community, but these proposals will Minister will confirm that this spirit of listening and prevent them from objecting to inappropriate compromise will run through our consideration of developments in their own street or neighbourhood. the Bill. Instead, their involvement will be limited to consultation We also welcome the announcement of the new on the area’s local plan every few years. As the Local animal welfare legislation. Again, this has been a long Government Information Unit has said, the proposed time coming and the proposals seem based largely on changes Labour’s recently published Animal Welfare Manifesto. “leave local government with the political liability on planning As ever, the devil will be in the detail and we will whilst depriving them … of the powers to manage it effectively.” scrutinise those Bills with great care, undoubtedly We believe that these proposals are a developers’ with the support of the many animal welfare charities charter: removing powers from local representatives which share our ambition to be a world leader on and handing them to Whitehall-appointed boards of these issues. developers. It does not address the scandal of planning If we are to deliver on climate change and biodiversity, permission already having been granted for an estimated concerted government action across departments will 1 million homes that are yet to be built. It does not be required. Clearly, transport has a huge role to play require all new-build homes to meet the stringent in cutting our carbon emissions, which we need to energy and sustainability standards that are crucial to 327 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 328

[BARONESS JONES OF WHITCHURCH] because every year we delay taking the required action meeting our climate change obligations. It does nothing ensures that the measures we will have to adopt in the to address the growing housing crisis our country future will be that much more difficult. The Government faces. need to wake up to the fact that the one thing we do Young people have been hardest hit by the not have is the luxury of time. Government’s failure to build the homes we need, Carbon Tracker, an NGO expert in this field, has especially social and affordable homes. However, there calculated that, at the current burn rate, the world will is nothing in this Queen’s Speech that captures the exceed its carbon budget within 15 years and that, if scale and urgency of the housing challenge or which we burn all the fossil fuels in known reserves, the world provides any consolation for young people priced out will have no prospect of keeping within its Paris of the housing market. targets. Yet still our financial institutions continue to So many young people cannot afford to buy their finance exploration for new oil and gas reserves which, own home because they have been forced into insecure, if exploited, can bring us only to catastrophe. However, low-paid jobs; and it is getting worse. The lesson from in this Queen’s Speech the only legislative proposal the pandemic is that 11 years of government failure relating to any aspect of the energy sector is the draft have left our country ill prepared for a job and welfare downstream oil resilience Bill, which seeks to provide crisis. A recent report from the Trussell Trust shows resilience for the oil sector rather than the planet. that 700,000 households now need to use a food bank, It is astonishing. It would be easy—but, I suspect, with a 49% increase in children being supported, and unproductive—to spend the afternoon criticising the 95% of people referred to food banks are described as Government for their lack of action, so I will try to be “very deprived” or “destitute”. a little more constructive instead and suggest some Wehave to end the insecurity and lack of opportunity ideas for the Government to take up. in the economy by tackling the jobs crisis and replacing First, they could introduce the climate and ecological universal credit with a fair and compassionate system emergency Bill proposed by a civil society coalition that offers security for all. But there is nothing in the with cross-party support, which asks the UK to take Queen’s Speech to address this. In fact, the Department responsibility for its fair share of greenhouse gas for Work and Pensions is not mentioned once. Where emissions, actively restore biodiverse habitats in the are the plans to protect workers and create jobs for the UK and set and implement a strategy to tackle the future? What happened to the employment Bill, which climate and ecological emergency. would have protected workers from exploitation and Secondly, the Government would be very welcome created new jobs for the future? Why have the flaws in to take forward my green finance capital requirements the Kickstart scheme not been addressed? Bill, which would properly price the macroprudential This Queen’s Speech fails to meet the key challenges risk that further fossil fuel exploration and exploitation of our generation. Coming out of the pandemic, poses to the entire financial system, not to mention we have the opportunity to build something better: the planet as a whole. a fairer and more equal society, with well-paid Thirdly, they should bring forward a new energy jobs, delivering a greener economy built on strong Bill to set the framework for the smart and resilient environmental principles. Sadly, we must conclude generation and distribution systems that will be needed, that this gracious Speech fails to address this ambition as we place ever-increasing demand on the electricity or meet the challenge. sector. This framework will need to be capable of facilitating the expansion of decentralised and community 3.07 pm power generation and providing the incentives to deliver Lord Oates (LD): My Lords, I thank the Minister the innovation to expand our energy storage capacity. for his opening speech, and I look forward to the In 2013, when Ed Davey, as Secretary of State for maiden speeches of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Energy and Climate Change, piloted the last Energy Lord Morse. As the Minister’s speech highlighted, Act through Parliament, 40% of electricity was generated today’s debate covers a cornucopia of issues. But from coal and just 7% from wind. Last year, coal hanging over all of them is the climate and ecological accounted for just 1.3% of power generation and emergency which threatens every area of our lives and renewables accounted for well over 40%. We need requires a response with every policy lever at the similar radical thinking today further to transform disposal of our Government. our energy sector and to allow zero-carbon fuels, such Last week, in another context, the Minister for the as green hydrogen, to play their full role in decarbonising Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the industry and the heavy transport sector. noble Lord, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, reminded us We also need significantly to reduce wasteful and of Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi’s wise words when he unnecessary energy consumption in transport and warned that the future is decided by what you do buildings. On transport, we welcome plans to improve today. That is both instructive and alarming because, and decarbonise bus services, but we have concerns while the Government are happy to promise the world about how the money will be deployed, which my tomorrow, in this Queen’s Speech today they propose noble friend Lord Bradshaw will say more about. This to do nothing, in effect, to tackle the climate crisis. Queen’s Speech should have gone much further and In the year that we host what may turn out to be the set out a clear route map for the wider decarbonisation most critical conference in the struggle to contain of the transport system. It should have announced the global warming, the Government’slegislative programme restoration of differential vehicle excise duty, depending is silent as the grave on the subject. That matters, on vehicle emissions, and introduced steps to make 329 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 330 electric vehicles affordable to those on middle and There is no doubt that the Government face many lower incomes,including measures to ensure that motorists complex and challenging issues but, reading this Queen’s are not fleeced by on-street charge point operators, Speech, you would be hard put to believe that it where electricity costs can be up to six times higher represents the programme of a Government who have than for those who can charge their vehicles from their set themselves some of the most demanding climate domestic electricity supply.It should also have abandoned objectives of any country on earth, so I have this the consultation on reduced air passenger duty and nagging worry: do they really mean what they say? Do instead introduced a ban on fossil-fuel-powered domestic they really have the stomach for the difficult decisions flights between points where the train journey is less that are required or are these climate commitments to than two and a half hours. This would both reduce be as fleeting as the 2019 manifesto pledge to emissions from domestic flights and incentivise the “proudly maintain our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI development of non-fossil fuel aviation. on development”? My noble friend Lord Stunell will speak in more Will these climate commitments evaporate as easily detail about the Government’s failure to tackle emissions into the dark winter nights that follow COP 26, from buildings. I simply note that, despite all the hype accompanied with the same sort of excuses: “The about building back better and a manifesto commitment circumstances have changed” or “We are doing more, to invest £9.2 billion in the energy efficiency of homes, in any event, than others”? Will we squander our schools and hospitals, the Queen’s Speech and the global leadership on this issue just as casually and Prime Minister’s accompanying letter had literally not with as little care for the consequences to others as we one word to say on tackling greenhouse gas emissions have done on overseas development aid? I hope that from buildings, which represent 19% of total UK my cynicism is misplaced, but if the Government are emissions. to dispel such concerns, they will have to move rapidly from the realm of targets to the sphere of action. We propose a green buildings Bill that would require all new buildings to be built to the zero-carbon standard, This brings me back to Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, with the energy component rising to Passivhaus standard who chose his words advisedly. He told us that the by 2025. All existing homes in the social sector would future is decided by what we do today, not by what we be required to reach at least energy performance certificate say today or the distant targets that we set today but band B by 2025 and all other homes and non-domestic by the actions that we take. By that standard, this buildings to reach the same band by 2030. Queen’s Speech falls tragically and woefully short. An effective planning framework will also be critical 3.17 pm in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, but the proposals for the planning Bill have nothing to say Lord Carrington (CB) [V]: My Lords, I declare my on either issue, instead riding roughshod over local farming interests as set out in the register. I, too, democratic decision-making. If the Government actually enormously look forward to hearing the maiden speeches want to see more houses built, they need to recognise of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. that it will not be achieved by stripping powers from I welcome many of the measures outlined in the local authorities. The facts are clear: we have never gracious Speech, particularly the opportunity to consider succeeded and will never succeed in delivering the the Environment Bill, which forms part of a trio of 300,000 homes annually that the Government have set measures—including the Agriculture Act and the energy as a target without a significant municipal housing WhitePaper—movingfromtheenvironmentallydamaging programme so, instead of curtailing local authority basic payment scheme to sustainable farming and the powers, as the Government propose, they should restore enhancement of the environment. their ability to finance, build and maintain large-scale However, the Agriculture Act and the Environment social housing programmes in their communities. Bill are enabling legislation and, therefore, lack sufficient In line with the Government’s climate policy, the detail to allow land managers the tools to plan a planning Bill should also have at its heart a requirement forward business strategy. Despite this regrettable for all planning decisions to have regard to the 2050 deficiency, farmers and land managers are doing their net-zero objective. We will be happy to assist the best to prepare by carrying out capital audits, improving Government with an amendment to this effect when soil structure, mitigating methane, researching carbon the Bill comes before Parliament. offsetting opportunities and investing in forestry and trees. The Queen’s Speech should also have set out new commitments to protect and enhance biodiversity and However, without detail, much of this preliminary improve land use to reduce climate impacts. While we work, which is often done at considerable expense, is look forward to the long-overdue Environment Bill totally at their own risk. For instance, in the case of coming to our House, there is no mention in the soil condition, methane measurement, carbon Queen’s Speech of biodiversity or the major shifts in sequestration and wider natural capital audits, there land use that will be required to reduce the carbon appears to be no agreement on the recommended footprint of agriculture, which is currently responsible measuring tools and standards.Surely this is fundamental for about 10% of our greenhouse gas emissions. There to the success of environmental legislation. We need to is no Bill to provide for the protection of peatland, know more about regulatory standards and financial and there is no clarity about whether the environmental incentives as a matter of urgency. land management scheme will be used to transform In the Environment Bill, there are many areas that land-use practices to tackle climate change or whether need further thought. For instance, the only reference they will simply sustain business largely as usual. to trees is in Clause 100, which covers tree felling and 331 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 332

[LORD CARRINGTON] welcome my noble friend Lord Benyon on his return planting, except that there is no further information to Defra, where we served together as Ministers in the on tree planting. Surely this is the opportunity to place coalition. the new English tree strategy in the Bill. The planting I have a further interest, however, about which I and maintenance of woodland are central to policies wish to speak. I have become the chairman of the on climate change and carbon capture, and much visitor economy group of the Midlands Engine APPG. more, but further commercial realism is required for This is a really interesting group; your Lordships will planting at scale in England to succeed, due to the be hearing later from the co-chairman of the Midlands likely devaluation of land and farm income by switching Engine APPG, the noble Lord, Lord Ravensdale. I from farming to forestry. Although grants largely cover want to raise the visitor economy because, although it the cost of establishment and early maintenance, there is relevant to a whole range of government departments, is no current return to the grower. I therefore urge the it is essentially community based and, much to my Government to investigate the reintroducing of basic surprise, is a key sector. It is in the top five sectors of annual payments for up to 25 years that existed under significance as an employer and of value. It is, however, the farm woodland scheme of the 1980s. That was fragmented into many SMEs. The proposals for a successfully brought in to counter the huge loss of elm national skills fund and lifelong training through the trees by incentivising the creation of new woodland. skills and post-16 education Bill will greatly assist this On biodiversity net gain—BNG—which is central fragmented sector of our economy. to the Bill, farmers and growers should be in prime As I have said, the visitor economy is a significant position to provide developers with BNG. However, area of employment. In the Midlands region as a pressure on land use needs to be carefully considered, whole, it accounts for nearly 10% of employment. In as environmental policies must recognise the importance some districts, it is double that—in East Lindsey, of food security. Details of how the BNG market will Derbyshire Dales and Staffordshire Moorlands, it is work are scarce.The measurement—again—and financial 20%—while it is even higher in towns such as Skegness, benefits are very unclear, but the likely cost of Mablethorpe and Bakewell, where seasonality can implementation will undoubtedly be high. We await be a real challenge. Last week, we as a group of the updating of Defra metrics. Other issues, such as parliamentarians met Nick de Bois of VisitEngland— what happens at the end of the scheme, how tenant some noble Lords will probably remember him as a farmers can be involved and taxation, all need resolving Member of another place. Much is going on. English before BNG can be effective. Tourism Week starts next weekend; Coventry began The Bill needs also to address the issue of field its year as our City of Culture this past weekend; and drains, which impact on farm productivity, flooding Birmingham is looking forward to the Commonwealth and much more. In many instances, field drains benefit Games in the summer of next year. It is not just net zero and are very important in underwriting domestic about the seaside or the open air; it is about cities and food security. This issue should also be in the Bill, as it the attractions they have to offer. Of course, it is is not really something that should be dealt with under also about place—the need to be local—and about the Agriculture Act or the environmental land communities.In Lincolnshire,the destination management management schemes. organisation works well with local authorities, including those with towns funding such as Skegness and Boston, Finally, I believe that public education is key in just and the Greater Lincolnshire enterprise partnership. about every aspect of the Environment Bill and climate change in general. I urge the Government to review Put all this together and we see that the visitor and update the national curriculum as required to economy can be fully part of the engine for bounce-back achieve this, as use of knowledge and behavioural and building back better. That is why I look forward change are cheaper than remediation. to this Session of Parliament and the measures in the Queen’s Speech, which have been so ably spoken to by others. 3.23 pm Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Con): My Lords, it is a 3.27 pm pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, I too and I look forward to the maiden speeches of the look forward to hearing the maiden speeches of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. My entry noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, but I in the register of interests tells of my family business want to start by congratulating the Minister on introducing in agriculture and horticulture. In Holbeach, we have the leasehold reform Bill. an outlier of the University of Lincoln in the form of Ending ground rents—or, as one person called it the National Centre for Food Manufacturing and a recently, the serfdom charge—in new developments is food enterprise zone. an important and positive reform, and I will welcome I am delighted that my noble friend Lord Goldsmith this opportunity to be mostly congruent with the is to sum up this debate. We are all looking forward to Minister, after been being on opposing sides of the the Environment Bill; it will be interesting legislation Fire Safety Bill. While this is a great victory for future which I think is seen by the whole House as important. leaseholders, existing leaseholders, particularly those I also welcome the secondary legislation following on in developments affected by the building and fire from the Agriculture Act, which was taken forward safety scandal, nervously await their fate. with such great aplomb by my noble friend Lord During the previous parliamentary Session, those Gardiner of Kimble, who has now been promoted and Members, including myself, who sought to amend the who we look forward to seeing in his new role. I Fire Safety Bill to protect leaseholders were told that 333 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 334

Her Majesty’s Government would address our concerns Speech. Like other speakers, I welcome the prospect of in the building safety Bill, which I was pleased to hear the maiden speeches from my noble friend Lord Coaker announced in the Queen’s Speech. There is an urgency and the noble Lord, Lord Morse. to this crisis. Bills of debilitating proportion are already I was interested at the way in which the Minister being handed to leaseholders,bankruptcies have occurred, glibly waved aside the future of franchising in the and, tragically,so have related suicides. This is a financial railway industry. I have spent the last decade listening and a mental health crisis that is growing worse every to Ministers at the Dispatch Box telling me how passing day that it is left unaddressed. I therefore urge wonderful the system was, yet it is to be abolished in Her Majesty’s Government to move with haste to one sentence. What exactly is to replace it? The Williams bring forward their building safety Bill, so that we can report, which has been around for some time, is unique finally provide leaseholders with peace of mind. in that it will actually be published, unlike the 30-odd Having said that, I want to get this Bill right. The other reports into the future of the railway industry pre-legislative scrutiny committee for the building safety over the past few years, and I welcome that. The Bill crucially raised the absence of any measures in the obvious question is when; I hope that the Minister can Bill to pursue developers for inadequate historic works. tell us when he comes to reply. While ACM cladding was legal prior to 2019, there are One thing lacking in the Queen’s Speech is any now numerous documented cases where this was fitted detail about the future of the eastern leg of HS2. I not to regulations,without requisite firebreaks or adequate hope that the Minister will agree that, if we are to—in compartmentalisation measures. During this injustice, the phrase used in the Speech—“build back better” the six-year limitation preventing legal action is conspiring through our transport industries, HS2, particularly its to force leaseholders into bankruptcy, rather than eastern leg, will properly be built. However, I fear that what the Government have always claimed that they what will happen is what we are seeing at present. The want to do: to get those responsible to pay for remediation. Treasury, which, I suspect, is not madly enthusiastic I was grateful for the Minister’s assurances during about the prospect of HS2, will tinker at the edges. We debate on the Fire Safety Bill that Her Majesty’s are seeing that tinkering at present—a platform less at Government were Euston; rather than one Bill to take the eastern leg “committed to developing stronger avenues for redress”,—[Official forward towards Leeds and beyond, two or three short Report, 28/4/21; col. 2369.] Bills for short stretches of HS2. Do we never learn? and I hope to see this in the revised Bill. The £2 billion When it is eventually built, as I hope it will be, it will levy on developers is, frankly, derisory, particularly therefore cost far more than building it in one swoop, when they are essentially receiving £5 billion in subsidy which would be the intelligent way forward. We never to fix their own defective developments—a net taxpayer seem to learn that lesson. Teams with experience in subsidy of £3 billion. electrification and railway building are continually I would like to see some strong action from this disbanded and reformed. We then wonder why, in the Government. Now that we are out of the EU, perhaps case of the Great Western electrification, the posts they could look at excluding developers who fail to and masts cost more to install than previous electrification remediate their own buildings from applying for public schemes in this country and certainly far more than contracts. The Government should also look seriously such schemes in other parts of the world. at extending the forced loan scheme to include other I also look forward to seeing the Williams report’s historic, non-cladding related, fire safety defects, given findings on fares. I did a random exercise this morning. that they were estimated by the Institute of Residential An elderly gentleman, with a senior citizen’s railcard, Property Management at between £26,000 and £38,000 who is not used to travelling by rail, might decide to per lease. These bills alone still have the propensity to travel from Solihull to London Marylebone. This non- bankrupt leaseholders. regular traveller would find 15 different tickets between Finally, I turn to the proposed changes to planning the two stations. If he wanted a single ticket, he would laws. Too often, those with disabilities and their families have a choice of paying between £7.90 to £100.80. He struggle to find suitable homes and are forced into would be unlikely to pay £100.80, but it is a listed inaccessible and unsuitable homes. The latest figures single fare between Solihull and London. If he decided from the housing association Habinteg found that, to come back, he would have 16 different fares, varying outside London, only 1.5% of homes planned over the from £21.80 to £124.60. I think that is crackers and I next decade will be suitable for wheelchair users, despite suspect that most other people who look at the railway the ageing demographic shift. Many leading housing fare structure think so too. associations have called for the mandatory baseline If he decided to travel on different trains he would for all new homes to be raised to category 2—broadly pay different fares, which is why there are so many. If the same as the lifetime home standard. I hope that he decided to come back in the rush hour it would cost the Government will move forward and publish their him more, but if he came back before 4 pm he would responses to the accessible homes consultation, so that get a cheaper fare. That is provided he stuck to Chiltern parliamentarians know that they intend to make our Railways, which is the operator between Solihull and housing stock more inclusive and prepare it for the London Marylebone. If he decided to use the west challenges of the future. coast main line and came back on an Avanti train, which has the franchise for that line, he would find that the rush hour leaving Euston starts at 3 pm, 3.32 pm although if he got the underground to London Lord Snape (Lab): My Lords, it is a pleasure to Marylebone it does not start until 4 pm. This sort of follow the right reverend Prelate; I hope he will forgive lunacy has gone on for far too long and the Government me if I concentrate on other matters in the Queen’s really ought to do something about it. 335 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 336

[LORD SNAPE] this has not happened—apart from the antique ivory It is not just the fares and HS2. There are lots of lobby—and a timetable for when the Act will be other aspects of our railway industry that the Government implemented? ought to look at, such as the electrification of the The third theme is “farm animals”. Currently, some Midland main line. Are we going to get the go-ahead farm animals are exported for fattening and slaughter. from Corby? Good luck to the people in Corby; it is This transportation is distressing for the animals, remarkable that we are going to provide a half-hourly completely unnecessary and must be stopped as a electric train service to London from Corby, a town priority. Similarly, the use of cages for laying hens and that did not have any railway at all 30 years ago, farrowing crates for pigs must be phased out as soon because it was closed down. Yet cities such as Sheffield, as possible. The meat from pigs raised in farrowing Leicester, Nottingham and Derby are to be served crates abroad should no longer be imported into the only by diesel or bi-mode trains. It is lunacy and I UK. Effective and clear food labelling is essential to hope that the Government can do something about it. ensure public confidence on animal welfare. The While I welcome some aspects of the Queen’s Speech, Government must also look at the length of journeys there is a long way to go. within the UK from farm to abattoir. Many of these journeys are extremely long and distressing. A network of effective abattoirs close to rural communities is 3.38 pm essential. Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD): The fourth theme is around “pets and sporting My Lords, I too look forward to the maiden speeches animals”. My colleagues and I have spoken many of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. I times about the smuggling of puppies. There has been will speak to the three animal welfare Bills which were an increase in the demand for dogs and puppies during mentioned in Her Majesty’s most gracious Speech: the the lockdowns and I fear that many new family pets Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, the kept animals Bill, are the result of puppy smuggling. These puppies have and the animals abroad Bill. These three Bills hang been separated from their mothers far too early and under the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, also recently will go on to have problems in their adult lives. There published, which has over 40 reforms across five different are incidents of adult pets being stolen to order, with workstreams—a large undertaking, but I welcome it. an increase of 170% in dog thefts in 2020. This can However, I am disappointed that the protection of have a devasting effect on a family who have lost a children, both physically and mentally, will not receive beloved pet. I welcome a crackdown on such practices, such a strong commitment. Many will not benefit with stiff sentences being passed on perpetrators by from the protections they require and deserve. It is a the courts. sad fact that 40% of children have viewed unsuitable Lastly, the welfare plan covers wild animals. This images on the internet, yet the Government are dragging section seems to be somewhat limited to prohibiting their feet on providing the necessary stringent protections keeping primates as pets and cracking down on illegal for children. hare coursing. Will the Minister consider widening I digress, so I will now return to my main purpose. this section? Currently, hare coursing is rising at an The first of the five themes of the animal welfare alarming rate. with evidence of links to organised action plan is “sentience and enforcement”. Not many crime. Again, can the Minister give the House a timeline weeks ago, we debated the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) for when legislation will be implemented to effectively Bill, which increases the maximum prison sentence for regulate hare coursing? cruelty to animals from six months to five years. This Many of the Government’s proposals are to be brings the UK into line with many countries with welcomed. However, as always, the devil will be in which we trade internationally and was long overdue. the detail. There is unfortunately little actual detail There have been many debates in this Chamber about in these proposals and no detail at all on the Kept animal sentience. Like many others, I signed a petition Animals Bill or Animals Abroad Bill; hopefully, they against the revolting practice of ear cropping, which will be published shortly. We see warm words but little has no useful purpose whatever and is purely cosmetic. actual commitment. The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill is short, and In the meantime, I welcome the welfare plan and solely about the setting up of a committee to look at the three Bills and look forward to the Minister’s the possible effects of government legislation on animals response to my questions and those of others. as sentient beings. Who sits on the committee, its remit, and the way it reports are solely the purview of the Secretary of State. I will have more to say on that 3.44 pm at Second Reading. Lord Ravensdale (CB): My Lords, like other noble The second theme is “international trade and Lords, I very much look forward to the maiden speeches advocacy”. During the passages of the Agriculture of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. I Bill and the Trade Bill, many of your Lordships raised declare my interests as a director of the cross-party the issue of trade negotiations with countries whose group Peers for the Planet and an engineer and consultant animal welfare standards are inferior to our own. If working for Atkins. I also bring to the attention of the we are to continue to be a global leader in this field, we House that I am co-chair of the Midlands Engine must protect endangered animals abroad, including APPG. So it was most welcome for me to hear the the elephant. Having spoken many times on the Ivory focus of the gracious Speech on levelling up. I would Act, I am frustrated in the extreme that it has not been like to build on the remarks of my noble friend Lord implemented. Can the Minister give us a reason why Taylor of Holbeach, who made some excellent points 337 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 338 about the visitor economy in the Midlands, and to businesses through the Covid crisis. If the Government focus on the opportunities for a green recovery to level are serious about delivering levelling up, they should up the Midlands region. make a similarly unambiguous commitment to do As we emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, whatever it takes to level up the regions. A shock to we need to build back better, greener and faster. With expectations can in itself produce the momentum their unique strengths,the regions have a great opportunity required to level up our economy. to be at the forefront of this change. Data from the Midlands Engine shows that gross value added per 3.48 pm capita in the Midlands is nearly £22,000, or 9% of the England minus London average. If this gap were Lord Coaker (Lab) (Maiden Speech): My Lords, I closed, it would add an extra £76 billion each year to stand humbly in this historic Chamber today. I am the UK economy—£76 billion. That is the scale of the humbled by the warm welcome of my fellow Peers and opportunity here. Playing to existing regional strengths, the support of all the officers and staff; I wish to thank the green recovery can be a key part of closing this each and every one of them. I am truly humbled by gap. the enormity of the honour that I feel—a pride that I The Midlands was at the forefront of the know is shared by my family, my friends, and so many Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. The of my former constituents in Gedling, whom I was new thinking that led to these epochal events is perfectly proud to represent for 22 years, the people of Nottingham symbolised by the painting “A Philosopher Lecturing City, the people of the county of Nottinghamshire on the Orrery” by Joseph Wright of Derby, who was and beyond. himself a key figure in the Midlands Enlightenment. As I stand here discussing this Queen’s Speech on The painting depicts a lecturer giving a demonstration the theme of communities, voices from my past are of a mechanical model of the solar system to an calling out to me. I can hear my 94 year-old father, a awe-inspired audience, their illuminated faces emerging former Metropolitan Police officer, saying, “Don’t from the darkness of ignorance and superstition into forget neighbourhood policing.” I can hear the man I the light of reason. The region now has the opportunity was named after, my uncle, who is buried in a war to continue this historical thread by leading the way grave dated 6 June 1944 in Ranville, in Normandy with a new, green industrial revolution. near Caen, saying, “Never take democracy and freedom One in four energy and low-carbon jobs in England for granted.” I hear the voices of Nottingham school is based in the Midlands and the sector is worth pupils, many from disadvantaged backgrounds and almost £27 billion to the region. It is home to nationally growing up in poverty, whom I taught for some 20 years, and internationally leading projects, assets and research saying to me, “Make sure every pupil succeeds, whatever in low-carbon transport, fuel, heating and energy. The their ability, and that we end the academic/vocational Midlands Engine is the first pan-regional partnership divide.” to propose a plan for delivering this and will issue its I can hear the pleas of the many former constituents plan for consultation within the next few months. Can of mine who needed help with claiming their welfare the Minister say what plans the Government have to benefits when the state often made it incredibly difficult work with the regions on such initiatives, supporting for them to do so, when their only crime was poverty. I existing regional strengths to enable a clean economic can hear the voices of young people, including my recovery? own grandchildren, demanding that we save the planet Innovation will of course be vital in meeting our for them, if not for ourselves. I can hear so many net-zero targets. The Government already have a desire voices, including me as a younger man, an idealistic to increase the R&D intensity of the economy to socialist standing on the miners’picket lines or ferociously 2.4%, but additional focus is needed on how deploying protesting on behalf of local councils and communities research funding can help to level up the economy. If for a better deal. All of them, including the younger the Midlands receives its fair share of this funding, it me, are calling out: “Vernon what are you going to do will equate to a £2.3 billion increase in R&D spend in with this privilege and this honour you have?” the Midlands, providing the potential to create tens of I say to them, as I say to all noble Lords—this is thousands of jobs. Crucially, R&D will bring in skills something we all share, whatever our party background— and wider investment from industry, which will boost that I will stand up and speak out, as others have the productivity of the Midlands and help the Government already done on these and other issues, through this meet their targets for levelling up. I highlight here the House as a proud, working Labour Peer. I say to the fantastic universities and research assets that we have Minister that I am no cynic about these things. I know in the region. that change has occurred and will occur. However, if Some thinking is required on the Advanced Research the pandemic has shown us anything, it is the power of and Invention Agency, ARIA, to ensure that its spend the state, both at local and national level, to act swiftly is constructively deployed in aid of the levelling-up and decisively for the benefit of all communities in agenda, rather than defaulting to research capacity in every region. Why does the state not act with the same the south-east. I look forward to returning to this level of urgency now for the sake of our communities? when the Bill comes before the House. I do not want another Peer to be raising in 30 years’ There is a fantastic opportunity here to use the time exactly the same issues of poverty and inequality green industrial revolution, along with existing regional in our communities as I am. strengths, to level up the Midlands, which is home to I wonder what Lord Stanley of Alderley would 11 million people. A year ago, the Chancellor vowed think. He spoke of the need for a Notification of to do “whatever it takes” to support households and Poverty Bill, in which he raised many of the issues we 339 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 340

[LORD COAKER] but an obligation to solve the problem of climate still discuss today concerning the working poor. That change. It is us who can take hold of the lid of was in 1935. In discussing welfare and all these other Pandora’s box and firmly close it. We want to and issues, it cannot be right for 2.5 million people to rely can do this through decarbonisation—driving the on food banks, 980,000 of them children. It cannot be removal of carbon dioxide from the UK’s economy. right for over 6 million people to depend on universal Decarbonisation involves two simple actions. First, credit to survive. It cannot be right for 14.5 million the Government must invest in renewable energy; secondly, people in our country, including 4.3 million children, we must reduce and ultimately stop the extraction and to live in relative poverty. It cannot be right for life use of fossil fuels. These two simple actions, taken expectancy, health outcomes and so on still to depend together, are the best way to set the future of our on where you live and where you come from. planet back on the right track. It cannot be right for 793 million people across the Currently, 79% of the UK’s energy comes from world to face starvation and for so many of our elderly fossil fuels. The Government have taken steps to not to have the social care they need and deserve. We decarbonise the economy.The 10-point plan for the green have to act with greater urgency.The cry from communities industrial revolution has made some progress towards and the demand from those who were on the frontline decarbonisation, particularly in its uptake of offshore during the pandemic, often the poorest paid, is that wind energy. However, the steps have been half hearted they want something different. Indeed, is that not the at best. This Government have seen a regression on cry from every community? My task, through the the policies that would promote the use of renewable vehicle of the Labour Party, will be to play my part, energy. For example, the renewables obligation scheme however small, saying that my vision is, “It does not that created more than 23,000 generating stations and have to be like this”. The state needs to act, and I say generated 25 gigawatts of energy was closed in 2017, to the Minister that that is how this Queen’s Speech ending its benefit to the renewable energy sector. The will be judged. feed-in tariff, a policy designed specifically to increase To quote the great Romantic poet, Percy Shelley: investment in and uptake of renewable energy, has “…to hope until hope creates been all but abolished. This has led to uncertainty in From its very own wreck the thing it contemplates”. Britain’sdomestic solar panel industry,reducing Britain’s What inspiring words. My hope, my vision, is to do all opportunities for success in the renewable energy and I can for a fairer, more equal society. To those voices of business sector. my past and present, I say, I have heard you. The As an alternative to this bleak continuation, the power of our words needs to ring out across our Labour Party has a green new deal and has the potential nation. The dream of a better future is one we all have to restore the country’s economy through new business to make a reality, and as soon as we can. deals and opportunities. Clean energy lies at the heart of the Labour Party’s green new deal and it has the 3.54 pm golden touch of creating high-quality, skilled new jobs for people up and down the nation—from solar panel Lord McNicol of West Kilbride (Lab): My Lords, technicians to data scientists, to green financial investors. what a heartfelt and moving maiden speech. My noble As the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, said, we urge Her friend’s dad and family, watching today, will rightly be Majesty’s Government to work across the political so proud. spectrum to deliver. In 1976, a very young Vernon Coaker started teaching, David Attenborough, who has been named COP 26 and that very first classroom set him on the road to people’s advocate, stated: here today in your Lordships’ House. That class was “We have one final chance to create the perfect home for 5C. They were tough kids, many struggling to read, ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited.” with little appetite for authority or school. He recognised COP 26 is the conference at which we will ultimately then that education would help them, but only so far; decide which path humanity takes. Let us take that real change, the ability to make a difference, not just to right path. those kids in that classroom but to his community and to his country, could come only through Parliament 3.59 pm and government. Vernon won Gedling in 1997. It was a marginal seat and he held it, against the odds, at Lord Howard of Rising (Con) [V]: My Lords, I election after election. He was able to do that because congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, on—as the he came from—but, crucially, always remained part of noble Lord, Lord McNicol, said—such a heartfelt and and at the heart of—that community. moving speech. I also look forward to hearing from He is also a principal research fellow in modern the noble Lord, Lord Morse, later. I declare an interest slavery and human trafficking at the University of as the owner of rented accommodation and farmland. Nottingham, taking the responsibility he had as a Her Majesty’s Government plan to publish a Home Office Minister and continuing that engagement consultation on reforming tenancy law to abolish Section and responsibility. I am sure that he will bring his 21 no-fault evictions. It is impossible to do this without thoughtful and analytical approach, as well as his introducing rent controls, which historically have never strong sense of social justice, to debates in this House. worked and would do immense damage to the rented Vernon, welcome. housing market. Turning to today’s debate, I want to focus on not A recent example is Berlin, where controls were the adversities of climate change but the solutions. At introduced in 2020 to maintain rents at 2019 levels for this point in history we have not just an opportunity five years. The result was that the number of new 341 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 342 rental properties coming on to the market fell by The Conservative Government have a cunning plan, almost half; the scheme is ending after less than two it seems. First, cut grant funding to local government years. There were other factors, but they do not alter by 60%—£16 billion in cash terms—forcing deep cuts the fundamental, which is that freezing rents caused to the fabric of local places. Then, accuse councils of the supply of rented accommodation to dry up. closing these selfsame services. The trump card of To state the obvious, landlords let premises in order levelling up is then played, where central government to get rent; it is preferable to have the income. Landlords comes to the rescue by carefully selecting additional ask tenants to leave only with very good reason because funding for a few cash-strapped areas. Meanwhile, replacing a tenant is an expensive and laborious business. more councils are on the verge of issuing Section 114 You have to advertise the property. There are lawyers’ notices—the equivalent of bankruptcy.A positive change fees, letting agency fees and fees to check gas and to local government funding is one major missing electricity. You must comply with emission rules, and element. there are almost always redecoration costs. The longer Another is the absolute failure to reform social care the same tenant stays in place—so avoiding these funding. This matters to local government, as 57% of costs—the greater the benefit to the landlord. council tax income is spent on social care. Council It is blindingly obvious that only a tiny minority of tax—a regressive tax—is being forced to bear the tenants are asked to leave, even by rogue landlords. burden of the Government’s failure to deal with the Removing Section 21 would massively reduce the value challenge of social care funding. Each year since 2016, of rented properties and be a slap in the face for all the Government have added the adult social care those aspiring individuals who have put their savings precept to council tax, resulting in a 13% rise to into rented property—especially those who have taken council tax bills. As council tax rises, so potholes out a buy-to-let mortgage. Some 90% of all landlords increase, to the extent that even the Conservative-led are individuals, nearly half of whom own only one County Councils Network is complaining publicly property. about the £400 million cut to local roads maintenance Before the 1988 Act, the average discount for tenanted even after the pothole fund has been taken into account. properties was between 40% and 50% of vacant possession The two major Bills outlined in the gracious Speech value. At a stroke, by introducing sitting tenancies, the that affect local government are the planning Bill and capital value of the present tenanted sector will have the building safety Bill. It is, I suggest, disingenuous to nearly halved. In the case of landlords with buy-to-let state in the “Key facts” section on the planning Bill mortgages, the security for these loans may no longer that meet the loan-to-value requirement, with the consequent financial hardship. “only … 3 per cent of local people engage with planning applications”, Rented premises are well protected by law. If there when the majority of applications are, of course, of a are problems with the property that the landlord will minor nature. People are concerned about the changing not deal with, a tenant can complain to the local nature of the place they live in, whether it be the loss housing officer, who can compel a landlord to make of green fields,pressure on local facilities,traffic congestion changes. A gas certificate is needed every year. An or air quality. Neighbourhood planning showed that electrical installation condition report is required every people will engage positively when given the opportunity. five years or for each new letting. An energy performance Sadly, the principle behind this Bill is that local voices certificate is required. Deposits are now limited to five need to be excluded in the interests of development weeks’ rent, which is unlikely to cover a bad tenant’s companies—the same development companies that damage. Given the massive incentive to prolong tenancies have failed to build 1 million homes for which there is and the continuing drive towards improvements to a current planning permission. rented property, it would be counterproductive to The building safety Bill is to be welcomed in that it introduce a measure that will reduce the availability is the major response to the Hackitt review and the and quality of rented accommodation and will cause Grenfell inquiry. It will, I hope, put right the decades financial hardship for many. of regulatory failings in the construction industry. There are many other arguments against the abolition Unfortunately, it will fail to respond to the cries of of Section 21, for which there is no time today. I hope anguish from leaseholders who are trapped in tower that Her Majesty’s Government will think carefully blocks where flammable cladding has to be removed when reviewing the abolition of Section 21. and where the costs of other fire safety defects are being passed to leaseholders. These costs amount to tens of thousands of pounds. It is a scandal of growing 4.04 pm proportions, and the Government have an absolute Baroness Pinnock (LD) [V]: My Lords, I draw the duty to put it right. Are they committed to fulfilling attention of the House to my relevant interests as a their responsibility in this regard? member of Kirklees Council and a vice-president of Councillors of all parties and none have at their the Local Government Association. heart a passion to improve their local place. They are I listened to the gracious Speech with eager anticipation, the people who can truly help level up. They need the then read the Government’s more detailed explanation tools to do so. Starving councils of funding and essential of their intentions. I was to be disappointed. There powers will seriously hamper any hope of significantly was the slick headline of “Build Back Better” and a growing and improving the opportunities and prosperity sub-heading of “Public Finances”. I looked in vain for of both people and places. With that, I look forward any mention of local government finances. to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Morse. 343 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 344

4.10 pm 4.14 pm Lord Morse (CB) (Maiden Speech): I very much Lord Kerslake (CB) [V]: My Lords, it is an enormous appreciate the opportunity to address your Lordships pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Morse, in this for the first time in this debate and follow the noble debate. I warmly congratulate him on his excellent Baroness, Lady Pinnock. I am very grateful for the maiden speech. It will not surprise the House that I welcoming and helpful attitude I have encountered on particularly endorse his comments about the Civil all sides, most particularly from the noble and learned Service. Lord, Lord Judge, Convenor of the Cross Benches, Most of us will know him from his decade as and from his secretary, Kate Long, as well as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of the National doorkeepers and all those who have helped guide my Audit Office, which he stepped down from in 2019. uncertain steps as I find my way around this place. However, the noble Lord, Lord Morse, had a long and Please keep going. distinguished career before that at the Ministry of I am a Scottish chartered accountant. They are the Defence and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He brings a humorous, interesting, original ones. After a career in forensically sharp mind and a fearless willingness to public practice and three years at the Ministry of speakit.Hispassion,asComptrollerandAuditor-General, Defence as defence commercial director,I was Comptroller was to improve the way the public sector did things. and Auditor-General and chief executive of the National However sharp his criticisms might have been Audit Office for 10 years. Since leaving the NAO, I sometimes—and they were—it was always clear to me, have become chair of two London hospital trusts— as head of the Civil Service, that he had its best Hillingdon and London North West. I am lost in interests at heart. His subsequent actions in becoming admiration for how they both responded to the Covid chair of two trusts demonstrates this. We are very crisis. I am very proud of them. fortunate that he has joined us in this House. At the NAO, I was responsible for auditing central Before going on to comment on the Queen’s Speech, Government and published approximately 600 reports I should declare my interests as chair of Peabody, Be over 10 years, assessing the efficiency, effectiveness First and Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation, and value for money of Government’s use of public and as president of the Local Government Association. resources across a whole spectrum of public sector My other interests are listed in the register. These activity. The largest single area for these reports was interests are very relevant to what I will focus on in my the NHS, followed by major projects in transport and short speech—the Government’s proposals on planning. defence, and welfare and benefits. Many of the projects The Government’s legislative programme contains and programmes I examined I looked at more than the usual mix of the good, the bad and the very bad, once, and they still continue today—High Speed 2 and as well as one frankly disgraceful omission, namely, Crossrail being two notable examples in transport, the lack of any plan to respond to the growing crisis in and universal credit in welfare. social care. The planning Bill, if it follows the proposals Let me briefly mention a few of the lessons I set out in the White Paper, will fall into the “very bad” learned over 10 years, which I hope are relevant to this category. This is not to say that everything in the debate. In the context of major projects and programmes, White Paper is bad. We certainly need to simplify the including transport ones evidently, considerations of local plan process, improve design and increase the use efficiency and effectiveness are often outweighed by of digital technology.However,it is based on a completely the political agenda, which can demand eye-catching erroneous view that the way to more and better housing but often overoptimistic announcements about the is yet another reform of our planning system. costs, timescales and benefits of the project concerned. As someone who is passionate about the need for more Unfortunately, the sugar high of publicity passes all housing, and chair of three organisations that are too quickly and is replaced by reality and, quite often, collectively responsible for building thousands of new years of highly visible and avoidable underperformance homes a year, I can say with a fair amount of confidence follow. In this context, the independence of the Civil that planning is not the main problem. Of course, a Service in raising concerns about public value is of few schemes take longer to get approved than they great importance. Civil servants need to be able to do should do, and some councils are better than others. their job without risking career damage. But, in the round, the Local Government Association’s figures tell the real story: nine out of 10 planning In the area of welfare and benefits, the Government applications are approved by local planning authorities, need to make sure they understand, from the ground and there are more than 1 million application permissions up, the harsh realities of life for people with low or no from the last decade that are still to be built. income before legislating or making benefit rules which can affect those people’s lives so fundamentally. In his independent report, Oliver Letwin also found that the planning system was not the main barrier. Finally, I learned that, over time, Governments are Viability,infrastructure, grant rate for affordable housing, judged not just by policies or announcements but by delivering zero carbon and developer caution on build-out their perceived competence, evidenced by the results rates for larger sites are much the bigger issues. Yet, delivered to and experienced by the taxpayer and the based on a completely incorrect understanding of the citizen, who have, after all, underwritten the whole true barriers to building new homes, the Government enterprise. It is worth while getting it right first time. plan to remove a basic democratic right of local I look forward, in conclusion, to expanding my councils to make decisions on individual applications, experience and knowledge in the service of your Lordships’ and to replace it with a zonal system and a single House. national infrastructure levy. 345 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 346

The comments by former Prime Minister Theresa working at all, with the biggest effects among those May in the other House are worth noting. She said 65-plus. Resolution Foundation research shows that that the proposals older workers who lose their jobs tend to take longer “would reduce local democracy, remove the opportunity for local to get back into work and, when they do, they are people to comment on specific developments, and remove the likely to earn substantially less than previously. This ability of local authorities to set development policies locally … will hit them now and in retirement. The Government’s the White Paper proposals would also lead to fewer affordable answer is the restart scheme, but that will not start … homes, because they hand developers a get-out clause I fear until at least July, and it will use payment by results. that, unless the Government look again at the White Paper proposals, what we will see is not more homes, but, potentially, How will the Government ensure that providers properly the wrong homes being built in the wrong places.”—[Official invest in those participants, such as older workers, Report, Commons, 11/5/21; col. 39.] who may have a lower chance of getting a job? What I could not have put it better myself. new support will be given specifically to skill and upskill older workers in new and growing industries? There is still time for the Government to listen and take a different path on this. I sincerely hope the Another major gap is around disability. The Queen’s planning Bill that comes forward retains the sensible Speech brief said: parts of the White Paper and ditches the rest. If not, “The Government will bring forward a Health and Disability both Houses will have a lot of work to do. Green Paper” and that “The National Strategy for Disabled People will set out practical 4.19 pm changes for disabled people that remove barriers and increase Baroness Sherlock (Lab) [V]: My Lords, what a opportunity.” privilege it is to hear the maiden speeches of the noble That is all well and good, but the disability strategy Lord, Lord Morse, and my noble friend Lord Coaker. has been delayed for months, having been promised in I look forward to many more debates with both noble the previous Queen’s Speech. When will it be published? Lords. Are the Government satisfied that the consultation Although this debate covers welfare, there are no was adequate, given all the protests, and are they really Bills concerning the welfare state nor, for that matter, still committed to reducing the disability employment employment, pensions policy, health and safety, child gap? maintenance or anything else within the DWP’s core Finally,there is poverty,which was raised so powerfully remit. Yet challenges abound. The pandemic has exposed by my noble friend Lord Coaker in his cracking speech. the impact of poor working conditions, low pay and As he said, government figures now show that 4.3 million job insecurity. They could have been addressed in the children—equivalent to some 31% of all UK kids—were flagship employment Bill announced in the 2019 Queen’s in poverty last year. Three-quarters of them live in a Speech, which promised to: working household. Since the pandemic started, we “Protect and enhance workers’ rights”. have seen food insecurity increase and food bank use Had action been taken pre pandemic, maybe things reach its highest ever levels. This should shock us to could have been different, but we still have no sign of our core. that legislation, just endless promises to level up. Can What have the Government done? In March last the Minister tell us where the employment Bill is? year, they announced an extra £20 a week in universal When will Ministers legislate to ensure all gig economy credit as a temporary uplift, effectively acknowledging workers have basic rights and protections? When will that it was not enough for families to live on. Disgracefully, we see action to ensure everyone has access to decent this was withheld from those on legacy benefits, most statutory sick pay and adequate in-work benefits? of whom are sick, disabled or carers. The Budget Young people have been hit hardest by this pandemic. extended that by six months, but it will now be cut at The unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year-olds is now the end of September,something we will fight vigorously. 14.3%—575,000 young people out of work. This needs The furlough scheme and the self-employment income urgent action, something like Labour’s jobs promise support scheme will both end at the same time. Is the to end long-term unemployment and our promise to Government’s plan that workers who lose their jobs ensure furloughed workers who lose their jobs get when furlough ends will be pushed on to universal intensive support as soon as they need it. credit at a rate £20 per week less than today? The Government’sanswer is Kickstart, which Ministers In this country we have a crisis of poverty, a crisis claim has created 195,000 jobs. However, figures suggest of unemployment, a crisis of low pay, a crisis of that fewer than 20,000 young people have actually insecure work and a crisis for disabled people, yet the started work. I have some questions for the Minister, Government could not find room for a single piece though I accept he may have to write to me. Is the of legislation to tackle these problems. How very target still to reach a quarter of a million young disappointing. people? What is being done to deal with the awful regional disparities? Why end Kickstart in December 4.24 pm when so few young people are in jobs and the target Lord Lansley (Con): My Lords, it was a great pleasure has not been met? Both Labour and the CBI have to hear the maiden speeches of the noble Lords, Lord called for an extension. Will Ministers think again? Coaker and Lord Morse. I would characterise them as The pandemic has also hit older workers. ONS forcefully illustrating what value this House can bring figures show employees aged 50-plus were more likely in speaking out for freedom and against injustice, to report working fewer hours than usual or not exactly as the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, said, and, 347 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 348

[LORD LANSLEY] the developing world and developing economies as equally, for efficiency and effectiveness and exposing well. In this year ahead, we therefore need COP 26 to the Government’s legislation and policies to the test of be a negotiation which delivers on an aligned structure meeting not only the broad principles we are looking of carbon taxation/pricing/emissions trading, which for but their practical application as well. We are all must be consistent internationally or it will fail. I look grateful to both noble Lords and look forward very forward to that in the year ahead. much to their future contributions. I will briefly talk about two things. First, in relation 4.30 pm to the planning Bill, I declare my interest as chair of the Cambridgeshire Development Forum. I do not Baroness Worthington (CB): My Lords, I thank the entirely share the view of the noble Lord, Lord Kerslake, Minister for his speech opening this debate and on that Bill. Clearly, Oliver Letwin’s report was right congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord that it is not just all about planners and their speed, Morse, for their powerful maiden speeches. I look but they should not be absolved from the difficulties forward to their future contributions. I draw attention that those who are developing and delivering sometimes to my interests as co-director of the Quadrature Climate have in pre-commencement planning conditions and Foundation and co-chair of the Peers for the Planet the like. A great deal of it is about diversity of supply cross-party group. and the delivery processes. This planning reform Bill As noble Lords have previously noted, we are facing will do very well if it focuses on that. For example, the interrelated and urgent threats of global climate simplifying the processes of levying on developers for change and biodiversity loss. We should not, however, infrastructure is necessary, but a single infrastructure make the mistake of seeing the growing climate risk as levy may not be the right answer because it must meet merely an environmental issue. Human society has both the broader infrastructure objectives in an area arisen and thrived during a period of relative climatic and the infrastructure and social obligations of that stability, but we have changed this. We are now entering development. These two things cannot be readily and a period of instability. We have rendered our planet easily merged into one infrastructure levy. less safe; like an alcoholic who has damaged their While I support the zonal development system, I do body through excessive consumption, our addiction to not think for a minute that it necessarily takes away fossil fuels has rendered our unique home prematurely the democratic involvement of local planning authorities. fragile. The effects of our continued reckless use of the It is perfectly possible for planning authorities and the planet’s resources will touch on all aspects of our democratic process to be delivered through local plans society and economy. We are gambling with the youth in a zonal system. Indeed, given the importance that of today’s future, and they are rightly demanding that local plans will acquire as a result, it may encourage we do more. many more people to be involved in the plan-making Within the Government’s Queen’s Speech, it is stage, as at the moment they very often do not get regrettable that not more is said on the subject. I do involved and take an interest in plans only when not, however, agree that we need a new climate change planning applications come forward, which are largely emergency Bill. We may not need legislation at all to predetermined by the structure of the local plan. meet many of our decarbonisation goals. I say this Secondly, I will mention the environment. The noble because Part 3 of the existing Climate Change Act was Lord, Lord Oates, is absolutely right that it must be at designed to give future Governments the powers that the heart of not just every fiscal event but every they need to take action to tackle sources of greenhouse legislative programme. Given the urgency of the issue, gas emissions. Therefore, public consultation is all that every Queen’s Speech should be about how we meet is needed in order to use secondary legislation to, for our climate change objectives. Perhaps my noble friend example, reach 100% sales of electric vehicles by 2030 will say something in responding to the debate about or to bring agricultural sources of emissions into a how we will do this, not just by setting targets and carbon cap and trade regulation that would create hoping that there will be the necessary transformations much-needed clarity and incentives for carbon-friendly in production and consumer behaviour, but by putting farming. I urge the Government to use these powers the incentives in place between those two things. In the now and consider whether they need to reinstate the year ahead, we must set out, for example, how our information-gathering powers in Schedule 4 to the carbon emissions trading scheme will incentivise a Act, which were subject to a sunset clause. net-zero regime. Phasing out free allowances, increasing It is welcome that, we hope, the Environment Bill the auction reserve price and perhaps raising the carbon will be finalised this Session. However, the Bill is not support price will take us to the point where the new and lacks the specific long-term targets that will incentive structure gets us to net zero on the timescale give it power, such as passing the Climate Change Act required. without the carbon budgets and long-term target. I However, frankly, if we do it, but nobody else does, am afraid that, as it stands and without clarity on the it will not succeed. We need not just the European policies that tackle the reasons why existing targets are Union to do it but the United States. We know that not being met, it will therefore be ineffective. China is considering it, but we need them all to work I am particularly concerned by the treatment of air together or we will end up with carbon border adjustments, quality. Just six clauses devoted to this most pressing which are a major source of trade friction and conflict. of challenges for the Government, at every level, is not Not least—as the noble Lord, Lord Oates, is looking dealing with it effectively. As the coroner recently at me—we need a development programme which is confirmed, polluted air has the capacity to kill and sufficiently well resourced to fund decarbonisation in preys on the most vulnerable in society—the young, 349 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 350 the old and the poor. I am told that the Government in preventing the dramatic decline of nature on farmland. have many of the powers that they need to crack down This is unsurprising since, typically, their design and on the sources of the problem. Why, then, have we not implementation have not been informed by the best made more progress? I support a much more available evidence from a wide range of sources. In comprehensive approach, consolidating and updating medicine and public health, not using the best available existing powers and reorienting to be more specific evidence would be unconscionable, but it appears to about the goal. We should be completely eradicating be acceptable in this space. Does the Minister think sources of airborne pollutants that cause harm to that existing processes consistently use the best available human health—those that arise within our borders evidence on the effectiveness of actions to inform and are, therefore, within our control. This goal would decision-making and, if not, what mechanism will the have the triple benefit of solving air quality, helping to office for environmental protection deploy to ensure meet our climate goals and rejuvenating our towns the transparent use of the best available evidence, and city centres. enabling scrutiny by experts and members of the public, This is a short speech and I am glad to be back in to ensure that taxpayers’ money for our environment the Chamber after a considerable absence. I look is spent cost-effectively? forward to engaging in this Session. I conclude with Further, and also about evidence, six years after the suggestion that the Government take a close look receipt of the completed report of the Government’s at the recently passed climate change law in Spain. own Lead Ammunition Group recommending that Over a decade ago, the UK led the world in legislating lead ammunition be phased out, on 23 March, the to protect the world from a looming climate catastrophe. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced plans But just a few days ago, Spain stole our crown, passing to do just that. The fifth sentence of Defra’s press a Bill with a set of clear and unequivocal regulations, release is: including: outlawing the sale of vehicles that emit “A large volume of lead ammunition is discharged every year carbon dioxide by 2040 and their circulation on the over the countryside, causing harm to the environment, wildlife streets by 2050; limiting all new coal, oil and gas and people.” extraction projects; and stipulating that, within two It accurately summarises the extensive harmful years, all towns or cities with more than 50,000 residents consequences of its use, which makes a compelling must have a low-emissions zone, such as those in place case for regulation as soon as possible to protect in Madrid and Barcelona. human and animal health and to enable us to move I believe that we can and should be doing more. We towards a greener and safer future. But, inexplicably, it need a global race to the top, with countries competing goes on to announce the commissioning of to reinvent our economies, so that we no longer pollute “an official review of the evidence to begin” our lungs, skies, rivers, seas and soils. I support the that day, Government in all the efforts they take to make this a “with a public consultation in due course.” reality. Information on the impacts of lead ammunition on wildlife, the environment and human health has been 4.34 pm known for years. The LAG report was informed by a Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab) [V]: My Lords, I comprehensive review of all available evidence. Given congratulate both of my noble friends Lord Coaker the Government’s view that extensive harm is being and Lord Morse on excellent maiden speeches. I am caused today, why have they commissioned a further privileged to know both well and know that they will evidence review? make valuable and valued contributions to the work Yesterday, speaking on the BBC’s “The Andrew of your Lordships’ House. I draw attention to my Marr Show”, America’s climate envoy John Kerry entry in the register of interests, particularly the reference said, to my relationship with St Catharine’sCollege,Cambridge, “I’m told by scientists that 50% of the reductions we have to and BioRISC, a research initiative that has set itself a make (to get to near zero emissions) by 2050 or 2045 are going to challenge to provide cutting-edge evidence-based come from technologies we don’t yet have.” information about existing and emerging biological UK FIRES, a major research programme funded by security threats and interventions. BEIS through UKRI, and comprising six leading I will make three brief points. The first draws on universities, a consortium of UK-based industries and BioRISC’s work and advice. Biodiversity continues to several policy advisers, in its report, Absolute Zero, decline at an unprecedented rate, as shown by the 2019 published in November 2019, told us the same and set ground-breaking report of the Intergovernmental Science- out the first description of the delivery of zero emissions Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the UK with today’stechnologies. The report informed and the 2020 report Global Biodiversity Outlook. Our the Council for Science and Technology’s letter of natural environment underpins the delivery of clean 20 January 2020 to the Prime Minister on whole air, water and food production, as well as promising systems and was the topic of a debate in your Lordship’s solutions to the climate crisis. We have been reminded House on 6 February 2020. over the past year of the inextricable link between The primary recommendation of Absolute Zero, human health and the health of the natural world. reflected by the Council for Science and Technology, is Public investment on environmental policies has that the Government should create a delivery authority had, at best, mixed success, as illustrated by the failure to guarantee compliance with the Climate Change of many agri-environmental schemes which, despite Act. It reminded us that the London 2012 Olympics costing billions, are accepted as having achieved little were delivered on time and on budget by such an 351 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 352

[LORD BROWNE OF LADYTON] planning reform Bill on many areas of climate and authority which, interestingly, adopted a principle of environment policy. Perhaps I could ask him for some using no new technologies to guarantee risk-free delivery. words of encouragement and even government support The delivery authority would need to be substantive and for my Private Member’s Bill relating to the planning enduring, able to hold accountability for delivery across aspects of onshore wind. different government departments and through to 2050, We need to use all the levers that we have—the and necessarily an exemplar of the whole-systems hidden wiring of government, to use the phrase of the approach recommended by the CST to co-ordinate noble Lord, Lord Hennessy—not only to achieve net across the government departments charged with zero in nature recovery but to improve health and emissions responsibility in different sectors. well-being, cleaner air being an obvious example; to The Institute for Government, in its report Net bring new jobs and skills, from innovative energy Zero: How Government Can Meet its Climate Change sources to retrofitting heating systems; and to drive Target, said, at page 9, our economic recovery post Covid in a way that is “Government should also assess gaps in delivery capability both sustainable and fair. The Government’s levelling-up and consider creating the net zero equivalents of the Olympic agenda is a key opportunity to align innovation and Delivery Authority to tackle infrastructure challenges, such as infrastructure, jobs and skills training with an overall housing retrofit and renewable heat.” environmental goal. Do the Government plan— The need for this type of approach is clearly demonstrated in the challenges posed by decarbonising Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): I remind the homes and other buildings. Despite buildings being noble Lord that the advisory speaking time is five responsible for up to 23% of UK emissions, there was minutes. only passing reference in the gracious Speech to the much-heralded heat and buildings strategy. The record Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab): I am finished, my of successive Governments in this area is lamentable, Lords. the recently withdrawn green homes grant being only the latest in a series of failed schemes. So how do the Government plan to ensure that we have the infrastructure, 4.40 pm finance and skills to meet the projected need to install Baroness Hayman (CB) [V]: My Lords, I declare my 600,000 heat pumps by 2028? Will the Government interest as co-chair of Peers for the Planet. now commit to bringing forward the future homes Last week, in a speech setting out the Government’s and buildings standards from 2025? If they do not, we objectives for COP 26 in November, Alok Sharma, face the prospect of a million homes being built that chair-designate of the meeting, was very clear that we already know will require expensive retrofit in the near future. “the science is getting starker” It is well understood that finance is a crucial lever and: for meeting our net-zero goals, yet there are no concrete “Whether we like it or not, whether through action or inaction, plans for delivery in this area. The report by the noble we are now choosing the future.” Lord, Lord Stern, on economic recovery and growth, It was another in a series of powerful speeches from commissioned by the Prime Minister in preparation Government Ministers setting out a commitment not for the G7, proposed putting a strong price on carbon, just to our net-zero targets but to the need for our eliminating fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and strengthening recovery from the immediate crisis of Covid to be one international co-operation on tax and climate finance. that underpins our resilience against the longer-term Can the Minister indicate whether the Government and even more deadly crises of climate change and will be taking forward these recommendations,particularly biodiversity loss. at the G7 meeting? In that speech Alok Sharma also highlighted the As many contributors to this debate have said, this need for urgency in taking action and the crucial Government are strong on rhetoric but what we need nature of what we do in this decade in influencing the now is action and, above all, leadership that brings future globally, echoing the words of many others, strategic vision, systemic change and an urgent focus notably those of Professor Dasgupta in his review and on delivery. Without such leadership, we are in danger the Climate Change Committee. So it was disappointing, of moving from the ravages of Covid to the even as others have said, that there was little sense in the greater perils of unchecked climate change. gracious Speech of the necessity of moving on from ambitious words to practical policy action—to act, to quote the mantra of the Government’s Project Speed, 4.46 pm in ways that are “faster, greener and better”. Lord Bradshaw (LD) [V]: My Lords, I intend to We need to put a green lens on all policy decisions speak about buses. The Government’s recent proposal, and a green thread through all legislation from all Bus Back Better, is a welcome spotlight on an industry departments. This is not just Defra business and it that has not been the subject of significant legislation cannot be dealt with through the Environment Bill since 1985. The proposals have been broadly applauded alone. For there to be a coherent strategy,the interactions by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Women’s between different departments,different Bills and different Institutes and the APPG representing county councils, policies need to be understood and integrated. I hope all of which have been calling for action to halt the the Minister will reassure me that this will be a particular decline in bus services, particularly in rural areas. The consideration in relation to the impacts of the proposed expectations raised by the proposals are high. I received 353 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 354 through my door on Saturday a brochure from the intentions to provide minimum levels of service on CPRE appealing for money to press the case for the railways during strikes. A Bill was promised but did 56% of small towns it investigated that are becoming not appear. Legislation to cover airline insolvency and transport deserts or are close to becoming so. the repatriation of passengers in such circumstances I want to examine how the Government are proposing was to follow after a review. The review reported, and to spend the money available—some £3 billion—and we await something further to occur. Bus services were the likely outcomes. It is proposed that much of the to be improved as part of the Government levelling up money will be spent on purchasing new hydrogen or transport connections throughout the country. The electric buses. A modern diesel bus built to Euro 6 Bus Services Act 2017 was to be updated to meet this standards costs the operator about £250,000. In terms new initiative to improve future provision, especially of amenity and comfort, these will be very good and in the north and the Midlands. In April this year we the emissions standards very high. An electric bus were still awaiting legislation which the Government costs around £450,000 and a hydrogen bus £560,000. Minister Rachel Maclean then indicated might be An operator buying one of these new buses is expected brought forward “in due course”. to pay the base cost of a new Euro 6 vehicle plus 25%, Of course, the references to transport in this Queen’s with the Government covering the balance of 75%. Speech included a further reference to levelling up and That is not an attractive deal for the operator, who the need to transform connectivity by rail and bus. will lose the premium that he now receives for operating This should be welcomed, and organisations such as a low-carbon bus and the fuel duty rebate, which Transport for the North and Transport Network have together account for 20p per kilometre. In Scotland done so. But, quite rightly, they have asked to see more there is provision to meet the cost of this ownership action than mere words. Rural areas in particular need gap, and I urge the Minister to make inquiries north of assurances that future needs will be better served, the border because I am afraid there will not be any especially as we try to meet environmental challenges orders for new buses without some movement on the by discouraging the overuse of polluting vehicles. With part of the Government. There will have to be some our record of implementing measures announced at sort of green bus service operator grant. If the the beginning of a Session, I hope that we will actually department’s object is to reduce immediately the amount see some early results this time. of diesel oil being burned, a very modest infill of rail freight electrification would achieve that by removing I do not want to criticise too much; I know how a large number of HGVs from the road. difficult it is to move on in this sphere of activity. The How much of the available money will be spent on way in which our land transport is controlled and new buses and how much on the ambitious programme financed is very complicated. Attempts to reduce of service improvements? Organisations such as the bureaucracy and encourage investment have not always CPRE are anticipating hourly services from small been straightforward. I hope my noble friend will use towns, giving access to jobs, hospitals, shops, leisure the opportunity of his wind-up speech to flesh out a facilities, education facilities and other amenities bit more exactly how the levelling-up process for throughout the day. There is the question of timescales, infrastructure will be taken forward. Will we get a firm with bus improvement plans beginning in October, commitment to an integrated rail plan which gives when many newly elected councils will not meet to strong backing to the full HS2, including the vital consider the matter until July. There are competition eastern spur connecting Leeds, and development of issues to be resolved, and the role of the traffic the northern powerhouse rail networks? What might commissioners. Some highway works will be necessary, be contained in the much-heralded Statement that we as well as some new bus priority measures. are to hear on Thursday? Many local authorities are desperate to make the The development of a successful public transport new arrangements work. There is much to do, and I system is a critical element in satisfying the Prime ask that sufficient time is allowed for the House to Minister’s ambitions to level up. I am confident that examine these welcome proposals in detail. we will see some clear assurances and action, and I am sure my noble friend will indeed offer these. But apart from the rather general contents of the gracious Speech, 4.50 pm I am also pleased that there is evidence of progress in other areas of the Department for Transport’s Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con) [V]: My Lords, I responsibilities. Following the work of an inquiry into first congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and UK lower airspace—which I had the privilege of Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches. chairing—I was delighted when speedy legislation followed We should never have too many expectations of a to reorganise this and bring the United Kingdom’s Queen’s Speech, as the reference to “other measures” control of its air corridors and facilities and the work is often the precursor of most of the legislation that of the CAA post Brexit up to date. I also commend we actually consider and pass. This year, the Speech the enthusiasm of my noble friend and his ministerial was certainly quite limited in its extent, so trying to colleagues, especially the noble Baroness, Lady Vere, find proposals with a specific aim was difficult—especially who have done so much in relation to environmental in the field of transport, the subject I wish to talk improvements in the transport industry and vehicles. about. This country is building a deserved reputation for The record of promises in this area is not a happy leadership in the construction and distribution of green one. Looking at the previous Speech at the beginning vehicles and in meeting future needs through electric of the 2019 Session, we were told of specific government battery manufacture and innovation, including taking 355 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 356

[LORD KIRKHOPE OF HARROGATE] consume, and it is the one thing we cannot do without. forward hydrogen as a new power source. Sales of We can all rage about cotton T-shirts causing electric and hybrid vehicles have taken off in the UK environmental damage and we can do without so in an exciting way. many of them, but we cannot do without food. Cleaning up transport—whether it is cars, lorries, What worries me in this gracious Speech is that trains, ships or planes—is a worthy and urgent aim food really does not get much of a look in. We have that we simply cannot delay. Covid-19 has changed the Agriculture Act coming through at the moment, much of our use of and attitude to transport. I hope and I welcome the ELMS as much as anyone, but I that things will reverse so that expectations can be met just want to see how it will work. The gracious Speech as before, but we must be prepared to re-examine all makes reference to the food strategy written by Henry areas of transport to both meet future needs and Dimbleby, which I have been an adviser on. I am a benefit from new ideas and new ways to provide our huge supporter of this because it will help our diets services. and our comeback from Covid, and it will stop us being such an unhealthy nation and, to some extent, The Deputy Speaker (Lord Faulkner of Worcester) start to work against climate change if we implement (Lab): The noble Lord, Lord Pendry, has withdrawn it. But noble Lords cannot assume that 34% of global from the debate, so I call the noble Baroness, Lady emissions can be dealt with by one White Paper produced Boycott. by one individual. That is crazy.This must be rethought. I am also really worried that it says that the Government’s response is to consult. I know that they are meant to 4.55 pm do this within six months, but it is my understanding Baroness Boycott (CB): My Lords, it is a great from people I know that Defra is commissioning a pleasure to follow two such fabulous maiden speeches, whole other ball game to try to look at these facts. and I look forward to working with both noble Lords. They are there, and we know them. We have to go There is much to welcome in the Speech, but there is much further. much that still seems to be about rhetoric rather than We cannot leave the question of climate change action, as many noble Lords have said. It is probably merely to a food strategy, however good it is. Bloomberg no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am going News said—it is a ridiculous quote, but I will read it to confine my remarks to food. out anyway— last week: I want to give the House a few facts. These are not “There is no escaping that beef is a climate villain.” suppositions or the ideas of radical NGOs; these are Some 14% of human-driven emissions come from facts and figures drawn up by the IPCC, the Treasury, livestock production. Defra, the FAO and reputed world experts. It is like We are not alone as a country in doing this. It is not looking at climate change targets 30 years ago. Some something that should be political, but I would welcome 34% of emissions globally come from our food system, a chance to work on it. It can be done. It needs to be and it accounts for 30% of all our anthropogenic seen as a whole, and in the light of the spectacular emissions. Food and drink account for 25% of the benefits it will bring us. We went into Covid as an footprint of every individual in the UK, and 50% of unhealthy nation eating rubbish food. Every single bit all habitable land is used for agriculture. It is the driver of rubbish food is a result of bad farming practices. of 80% of deforestation worldwide and an identified When you eat a cheap chocolate mousse, you are threat to 24,000 of 28,000 species, as documented by actually probably destroying the habitat of an orangutang the IUCN—the International Union for Conservation in Indonesia. The same things are true right across the of Nature. According to our own Professor Partha board: if we fix the food system, we fix an incredible Dasgupta, whose report was commissioned by the number of other things.I really hope that the Government Treasury, 80% of land-use related biodiversity loss is will step up to this and not see it as a party-political attributed to biomass extraction, of which the primary issue, but something from which we will all hugely products are food and crops. Unless we change our benefit. eating and food waste patterns, we will need to double our agricultural production in the years ahead just to 5 pm stay where we are. The point of all this is what it adds up to, and this is absolutely incontrovertible: even if Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (LD) [V]: My all other sectors that noble Lords have referred to Lords, it is always a tremendous pleasure to hear the reduced their emissions to zero tomorrow, we would noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, speak. It is a particular still overshoot the 1.5-degree target that we are all pleasure to be able to follow her, because she speaks aiming to achieve at Glasgow and around the world. from such a depth of knowledge and has such good We must take this on board. practical sense. I associate myself with all her remarks I understand as well as anyone does that food is a today. real mess, and I have spoken about this. It is in every I will touch on three Bills in my short contribution. department, it is extremely complicated, it does not fit First, I will welcome, when it gets here, the Environment into a box and it does not easily subscribe to a target. Bill. It is long overdue and has many important provisions It is not like saying that we will stop having fossil and powers. It also, however, has some notable gaps fuel-powered cars by 2030 or 2040; it is very difficult. and I will mention just one. It talks of public enjoyment But however messy and difficult it is, we can no longer of green space, but there is no actual provision of it in duck this. We cannot ignore it and we have to take it either the Bill or the planning White Paper. There on board. It is the most important thing that we all needs to be a duty to create new public green spaces, 357 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 358 especially in urban areas. The value of parks has been to bite them. In some ways, of course, I hope it does. well highlighted by the pandemic as a necessity for However, we as a House have a duty to make sure that physical and mental health, but it goes deeper than we remove this provision from the Bill. that. A good town or city plan must include green space. 5.06 pm The press release accompanying the planning White Lord Colgrain (Con): My Lords, I add my warmest Paper merely says: congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and “Valued green spaces will be protected for future generations”— Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches and I in other words, those spaces that already exist— welcome them to the House. I declare my interests as “by allowing for more building on brownfield land and all new set out in the register. I will speak principally about streets to be tree lined”. the passage in the gracious Speech that refers to the However, the planning Bill must make powers and Environment Bill. provision for new parks, playgrounds, sports fields, The Government deserve much credit for their greens and allotments. The fact is that developers will ambitious tree-planting targets and for their success in get money for all of the new houses, but unless there is implementing them so far, despite the delay in the a requirement on them to provide green spaces, they detail being forthcoming in the environmental land simply will not do it. That needs to be firmly written management scheme programme, as highlighted earlier into the Bill. by the noble Lord, Lord Carrington. There is no doubt that when the fine print has dried on this Let me take the example of allotments. Sadly, since document, there will be an even greater take-up of the the Allotments Act 1925 was repealed, waiting lists for schemes on offer and an even greater hectarage of allotments in most towns and cities have become planting undertaken. Furthermore, in the light of the longer and longer. Waiting lists of up to 400 people Nature for Climate Fund intending to provide significant are not uncommon. One member of the National funding for the creation, restoration and management Allotment Society put it vividly when he said, “We will of woodland, and of the English Tree Action Plan this get a burial plot sooner than an allotment.” The spring, there is every reason to have confidence that pandemic accelerated the demand and, with the we can move on from the current figure of 13% woodland combination of healthy outdoor activity, local fresh cover in England towards the 30% enjoyed on the food production, communities strengthened through continent. This is to be celebrated in the week of the shared interests and even biodiversity improvements, launch of Her Majesty’s green canopy project. allotment provision should surely be a No. 1 issue for new-build areas. The definition of infrastructure for Nevertheless, I ask the Government to consider two levy purposes must therefore include green spaces of further courses of action that would be most helpful all kinds. to the supporters of silviculture. The first relates to the importance attached to, and the value of, coppicing. I thoroughly agree with my noble friend Lady Pinnock, Not only does such regular harvesting provide the who made a powerful speech on this issue, and the opportunity for a new generation of carbon capture— noble Lord, Lord Kerslake, that it looks like the arguably more so than from mature stands, which planning Bill will cut local people out from being able begin to die back at a certain age—it also has substantial to make representations on individual developments. benefits for woodland flora and fauna and goes a long They might be able to make representations on the way towards mitigating some of the concerns expressed overall local plan, but that is far from the same thing. in the latest report from the Woodland Trust. Will the There will be storms of protest when people realise Government consider increasing the level of grant what this Government have done to their rights. available specifically for coppicing? It is better properly I must mention how astonishingly crafty,or misguided, to manage existing healthy woodland rather than to is the section on protests in the Police, Crime, Sentencing devote too much resource to the planting of new and Courts Bill. “Kill the Bill” protests have already woodland, particularly given that in certain parts of shown the strength of feeling against this part of the the country the likelihood of successful planting and Bill, and young people especially are right to fear for cropping of hardwoods is much reduced where the the future of our democracy. As the effects of the lack populations of deer and squirrels are uncontrollable. of democracy begin to bite—I just mentioned the The second course of action that I ask the Government example in the planning Bill—I imagine that protests to consider is the wider application of carbon credits will spread to Tory heartlands and across all age to woodland, not just for newly planted woods—which groups. Freedom of speech and assembly and freedom is currently the case—but for existing woodland that is to protest have always been at the heart of British actively managed in an approved fashion. In the context democracy, but now this Government are seriously of the Government’s net-zero ambitions, the use of proposing to hand to the police the authority to carbon credits in a wider application across both decide which protests can go ahead and which cannot. agricultural and silvicultural assets seems to be an I am not sure that this is a power that the police even obvious government tool for achieving net zero. If you want to have. create a commercial, actively traded commodity, you It is clear that for a protest to be effective, it needs will get a market response—preferable, in my view, to to be noisy and, often, disruptive. However, there are merely qualifying for grants. It would be an easy already many laws and safeguards to ensure that a contributor to both climate and environmental concerns. protest cannot be violent or disruptive, and if it is, it is The gracious Speech also contains details on the already against the law. I urge the Government to Government’s determination to improve the energy rethink this part of that Bill, because it will come back performance of the housing stock. With new builds, 359 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 360

[LORD COLGRAIN] pieces of legislation in the Queen’s Speech. The planning this requires straightforward legislation. With older reform Bill is not yet published, and I share the buildings, particularly in rural areas, however, it is not suspicions of my noble friend Lady Jones of Whitchurch. straightforward. Rumours abound that it will designate land in a topdown way as either to be developed or to be protected, and it The current proposals regarding energy performance will leave local communities powerless to do anything certificates place a totally unrealistic level of expectation to stop inappropriate development, other than making on the shoulders of landlords. The proposal to increase sure the damaging development looks lovely in accord from band E to band D by 2025 is out of step with with the local design code. That is not very much; you reality. Increasing the level of expense paid by the can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig. If the landlord from £3,000 to £10,000 to demonstrate an planning Bill is not to counteract completely the protection attempt to comply with the new regulation will not provisions of the Environment Bill, we need in statute solve the problem. Many old buildings can never reach measures to link and harmonise these two pieces of these energy-efficiency standards, no matter how much legislation. money is thrown at them. The Environment Bill needs to give a legal status to If the consequence of government policy is to make local nature recovery strategies, for example, so that landlords sell tenanted buildings because they cannot plans, planners and indeed developers have to take comply with the new regulations, the problem is merely account of them. We need to enshrine this in statute, moved to the private owner-occupier sector, without a as I tried to do during the passage of the Agriculture Act. solution being found and with targets for emission I hope noble Lords who supported me in that will join reduction being missed. It would be much better to with me again, in trying to bring forward a land-use undertake a more detailed consultation with interested framework for England. The planning Bill sounds as if parties, to see where workable and responsible exemptions it will have an oversimplistic binary approach to land can be identified. Tothat end, I applaud the Government use: land is either worth protecting or worth developing. on publishing an EPC action plan but urge that it is The reality is that the demands on land are multiple followed up with some alacrity. and growing: biodiversity, conservation, carbon sequest- ration, flood-risk management, other climate change mechanisms, water quality, food production, timber 5.10 pm production, physical and mental health to name but a Baroness Young of Old Scone (Lab) [V]: My Lords, few. Land needs to be multifunctional and deliver a I declare my interests in several environmental charities whole range of public and private benefits. We need a as listed in the register.I am very glad that the Environment land-use framework to help optimise the use of land, Bill is finally going to be with us in this House, as was which is a very scarce resource. We need to make sure announced in the gracious Speech. It was first promised that we recognise that a much more sophisticated and in July 2018, so we have been waiting quite a while. I complex set of decisions needs to be made nationally hope the Minister can assure us that it will receive and locally about land—far more complex than the adequate time in your Lordships’ House, even though Government’s oversimplistic planning White Paper the Government are keen to get it onto the statute envisaged. book before COP 26, because the Bill still needs I hope that the Minister can tell the House what improvement. co-ordination measures will be put in place between The state of nature amendment, which was well the Environment Bill and the Planning Bill, and whether aired in the other place, needs to return to provide the Government will introduce a land-use framework for statutory measurable targets and interim targets for England. for biodiversity to match the statutory targets we have for climate change, and to enshrine in law a commitment to a 2030 target to halt and reverse biodiversity decline. 5.15 pm The Environment Bill also needs to provide overdue Lord Best (CB) [V]: My Lords, I declare my housing statutory protection for ancient woodland. It is a interests as on the register and will use my time today disgrace that, in reality, ancient woodland has only to address the housing issues raised in the gracious permissive protection, as provided by planning guidance. Speech. If we did not know it before, we certainly We need similar protection at a statutory level, as is know after the Covid experience that the widest divisions, currently given to sites of special scientific interest, the greatest inequalities in our quality of life, are and I intend to put down an amendment to that effect. found in our housing circumstances. For those of us in We also need a statutory basis for the England tree a comfortable home, maybe with a nice garden, the action plan, the publication of which—as I understand pandemic has been infinitely more bearable than for from the Minister, who very kindly saw me last week—is our fellow citizens in cramped, overcrowded, insecure, imminent. For the England tree action plan to fulfil its poor conditions. We can appreciate more than ever the name, we need it to be actioned, and a statutory basis space indoors, the access to green space outside and would mean that that would be more likely. I would the security that comes from owning our home. For so also like an assurance that the Bill will give proper many others, life during Covid has been made utterly priority to native woodland and does not end up miserable by accommodation where there is no room overfocusing on commercial forestry. to play, no room to work, and by the impossibility of Perhaps the most important thing, as we see the home schooling and the insecurity that comes from Environment Bill proceed through this House, is to the threat of losing even the poorest quality flat because help the Government join up two very important earnings from an insecure job may be lost. 361 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 362

Covid has revealed the impact of acute shortages of 5.20 pm affordable housing, not least in the huge numbers of children living in temporary accommodation, which Baroness Eaton (Con) [V]: My Lords, I add my has followed the halving of social housing—of housing welcome to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord association and council housing—from a third to just Morse. 17% of all homes, and the hazards of our dependency I support the Queen’s Speech, which has announced on a fragile private rented sector. Does the gracious bold and innovative measures to deliver our national Speech contain the ingredients to fix these problems, recovery from Covid-19 and create new opportunities which are causing such damage to our physical and for all. As a vice-president and former chairman of mental health while undermining the wider economy? the Local Government Association, I know that councils Government have provided excellent Covid-related are committed to working with Government to help emergency help by enabling local authorities and voluntary shape and deliver the proposals, so that local communities bodies to secure accommodation for those sleeping are empowered to deliver meaningful change. rough, by restoring part of the recent cuts in the benefits for housing help, and by requiring landlords In the brief time allocated, I shall focus my remarks to postpone evictions, but the nation’sunderlying housing on levelling up, devolution, the environment, adult problems remain. The Queen’s Speech mentions social care and building safety. First, I welcome the forthcoming measures to enhance tenants’ rights and Government’s commitment to investing in local areas to support leaseholders. I look forward to the Bills through their upcoming levelling up White Paper. introducing these helpful changes, but the Government’s Councils will be key to achieving this ambition, and I main proposition for ending housing shortages—thereby know they are looking forward to working closely stabilising prices and improving affordability, as well with the Government to help deliver on this commitment. as reducing homelessness in its different forms—rests With the right funding, freedoms and powers, councils on reforms to the planning system to make it quicker can work with partners to drive improvements in and easier to gain planning consent. The downside of public health and economic growth. They can revive this would be the much-reduced opportunity for input town and city centres, build more homes, improve our by local communities and their local planning authorities. roads and equip people with the skills they need to I understand the Government’s frustration that local succeed, so that no one is left behind. opposition can delay new home building, but objectors As a member of the APPG for devolution, I think fearing the worst have often been proved right. this is a good opportunity to remind the House of the The Government hope to prevent their new group’s most recent report, which successfully arrangements being abused, and instead to improve demonstrated how devolution could play a part in design and quality by strengthening the rules governing levelling up opportunities and inequalities. As we look the behaviour of the notorious volume housebuilders. to the future, the British state needs to be reimagined However, it seems unlikely that these planning reforms to manage the burden on central government and will achieve a big increase in housebuilding and, turbocharge the powers of local areas to deliver on disastrously, they could mean fewer affordable homes. both national and local priorities. With this in mind, Planners have already been releasing land on an extensive can the Minister confirm whether the levelling up scale, but house prices are still rising faster than incomes. White Paper will take forward the Government’s The LGA estimates that enough land has been allocated commitment to devolution? to develop over 1 million homes that have not yet been built. We know from the seminal report from Sir Oliver I also welcome the Government’s ambition for the Letwin that the main reason the housebuilders take environment, including the reintroduction of the their time is so that the speed of sales is slow enough Environment Bill and the 10-point plan for a green to maintain high house prices. industrial revolution. Councils share this ambition Sir Oliver called for the nation to take back control and want to work with the Government and business of housing development from the oligopoly of major to establish a national fiscal and policy framework for housebuilders to ensure that this country’s precious addressing the climate emergency. Councils can play a land resource fulfils society’s needs. He advocated significant role in supporting national government to local authorities setting up development corporations create green jobs. They can use their role as local to acquire larger sites, paying landowners a reasonable leaders to bring together the skills and low-carbon price, underpinned by CPO powers, and then producing agendas to unlock growth in their areas. The LGA’s master plans that would meet local needs, with plots report on local green jobs estimates that, across England, parcelled out to several housebuilders and to social there could be as many as 1.8 million direct jobs in the housing providers, with green spaces, community facilities low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2050. and so on. Coupled with a real increase in the grants I want to touch on adult social care. While it was that enable social landlords to make their homes truly promising to see the Government commit to bringing affordable, the Letwin proposals for capturing land forward proposals on social care reform, councils value for the public good could represent the fundamental urgently need a clear timeline and a commitment to change that is so badly needed. new funding proposals. These should provide sustainable Sadly,the Queen’sSpeech suggests that the Government support to people of all ages who draw on social care are not yet ready to take the really robust action needed to live the life they want to lead. The LGA and to address the underlying causes of this most pressing councils are keen to work with the Government and national need. Any reassurance from the Minister that with other stakeholders on a cross-party basis in order there is more to come would be greatly appreciated. to achieve this. 363 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 364

[BARONESS EATON] However, to go to back to political symbiosis, what I support the building safety Bill. As well as the is really needed is a fundamental change of perspective. crucial issue of fire safety, we should use this Bill to Rather than an environmental policy, we need every reduce the pain, loss of life and financial burden policy to be environmental. We need to join up our associated with falls in the home. I declare an interest thinking and ensure that every department and every as vice-president of RoSPA. This is not a party-political sector of society is making efforts to combat rising issue. Enshrining British Standard 5395-1 in law as global temperatures. A proper agreement to protect part of the building safety Bill would save lives. It our planet will affect every single sector of every single would also give much-needed relief to our NHS, which society—our private and public sectors, our businesses, has to deal with more than 300,000 accident and our farms, our waters, our schools, our cities and our emergency admissions every year because of falls on homes. It will affect every individual and until we stairs. Will the Minister for building safety meet with understand our collective responsibility, we will not RoSPA to discuss this proposed amendment to the Bill have the impact that is needed. on stair design? This is a vital issue which the Government I want to speak briefly about the work that the should address as part of its agenda to keep people Church of England is doing. While it is an intrinsic safe in the home. human instinct to care for our environment, people of In closing my remarks, I commend the Government’s faith in particular are mandated to care for the planet legislative agenda to the House. As its response to because creation is a gift of God. We acknowledge Covid-19 has demonstrated, local government does that we have not always acted on this belief—to our deliver and can be trusted. I therefore look forward to shame, rather the reverse—but now the Church of national and local government working together to England has committed to achieving net zero by 2030, truly level up and build back better. a decision made by synod last year as a bold statement of intent. 5.26 pm As an example of our action, to achieve net zero we The Lord Bishop of Bristol [V]: My Lords, along need to decarbonise all our heating. This is as true for with others in this House, I welcome the speeches of our churches and cathedrals, our clergy houses and the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. I church halls, as it is for the rest of society. My diocese remember making my own maiden speech in the debate was the first to declare a climate emergency and commit on the Humble Address in 2019, though of course in to net-zero carbon by 2030. As part of that work, we rather different circumstances. When I gave that have calculated our baseline carbon footprint and speech, we were looking ahead to 2020 as the year of found that the largest portion of emissions—38%—is climate action. Instead, the impact of Covid-19 has from our school estates. We have started working understandably been the focus of global activity.However, closely with head teachers and estates managers to the situation for our planet is becoming more urgent, explore options for decarbonisation. not less. With another year of action now lost because We have also hugely benefited from the green of Covid-19, we need meaningful global, national and interventions of Bristol City Council. One of our local agreements on the climate and biodiversity issues flagship schools and largest emitters, St Mary Redcliffe, more than ever before. has already benefited from the installation of solar Your Lordships will be well aware of the reasons: panels and full LED lighting. It will soon gain from mass deforestation, ocean acidification, wildfires, linking into the Bristol heat network, after which the unsustainable farming practices, excessive use of harmful school will be carbon neutral. This partnership with a fertilisers and pesticides, and unabating plastic pollution, local authority shows the real, positive impact that to name just some. Other noble Lords have named local government can have on meeting both its and others. Our planet and its ecosystems are delicate. our net carbon targets so, following the speech of the Each organism has a valuable role and purpose. As noble Baroness, Lady Eaton, I record my thanks to Covid-19 has so painfully revealed, we cannot continue Bristol City Council for its work on this. to violate this symbiotic community with impunity. To develop that work nationally, I eagerly await the Our political life is similarly symbiotic. Let me Government’s heating strategy to understand what explain. While it is true that we cannot simply legislate help will be given to transition from fossil fuel-based our way out of this crisis, we must do more to attempt systems. In addition, laid on the local and national to keep the global average temperature below 1.5 degrees plans but supporting them, we need an ambitious centigrade and bend the curve on biodiversity loss. I global plan to be agreed at both the CBD COP 15 and will not speak in depth now about the forthcoming COP 26—one that puts nature and the planet firmly Environment Bill, given that there will be the opportunity back on the road to recovery by 2030. While nations to do so in the coming weeks, but I will record my rightly rally to eradicate the Covid-19 virus, we have desire to see an increase in its ambition. I and other another and even greater crisis on our hands: the loss right reverend Prelates look forward to working with of biodiversity and— colleagues across this House to ensure that the legislation addresses ecological degradation and biodiversity loss Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): I am sorry to as an integral part of addressing the climate emergency. interrupt the right reverend Prelate, but will she bring Furthermore, I welcome the spirit of the climate and her remarks to a conclusion? ecology emergency Bill and the urgency with which Members in the other place are trying to draw attention The Lord Bishop of Bristol [V]: Indeed. However, to these issues. Both Bills are long overdue and unlike Covid-19, this pandemic is not limited to one or much needed. two species. It requires urgent action from us all. 365 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 366

5.33 pm When it comes to biodiversity, we are waiting for a nature strategy. I congratulate the Treasury on the Lord Teverson (LD): My Lords, I declare my interest Dasgupta report, but when will we have a government as chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local response to that? There is the 25-year environment Nature Partnership. I am also a director of Aldustria, plan that Michael Gove brought forward: I would give of Wessex Investors and its associate companies, and it 10 out of 10, except that the National Audit Office of the Green Purposes Company, where I am also a gave it a scathing report last year. Regarding COP 15 trustee. in China, I can get nothing out of the Government about who is going to represent us at that conference I want to talk mainly about the environmental side to ensure that we approach the biodiversity crisis in of things but I was particularly struck by what the the same way as we intend to approach the climate noble Lord, Lord Coaker, said in his maiden speech: one. that we must never take democracy for granted. He illustrated that, if I am correct, by referring to his In my last few seconds, I want to talk about one uncle, who lost his life on the beaches of Normandy. I other area: the marine. I am absolutely delighted that want to restate that because we have in this Queen’s the Government have chosen to bring the noble Lord, Speech a piece of legislation—the electoral integrity Lord Benyon, back into Defra. It is absolutely excellent. Bill—that takes not just a page but a whole chapter He had a report, I think it was last year,about higher-level out of the Republicans’ playbook in the southern marine conservation areas. When is that going to be United States, which is around restrictions of the implemented? I hope that he will do so. We are great at franchise. That Bill crosses the red line in terms of putting protection around our overseas territories—I restricting the franchise in this country and I hope think there are 40 million square kilometres of marine either that the Government will withdraw it or that we zones—but what about our own coastline? We need to will defeat it on Second Reading in this House. I feel have that right as well, so what about protection for that strongly about it and the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, those areas? Lastly, Defra has had a consultation out is absolutely right about defending democracy. This on remote electronic monitoring. When are we going House must make sure that that is done. to hear the answers? Marine, biodiversity and climate change are all key I come back to the environment. COP 26 is coming areas. Let us get on and do stuff. up later this year, as we know. I used to be in corporate business; it was tough but somehow predictable. It had 5.39 pm its systems that worked. I went through processes, either with people who reported to me or the board Lord Whitty (Lab) [V]: My Lords, it is a pleasure to that I reported to, where we would set a strategy; we follow the noble Lord, Lord Teverson. I agree with then had budgets and then we had to do stuff—we almost every word of his speech. It is also a pleasure to actually had to make it happen. In this topsy-turvy welcome my noble friend Lord Coaker and his maiden world of Parliament, it somehow does not work that speech, which was heartfelt and delivered against the way. We might say, “Right, we’re going to set a target”, background of a thunderbolt. He is very welcome in and then that we will do strategies. The timetables that this House; it is just slightly alarming that I was were absolutely rigid in corporate life sort of slip in already in this House when he was pointed out to me the parliamentary sense. One thing I would never have as a promising young new Labour MP, and now he has said in a board meeting was: “Never mind about made it to the House of Lords—well done. that—just look at my past performance. Look how I also welcome the speech of the noble Lord, Lord well I’ve done in the past.” If I had said that in one of Morse. To be honest, I had not worked out who he my board meetings, those there would have looked at was until he spoke—I thought he might be a retired me with incredulity. They would have said: “How policeman—but, in practice, I now remember that his naive are you, Robin? Forget that—it’s not about the is the name at the end of a number of trenchant, past. That’s banked, so it’s about what you do in important and constructive reports on the way in the future.” which the machinery of government works. He is also very welcome here. In this country we have a great track record, yes, through various Governments. What we do not have is I must register my disappointment at this legislative a plan to meet those targets that are some way in the programme, particularly the absence of three important future and which we need to meet. What are we Bills and the inadequacy, as we understand it at the waiting for at the moment? We are waiting for a moment, of at least two of those that are on the list. hydrogen strategy and for Her Majesty’s Treasury’s First, there is no social care Bill. This Covid crisis has review of net zero. We are waiting for the heating and thrown up, and shown to the whole population, the building strategy and for the transport decarbonisation inadequacy of present system of social care in this strategy, which I am sure my esteemed colleague and country, particularly for the elderly. We need a new noble friend Lady Randerson will talk about later on. plan, a new injection of money and a long-term move My noble friend Lord Bradshaw already did. We do to a proper social insurance method of dealing with us not know when those strategies are going to arrive and in old age. That is absent, despite the promises. yet we have six months until we are on the international Secondly, there is no employment Bill. The situation stage in Glasgow, at COP 26, to lead the rest of the in the labour market post Covid is grim and made globe in meeting this crisis. I ask the Ministers and the grimmer by the long-term undermining of the status, Government: when are the strategies going to be delivered, security and prospects of much of our labour force, let alone the actions? We need them. with the disintegration of different parts of the labour 367 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 368

[LORD WHITTY] capabilities will of course be vital if we are to remain market. We need a comprehensive employment Bill economically competitive as a nation and maintain a that provides employment rights and a major training high quality of life for our citizens. and retraining programme. However, to be economically competitive, we will Thirdly, I deplore the absence of an energy Bill. We have to build and maintain more of this infrastructure have bits and pieces of what make up an energy ourselves, with our own industrial capability, than we strategy but not a full energy Bill, and I will come back do at present. We need to stop buying most of our to that in a moment. infrastructure from others and to recognise and support Two Bills that are on the list that are inadequate in our own exceptional abilities to innovate and engineer their present form or what is likely to be their form. I the technologies of the future. welcome the fact that the Environment Bill is coming In addition, to meet our climate change targets, back to us, but in many respects it is still an inadequate transport, especially by rail, bus and aviation, will Bill. In particular, the structure of the institutions is have to be transformed. Debate remains about which not clear, which regulator has what powers is unclear technologies should be used. The same can be said for and the clear commitment to deliver what is set out for heavy freight trucks, earth-moving equipment and us very clearly by the Climate Change Committee is other heavy-duty industrial equipment. Electrification not really made a responsibility for the totality of will be extremely difficult here because it is unclear government. That Bill needs significant strengthening. whether batteries can be developed to be capable of The other Bill, which does not yet exist but has economically powering the vehicles and equipment for been rumoured, is the planning Bill. What has been these heavy-duty applications. The mining of vast said about it suggests to me that we might be moving quantities of lithium for batteries is already threatening the planning system in entirely the wrong direction, in the environment, and large quantities of carbon dioxide a way that not only does not deliver public support but are already being emitted in battery manufacturing, does not deliver more environmentally sustainable offsetting the reduction gained from electric propulsion. housing and other buildings or the social demands for In addition, green electricity will have to be used to housing, which the noble Lords, Lord Best and Lord charge the batteries of all electric vehicles before the Kerslake, and others were talking about. It is a Bill to benefits of electric propulsion are fully realised. try to increase the amount of development, but it does It may be better to use hydrogen in heavy-duty not make it subject to either public accountability or applications. We are already introducing hydrogen- the social need for housing for the poorest in our powered trains, produced in Germany, and buses are population, in particular. to follow. Hydrogen may also be used as an aviation I return to the energy side. We have a clear plan, put fuel, offering the possibility of long-range carbon-free to us by the Climate Change Committee, for how we flight. Needless to say, much has to be done before this will reduce energy in our system. It is a combination of becomes feasible. At the moment, hydrogen costs much what we do in energy supply, transport, housing and more than diesel and aviation fuels, and excessive other construction and industry. However, we need quantities of carbon dioxide are emitted in its production. much more than that: we need the means to deliver it. Weneed new investment institutions for green investment Deciding which approach to take is fraught with and the manufacturing sector to support it. We need unknowns, but it is clear that, in all cases, we will need new planning processes that recognise net zero and carbon-free electricity and heat. This can be achieved put it centre stage. We need a new highly trained, with wind and solar power, backed by nuclear power, high-status workforce to manage and operate our new as has been done in France, although with a different green sectors. We need new sorts of regulators to combination of renewables. Electrolysis can then become deliver this, and we need investment in R&D to deliver the primary means of generating hydrogen. All forms new forms of green technologies and solutions. None of nuclear power plant produce both electricity and of that is provided in the legislation promised in this heat, and high-temperature gas reactors are especially gracious Speech. I hope that we can put some bones suitable for hydrogen production because they produce on it in the next few months, but, at the moment, I will high-temperature heat. This combination would be rather critical of what is before us. completely avoid the use of fossil fuels and the accompanying need to capture and store CO2, a technology that is far from being demonstrated at the 5.44 pm vast volumes required. Batteries would be used for cars and to meet other relatively low-energy needs, Lord Broers (CB) [V]: I congratulate the noble and hydrogen would be used for rail, bus and other Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their impressive heavy-duty applications, including aviation. maiden speeches; they will clearly make powerful contributions to our deliberations. We have the skills to produce much of what would be needed to follow this path; let us ensure that we I wish to address what is described in the Queen’s enable our industries to provide it. It is comfortable to Speech as a transformation across the union of say that we should pursue all alternatives for reducing “connectivity by rail and bus”. carbon, but we have neither the resources nor the time I will briefly address the extension of 5G mobile to do so. We now need to make focused, strategic coverage and gigabit-capable broadband. I support choices and then establish the project-management what others have said on these issues, including my framework to deliver them, as we have in coping with noble friend Lady Hayman, the noble Lords, Lord Covid-19. I say “Hear, hear” to the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw and Lord Kirkhope, and others. These Teverson, on this issue. 369 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 370

Before finishing, I will say a brief word about 5G 5.53 pm communications, where we find ourselves once again at the mercy of others because we lack the ability to Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab) [V]: My Lords, the Public provideourownequipment.Here,andwithsemiconductor Services Committee on which I sit, so ably chaired by chips—my speciality—I suggest that we collaborate my noble friend Lady Armstrong, published its first closelywithinternationalpartners,especiallytheAmericans. report, A Critical Juncture for Public Services: Lessons The Biden Administration are working with all of their from Covid-19, in the autumn of last year. That juncture leading industrial companies to address these issues at was about the importance of recognising the effects of scale, and they should welcome our participation. the pandemic on communities as well as on public services. I will focus on two parts of those communities: 5.49 pm the charity sector and unpaid carers. Lord Fairfax of Cameron (Con) [V]: My Lords, I Since the beginning of the pandemic, charities have too commend the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord faced a double whammy, with a huge increase in Morse, on their maiden speeches, which were excellent demand and a vast drop-off in their income, as charity in their different ways. I declare my interest, as set out shops, street collections and fundraising events stopped in the register, as a shareholder in an electric vehicle overnight and led to reduced donations by the public. company. On the plus side, there were huge innovations. Things On the Environment Bill, the gracious Speech and which would have taken months were organised overnight the Government’s accompanying briefing contain many and rigid rules became relaxed. Process was replaced admirable goals, but there is little mention of the by greater trust and collaboration. The intimate knowledge realistic true costs or challenges involved in reaching that voluntary organisations have of their clients and net zero. As we know, the Government’s central target users suddenly became a thing of value, and charities is to achieve a 78% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions report being consulted by local public services about over 1990 levels by 2035, which will mean a 58% reduction the best way to provide those services. This over the next 14 years. acknowledgment of the special skills, knowledge and I will look at two key sectors; the first is electric experience of local charities must not be allowed to vehicles. The Government have now said that there retreat and slip back into the old meaning of consultation should be no new internal combustion engine vehicle with the local voluntary sector. All too often that has sales after 2030. I draw attention to a few points meant post hoc consultation, telling the sector what it regarding this stipulation. UK car manufacturers have is to do once policies have been decided, instead of recently called for this deadline to be put back five very early involvement. If the failure of track and years, against a background of electric vehicles currently trace means anything, it is surely that you must rely on representing less than 10% of new car sales. The CEO local networks and local knowledge, rather than a of Vauxhall Motors recently said that owning a car top-down approach. after 2030 might become the preserve of the rich. It is Across the United Kingdom, local community also estimated that 1 million charge points will be organisations, often working closely with local authorities needed by 2030, against a current background of a and primary care providers, have recruited volunteers third of UK homes not having off-road parking. How to support those who are vulnerable by organising will the national grid cope with the accompanying food banks and helping in vaccination centres. This increase in electricity demand? volunteering response to the pandemic has the potential I turn to homes. It is estimated that about 20 million to create a legacy that will make civil society stronger. homes will need to be converted from gas to heat Local authorities in the charitable sector want these pumps; in other words, about 1 million heat pumps good experiences to inform their relationships going will need to be installed each year by 2023. Who is to forward, but this will need support by local authorities, pay for all this? If it is individuals or the taxpayer, then which are so cash-strapped that many can fund only they must be told the likely cost by the Government. the very highest level of need and are unable to fund Several noble Lords have commented that the Government the vital preventive work and early warning systems at are strong on rhetoric. I would adopt the recent which charities are so good. Voluntary organisations words of the chairman of the House of Commons are very good value, but they are not cost-free. They Environmental Audit Committee: need support so that the public duty ethic can flourish, “Making 19 million homes ready for net zero Britain by 2050 as we have seen it do during this last year. is an enormous challenge that the Government appears to have not yet grasped.” When it comes to public duty, there is no better Realism must be injected into the Government. A example than that of unpaid carers.Until the Government much better understanding of cost, pace, scale, and set out concrete measures for social care reform, the the feasibility of skills development, is desperately reality for millions of families is that they have no needed for net zero. choice but to take on more and more care for their In debates on Scottish independence, the Government older or disabled relatives, costing them their livelihoods rightly ask the SNP to be honest about the true and relationships, and at the expense of their own economic cost of an independent Scotland. Should physical and mental health. Unpaid carers could not the Government not be equally honest with the UK be clearer that they are worn out and overwhelmed; population and taxpayers about the real economic 81% have been providing more care for relatives during costs and practical challenges of net zero? I hope that the pandemic and 64% have been unable to take any they will, but if they will not, people may reasonably breaks at all for more than a year. A huge majority ask whether they are hiding something. have seen their loved ones’ health deteriorate. 371 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 372

[BARONESS PITKEATHLEY] As citizens, we must transform how we travel, what we Without the United Kingdom’s millions of unpaid eat and how we heat our homes—in short, live sustainable carers, our health and social care systems would have lifestyles. Some 59% of the measures in the climate collapsed in the last year. While the Government have change committee’s recent pathway for the sixth committed to social care reform proposals being brought carbon budget contain some element of societal forward, we have been hearing this for far too long behavioural change. Securing those changes requires and further delays cannot be tolerated. We need to see public engagement, yet the one climate assembly in the detailed plans for reform which ensure that unpaid UK to build consensus on how to do that was initiated carers get the practical and financial support that they not by the Government but by six Select Committees need to care. in the House of Commons. The NHS White Paper failed to mention unpaid The Government must provide more opportunities carers at all. Support for them must be a core part of for participation in environmental decision-making the health Bill which we will be scrutinising over the alongside better education and communication. Doing next year. We must see a duty on the NHS to have so is part and parcel of delivering our right to regard to unpaid carers, to promote their health and environmental justice. Worryingly, the Queen’s Speech well-being, and to ensure that they are identified, points in three ways to a Government determined to supported, and included across the NHS and social undermine that right—a right established in the Aarhus care. That is a goal to which everyone should be convention, to which the UK is a signatory. committed. Social care can work only if unpaid carers First, as proposed, the office for environmental are visible, recognised and counted. protection, which will hold public bodies to account Finally, I remind the Minister that we are still on environmental law, is insufficiently independent of waiting for the Government’sresponse to the consultation the Government and has limited remedies, including on carers’ leave and need to see, as soon as possible, no powers to fine. This means that we have weaker concrete plans about how this will be taken forward. sanctions to hold the Government to account now than when we were members of the European Union. 5.58 pm I wish the body well, but it is even blocked from advising the Government on planning proposals contrary Baroness Parminter (LD) [V]: My Lords, I add to environmental legislation in the way that the climate my welcome to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and change committee did so effectively recently on the Lord Morse. impacts of allowing a new coal mine in Cumbria. Weface a climate and nature crisis,yet this Government Secondly, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts are not on track to meet their fourth or fifth carbon Bill proposes measures that could curtail peaceful budgets and have failed on almost all the global targets environmental protest, despite the police already having to reverse losses in wildlife and the natural environment powers to limit protest to ensure safety, as my noble by 2020. We needed the gracious Speech to offer friend Lady Miller rightly said. up new plans to deliver for our environment, protect our rights to environmental justice and ensure that all Thirdly, the judicial review Bill could neuter of government aligns with climate and biodiversity environmental groups seeking to hold the Government goals. to account. Only last week, three climate activists applied for a judicial review to challenge the Government’s Despite some welcome steps, the gracious Speech is support for continued North Sea oil and gas production. not sufficiently transformational. The Environment Maintaining the right of citizens to challenge the Bill should include a legally binding target to halve the Government of the day to deliver the climate and decline of biodiversity by 2030. Doing so will drive environmental goals that we must deliver is a fundamental action across government to restore nature and encourage cornerstone of British democracy. other nations to raise their nature ambitions in advance of COP 15. Your Lordships must amend the Bill to The threats in this Queen’s Speech to our right to include such a target and to strengthen measures to environmental justice, alongside insufficiently transform- tackle waste and to improve resource efficiency and air ational initiatives to deliver for our environment, show and water quality, if we are to deliver the scale of a Government not yet fully committed to putting environmental improvements that future generations climate and biodiversity goals at the heart of all their need. agendas. This Defra Bill also risks being undermined by other departmental plans, as other noble Lords have 6.02 pm mentioned. The planning system should create great places for people to live and contribute to nature The Duke of Somerset (CB) [V]: My Lords, this recovery, but the Project Speed planning proposals Queen’s Speech proposes many Bills. Some are and recent decisions on extending permitted development controversial, and some will have a long-term effect on rights and excluding major infrastructure proposals sections of the population. One such Bill is the flagship from biodiversity net gain run counter to that. The Environment Bill, because the Government seem Government must do far better in encouraging determined to push on with achieving net-zero carbon— co-ordination between departments to deliver climate and rightly so. This is laudable, but we must also and biodiversity goals. consider the practical and downside effects. The Queen’s Speech comes at a time when the clock Let us take energy performance certificates, which is ticking for environmental action to protect our currently apply to rental properties. I declare my interest planet. All of us, not just the Government, must act. as an owner of such places, and hope that this does 373 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 374 not bar me from pointing out the flaws in the scheme. citizens could be found. Petty aggression from Border First, why only rental properties, which account for Force officers—such as confiscating phones, crowding 20% of the housing stock? Can the Minister confirm detainees into holding rooms at risk of Covid and that all houses will be subject to the higher criteria ignoring offers to buy an immediate return ticket—are by 2025? unacceptable actions in a civilised society. The Home Secondly, the Government propose increasing the Office rules explicitly allow non-visa holders to attend landlord cap to £10,000 spend every five years. This is job interviews, so why this humiliating and traumatic a huge percentage of capital and rental value, and will, treatment? Welfare? What welfare? as many agencies, and the noble Lord, Lord Colgrain, have pointed out, lead to a rush of sales as landlords 6.07 pm realise the unpalatable economic effect on their investment. This will have an exacerbated effect in rural areas. Baroness Redfern (Con) [V]: My Lords, I am grateful Where will farm workers move to when their landlord for the opportunity to speak during this debate and to informs them that he can no longer physically or support Her Majesty’s gracious Speech, with today’s economically improve the energy efficiency of his important focus on communities, welfare, transport traditional home so can no longer legally let it? and the environment. I also congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their excellent The flaw is in the assessment methodology, where maiden speeches. unchangeable physical criteria such as solid wall construction and off-gas heating automatically downgrade I support the levelling-up fund, the future high the result because the formula was designed for modern streets fund and the towns fund. They will culminate buildings. The conflict between energy costs and carbon in driving forward the regeneration of towns and reduction must be reassessed urgently, long before the delivering long-term economic and productive growth. 2025 rules come into force. There is equal concern They will play an important role in supporting our about the damage done to heritage buildings in attempts country’s economic recovery by bringing forward public to retrofit crude efficiency patches in order to continue investment to create jobs and boost confidence in letting them. towns, as well as by levering in investment from the private sector to improve everyday local life. As we The Government are pressing on with banning the have been reminded, many places have been left behind sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2030. That is splendid for too long, demonstrating the need for cultural but, again, the practical consequences appear to be identity, strong viable communities and enabling people being overlooked. That date will be here in nine years, to feel good in their surroundings. yet working charge points are way behind schedule and the £20 million fund will not ensure that these The end of the common agricultural policy provides points are installed in sufficient numbers. So who will a framework for how we choose to manage and improve supply and pay for them? Where will the electricity be our land for increased food production and our generated, given a peak demand forecast of a 10% horticultural sector, all while balancing our support increase on present use? I was interested to see today for managing nature and the environment. Brexit helps that the Services Committee has commissioned a demand us to create and exploit our own opportunities and survey for such things on the Parliamentary Estate. decisions on what is right, particularly to deliver the Electric vehicles are not a panacea. A lithium ion highest standards of animal welfare while promoting battery, giving a 250-mile range, takes 20 tonnes of our values in our worldwide trade deals. Importantly, CO to manufacture. Batteries also need rare-earth it provides the UK with an opportunity to improve 2 metals, which cause environmental degradation in their food labelling for meat by requiring that products mining. So, I wonder, are the Government turning containing meat be labelled British only if the animals their back on hydrogen cell vehicles when hydrogen is were born, bred and slaughtered in the UK. Also, food probably the cleanest fuel and the most suitable fuel produced outside the UK but processed in the UK for HGVs and trains, and should be developed in should not be classed as British. tandem with EVs? Once again, an infrastructure lacuna I welcome the increased protections to eradicate appears. cruel practices for all animals: in particular, ending the Today’s debate topics include welfare. Does this export of live animals for fattening and slaughter; include the welfare of harmless foreigners caught up the banning of battery cages for laying hens, of sow in the Government’s aggressive war on immigration? stalls and of veal crates; and an end to the terrible From asylum seekers in Glasgow to those looking to welfare conditions found in puppy farming—many find work legally being detained at Gatwick and taken are transported in poor conditions often at a too-young to Yarl’sWood, this confrontational posturing to exclude age. Tougher penalties are needed to stop heavily anyone not deemed useful to this country is very pregnant bitches being illegally brought into the UK unattractive and creates bewilderment and fury. Of to dupe buyers into buying UK-bred puppies. course, it will be reciprocal, and the EU will react tit Businesses are our wealth creators and the Government for tat by coming down on Britons living out their have been on their side,with the undeniably unprecedented retirements in Spain and France when they do not £352 billion package of support during this pandemic have their paperwork in order in time. and further measures to make the lives of small business Brexit may be done, but that should not mean owners across the country easier as they seek to recover punishing well-meaning people so harshly. Who came their businesses and livelihoods after the pandemic. up with the 90/180-day rule for non-workers, which Much has been made of the current planning system will impact on people’s lives so unnecessarily? Surely a in England. With a full overhaul, the reforms will gentler formula that looks after the welfare of all give communities a greater voice from the start of the 375 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 376

[BARONESS REDFERN] Industrial Resource Efficiency Strategy”. The report planning process. Local plans will be protected, making argues that we have run out of time. It proposes that planning much more straightforward and accessible, the only way we can hope to meet the 2050 target of with protected areas to include heritage and outstanding net zero emissions is by a radical regression which natural beauty sites. However, we must ensure the would entail abandoning much of the technology that greater use of our brownfield sites. The target of accompanies our present state of affluence. 300,000 homes per year, together with the proposed According to that report, we would have to immobilise future homes standard, will ensure that all new homes ourselves by forgoing our present means of transport, from 2025 will produce at least 75% fewer carbon including automobiles and aircraft. International shipping emissions than those built to the current standard. would also need to be much reduced. Building The Government’s economic recovery will be a green construction involving steel and concrete would need recovery, which I welcome, and ensure that the UK to be severely curtailed, and we should cease to eat red remains on track to meet its net-zero target. This was meats. Such a curtailment of economic activity involving demonstrated by the early announcement of £8.8 billion a further abandonment of manufacturing would lead of new infrastructure, decarbonisation and maintenance to mass unemployment and the immiseration of much projects—including a £3 billion green investment package. of our working population. It is an appalling prospect This could help support around 140,000 green jobs, to contemplate. upgrade buildings and reduce emissions. As evidence of the lack of time, the report talks of A green light has been given to eight freeports in the 30-year period covering the time from the inception England, with the commencement of the first one this of a new technology to its realisation in a fully operational year and further freeports planned in Scotland, Wales system. One can point to the length of time it has and Northern Ireland. This helps strengthen economic taken to design and complete the third generation of ties across the union, as a growing clustering of businesses nuclear plants, such as the European pressurised water leads to economic advantage and can play a large part reactors, or EPRs, at Olkiluoto in Finland, Flamanville in rebalancing economic equality across the UK and in Normandy and Hinkley Point in Somerset. However, boosting international trade. there are convincing recent and historical counterexamples Finally, there are much-awaited measures to suggesting that such projects can be accomplished far revolutionise how we recycle and reduce air pollution. more rapidly. In fact, an EPR reactor which is virtually But we must secure long-term resilient water supplies identical to that at Hinkley Point has been constructed and wastewater services which protect nature, improve at Taishan in Guangdong province in China. Work biodiversity and, importantly, lead to a reduction of began in 2008 and, in spite of numerous reported sewage discharges from storm overflows into rivers. setbacks, it began full operation in 2018. We must also not forget the protection of our peatlands, One might also consider the post-war experience in which are our biggest terrestrial carbon store and Britain in establishing our civil nuclear industry, which, home to some of our rarest species. As only 13% of at the time, embodied a wholly new technology.Britain’s our peatlands are in a near-natural state, we cannot first nuclear power station at Calder Hall in Cumbria delay any further. was opened officially by the Queen in October 1956. Brexit done, we need to build on it by being bold in The construction had begun in 1953 and its design rebuilding our economy post pandemic to benefit all work could not have begun much before 1952 when in the UK. It is all about place. Churchill called for the construction of the plant. There should be ample time between now and 2050 to revive our nuclear industry. 6.13 pm We should now consider some of the uses of the Viscount Hanworth (Lab): The title of the Government’s enlarged supply of electricity which would be required energy White Paper is Powering Our Net Zero Future. for domestic heating and to power numerous industrial It addresses the need to staunch our emissions of processes. Steel, which is currently manufactured in carbon dioxide in view of the advancing crisis of coal-fired blast furnaces, could be made in electric arc climate change. It proposes that, by 2050, we should furnaces fed by both iron ores and scrap metals. double our generating capacity for electricity, while Hydrogen and ammonia, which would be among the reducing our overall energy consumption to two-thirds predominant vectors of energy, should be produced of its present level. This is a gross underestimate of by high-temperature electrolysis of water, the heat and our requirements for electricity and power. electricity for which should be provided by nuclear According to a widely accepted analysis, the reactors. electrification of transport would require a 75% increase Provided that the hydrocarbon fuels are created in a in generating capacity. The decarbonisation of the manner that does not add to the burden of atmospheric economy will create numerous additional demands, carbon dioxide, there should be no need to forgo the some of which I will mention later. The only source use either of the internal combustion engine or jet that could meet such demands is nuclear power.Therefore, engines. The technology for the direct air capture of I believe we should embark without delay on the carbon dioxide, which is energy intensive, already exists. necessary infrastructure projects to create this supply It could be deployed on a large scale to provide the and exploit it. carbon component of the fuels. An alternative opinion has been offered by the Portland cement, which is used in concrete, has FIRES report, which is the work of a group of academic become a major element in modern building construction. engineers. FIRES is an acronym that stands for “Future Its manufacture emits large quantities of carbon dioxide 377 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 378 and it should be greatly reduced. However, a reversion incomes, who fly about 50% more than the average for to the use of lime mortar in brickwork could be other advanced economies. While emissions in many mandated, since the setting of the mortar reabsorbs sectors are falling, UK aviation represents around the carbon dioxide that has been emitted in the reduction 10% of total CO2 emissions, compared to 2% of global of the calcium carbonate limestone to quicklime. Bricks emissions. I urge the Government to come forward with that are now fused inseparably by a sand and cement a strategy to tackle this and to announce bold targets bond could be reused extensively, as they are in much to reduce air travel and transport before COP 26. of present-day domestic building. Inevitably,one element of this issue is airport expansion The time is not available for me to describe such a and here, the greatest challenge is Heathrow, arguably scenario in more detail, and to realise it will require the biggest emitter of CO2 in Europe. We have to ask energy, imagination and government initiatives. At ourselves why we should allow a never-ending expansion present, all three of these ingredients are in short of this particular airport. The economic case for a supply. third runway, which was always weak, has now become untenable. Even the Supreme Court ruling last year 6.19 pm that the expansion strategy was legitimate was based Baroness Falkner of Margravine (CB): My Lords, I on previous, less stringent climate targets and invites too join other noble Lords in welcoming the maiden reconsideration. The noble Lord, Lord Goldsmith, speeches from the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord will know all about this; it is very much his interest Morse. I look forward to their participation in this area. When the courts point to Parliament and effectively House. say, “We cannot solve the problem; it is for the I am a novice in this area so feel slightly trepidatious Government in Parliament to change the law”, the in speaking about the environment and transport, but public rightly expect to see such action reflected that is what I am going to do today. I express in the Government’s programme—the one we are disappointment, along with other noble Lords who discussing here. know a lot more about this, at the lack of a transport In 2009, when the Labour Government pushed decarbonisation strategy.It is particularly disappointing through Heathrow’s third runway, our determination to find the lack of a coherent strategy to tackle aviation as a nation to tackle climate change was less developed. emissions. I know this issue was close to the heart of Now that we know about the damage to the environment the noble Lord, Lord Goldsmith, so I hope he will caused by aviation, we need to tackle it through legislation. touch on it when he winds up. However, here, the chance to do so has been missed again. If, when the third runway’s inevitable public CO2 has a lifespan measured in centuries. Today’s emissions will combine with those that have accumulated inquiry is concluded, it finds against expansion, will since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Yet, nearly the Government act to stop it? They cannot avoid a quarter of a century ago, Kyoto did not want to their responsibility. If we have to have “long grass”, let tackle it, instead leaving it to the UN agencies responsible it grow over the north-west third runway at Heathrow. for the aviation sector to attempt to find some sort of consensus. We know how difficult it is to get consensus The Deputy Speaker (The Earl of Kinnoull) (Non-Afl): at the UN—I would not look there if we really want to The noble Lord, Lord Deben, has withdrawn so I call make progress. I understand that the only goal adopted the noble Baroness, Lady Whitaker. by the UN aviation agency, ICAO, is to keep net emissions from international aviation at or below 2020 6.24 pm levels, mainly through the use of carbon offsetting and reduction, not through tackling the heart of the problem: Baroness Whitaker (Lab): As a daughter of excessive recreational and business flying and the overuse Nottinghamshire, I applaud the warmth and passion of distant supply chains. of my noble friend Lord Coaker’s splendid maiden Inexplicably, we have left international aviation and speech. I also congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Morse, shipping emissions in the UK out of the five-yearly on his important speech. I shall focus on the climate carbon budgets. One can only assume that that was emergency and declare that I am a member of Peers because they fell into the “too difficult for now” for the Planet. category—and that is for a Government with an 81-seat However, first, outside of my five minutes, I hope majority. Given that technology has shown that we do your Lordships will allow me to say a word about the not need to leave home to engage with a large part of contribution to sustainability of my noble friend Lord commerce, that businesses have found that having Rogers of Riverside, who is barred from membership executives jet over from London to New York for a of this House through absence. He is, in fact, gravely three-hour meeting is not vital to success, and that ill and would not have left of his own volition. As he consumers are discovering the merits of staycations, cannot make his own valedictory speech, I just want to now would appear to be the ideal time to reduce say that as president of the All-Party Group on Design aviation emissions permanently. and Innovation while I was vice-chair, his distinguished Tackling them in domestic legislation is important. and conscientious contributions were invaluable in We have left the EU emissions trading system, so an furthering the case of sustainable design and architecture. ambitious plan to set clear targets in law would be That is quite apart from all his other extraordinary appropriate. I would call it a “levelling down” for the achievements, both public and professional. climate. I say this because in the UK we have a I am concerned that the Government have not particular problem with overusing aviation as a means integrated their environmental policies throughout of transport. It is mainly people on higher than average departments. They have announced some good policies, 379 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 380

[BARONESS WHITAKER] 6.29 pm not least the undertaking on 20 April to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, compared Lord Bilimoria (CB) [V]: My Lords, the 2021 Queen’s with 1990 figures.In an excellent debate in your Lordships’ Speech includes an emphasis on levelling up, research, House, several questions about how the commitment development and innovation, and the environment. would be implemented, notably asked by the noble This was always going to be a crucial Queen’s Speech Baroness, Lady Hayman, and the mover of the debate, post Brexit and in the midst of the awful Covid-19 the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, went unanswered. My pandemic. The skills and post-16 education Bill proposes noble friend Lord Whitty asked which Cabinet committee a lifelong learning entitlement, which is very close to would oversee implementation. I ask that question the recommendation of the CBI, of which I am proud again. to be president, for more people to develop higher-level skills throughout their working lives. It is also in line There are other signs of a lack of embedding the with the recommendations of the Centenary Commission essential aim of net-zero carbon throughout government on Adult Education, of which I was a member, which policy and programmes. My noble friend Lady Jones reported in November 2019. CBI research shows that of Whitchurch referred to the Public Accounts nine in 10 people will have to acquire new skills by Committee’s criticism of the Treasury. This is the 2030. The noble Baroness, Lady Sherlock, mentioned department that commissioned the seminal Dasgupta the Kickstart Scheme and a request to the Government report. Do the different branches talk to each other? made by the CBI that this be extended by six months Do they require environmental impact assessments? until June 2022. Will the Government please agree to Why is the Treasury—and, for that matter, the Ministry this, to enable more young people to take part in and of Defence—exempt from Defra’s environmental benefit from this excellent scheme? The noble Lord, principles? A key department is obviously Environment Lord Oates, quoted Mahatma Gandhi. One of my but, as has been said, we have not heard what its plans favourite sayings of Gandhi is: live as if you are going are to meet the carbon emission targets. to die tomorrow and learn as if you are going to live The United Nations published a report last week for ever. Enabling lifelong learning for our nation is charting the large and increasing contribution of methane crucial. gas to global heating, and proposing means to reduce I was privileged to chair the B7 last week. The B7 it. What are the departments’ plans to deal with this feeds into the G7 next month. One of our members environmental hazard, notably in agriculture? said, “Thank God for digital in this pandemic”. What The authoritative Energy Transitions Commission would we have done without digital today? We would says that we shall need to increase our production of not have been able to hold this Hybrid Sitting of the clean energy by two to two-and-a-half times to meet House in which we are all taking part. With more the demands of transport, industry, buildings and so digitisation, however,comes more vulnerability.Therefore, on. How is this to be managed without intolerable the online safety Bill is crucial in dealing with cybersecurity. cost? How can it be done without legislation to reform The product security and telecommunications infra- the grid? Where is the promised energy Bill? structure Bill will deal with gigabit coverage. Will the Government confirm that, having earlier committed Then, there is the specific question I have often to 100% national broadband coverage by 2025, they asked about domestic gas heating in blocks of flats. rolled back their commitment to 85% in the spending Here, we are far below Germany, France and the review in November? Surely this pandemic has shown Netherlands in the installation of heat pumps. Domestic more than ever that we need 100% gigabit broadband gas boilers are a very large source of carbon, because coverage. Does the Minister agree? most building emissions come from homes and the majority of these are gas-fired. Residents of blocks of The Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill— flats are numerous—some 20% of homes are flats, ARIA—is great news to enhance the UK’s R&D about 4.7 million in total—and on average they are far capability. Do the Government also agree with the from the wealthiest, so a programme to enable them to CBI’s recommendation that we should create clusters exchange their boilers, perhaps on a building-wide around the country, with universities at their heart? basis, will need to be devised and funded. Following The best example is the Cambridge cluster. Initially a the noble Lord, Lord Fairfax, I ask: what is it to be? tech cluster, it now also encompasses life sciences, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured In general, my questions to the Minister are as by AstraZeneca, which is headquartered in Cambridge. follows. What are the structures to ensure that all Do the Government agree that we need to do much government policies and programmes contribute to more to help businesses and universities work together arriving at zero carbon by 2035? Which posts are on research, development and innovation, which in tasked with monitoring this and how is it co-ordinated turn would power forward our nation’s productivity? at Cabinet level? What is the accountability structure within departments? It needs to be in job descriptions The Queen’sSpeech contains a lot, but some important at specific levels, so that performance in the outcome things were missing; for example, the reform of business of reducing carbon emissions is measured, incentivised rates. Business rates reform is fundamental to the and censured or rewarded accordingly. Finally, the levelling up agenda and to reviving our high streets legislature has a right to know what these structures and stimulating business investment, let alone encouraging are and to be reassured that they are as developed and greener buildings. Surely the Government agree that effective as the targets themselves. I look forward to we need a full reform of business rates, which is the Minister’s answer. long overdue. 381 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 382

The Environment Bill is a positive milestone to us I would like to consider the challenges to rural building a greener United Kingdom. Businesses are areas in the context of the planning Bill and ask my looking for the legislative measures needed to reach noble friend whether the Government will end the the net zero emissions target following the Government’s practice of building in inappropriate places, especially 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution. It flood plains. Will they use more natural flood defences appears that the Bill does not provide for this. Will the and sustainable drains? We all know that Flood Re Government confirm that? Furthermore, the planning does not apply to houses built after 2009, so how will Bill is a key element of the Queen’s Speech. Do the the Government protect existing developments from Government agree that modernising the planning system the consequences of building on flood plains and must be done in lockstep with the vital task of ensure that future developments are flood-proof? Will decarbonising homes and buildings? I was privileged the Government use the planning Bill to finally implement with the CBI to chair the heat commission along with the recommendation of the Pitt review in 2007 to the University of Birmingham, of which I am proud end the automatic right to connect for major new to be chancellor. The commission highlighted that developments? one-third of greenhouse gas emissions comes from I turn to the Environment Bill and its link and heat. Half of that comes from buildings. We need to relationship to the Agriculture Act, in particular the convert our 29 million houses in the United Kingdom fact that details of the environmental land management from gas boilers to either hydrogen boilers, heat schemes and current pilot schemes are very sketchy. pumps—as the noble Baroness, Lady Whitaker,said—or We must ensure that the link is recognised and made community heating if we are to reach net zero by 2050. between the active farmer and those taking the economic To do this, the heat commission recommended the risk, as well as the importance of livestock farming in creation of an Olympic-style delivery body, including upland areas and issues relating to common land. I green finance, and there is a proposal that this delivery recognise that farmers have a role to play in tackling body could be the national centre for decarbonisation climate change, for example carbon sink—capturing of heat, which is located in the West Midlands and of and storing carbon in that way—but, for a sustainable which the University of Birmingham is a member. Do farming future for the whole of the UK, tenants must the Government agree with this approach? be able to benefit from the new schemes, not just This is a watershed year for the United Kingdom to landlords. I add a note of caution on banning the live show global leadership, in hosting not only the G7 but trade of animals, which is already heavily regulated COP 26 in November. There is, therefore, an urgent and very limited. We must consider the economic need for legislation to speed up the race to net zero. consequences of losing a very considerable market The Prime Minister said at the B7 last week that the and losing market share to other countries, such as race to net zero is not a zero sum game. In true Boris New Zealand, particularly at this time of year with the style, he also said: “Green is good.” Kwasi Kwarteng, sale of spring lambs to France. The loss of that market our new Secretary of State for Business, says that his would have a huge negative impact on hill farms in the priorities are the acronym ENZI, standing for enterprise, north of England and elsewhere in the United net zero and innovation. Thankfully, the Queen’s Speech Kingdom—I am thinking of Perthshire. Imagine the is full of ENZI. consequences of losing flocks through such a loss of market. 6.34 pm I also recognise the role of framework agreements Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con): My Lords, I and partnership committees with EU parliamentarians welcome the gracious Speech and will take this under the UK and EU trade and co-operation agreement, opportunity to draw together some strands on the as well as working with the devolved Administrations environment, transport and communities. I warmly in setting and implementing agricultural policy and congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord environmental law in all the jurisdictions of the United Morse, on their outstanding maiden speeches. I refer Kingdom. We must be ever-vigilant about animal to my entries in the register. I am a member of the health and welfare and ensure that the Government Church of England Rural Affairs Group, vice-president make good their excellent commitment to a level playing of the Association of Drainage Authorities, president field on environmental standards. The Government of National Energy Action, and co-chair of the All-Party have repeatedly said that they are committed to ensuring Parliamentary Group on Water. I also had the privilege that food imports meet the same high standards of of chairing the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs production as foods produced here. I hope that that Committee in the House of Commons between 2010 will continue to be the case in the legislation set out and 2015. before us. I will focus on the role of farming in the rural I pause for a moment to consider the future challenge economy, market towns and the hinterland of rural of mental health in the farming community, particularly communities. I am an enthusiastic advocate of the in rural communities. I pay tribute to all the charities Government rural-proofing all their policies on health, involved. social care, education and transport, so that they are fit for purpose in a rural setting. Rural communities As well as broader issues in the Environment Bill, must have good access to banking and post offices, in view of the fact that landfill sites are full to bursting, access to cash so that the elderly, young families and should we be exporting our waste to Holland, Denmark others can pay their bills, affordable housing and good and Turkey or looking to expand the opportunities for transport, as well as fast-speed broadband and good energy from waste at home? Can my noble friend mobile connectivity. confirm that the Environment Bill extends to the 383 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 384

[BARONESS MCINTOSH OF PICKERING] will be. The Government must endorse the Construction marine environment and that the Government will use Leadership Council’s retrofit strategy to upgrade our that opportunity to ensure that offshore wind farms in 20 million existing homes and, alongside that, there the North Sea are environmentally safe and friendly. must be sustained and substantial government investment Finally, given the rule of the OEP, how will the in long-term financial support and incentives. Until Government guarantee that it operates independently? that happens, business plans, investments and skills How will its relationship with its opposite bodies in training will remain in limbo, and the idea of hitting Scotland and Northern Ireland work? any targets a mirage. The gracious Speech is silent on all this. Surely if the Government want to exert maximum leverage on their international partners at COP 26, 6.40 pm they would surely be wise to get the infamous Whitehall Lord Stunell (LD) [V]: My Lords, there have been grid of announcements into alignment with that outcome manyexcellent contributions to the debate today,including in November. those of the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Finally, will the Minister agree to take back to his Morse. I am sorry to add yet more to the Minister’s department and the Cabinet Office the message from workload at the wind-up, but I can at least start by your Lordships’ House, coming from every side in this welcoming the announcement that the building safety debate, of our genuine concern that the unique Bill will come before your Lordships’House this Session. opportunity to build a strong international consensus I urge the Government to give this Bill every priority in Glasgow is being weakened by every day of delay in to achieve that. Can the Minister confirm that it will making public their plans for the future? be published before the fourth anniversary on 14 June of the Grenfell Tower fire? The residents and survivors 6.45 pm have waited long enough. Lord Berkeley (Lab) [V]: There is very little new on As the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans transport in the Queen’s Speech, apart from promising reminded us, Ministers gave repeated pledges during a Bill for HS2 from Crewe to Manchester. As my noble the passage of the then Fire Safety Bill that a friend Lady Jones of Whitchurch said, there was a comprehensive scheme to deliver necessary initial finance distinct lack of ambition for the transport sector in for remediation work on defective high-rise residential the Queen’s Speech. So, at the start of this new Session, blocks would be in the new Bill. We on these Benches it is time to review the purpose, benefits and likely will be holding the Government to account for those outcome for HS2, and to ask again whether it is pledges. Will the Minister undertake to publish an needed at all. early draft of the scheme of remediation and According to cost engineer Michael Byng, to whom compensation that they propose, and to engage with I pay tribute for his professionalism and work in your Lordships’ House and leaseholder organisations checking the cost of HS2, the latest cost estimate is at the earliest practicable moment? £158 billion. Many would think that some of that The gracious Speech also highlighted the urgency could be better spent on improving the regional lines of climate change and the November COP 26 session, in the Midlands and the north, which need about which will be hosted by the United Kingdom. The £100 billion more to meet their levelling-up needs. Government have set what I am sure the Minister HS2 costs have risen tenfold over 10 years, and it is would describe as “world-beating” targets for carbon time to bring to account those who have promoted it reduction for the UK right the way through to 2050, and withheld information from Parliament and the but the gracious Speech was notably silent about how public since 2015-16. they plan to hit those targets. One thing is certain: a I welcome the very powerful maiden speech by the wholehearted partnership will be needed between central noble Lord, Lord Morse. The National Audit Office and local government and between Governments of has of course regularly investigated HS2’s costs and all sorts and industry, as well as civic society, to get programme overruns. Quotes about its reports include: anywhere near successful outcomes. “Ministers have no idea how much HS2 will end up costing” Industry is rightly wary of targets that are boldly and: announced by this Government. Industry always needs “The high-speed rail project is running wildly over budget and to see hard evidence of long-term planning and investment will not deliver good value for money”. by the Government before it can take the risk itself of My worry, which I am sure the noble Lord will share, investing time and money in the learning of new skills, is why the Government ignore such advice and comments. and the investment in training and in plant, that is So I suggest that we go back 10 years, when there needed to deliver those targets on time. The experience was a comprehensive campaign of cover-up to Parliament of the green homes grant last year—announced completely of the true costs and delays. At a Commons Select without consultation with just three months’ notice Committee hearing on phase 1, the DfT’s Permanent and cancelled after six months, leaving 40,000 applicants Secretary, Bernadette Kelly, when asked why her in the lurch—has undermined whatever appetite industry department had not given the Select Committee the might have had for running the risk of being left latest and highest estimate, said that if they had done stranded again by yet another government initiative. so, Parliament would probably have cancelled the project. To achieve zero-carbon success, the Government In January 2017 the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, who will have to take the lead in joining up the dots of both was then Transport Minister, arranged a meeting for policy and investment. For a start, the long-delayed Michael Byng and me with an official from HS2, a heat and building strategy and the net-zero strategy man called John Stretch, and an official at the Department must be published. We have to know what the rules for Transport called Mike Hurn, to discuss the budget 385 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 386 for phase 1. The noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, expressed In view of what we have just heard from the noble surprised that Mr Stretch declined to provide a detailed, Lord, Lord Berkeley, I feel it necessary to go down a measured estimate in support of the costs that he was rather different path. The Government are commendably tabling. Later, during a meeting at the Oakervee review, engaged in levelling up, with emphasis on the north of which I was deputy chair for a bit, HS2 directors and the Midlands. There is no question that these admitted that they had no budget for measuring the parts of the country need jobs and houses. In such a work, despite having spent £11.4 million on cost large-scale exercise, a vast and efficient train network consultants. is essential. To my mind, HS2 is a vital part of that if It was very odd that during 2018-19 Nus Ghani we are to transform in an upward direction the economies MP, the Minister of Transport, and Mark Thurston, in parts of the country that have lagged behind. chief executive of HS2, both stuck to the £55.7 billion Furthermore, the Government should put it beyond figure when all the evidence led to new chairman doubt that HS2 phase 2b will proceed. The east Midlands Allan Cook’s stock-take of £88 billion, which of course not having the benefits of the West Midlands and east left out quite a few elements of HS2 that would have of the Pennines not having the benefits of west of the taken it up to £100 billion. More recently I have Pennines is unthinkable. The noble Lord, Lord Snape, received documents alleging that the Said Business said he thought the Treasury had severe doubts, but School’s Professor Bent Flyvbjerg confirmed his earlier perhaps he should remember that part of the Treasury advice, given in 2015-16 to the then Leader of the being moved up to the north-east might bring about a Conservative Party,who of course is now Prime Minister. change of opinion. The forecast cost is supported by a presentation given in January 2018 by Jeremy Harrison, then director of In terms of better rail services, it should not be risk and assurance at HS2, in which he stated that the forgotten that levelling up is long overdue in parts of total value of contracts for the entire project—without the south and east. I point to the Anglian region— risk allowance—exceeded £80 billion. So the Prime reminding your Lordships of my interest as chair of Minister and other Ministers knew of this £80 billion the West Anglia Taskforce—where the east coast ports figure in 2015-16. One has to ask why the Minister, have a great strategic significance for our country. The Nus Ghani, and the chief executive, Mark Thurston, freight conveyed from them, largely by rail, needs to said three years later that the budget was still £55 billion. be assisted by increasing the capacity of the Ely junction, The latest cost increase will be at Old Oak Common a proposal which I think is subject to public inquiry at at the London end, where Michael Byng has finally the moment. The West Anglia Main Line is only a costed the station at £7.1 billion, compared to a cost two-track railway, its third and fourth tracks having estimate from the noble Baroness, Lady Vere, of been removed after the recommendations of Lord £1.67 billion. This is only a fourfold increase in costs—I Beeching some 60 years ago. That two-track railway suppose that is all right for HS2—but it does not has to support increased frequency in north-east London, include the cost of passenger disruption for trains the needs of Stansted Airport—the third London using Paddington station, which will have its train and airport—and the expanding biomedical campus at seat capacity halved for four years during the building. Cambridge. Not all these things can be done on a It is very clear that many DfT and HS2 officials and two-track system in a way that satisfies any of the Ministers, with the honourable exception of the noble customers. Lord, Lord Ahmad, have misled Parliament over years. Liverpool Street station, which is the London central The NAO has stated that lessons need to be learned— terminus for the West Anglia line, is an admirable Victorian structure but has very little scope to become Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): I remind the a modern railway station meeting the needs of passengers, noble Lord of the five-minute advisory speaking time. and it is now severely congested. There is now the possibility—or has been the possibility—that Stratford Lord Berkeley (Lab): I am grateful for the reminder, might also be a destination for trains on the West but a Bishop was recently allowed to carry on for six Anglia line. But the only space left that could possibly minutes and 40 seconds, so may I finish? accommodate an extra platform at Stratford is more Doug Oakervee has stated that pressure from the likely to be used, I am told, as an entertainment venue. construction industry persuaded him to recommend The congestion already on the line makes it very that HS2 went ahead. This need could have been met difficult to encourage freight to be taken on the West equally well by regional upgrades in the Midlands and Anglia line and off the roads which, otherwise, it has the north, so I suggest that HS2 be stopped now and to use. the relevant officials and Ministers held to account for I look forward to learning how the promised railway misleading Parliament. White Paper assesses these and all the many other competing demands that I know exist. I suggest it The Deputy Speaker (The Earl of Kinnoull) (CB): might be helpful to have a clear,visible and comprehensive My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Lytton, has withdrawn, rail plan to take us forward, setting out all desirable so I call the noble Lord, Lord Haselhurst. improvements, what each might achieve and at what cost. It might also show how an entire project could be 6.51 pm divided into sequential sections, some of which might Lord Haselhurst (Con) [V]: My Lords, I add my attract local authority and private sector development. congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and My hope is for nothing less than a railway revolution Lord Morse. I thought their maiden speeches were that will help to galvanise our economic regeneration admirable. throughout the country. 387 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 388

6.56 pm The harm that happens to children online does not stay online. Children who are groomed on chat forums Baroness Benjamin (LD) [V]: My Lords, two important and apps often go out to meet their abusers, in person, issues that need to be high on the Government’s priority in the community.Wetherefore need alternative activities list are the environment and children and young people’s for children so that they are not reliant on the online well-being. If these issues are not addressed urgently, world. We need safe places, such as youth clubs and the consequences are dire. I was pleased to hear both community centres, for young people to congregate mentioned in the gracious Speech, but the policies do and interact safely, under supervision, because today not go far enough. many children find themselves victims of crime. They The planting of trees is just one way of making an may see someone they know murdered and have to impact on climate change, and I am honoured to have deal with the unbelievable trauma that that entails. been appointed an ambassador for the Queen’s Green Will the Government start to open youth clubs across Canopy to encourage the planting of trees all over the the country to help stop children and young people UK in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee resorting to joining gangs, which lead them down next year. It is great that Defra is involved with this county lines, on a path of knife crime and drug abuse, initiative, but the Government need to do much more with sometimes fatal consequences? by working across departments on a coherent strategy, The gracious Speech contains some welcome signs as it will take an army of planters to reach the that children’s needs are now being taken seriously Government’s goal of 30,000 hectares of trees a year. but, as always, much will depend on the funding When the Government are considering areas where available and the Government’swillingness to be ambitious trees can be planted, are they also looking at local on behalf of those who need us most. To ensure that employment levels? Will there be a training and skills this happens, will the Government respond to the call, component to it to ensure that planting is successful? by me and others, for a Cabinet-level Minister for Currently, most trees are being planted by the devolved Children, whose role will be to co-ordinate policies nations, so England needs to up its game massively, that affect children—our future? and the Treasury needs to release the funds to make this happen, because in the last financial year, only 7.01 pm 1,956 hectares of trees were planted with government support. The Duke of Wellington (CB): My Lords, I speak on the environment—one of the themes of today’s debate— The announcement of a skills Bill is welcome, but and, in particular, the urgent need to improve the what is being done to put climate at the heart of quality of water in our river systems. The gracious under-16 education, encouraging children to develop Speech includes a commitment to “set binding an interest in gardening and consider a career in environmental targets”. I imagine that this mainly horticulture? Perhaps the Minister will let us know refers to carbon emissions, but I suggest that Ministers whether this is on the cards. We now know that should be more concerned about the shocking amounts children in communities across the UK have suffered of raw sewage, plastic and other domestic products disproportionately during the pandemic. We do not that are daily allowed to enter our rivers. yet know exactly what impact this will have on their future. What is certain is that the Government owe it I wonder whether the Minister watched “Panorama” to the younger generation to put them front and centre on BBC1, five weeks ago. The programme was entitled of their plans, because childhood lasts a lifetime. “The River Pollution Scandal”. I think it is required viewing for Ministers and officials in the Department Play is something I have been long associated with. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.The programme It was great to see play mentioned in the SNP’s election is not easy to watch, as it shows, in a most revolting promise to renew every playground in Scotland, and way, the amount of untreated, raw sewage discharged to hear the call by the Association of Play Industries into rivers and the used domestic products that now for the Prime Minister to match that pledge because of cover the beds of the Thames and other rivers. the big decrease in play areas over the years. It is In the previous Session, there was a Private Member’s shameful that parents are having to resort to crowdfunding Bill in the other place tabled by the right honourable to save their local playgrounds, as reported in an Member for Ludlow, Philip Dunne, which sought to article in the Guardian. A report from the University limit these discharges and prohibit certain plastic products of Reading also confirmed the importance of playgrounds, entering the sewage system. Unfortunately, the with its finding that, away from home, the most common Government were not prepared to accept or take over place for children to play is in a playground or green Philip Dunne’s Bill. I have therefore tabled a similar space. Will the Minister confirm that the Government Private Member’s Bill in this House and have been will encourage local authorities to maintain and improve allotted 12th position in the ballot, but I would much playgrounds and green spaces for the nation’s children prefer to persuade the Minister and his colleagues to to enjoy? amend the Environment Bill so that it has the same I declare an interest as vice-president of Barnardo’s. intent and rigour as Philip Dunne’s Bill. It has long called for a family hub in every community. On the day after the Queen’sSpeech, Defra announced The goal should be to provide a safety net long before that it would table amendments in this House to place families reach crisis point. Will the Government make three additional legal duties on the Secretary of State: funding available so that every community can have to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage this vital resource for a community centre to act as discharges, to report to Parliament progress on the family hub? implementing the plan and to require water companies 389 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 390 to publish annual data on these discharges. I say to The Government’s building safety Bill offers an Ministers as politely as I can that this is far too little opportunity to make a significant contribution to and shows no sense of urgency.Wehave two Ministers— ending the reputation of the home as the most dangerous the noble Lord, Lord Goldsmith, in this House, and place in Britain. RoSPA’s concern for safety in the Rebecca Pow, in the other place—both of whom care home has led it to work with representatives of the passionately about the environment. housebuilding industry,and together they have developed If a farmer allows a cupful of silage effluent or a new framework for safety in the home, called Safer other farm waste to drip into a ditch, he will find by Design. Among other things, this framework calls himself in trouble with the Environment Agency, but for the adoption of British Standard 5395 on stair water companies are allowed to release millions of design, which is backed by industry as being commercially gallons of raw sewage into rivers every year. There was and technically viable and creating a radically improved a piece on Radio 4 on Saturday about Ilkley in West safety outcome, with 60% fewer falls on stairs designed Yorkshire. The locals have calculated that on more to this standard. than 100 days a year, raw sewage is discharged into the The Government have an ambitious housebuilding River Wharfe. The water company’s response is that it programme and I am sure that they are equally ambitious plans to reduce the discharges by 20% over five years. I that when houses are built, the safety of the occupants cannot believe that any Member of your Lordships’ is seen as essential. I can tell them that “safer by House thinks that this is good enough. Will the Minister design” was crafted to fulfil that ambition. Their state whether he thinks that the situation in Ilkley is involvement in the project would signal a clear intention acceptable? to make the home a safer place. On my way here this morning, I read with great I urge the Minister and his colleagues in the other interest a press release from Ofwat, the water regulator, place to use the Building Safety Bill to demonstrate entitled: their direction of purpose by first addressing the critical “Water sector to plunge £2.8 billion into the green recovery” issue of staircase safety. This would require that the I thought that it might have pre-empted my speech new British Standard not only be in this Bill but be but, sadly, when I read further, I found that only just made mandatory. Many lives would be saved as a over 5% of this sum is to be devoted result, and it would also prevent Britain’s best builders “to help eliminate harm caused by storm overflows”. being undercut by those in the industry who are prepared Surely this is an insufficient reaction to the seriousness to sacrifice safety in pursuit of profit. If the tragedy of of the situation. Grenfell has taught us anything, it is that measures I conclude by asking Her Majesty’s Government to designed to secure people’s safety must not be optional. think again. Should cleaning up our rivers not be a I look forward to the Minister’s reply. higher and more urgent priority? I ask my fellow Members of this House to support appropriate 7.11 pm amendments that we intend to table when the Environment Bill reaches us. Lord Balfe (Con): My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches. I draw attention to my 7.06 pm entry in the register, in particular my presidency of Lord Jordan (Lab) [V]: My Lords, I want to talk BALPA, the pilots’ union. I am addressing what is about the proposed building safety Bill referred to in fundamentally a transport issue to the Minister. I Her Majesty’s gracious Speech. In doing so, I declare realise that he is not a transport Minister, so all I am an interest as vice-president of the Royal Society for going to ask him to do is to say that he will pass my the Prevention of Accidents. comments on to the Transport Minister and ask her to respond to me in writing. That is as much as I could Following the tragedy at Grenfell, the Government’s really hope for. response in bringing forward further legislation is welcome, and this House has rightly spent much time The subject I want to raise is the problem of what is debating and discussing fire safety. However, I draw called the potential airline insolvency Bill. This issue the Minister’s attention to another area of building has been around for two or three years. It comes to the safety as crucial and urgent as fire safety. Is he aware fore when an airline such as Monarch goes under, and that a person in this country is 234 times more likely to then it disappears from the headlines and people forget be hospitalised from a fall in the home than from a all about it—until the next tragedy happens. fire, and that almost one-third of a million people In March 2019, the Airline Insolvency Review attend accident and emergency each year because of published its full report. We are now two years and falls? Unsurprisingly, the majority of them are elderly two months on from that. Just over a year ago, before people, given that 12 million people in the UK are now the Covid shutdown, I table a QSD asking for a over the age of 65. Most Members of this House will report, and the then Minister what had happened and know someone who has had a fall in this way and be what was going to come forward. First, the review aware of the consequences that falls can have. As well called for arrangements to be put in place to finance as the physical injuries caused by a fall in the home, it the cost of protecting customers. Everyone will remember will often be a catalyst for a longer decline in health that when an airline goes bust, you suddenly have from which many never recover. The cumulative cost customers all over the world who need to be brought of this, in terms of the pain and suffering inflicted on home. Secondly, it proposed that the airlines themselves individuals and their families and the cost to the NHS, should fund a financial package that would cover which is estimated at £4.4 billion, is unacceptable. these eventualities and the cost of repatriating passengers. 391 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 392

[LORD BALFE] the Covid fund and through climate finance, which is Thirdly, it said that some legislative cover was needed becoming the major concern of environmentalists in a for all of this. It is not only passengers who are world of chronic indebtedness. affected; people often forget that staff are also affected. If an airline goes bust, the staff are just left with the The UK’s COP 26 January statement says that administrators; they do not even get their wages paid. developed countries must come forward with an ambitious Of course, in the case of airline pilots, they could not post-2020 climate finance pledge list to achieve and only have no wages; they could be on the other side of surpass the $100 billion a year goal. The noble Lord, the world. There are severe difficulties. The suggestion, Lord Goldsmith, said on 28 April that we would be which I think very sensible, is a kind of US chapter 11 doubling our international climate finance to £11.6 billion situation whereby an airline could keep flying for a by 2025 and that we would commit at least £3 billion short time in order to bring passengers back and get a of it to protecting the natural world. These are impressive sensible wind-down. figures. The Government are right to be proud of them and of the UK’s record; but what do they mean This is not an area of great controversy. I do not in practice? think that the party opposite would find any difficulties with this; indeed, the vice-president of BALPA is the Alok Sharma says we need to drive up global noble Lord, Lord Whitty, with whom I have a very collaboration. Are we doing this? Are we sharing good relationship. I would therefore like the Minister green technology and providing expertise in, for example, to put to his colleague that this is exactly the sort of east Africa and Nigeria, which have become priority Bill that could be introduced in the Lords, that would areas? All our trade agreements must surely reflect this be unlikely to cause any great problem here and that necessity and become spurs of action against climate could then be sent down the Corridor. It is something change. How will the Government end their support we need, particularly at the moment, when the aviation for fossil fuels overseas? Can the Minister give examples? industry is in dire trouble. He will know that much of eastern Europe has long It will take some time to get it out of that trouble. been dependent on brown coal and coal-fired power There are a lot of problems, which I am not going to stations. I saw two of them outside Pristina in Kosovo, go into, associated with reopening the industry.Certainly, smoking away. Will the UK put climate finance into the transatlantic routes need opening up, because that finding alternative sources of energy in the Balkans? is where the principal finance comes from. I would be My noble friend Lord Broers points the way with grateful if the Minister took that on board. hydrogen. I make one other observation before I close. It is Then, on our own doorstep, we have the Cumbria now two years since the Government promised a workers’ project, a genuine dilemma for this country, which is rights Bill to look at basic problems such as the gig setting an example to others. The noble Lord, Lord economy and employment regulations. This is another Lansley, mentioned incentives and the noble Viscount, issue that has not been addressed in the gracious Lord Hanworth, said that we need more imagination. Speech. Will the Government look at introducing not Surely, we now have politically to decide to phase it a complex but a simple Bill to sort out some of the out, even if it takes years to achieve. How else can we manifest injustices and to correct the law as it has been hold our heads up? applied according to successive court judgments? There needs to be some tidying up in this area as well. I hope The noble Lord, Lord Goldsmith, has said that that the Minister will be able to write letters to get “The UK is the first major donor nation to commit to making other people to do the work to address the two suggestions its entire ODA portfolio compliant with the Paris Agreement.”— I have made. [Official Report, 28/4/21; col. GC 559] This is a remarkable claim, even if the amount of 7.16 pm ODA has fallen, and I hope that the Government can The Earl of Sandwich (CB) [V]: My Lords, I am stand by it. However, does it mean that even less is deserting foreign affairs todayin favour of the environment going into other forms of aid? The poorest countries because of the importance of climate change to all of are not the culprits. Someone has worked out that the us. I also declare my interest as a farmer and NFU entire carbon consumption of sub-Saharan Africa is member, especially because my family is committed to less than that of one small country in Europe. What rewilding and biodiversity—amid the hailstones in we should be concerned about is the proportionately west Dorset. Here, I congratulate the noble Lord, far higher cost of climate change in the LDCs than Lord Gardiner, on his achievements as a Minister; he anywhere else. They know this, but we are slow to has done really well and I look forward to the Environment realise it. Bill. I welcome my noble friend Lord Morse to the Let us not characterise ourselves as good Samaritans Cross Benches; and I welcome the noble Lord, Lord handing out money to developing countries. Global Coaker, who is a great campaigner against modern Britain need not remain a nation of shopkeepers and slavery. consumers, making money out of the poor, importing Today I will focus on this Government’s international cheap products, condoning corruption and, in many policy on the environment. The Covid pandemic is cases, failing to meet environmental labour and human teaching us some urgent lessons about sharing the rights standards. We now need to look outwards to world’s resources. These lessons apply as much to spread more ideas on green technology, alternative poverty reduction and climate change as they do to fuels, diversification and the engagement of the private vaccines. In fact, the two are closely entwined through sector. We have an obligation to share our resources, 393 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 394 just like our vaccines, spreading common knowledge based approach. Two years have gone by and the and helping other countries to develop their own response so far has been disappointing, to put it very climate change strategies. gently. I will give four examples. Finally, I am glad to see that Parliament is now In late 2019, the government promised £5 billion taking climate change seriously. The IDC has launched for full-fibre broadband everywhere by 2025. In spring an inquiry about climate change in time for Glasgow. 2020, those figures were cut to £1.2 billion and 85%, There are at least three other Commons committees with no commitment to bring rural areas up to urban and a new one in the Lords following climate change, standards. so all government departments will have to cope with Fourteen recommendations related to the much-hyped their recommendations. UK shared prosperity fund, which was promised way back in 2017. A full consultation was promised in 7.21 pm 2018, but no full open consultation has yet taken Baroness Mallalieu (Lab) [V]: My Lords, the noble place. Lord, Lord Coaker, brought us passion and poetry, The first report by Defra on rural proofing has and the noble Lord, Lord Morse, is going to bring been published, but it deserves no more than three out formidable financial expertise.I welcome and congratulate of 10. In a number of Bills, no such exercise appears to them both. I would like to focus on rural communities, have been performed at all. In others, simply adding for which I had hoped to see more in the gracious the words “and rural” seems to have been considered Speech but sadly did not. In doing so, I remind the enough. This was clearly set out in a letter dated House of my rural and farming interests as set out in 17 March from the noble Lord, Lord McFall, to the the register. noble Lord, Lord Gardiner, in the respective jobs they As we know, farming, which of course manages then occupied. and maintains our landscapes which we all revere, Above all, our most central and urgent faces a seismic change with a reduction in farm support, recommendation for a comprehensive rural strategy the need to find new markets, new overseas competition, was rejected by the Government. Instead, they said potential additional cost burdens imposed by climate that they would be producing their own vision. Two change and animal welfare legislation. All of that is years later, we are still waiting, and I cannot see any against a background of reduced profitability and an sign of it in the gracious Speech. Can the Minister tell ageing population. The threat to the future of the us when rural Britain can expect to see that vision traditional family farm, especially in the uplands, has become a reality? never been greater and without a government focus to help keep them in business, and help with increasing 7.26 pm productivity and diversification, we are going to end Baroness Browning (Con) [V]: My Lords, I too up with industrial-scale farming in their place. welcome the maiden speeches of the noble Lord, Lord We are getting a planning Bill. More houses are Coaker, with whom I served in the House of Commons, clearly needed and some of them have to be built in and the noble Lord, Lord Morse—I served for many rural areas. But if we are not to destroy rural communities years on the Public Accounts Committee, and I am and their different, special way of life, then that Bill sure that his future contributions will be much valued has to show sensitivity to local decisions. New housing in the House of Lords. in small communities can work well when local people I will focus on community and welfare. Cohesive have the final say on where it is to go, how it looks, and communities thrive when vulnerable minorities do not if it has a meaningful, affordable element—but not fall through the safety net. I welcome the Government’s when 200 executive homes are tacked on to a village support for rough sleepers. When Covid struck last with no additional infrastructure, adequate transport year, we all felt a sense of relief when we saw how or suitable roads. quickly rough sleepers were accommodated. It seems Almost exactly two years ago, a Select Committee right to build on that now.I welcome the announcement of this House, chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Foster of £203 million this year, including for 2,700 support of Bath, and containing a number of others, including staff. myself, who have spoken today or are about to speak, Dealing with rough sleeping is not just about providing published a report on the rural economy. That report a much-needed roof. Support for mental health, addiction recognised the changes and challenges, which are now and all areas of life is needed to help get people off the a reality, but also the opportunities by which the streets. The Government are to be commended for digital revolution, properly encouraged, could transform their action, as well as for the initiative in the gracious the rural economy, reverse years of underperformance Speech on drug addiction. In particular, I welcome the under successive Governments and improve the quality Government’s support for both treatment and recovery; of life for the nation as a whole. We saw how that this will not just stop at the distribution of methadone. could happen ourselves in places where local authorities, In his opening remarks, my noble friend briefly planners and a number of rural-minded LEPs—of mentioned one or two benefits. I want to speak about which there were, sadly, few—could help bring about disability benefits for those of working age—in particular, dynamic new enterprises with locals and newcomers personal independence payment, or PIP,and employment working together yet retain that special and different and support allowance, or ESA. Next spring, Scotland sense of community. plans to give disabled people more choice as to how Our central recommendation was for an urgent, they can apply for disability benefits. This will be by effective rural strategy underpinned by better rural phone, email or online, and there will be support and proofing of legislation and delivered through a locally more information about their entitlement. The assessment 395 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 396

[BARONESS BROWNING] Looking at the levelling-up fund and more broadly, will involve people who are qualified and specialists in I ask the Minister the following questions, in a spirit of the disability they are assessing. I believe that the willingness to help him and his colleagues learn from Government should do the same and not take time real, practical experience on the ground, gained over before doing it. many years. First, are the Government going to be a At present, we know that, of the people who apply learning organisation? Have they looked at what has for personal independence payment and are refused, worked well and what has not in previous regeneration more than 70% win on appeal. This is a formidable programmes? Can the Minister share the insights that process which can take many months while appellants his department has learned from its experience of wait without any money. Not everyone can use a running previous programmes, when putting together computer or use online. This is often said of older the levelling-up fund and other build back better people, but it also applies to some younger people. programmes? We all now need to get very interested in practitioners, not talkers and commentators. Coroners have also identified that the difficulty that some disabled people have had in applying for disability Secondly, is there sufficient focus on joining the benefits has been so dire that it has contributed to dots in the integration of funding streams and services, their death. Some 82 deaths are recorded where the and bringing together other partners, for example benefit has been terminated. It is no wonder that the from health, education, and the private and social charity Sense believes that 61% of disabled people feel sectors? Are we willing to learn from best practice in that they are second-class citizens. the place-making space? My colleagues and I are As a Member of Parliament for over 18 years, I was working with some of the largest businesses in the able to support people in need of disability benefits, country, and the public sector, in precisely this space. but I too have struggled with some of the cases I have We are happy to share our practical learning and point supported recently.Letters are sent with helpful telephone to the blockages that are preventing real change in numbers and, when you ring them, it is just an automaton some of our most challenged communities. replying, always just directing you to the website. Thirdly, is there sufficient focus on change and Nobody is there to give help—so how people with innovation, and entrepreneurial approaches to disabilities are expected to cope, I really do not know. transformation, in projects that deliver quality and But these things are important and serious. Disability, excellence in our most challenged communities? Many however it occurs, can be a disease that degenerates. Civil Service processes, we have noticed over the years, Mental health itself is not an exact science. Terminal are great at putting old men in new clothes. Little illness should not be based on an arbitrary six months. changes: real learning and transformation rarely happen. Over nine months? Then the answer is no. The Our inner cities are littered with previous short-term Government have the power to change this, like Scotland three-year government and lottery-funded programmes has, and I hope that they do. that came to very little because they were not built on and did not take the long view. Does government 7.31 pm understand that pumping money into some situations can drive perverse decision-making? Are this Government Lord Mawson (CB): My Lords, my colleagues and I serious about moving beyond business as usual? It is a have spent the last 14 months operating at the sharp sign of madness to repeat the same processes and end in challenging communities across the country. expect different results. We can see in detail what is happening outside the Chamber. We have been taking the principles and Fourthly, as the taps are turned on and money is learning from the last 36 years of practical work in spent, is government going to be interested in the challenging communities in east London, and in the people question this time? Will we be looking at the Olympic Park, into challenging communities initially leaders, backers and bidders and their practical track in the north of England, and now nationally, through records? Will we learn from the best? Will we be the Well North programme. With local people and concerned about the individuals who will be responsible public and business sector partners, we have created for these programmes and plans—not just process, innovation platforms in towns and cities across the strategy and plan? The modern entrepreneurial world country, which focus on practice at the front edge of is all about people and relationships before structures; the issues that this Queen’s Speech addresses. I declare does our Civil Service understand this? Can we learn my interests. from the UK’s Covid vaccine programme—the best in the world, because key people with key skills and I welcome the focus in the Queen’s Speech on experience were empowered to get on with it? How levelling up in health, innovation, skills and infrastructure, can we learn that lesson? and the attempt to bring together funding streams and create a more integrated approach. This is the right I ask the Minister to consider all of these points direction of travel. However, some of us have been when considering the large shared prosperity fund, here before and the proof of the pudding will be in the which will replace the EU structural funds. Could he detail and implementation. The UK has not always ensure that the voluntary and social enterprise sectors had a good track record of translating Bills into are not precluded from being invited to bid for these effective, transformational programmes. My colleagues large-scale government programmes, as well as public and I have the grey hairs to prove it. We have tried bodies? In some parts of the country, the Government before to bend other funding schemes developed by might want to ask themselves: are the public sector our Civil Service, which has often failed to grasp the and local government actually up to the task? Do practical realities at the front end. they have the necessary skills and insights to do 397 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 398 transformation—orarethelimitationsof localgovernment that families get them. The reality is that parents are and the public sector, and the calibre of their people consistently saying that these services are not reaching and their limited insights and skills, actually preventing them. transformation and the development of a more On mental health, the Government have recently entrepreneurial culture? announced a £79 million package of mental health There is a lot to play for. My colleagues and I want support but have not allocated any of it specifically for to support this Government at this important time, disabled children and their families, despite the over- but the devil in the detail really matters. whelming evidence that they have felt a disproportionate impact from Covid and therefore require tailored interventions. It begs the question of why. Perhaps the 7.36 pm Minister can tell us. Lord Touhig (Lab) [V]: My Lords, I pay tribute to This brings me to the promised national disability my noble friend Lord Coaker and the noble Lord, strategy. In the 2019 manifesto, and highlighted in the Lord Morse, for two excellent maiden speeches. I have previous Queen’s Speech, the Government promised a known my noble friend Lord Coaker for many years, national disability strategy.They promised to transform and we collaborated in recent times as members of the the lives of disabled people, ensuring that they have Council of Europe. I have also known the noble Lord, access to opportunities and can achieve their potential. Lord Morse, for many years, and, when I served on They promised that it will be ambitious, supporting the Public Accounts Committee in the other place, I disabled people in all aspects and phases of their lives. greatly admired his leadership of the NAO. They promised to publish the strategy in 2020. Alas, it Some years ago, when I was MP for Islwyn, I was delayed, we were told, due to coronavirus. became the president of a charity called Access, working to support disabled people and their families in the We are now told that the Government will publish south Wales valleys. I learned a lot about our disabled the strategy this spring. Time is running out, and I fellow citizens. Most strikingly, one Saturday, the group echo my noble friend Lady Sherlock in asking: can the invited two able-bodied supporters to sit in wheelchairs Minister tell us when the strategy will be published? and invited me to push one of them up and down Can he assuage our fears that it will have insufficient Blackwood high street. focus on children? It is vital that it addresses the issues Although I did not realise it at the start, they were faced by disabled children and their families. Even educating me. As I walked up and down and people before the pandemic, the system was in crisis, with stopped me to talk, I immediately sensed that, for people having great difficulties. Too often, families can some—perhaps too many—there was unease about get the support that they need only once they get to a the person in the wheelchair. Not one person who crisis point. It is important that the strategy provides stopped and spoke to me spoke to the person in the great support for children and their families, but it is wheelchair. It then struck me: had I also been like that time that we had some answers. Disabled children and in former times? Had I passed and ignored wheelchair- their families are not second-class citizens. They deserve bound people? I tell the story because, in today’s better, and they deserve some answers now. Britain, we are told that the new mantra is “levelling up”—but our disabled fellow citizens would say, “Level up by all means, but first notice me. Don’t ignore me. I 7.41 pm have the same rights as you; I have human rights”. Baroness Thornhill (LD) [V]: My Lords, this has Like many colleagues,I support the Disabled Children’s been a wide-ranging and fascinating debate, and my Partnership, a coalition of some 80 charities. Its January contribution will focus solely on one aspect of the survey, The Longest Lockdown, revealed that much-heralded planning reforms: public engagement, “disabled children are not receiving support for their disability or or the lack thereof. medical condition via health services or their school placement. I am certain, judging by the controversy stirred up Parents report a detrimental impact on their child’s disability” by the release last August of the Planning for the and reduced levels of informal and formal support. Future White Paper and a wide range of ongoing Families say that delays to routine health appointments consultations, that this will be one of the most contentious had a “negative impact” on their child’s condition, Bills of this Queen’s Speech. There will be ample time causing anxiety,behavioural problems,sleep loss,loneliness to dissect the Bill when it eventually comes before us, and depression. but I have huge concerns that the Government are Its March survey, The Loneliest Lockdown, focused taking neither the public nor their own MPs with them on the impact that Covid had had on the mental on this important journey to solve our housing crisis, health and well-being of disabled children and their and thus they are probably doomed to failure. parents and siblings. It revealed that disabled children I have noted in the press over the last week that endured “serious mental health issues”during lockdown MPs from the shire counties are already organising to and that a high proportion of families were socially oppose these reforms. The Government have already isolated—almost 50% of disabled children had not caved in to these MPs by scrapping the algorithm that seen a friend for a month, either online or in person. produced the new targets, so they got some reduction To be fair, the Government advised that service in their targets, while urban areas saw theirs increased. providers should continue to deliver and prioritise In Watford, ours have been tripled in recent years, different support, such as respite care and therapies. resulting in our oven-ready local plan having to be However, advising services to continue does not mean scrapped and started again. 399 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 400

[BARONESS THORNHILL] broken national conversation about development in In my former position as an elected mayor,development which local authorities, planners and councillors feel was a very real and constant worry. Sadly, development as though they are everybody’s scapegoats, whether management meetings were usually acrimonious, with for building too little or too much. If the Government the anger and bewilderment of the public evident. are serious about solving our housing crisis, they must Their main cry was: “Why don’t you just say no?” As first convince the public that there is one. That key we all know,councils cannot “just say no”to government issue is ignored in this Queen’s Speech. policy, yet, as was shown in the recent local elections, councillors of different parties and in different parts 7.47 pm of the country are being punished at the ballot box for what is seen by their electors as overdevelopment. Lord Inglewood (Non-Afl) [V]: My Lords, like others, Planning by appeal is not a sign of good governance, I congratulate the two noble Lords who made their but it gets you on the side of the voters, with cheers at maiden speeches in this debate. I will start my remarks the planning committee, only for hopes to be dashed where the noble Lords, Lord Campbell-Savours and as inspectors overturn the decisions on appeal. Currently, Lord Clark of Windermere, concluded on day one of about a third of appeals go in the developers’ favour, this debate on the gracious Speech. I refer to the which in the Government’s eyes means that too many controversy surrounding Newton Rigg College near schemes are being refused that should be approved. Penrith, where I studied myself. As chair of the Cumbria Presumably it is to avoid that there are also plans to Local Enterprise Partnership, I considered it inappropriate penalise local planning authorities when they lose publicly to man the barricades on this matter; rather, I appeals. have been busy behind the scenes, including keeping the noble Lord, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, up to date The planning reforms will further dilute democratic with my concerns. However, now that the Cumbrian involvement. We believe that they are being introduced campus has publicly been placed on the market, with a precisely because public engagement is difficult and view to unilaterally expatriating the proceeds to Yorkshire, challenging, and so the Government are finding ways I feel free to express my personal feelings and anger, of bypassing it altogether without actually saying so. shared by so many other Cumbrians. Where are the plans to change this confrontational narrative and to press the need for more homes and Together with the chief executive of the Cumbria for more appropriate housing, such as social housing, Local Enterprise Partnership, I was a witness at a supported housing and homes for the elderly? hearing of the other place’s EFRA Committee on 23 March this year. In the same session, there were The reforms will mean that the future focus of local two witnesses from Askham Bryan College, neither of engagement in planning will be at the local plan-making whom was either the chair or vice-chair of the governors. stage, so communities will not be able to influence The committee’s questioning was skilful and forensic, applications as they do now. Good councils already do led effectively by the honourable Member for Brent this up-front consultation, so there is plenty of evidence North, Mr Barry Gardiner. My LEP colleague and I that, while working closely with communities in the spoke relatively little. I left the hearing stunned by the early stages can be positive, it does not preclude massive college’s evidence and its inadequacy and shortcomings, protest when a detailed application eventually goes in. and was more or less completely bemused by it all. It is doubtless this that has led to the Government’s Since then, I have revisited the evidence, which was presumption in favour of development in the zoning recorded, and have given it careful thought. It correlates proposals. There is ample evidence that zoning has not with what I know has been happening on the ground worked in planning previously, so where is the evidence and with Askham Bryan College’s behaviour, which that it will work now? has been evasive, disingenuous and inconsistent, including Development within growth zones will receive gagging its employees. automatic outline consent, while renewal areas will As noble Lords will know, FE colleges are charities, have presumption in favour of development. As a but they are not required to register with the Charity result, there will be no opportunity for either public Commission; rather, their principal regulator is the consultation or assessment by local authority councillors Department for Education. None the less, their charitable or officers. According to the White Paper, public purpose is paramount. However, in the face of what involvement will be limited to appear to be considerable financial difficulties, Askham “detailed matters to be resolved”, Bryan College’s prime purpose seems to have morphed rather than on a particular building or development into one of preservation of itself to the exclusion of and whether it is appropriate in its local context. This, everything else, in a manner which specialist legal alongside proposals for faster decisions on planning advice—which I have seen—suggests may be unlawful applications, and further expansion of the controversial and certainly seems to me to disregard a number of permitted development right, leaves far less room for the Nolan principles. local input into individual decisions and is an erosion All this is very similar in a number of respects to of democracy within the system. what happened some years ago in the case of the Kids Finally, development is always bound to be Company. That was a real scandal, and this is equally controversial. People are never likely to be thrilled that so. It is as simple as that. the attractive fields that their garden backs on to are I conclude with three pleas. First, I say to the to become a housing estate; nor that low-rise town Minister and the Government: this FE college is part centre offices are to be demolished to make way for of the nation’s system for delivering education and something much taller. But, as things stand, we have a training, and the Government are the college’s principal 401 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 402 regulator and guardian of the public interest. Their this House not long ago, but I am afraid that prime concern must be the integrity of the system and layers of confidentiality, concealing the rogues, was proper administration of the provision of FE, skills counterproductive to the its wider objectives, so I and training to everybody in this country, not just to commend the Government for admitting this and those in Yorkshire. They should not emulate Pontius promising to make such registers of bad landlords and Pilate and weakly stand by wringing their hands. They their agents more transparent. should take a grip. However, I do not welcome the proposed abolition I say to your Lordships: one of our roles as of no-fault evictions. Without repeating his comments, parliamentarians is to identify abuse, bring it to public I echo the warnings from the noble Lord, Lord Howard attention, place it under public scrutiny and stamp it of Rising, about the serious fallout that this policy out. As I have said, the EFRA Committee’s hearing could have on the supply of properties to rent, to say on 23 March has been recorded and is available. I urge nothing of the impact of the value disruption. your Lordships to view it and form your own conclusions. Reform of the current leasehold ground rent system, I believe that something very wrong is going on. on the other hand, is long overdue and I welcome Thirdly, I would say through the House and via reform. Unfortunately, it appears to have taken the Hansard to the media—I speak as an ex-Minister in unethical behaviour of some housebuilders and their the then DNH who had considerable involvement recommended solicitors to bring this issue to the fore. with the media, as an ex-chairman of the Communications I do not condemn leasehold tenure in principle at all, Committee of your Lordships’House when we produced but the Law Society’s recommendations in its recent an important report on investigative journalism, as report on commonhold provides an opportunity to chairman of a local newspaper group for more than a completely overhaul the structure of ownership where decade and now a director of Full Fact and the Public freehold is not practical. Providing lease renewals and Interest News Foundation—that you the media, both new leases for terms of hundreds of years is something local and national, because this is not a parochial that I support if it can incorporate the practical necessity issue, are part of the wider system of checks and of redevelopment when required. It achieves the objective balances in which our system of government and of preventing landlords from financially milking their administration is set. I know a scandal when I see it. tenants from time to time. Long leaseholders who Go out, investigate, form your own conclusions and need extensions to satisfy mortgage providers, and then tell truth to power. That is what you are for. indeed to maintain a reasonably saleable unexpired term, will also welcome this measure. The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Garden of Frognal) I turn to the proposed planning reforms and the (LD): My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Shrewsbury, has opportunity that they provide to utilise brownfield withdrawn, so I now call the noble Lord, Lord Thurlow. land—land that requires remedial treatment to remove contamination and render it safe. There is lots of it 7.52 pm sitting in plum locations throughout England that would be ideal for new housing. CPRE research has Lord Thurlow (CB) [V]: I welcome the noble Lords, found 21,000 registered contaminated sites covering Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, and congratulate them more than 50,000 acres, with capacity for more than 1 on their inspiring maiden speeches. million new homes. Last year’s planning White Paper Today, I wish to concentrate on aspects of leasehold expects these brownfield sites to be utilised fully before reform and planning. I first declare ownership of two more edge-of-town development on greenfield is rented flats, as stated in the register. In addition, like considered, but that was buried on page 32, which was the noble Lord, Lord Stunell, I welcome a building not encouraging. The difficulty is that the cost of safety Bill, particularly following the Grenfell tragedy, cleaning up these sites often exceeds their market apparently accelerated by the French cladding. I read value following remediation. However, we must not that when the French manufacturers became aware of turn a blind eye and ignore these urban eyesores that the unacceptable fire risk of their product, they banned blight our towns and cities. its sale in France for high-rise housing but, as I read to I am in full agreement with the noble Lord, Lord my disbelief, they continued selling the cladding in the Bilimoria, in my disappointment at finding no reference UK. If this is true, it is a disgrace. Seventy-two people to reforming business rates. What a missed opportunity died, and the fact that some executives from the French that the very recent debates on non-domestic rates company refused even to attend the inquiry speaks have not followed through into the Queen’s Speech. volumes. The Government should seek redress. The We were told that a fundamental review is currently new Bill must have regard to the need for a building under way. This matter has become urgent as the standards agency to test foreign-designed or manufactured health of hundreds if not thousands of SMEs is at materials with special care. stake. I ask the Government to please publish the On leasehold reform, I welcome many of the proposed review soon and follow it swiftly with a Bill. I look changes.The concept of lifetime deposits for lower-income forward to the forthcoming debates on these subjects. renters is a blessing. There will be a difficult debate on how this will be policed without the unaffordable extra 7.58 pm costs of professionals defending those tenants from spurious dilapidations claims. Another welcome feature Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe (Lab): My Lords, is the opening up of the registers of rogue landlords I add my congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and rogue agents to greater transparency. This was and Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches. I discussed and requested when the Bill was debated in will focus on the provision of homes. I declare an 403 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 404

[BARONESS WARWICK OF UNDERCLIFFE] housing White Paper, which had been expected. Can interest as chair of the National Housing Federation, the Minister confirm when the Government will bring the representative body for housing associations in forward this legislation? England. Similarly, we were promised a White Paper on I welcome wholeheartedly the Government’s renters’ reform. I had hoped this would lead to effective recognition in the Queen’s Speech of the importance legislation to provide security for private renters, for of housing and their plans to bring forward several example, by changes to Section 21 and no-fault evictions Bills on it, but I have some real concerns, which I which leave renters in a very precarious position. The know are shared by many others in this House and Minister said in his opening that it is hoped to introduce elsewhere, that this legislative programme does not it in the autumn. I hope I have got that right. Can he truly represent the ambition on housing that this confirm that it will cover these issues? country needs. I hope that the House will soon debate Other noble Lords have regretted that there was no the building safety Bill, a critical piece of legislation mention of social care, and I share these concerns. It is needed to ensure that a tragedy like the Grenfell Tower a huge gap in the Queen’s Speech. Can the Minister fire can never happen again, but there has been yet say anything at all about what the Government’s plans another missed opportunity to provide certainty for are? leaseholders and charitable housing associations by As housing associations look to the long-term future, bringing forward the up-front funding that is so desperately more clarity over their role in helping the Government needed for immediate building safety works. achieve their decarbonisation net-zero target would We were reminded just in the last few weeks of the also have been welcome. As I have raised before, the stark reality of this crisis following the recent fire in a housing association sector is central to our efforts to block of flats in Poplar that is still wrapped in unsafe meet our net-zero targets by building greener homes cladding. The truth is that, despite the best efforts of and making existing homes more sustainable. I hope many building owners, many people continue to go to the Government will heed the words of the noble sleep every night in homes with building safety concerns. Lord, Lord Fairfax of Cameron, on this issue. This is They also often face the short-term and long-term a vast exercise that housing associations have the personal and financial impact of huge building safety skills, scale and ambition to undertake. In making bills for errors that were not of their making. future spending decisions, I hope the Government will consider the support the sector needs to reach its While the Government have provided much-needed potential as a central partner to the country’s ambitions funding for some remedial works, we are still far short to tackle the climate crisis. of a complete solution. For instance, there is still no money available for social housing providers to undertake Finally, I will close by touching on levelling up. remedial works on properties where tenants live. Social Safe, affordable and good quality homes can be at the housing providers are charities; they do not make a centre of place making and drive forward prosperity. profit but are now facing costs in excess of £10 billion Will the Minister assure us that the Government will to do these works. closely consider the role of housing and housing associations as they look to deliver this agenda? As Just two weeks ago, the Financial Times reported community anchors that exist to serve and respond to that the number of affordable homes built by four of people and places, housing associations stand ready the largest housing associations in the country will be to deliver the much- needed change these towns and reduced by 40% because of the mounting financial regions deserve. pressure of building safety. There is a housing crisis, and we need more homes. We also need those existing homes with faults to be made safe as quickly as 8.03 pm possible. Does the Minister acknowledge that the only Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Con) [V]: My Lords, I real solution is for the Government to provide up-front refer to my entry in the register of interests. There is funding for building safety works and then recoup much to commend in this Government’s Queen’s Speech. these costs from those responsible? I will comment on the proposals for the planning and The Government’s planning Bill may become a building safety Bills. second threat to the construction of much-needed I welcome the building safety Bill and would ask affordable housing in England. I strongly support the that, either in this Bill or the planning Bill, it is made Government’s ambition to make the planning system compulsory for all new builds or buildings being converted more transparent and to speed up the process of for residential use to have at least two staircases for development. However,their intention to change current means of fire escape. Perhaps American-style external mechanisms, such as Section 106 of the Town and fire escapes could be made compulsory for all conversions Country Planning Act 1990, which has delivered a where there is only one internal staircase. significant number of affordable homes over many I also make a plea for a safety regime for all short- years, is a grave worry. term lets, such as those on Airbnb and Booking.com. Can the Minister give the House more detail on the This is currently an unregulated area. These types of Government’s new proposed mechanisms for funding lettings are meant to be for up to 90 days a year only, affordable housing and will he assure us that this new yet in most cases they are professional businesses system will result in greater numbers of affordable operating throughout the year and there does not homes, not fewer? I was also disappointed not to see appear to be any means of regulating standards or the Government bring forward legislation on the social safety requirements. As local councils do not know 405 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 406 who or where they are, a register would help. They go I am aware of the substantial work that has been uninspected and are potentially an accident-in-waiting. done by Defra to design an enhanced animal welfare Surely all short-term lets should meet minimum safety element of the ELM scheme. To reward farmers, willing standards such as fire safety doors, smoke alarms, heat to go beyond the norm and improve their facilities and detectors, fire escape lighting and maps. I call upon standards, is a big step forward. However, if this is the Government to include them in the remit of the overlaid by further legislation that will apply to all building safety regulator and the Bill. farmers, significant additional costs will be incurred I worry, however, about the Government’s proposals that are unlikely to be compensated for by government to reform the planning process with fast-tracked planning support through the ELM scheme. and removing the right of an individual to object to an I have a similar concern about the Environment application. It is just too easy to blame the process Bill. We absolutely have to embrace the measures when, as the Local Government Association has stated, proposed in the Bill, to improve biodiversity and resource nine out of 10 planning applications are granted, yet efficiency, the quality of air and water, to reduce waste over 1.1 million homes do not get built by developers and pollution, to limit abstraction, and so on. These despite having planning permission. It is not the system’s are essential and worthy ambitions, but it is inevitable fault, but the developers, who are so often over- that these measures will lead to cost increases for ambitious in cramming too much on to a site or farmers and land managers,and these could be substantial chasing greater profits at the expense of the quality of in some cases. living accommodation and space. I know of a site in Kensington, where the developer had three live planning In addition to these two topics—animal welfare permissions, yet was seeking a fourth. In Kensington and the environment—we have the overarching challenge and Chelsea alone, it was worth just sitting on land as of climate change, as articulated by many Peers today the value increased and the demand for houses did and very convincingly, by the noble Baroness, Lady also, creating a suppliers’ market. The Government Boycott, in this debate. need to remove such incentives. They also need to There are only two sources of income that farmers ensure that we do not find the new planning process and land managers will have access to for ensuring becomes a developers’ charter to build high and without that they successfully deliver on these ambitions: the quality,leaving the ruination of our streets and landscapes, public funding through ELMS and the rewards in the littered with poor-quality homes as this Government’s marketplace for the food that we produce. It is becoming legacy. increasingly clear to me that the public goods that we Lastly, I know that many of these builds will rely on can and need to deliver to achieve real success in people using online resources and portals—for example, meeting government objectives will soon drain the the planning regime. However, not everyone is online. Treasury commitment within the current agricultural Many do not have the skills or the kit to navigate the budget. No values have yet been determined for the technology needed to join in. We need to ensure that various elements of the scheme, but the ambition and the Government’s agenda does not preclude people the list of desired outcomes continues to increase. Can from participating. Digital exclusion is a real issue if the Minister inform us whether the Government are we move everything online, and often forgotten by regularly reviewing the potential cost of funding ELMS those in front of a computer or a smartphone screen as our ambitions increase, and whether the department when drafting the necessary legislation. is doing this in conjunction with the Treasury? I also support the views expressed by the noble Moving to the marketplace and the potential for Baroness, Lady Benjamin, about providing for children’s the market to reward farmers for the higher standards needs. that they will be committed to deliver, this was raised as a matter of serious concern in debates on the 8.07 pm Agriculture Bill and subsequently on the Trade Bill. Lord Curry of Kirkharle (CB) [V]: My Lords, my The Government’s decision to establish the initial interests are as recorded in the register. I would like to Trade and Agriculture Commission was very welcome, congratulate new Members on their excellent maiden and the confirmation in the Trade Bill that this would speeches. be given a statutory role was finally agreed after much I shall comment on Her Majesty’s gracious address, debate and negotiation. The TAC delivered its report as far as the Government’s policies on agriculture, the as commissioned earlier this year, yet so far the environment and rural issues are concerned. Let me Government have not responded to its recommendations. state from the outset that I applaud their intention to Can the Minister confirm when this response is expected? introduce a Bill on animal welfare and look forward to Also, when can we expect progress in establishing the the debate on it, and on the imminent Environment new TAC on a statutory footing? The Trade Secretary Bill. Both are of crucial importance and present an is making very good progress in negotiating trade opportunity for this country to set new global standards. deals. These deals must be urgently scrutinised by the This is of particularly import in view of hosting non-existent TAC to ensure that they do not undermine COP 26 in November. As a country, we are proud of the high domestic standards that we aspire to on the our commitment to high standards of animal welfare—it environment, climate change and animal welfare. is one of our global claims. The intention to raise I very much supported the Government’s post-Brexit welfare standards for farm animals will, I am sure, be promised land ambitions for our countryside. The welcomed by the public, and elements of the Bill will vision is an exciting one, but to extend the Old Testament also be supported by farmers provided that the trading analogy, the country is likely to flow with substandard field is level. imported milk and honey, fruit, vegetables and meat if 407 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 408

[LORD CURRY OF KIRKHARLE] social housing proposal White Paper proposals and those are not subject to the same high standards. How will legislate as soon as practicable. The White Paper counterproductive would it be if our investment in was three years in the making and that was four years even higher standards led to a fall in domestic production ago. There is nothing on renters’ reform. That was and did not result in any net national benefit due to an promised 17 months ago. There was no mention of a increase in lower-quality imports? The delay in establishing White Paper. Reform seems to be receding. There was the TAC is becoming a real concern. nothing on landlord registration. That was promised Finally, I fully endorse comments made in this 13 years ago in the Rugg review. There was nothing on debate on concerns about planning policy and the the scale of leasehold reform that we were anticipating. importance of the levelling-up agenda regarding rural Yes, ground rent reform is important, but it is the areas and how the Government intend to address this. low-hanging fruit of leasehold reform. When can we expect these Bills? I welcome the building safety Bill, 8.12 pm of course. I hope the Minister has answers to the many questions raised on it. Baroness Andrews (Lab): My Lords, it gives me The second basic test is that policies should at least great pleasure to join with other noble Lords in agree with each other. The two Ministers at the Dispatch congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Morse, and my Box this evening are at odds with each other. The noble friend Lord Coaker on their wonderful maiden new planning Bill is virtually incompatible with the speeches. We look forward very much to hearing more Government’stargets for a greener and healthier economy. from them. I must confess that I was a bit jealous, as The Justice Minister has promised leasehold reform never in this House have I made a speech which has while the Housing Minister presses ahead with permitted been greeted with a clap of thunder. It sets a new development which will, for example, remove the rights standard for all of us to see what we can achieve. of leaseholders, who will have storeys built above their The fundamental question at the heart of this debate heads while losing their rights to object. is: what does it mean and what does it take to build The third test for a Queen’s Speech is that it should better for the communities of the future? Many noble at least find support among its own friends. I think the Lords have answered that question this evening with planning Bill has more enemies than friends already. great sophistication and power: good jobs, lifelong One speech from the other place last week says it all. It skills, decent incomes, accessible, affordable housing “would reduce local democracy, remove the opportunity for local for all ages, robust local services, reliable transport people to comment on specific developments, and remove the and a safe, clean, beautiful place to live in. These are ability of local authorities to set development policies locally.” basic rights and requirements, but they are without the It reach of many people in this country.Yet the opportunity “would also lead to fewer affordable homes, because they hand is staring us in the face. After the unparalleled last developers a get-out clause … what we will see is not more homes, 15 months, there is a real appetite and a real sense of but, potentially,the wrong homes … in the wrong places”.—[Official urgency for change. Report, Commons, 11/5/21; col. 39.] There has never been a better time for the Government In this case, Theresa May was absolutely right and to tackle the long-term, fundamental, systemic problems many others agree with her. The Bill is described by which face this country: for example, the failed housing the CPRE as a descent into the dark ages of planning. market, which is geared towards the developer; and a It means the end of the Section 106 agreements, which disjointed, vulnerable social care system, which is my noble friend referred to, and fewer mechanisms for financially ruinous for many families and yet does not ensuring that affordable housing targets are met. Unless guarantee good quality or choice of social care. What the Bill is changed, it will not build faster, better or an opportunity for a Government to turn to the country greener. I am afraid I can assure the Minister that it and say, in a paraphrase of another time: “We have the will have a lively passage through this House. tools, we can do the job, we have shown that we can act fast, we can inspire innovation on an unparalleled 8.18 pm scale, we can find the money for what we need to do, because the people expect us to do better and to do Lord Kirkham (Con): I add my welcome to the differently, in a way which is safer, fairer and more noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse. There is efficient.” much to be proud of in the United Kingdom when it I am very disappointed that the Government seem comes to the environment. I am thinking here particularly not to have been able to grasp that. I am sad to say of the global leadership we have shown in setting out that I find that the Queen’s Speech fails on three basic our 2050 net-zero target for carbon emissions. Why tests. The Minister opening the debate today gave us a then do so many of us treat our beautiful country as if catalogue of reasons for delay. I do not think that is it were a rubbish dump? Why does not everyone care good enough. The first test is about honouring promises. about where we live? What has happened to our self- There was nothing on social care, of course, but the respect? When did our nation of shopkeepers become charge sheet on housing is much longer. Housing has a land of litter louts? become almost totemic in its significance as a place of I warmly welcome the promise in Her Majesty’s safety and distress, and increasing homelessness looks gracious Speech that the Government even more likely when housing subsidies are withdrawn. “will invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting Many noble Lords have said that there is nothing the environment,” about accelerating social housing, only the statement and that the Government will continue to legislate on the “will set binding environmental targets.” 409 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 410

I desperately hope that we can also take big, positive This is still a beautiful country, but it is, sadly, a strides towards a cleaner, greener Britain because there messy,dirty and scruffy one—and getting worse.Improved is one area in which Britain is most definitely not a air and water quality, the regeneration of nature and world leader and that is in the way that we treat our the reduction of carbon emissions are all essential to urban and rural environment when it comes to waste the long-term health of the environment, but so too is disposal. We are only too familiar with the mountains ensuring that we stop despoiling our cities, towns and of trade and domestic waste deliberately and illegally countryside by treating them as rubbish dumps, with dumped on the roadside—the stained mattress, the their threat to public health. It is a massive, nationwide old sofa, rusting refrigerators, electrical items, plastic problem. Action is urgent and long overdue. bin bags of builders’ rubble and, now, disposable face masks. 8.23 pm It is no surprise that research suggests that we have The Earl of Devon (CB) [V]: My Lords, as we have few, if any, rivals for the unwanted title of “most heard from many erudite speeches, including two excellent littered country in the developed world”. It is getting maidens, this is a time like no other.It is an unprecedented worse; if an area looks like a tip, it is no surprise that year for environmental policy; for the sake of the many will consider that a green light to treat it as one natural world, I can only wish the Government and too. If you drive along the highways and byways in the Minister success and offer my support. With the Britain, the evidence is there for all to see. It is an G7, COP 26 and COP 15, there are many global stages eyesore. Verges are awash with rubbish—cans, plastic on which to parade. However, as the noble Baroness, bottles, fast food wrappers, cigarette ends, Styrofoam Lady Jones, noted, if we cannot get our own house burger boxes and crisp packets casually hurled out of in order, we cannot lead that parade. There is much vehicle windows. Pavements are encrusted with chewing to do. gum. What a fine impression this will make on those As if to emphasise the vagaries of our climate, a who visit us for global economic or environmental tornado ripped down our valley in Devon last week, summits, or tourists from abroad—what a memory of littering trees and timber buildings for over a mile. I our green and not-so-pleasant land. currently join your Lordships from my in-laws’, having Sadly, we have become a “don’t care” society, where been evacuated from home due to wildfires in May—I too many people just do not give a jot about their am not in Devon. community and the environment on their doorstep, Of course, ecological catastrophe is not new.Alexander who do not regard the dropping of litter as an anti-social von Humboldt, the father of modern environmentalism, and criminal act—not only a contravention of the law visited Latin America in 1800 to witness the devastation but a crime against society. It is soul-destroying and wreaked by empire and resource-hungry capitalism. dangerous to humans and animals; it pollutes the very His words could describe Bolsonaro’s Brazil today: air we breathe; it depresses and saps a nation’s morale. “When forests are destroyed, as they are everywhere … The Living in filth makes us feel worthless. It is expensive beds of the rivers … are converted into torrents, whenever great too; street cleaning alone costs the taxpayer over £1 billion rains fall … The sward and moss disappearing from the brush-wood annually. on the sides of the mountains, the waters falling in rain are no longer impeded … and instead of slowly augmenting the level of What are we going to do about it? How can we the rivers by progressive filtrations, they furrow during heavy mitigate this growing litter epidemic, clean up our act showers the sides of the hills, bear down the loose soil, and form for the next generation and make this appalling behaviour those sudden inundations that devastate the country”. socially unacceptable? While business in general and This was written over 200 years ago, and yet still we the Government clearly have a part to play, at root it is rape the Amazon of its natural capital with ever more a societal problem. It is people who litter—us. The mechanised efficiency—then for coffee and sugar, now only lasting resolution is to change our behaviour. for soya too. Our problem is not awareness—von That requires a cultural shift. Humboldt was the star of Napoleonic Europe, feted across the continent—but simply that the drive for Clearly, in the long term it is a challenge of education profit has always overcome the fear of environmental and persuasion. That starts in our schools, colleges Armageddon, which impacts those in hotter, poorer and homes. But there are positive actions we can take countries before us. This must change. now; notably, making the new office for environmental protection responsible for litter enforcement and ensuring Her Majesty’sTreasury took a bold step commissioning that local authorities and Highways England and its the Dasgupta Review into the economics of biodiversity. counterparts in the devolved nations actually fulfil His conclusions, which we debated recently, could not their responsibilities to act against litter droppers—fine have been clearer, yet the Government have yet to them, enforce the existing sanctions and clear up the publish their response. Can we expect that before we detritus they leave in their wake. see the Environment Bill? Principal among the Dasgupta recommendations is that natural capital must be priced. Some 50 years ago, we saw much less litter on our What steps are the Government taking to price ecosystem roadsides, but back then it was also socially acceptable services? Similarly,Professor Dasgupta extolled increased to get behind the wheel of a car while the worse for access to nature and mandatory nature studies. While wear from alcohol—not any more. The same kinds of ELMS addresses access, it is an optional scheme, and changes that made drink-driving uncool can also turn farmers’ fear of unregulated access will discourage the tide on litter: education, advertising and penalties—not its adoption unless the policy is sympathetic. As for just heavier fines, but the likelihood of being ostracised mandatory nature studies, the Government have simply for defying social norms. ignored this recommendation. I am in agreement with 411 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 412

[THE EARL OF DEVON] First, let me acknowledge the important principles the noble Baroness, Lady Benjamin: please think again, behind the building safety Bill and the Leasehold or else another generation will move yet further away Reform (Ground Rent) Bill; these are both welcome. I from our mother Earth. look forward as well to the details of the subsidy Is it right that the Government expect to pass the control Bill, which should permit local authorities to Environment Bill by November’s COP 26? If so, will support key industries, together with the procurement the Minister assure us that sufficient time will be made Bill, which could encourage public-private sector working available? Rushing to meet a false deadline is not to in which social value can be a factor. I welcome, too, the environment’s benefit. Noting my interests as a plans to widen opportunities for the development of Devon farmer and a lawyer active in the space, the adult skills. costs of well-intentioned environmental regulation must However, I was concerned to hear the Minister say not fall unduly on those managing land so as to drive earlier in relation to the private rented sector that a them out of business just as BPS is withdrawn. Abandoned White Paper is planned for the autumn. I had been farmland will not help the environment or our production expecting a renter’s reform Bill, so can the Minister of locally produced food. confirm whether this means that the timetable for On food, I join the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, promised reforms is about to slip significantly? in championing the national food strategy, but we must do more for our health and environment. Noting Moving on to the planning Bill, in his introduction my interest as a board member of the South West to today’s debate, the noble Lord, Lord Greenhalgh, Food Hub, I ask that the Government support efforts said that it is about modernising the system to make it for public procurement to be locally sourced, building quicker,simpler and streamlined. Simplification is always a direct link for healthy food to flow from farm to welcome as long as standards are not reduced. However, fork. in simplifying planning procedures, the Government There is a massive hole in the Environment Bill must not reduce local democratic accountability, which where heritage sits. Given that our island’s natural is part of the essential process for ensuring high standards. environment reflects millennia of human interaction, Poor accountability leads to lower standards. The it is a mockery to think that we can manage our Government know that we have suffered in recent natural capital without a mind to its heritage. We will years from a culture that has encouraged poor-quality replace environmental degradation with cultural building. The danger in this Bill is that local planning degradation and wipe out the wisdom of ages. As an authorities will not be able to turn down poor-quality example of this, we see planning and EPC rules that developments, which they currently can do. This is not render 400 year-old cob cottages built of local mud in the public interest. The Government should not be and straw dismissed as carbon non-compliant. This reducing the powers of local planning authorities in cannot be right. the way they are attempting. I look forward to more detail on our national tree The Government are right to want to increase strategy and to understanding how we will plant the housebuilding but the truth is that this cannot be millions of broadleaf trees desired despite the current achieved without a substantial element of new building unchecked assault of pests and diseases. Also, as a led by local authorities.New homes, whether for purchase former property barrister who contributed to Lexis’ or for rent, must be at prices and rent levels that Commonhold: Law and Practice in 2002, I look forward people on average incomes can afford. We need more to debating leasehold reform—not only might someone social homes to be built—around 100,000 a year for finally buy the book, but we might ensure an increased several years—which requires more financial freedoms supply of affordable homes. for local authorities to achieve that. This should be the Finally, as chair of a forthcoming APPG inquiry Government’s priority. into the role of social enterprise during the pandemic, I hope that the Government will acknowledge and Instead, we are witnessing a boom in house prices support the vital role of social enterprise within our caused largely by demand-side subsidies from the communities. Government. The average cost of a new home has now reached £200,000. I submit that this is not the kind of 8.28 pm growth the economy needs. Also, despite the need to build more homes, 1.1 million homes granted planning Lord Shipley (LD) [V]: My Lords, I remind the permission in England in the past decade are yet to be House that I am a vice-president of the Local Government built. It is hard to see exactly what problem the Association. I too congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Government are trying to solve with their proposed Coaker and Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden planning Bill. It does not seem to be the planning speeches. system that is responsible for not enough homes being This has been a challenging debate for the Government, built. partly because of what is not in the gracious Speech, such as local government funding reform, including There are two other issues on housing. First, more business rates reform, the Government’s plans for than half of local planning authorities set no requirements reforming social care, or the plans they may have for for any accessible housing standards, so will the greater devolution in England. It is partly also because Government create a mandatory baseline for new of what is in the gracious Speech, such as the proposed homes broadly equivalent to the lifetime homes standard planning Bill—which has not been properly thought or category 2 in the building regulations? This is through—and the elections integrity Bill, about which already the case in London, so why can this policy not my noble friend Lord Teverson spoke so convincingly. be implemented across England? 413 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 414

Secondly, have the Government got their demand But there are also clear challenges. While levels of forecasts right? I ask because the Office for Statistics prosperity in the UK remain much higher than in Regulation has recently been critical of the Office for other nations and increased during the first half of the National Statistics for its population forecasts, which 2010s, in more recent years this prosperity has been in some places seem much too high. What is the stagnating. This underlines the need for a more detailed Government’s response to this conflict of evidence? assessment of what is going well and what is not. Finally, I welcome the proposed levelling-up White Interestingly, this stagnation is not driven by factors Paper, which will set up new policy interventions for that currently feature much in the political debate—for poorer areas. I suggest that this should include the role example, infrastructure. Rather, we are being held of the private sector in supporting levelling up through back by declining enterprise conditions and weak the use of the tax system to encourage its investment health systems that were simply not pandemic ready, policies to be directed towards supporting all parts of and we have insufficiently created the environment in the country. which our family life and relationships have been able to thrive and feel valued. 8.34 pm All our concern has been for the economy, but we Baroness Stroud (Con) [V]: I start by adding my should have been even more focused on who we are congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and becoming as a people at a local community level. For Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches. I add example, the index reveals that the West Midlands my support to Her Majesty’s gracious Speech and non-metropolitan region is the sixth most prosperous congratulate the Government on their visionary leadership. in the UK, with strong governance, low crime rates and good conditions for business. However, the region I have been heartened by the commitment to publishing performs poorly on the strength of social capital and a levelling-up White Paper that will set out bold new quality of health and education. This is where the interventions to improve livelihoods and opportunities opportunity for levelling up lies. The index reveals that throughout the UK. This is a crucial agenda to pursue, London is the fourth most prosperous region of the but how do we know what policies will deliver the UK, with a strong economy, good infrastructure, a levelling up that we seek? How are the Government supportive environment for business and good education. defining levelling up? How are they measuring success However,the city’sprosperity is undermined by declining or identifying what levers need to be pulled, and in safety and security,failure to build inclusive and connected which communities? How do we understand the relative communities, and the highest rates of poverty in the strengths and weaknesses of our communities so that UK. This is an example of where the levelling-up we know where to put the energy and focus to level up? opportunity lies. As far as I can find, the Government have not yet set out an established baseline against which to assess the To really become a prosperous nation, we need to effectiveness of this ambitious focus. But because this understand these issues by local area and by community. agenda is so important to the British people, last week This is why the UK prosperity index is such an important the Legatum Institute—I refer to my entry in the tool for the levelling-up agenda. Britain needs to become register of interests—launched a tool to measure the a place where we strengthen our local communities success of the levelling-up agenda: a UK prosperity and truly value the family; where we care for one index to provide the baseline against which to measure another, investing in our mental and physical well-being; progress and success. and where we can innovate and build businesses that With calls for regional renewal across the political are not stifled by unnecessary regulation. spectrum, the moment is right for a new and holistic If this hugely important levelling-up agenda is to be assessment of the UK’s strengths and weaknesses, effective it needs a baseline, an accountability tool. which will help point the way towards true prosperity. Will my noble friend the Minister agree to meet me to Building prosperity—levelling up—is much more than understand the UK prosperity index, a tool for levelling bridges and trains, bricks and mortar, and material up, and how it can be used to measure the great strides wealth. It reaches beyond the financial into the political, forward this Government will make as they commit to the judicial, the well-being and character of a nation; it levelling up the nation? is about creating an environment where people are able to reach their full potential. A community is prosperous when it has an open economy, an inclusive society with strong formal and informal institutions, and 8.39 pm empowered people who are healthy, educated and safe. Baroness Hollins (CB) [V]: My Lords, I declare my If the country is to make the most of this reset interest as chair of the Department of Health and moment, we will need to unlock prosperity and level Social Care’s oversight panel, which is reviewing the up across all our regions and communities. In many care and treatment of people with learning disabilities ways, the UK is well positioned to do just this—it is and of autistic people who are being detained in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, long-term segregation. As the noble Baroness, Lady ranking 13th out of 167 nations. Our national institutions Stroud, has just discussed, the gracious Speech set out are robust and we have one of the world’s strongest an ambitious and laudable levelling-up agenda to tackle economies, powered by innovators and a world-class the long-standing geographical disparities facing the education system. This is an amazing country and country. I will speak about another kind of disparity: we have been making great strides in many of the that faced by people with learning disabilities, which is areas that already dominate the debate about levelling as apparent in considerations of community and welfare up, including infrastructure and the natural environment. as it is in health. 415 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 416

[BARONESS HOLLINS] denied a chance to live an ordinary life and now facing Debate about people with learning disabilities often even more barriers to the most basic of institutions: ends with the comment that services need to be better. the democratic vote? The Mental Health Act White Paper published earlier I urge Her Majesty’s Government to take seriously this year recommended a duty on commissioners to the needs of people with learning disabilities and ensure an adequate supply of community services for autistic people and to avoid measures such as Covid people with a learning disability and autistic people. passports or photo IDs, which are likely to constitute This duty aims to address the failure of both local serious barriers to their full community participation. authority and NHS commissioners to commission skilled local community services, thus leading instead 8.44 pm to involuntary detention in hospital at times of crisis. The proposed statutory principles in the White Paper Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab): My Lords, I am are choice and autonomy, least restriction, therapeutic grateful for this opportunity to raise a couple of benefit and the person as an individual. Perhaps a fifth points regarding the gracious Speech in today’s debate. principle should be added: care in the community. One is minor and the other is a little bigger. I hope that the Minister will be back for the bigger one because, The Mental Health Act White Paper hopes to drive every time I raise it, we never engage with each other. significant change for people with a mental disorder. When it is published, the Bill must address the financial The first point relates to the introduction by the disincentives which serve to encourage lengthy hospital noble Lord, Lord Greenhalgh, who spoke about—and admissions and an explicit requirement for a duty to I support him all the way—the need for decent, safe make reasonable adjustments in community and welfare and well-designed homes, in the context of the planning services. Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Bill. Many people have followed the Government’s Persons with Disabilities is a good place to start, given exhortation to stay at home, work from home and that the UK is a signatory to the convention and travel less. These are some of the important messages ratified it in 2009. Article 19 demands that we recognise that we have been getting, and I declare an interest here: I live on a private estate where a lot of the “the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the younger people have stayed at home and converted community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective their attics into working rooms. But they have a problem. and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons They have local authority permission to do that, but with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation they cannot get past the management board, which in the community”. has restrictive covenants saying that they cannot touch The gracious Speech was notably silent about the the tiles on the roof. They cannot install a simple widely anticipated social care Bill. Following the disruption VELUX window, which would give light and air to a of Brexit and the human tragedy of the high number working space. In many instances we have people of Covid-related deaths of people dependent on our working in unfair conditions because of these restrictive care system, will Her Majesty’sGovernment now commit covenants. to fully overhauling the social care system—including My question is whether this issue has been examined for disabled adults of working age, not just older in the context of the planning Bill. If not, will the people living in care homes? Government look at it again? Can we not adopt a more reasonable approach, rather than some of the We need a trained workforce to meet the needs of nimbyism we encounter on issues such as this, whereby people with learning disabilities. Commissioners, many people’s health and well-being is being damaged by of whom are buying the wrong services, must receive the enforcement of aesthetic views of what a roof specialist training on the needs of the populations should look like? A simple little VELUX window they serve. In the course of chairing the oversight should not offend anybody. panel for the independently chaired care and treatment My second point concerns the wider context of the reviews programme, I have heard panel members angrily future of God’splanet. I have had a number of exchanges decrying the fake lives and fake homes provided for with the Minister recently about the growth of the some people with learning disabilities and some autistic world’s population. This is the most fundamental issue people, who, after lengthy countertherapeutic hospital relating to climate change and the unsustainable position admissions, are too often discharged to alternative in which we find ourselves. The Chinese are complaining institutions such as converted wards away from real that their numbers are growing in the order of just life and outside their communities. One important over 5% only, and they want to see bigger growth. The reason for this is the lack of suitable housing providers Pope has been complaining that young girls are not and suitable safe homes for people. having enough babies, yet we are living in a world that As we hear today of the importance of community has grown from 1.7 billion, when the Duke of Edinburgh and welfare, let us not forget those who are so often was born in the early part of the last century, to forgotten and ask: what does levelling up look like for 7.4 billion. All the projections are that, unless there are people, for example, with learning disabilities from a fundamental changes, we will be heading towards black and minority ethnic background, whose average 10 billion, which many say is unsustainable. The planet life expectancy is just 35 years; or for the over 2,000 people cannot support it. with a learning disability or autism still held in assessment I have been trying to get answers from the Government and treatment units almost 10 years on from the on the extent to which they will engage in a discussion Winterbourne View scandal; or for thousands more with people of influence. Why is this issue not on the living their lives in institutional segregated services, agenda for COP 26? They engaged Dasgupta to report 417 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 418 on biodiversity issues, but he spent several pages looking protected, but trying to change or cancel a person’s at world population and the absence of policies on it. I sexual orientation or gender identity through religious again ask the Minister: when will we have a debate on practices is unacceptable and a form of abuse. Indeed, this fundamental issue? the Government’s own research—the LGBT survey of I know that this is difficult and extraordinarily 2018—found that a majority of conversion practices sensitive, but there are two people in the world who happen in faith-based settings. Therefore, such an could greatly influence the course of events. One is the exemption for these practices would render the ban Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the second—and meaningless and inoperable. Sadly—and I do not wish he has made a very good start as a new President—is to seem ungracious—this half-hearted approach reflects President Biden, who is a Roman Catholic too. They the widely held view that the Government are not fully should engage in discussion about the fundamental committed to delivering equality. issues of contraception, abortion, dying with dignity Concerning ministerial commitment on equality, I and so on. I know that these are difficult topics, but we refer to the letter of 28 April from the chair of the cannot run away from the fundamental problems we Women and Equalities Committee, the right honourable face in this world of ours. There are other major Caroline Nokes, to the Secretary of State, Liz Truss, ethical issues which require a deep-seated examination where she says: of where we have been going and why we have ended “I have become concerned in recent months about the approach up in the mess we are in. I hope that the Minister can being taken by the GEO and its Ministers to my Committee and give me hope that some thought is being given to how its essential scrutiny work. We have become increasingly frustrated by a lack of positive engagement from Ministers and note that a we might have worldwide engagement on this issue. If growing public perception of Government intransigence on equalities we do not, the state of the planet will get even worse. issues is being reflected in our own relationship.” In conclusion, sadly—deeply sadly—I remain 8.49 pm concerned about the continuous defamation and misrepresentation of trans people, particularly trans Lord Cashman (Non-Afl) [V]: My Lords, it is always women, from within your Lordships’ranks and elsewhere. a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Brooke. I This misrepresentation of trans people, and particularly refer to my entry in the register of interests, particularly trans women, as a threat is reckless, dangerous and as a trustee of Neighbours in Poplar and as an officer diminishes us as a civilised society. This vilification of of the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights. trans people is wrong, and it must end. We have all been shocked by the levels of loneliness, deprivation, inadequate social housing and mental 8.55 pm health needs, and the varying quality of adult social Baroness Randerson (LD): My Lords, I start by care that the pandemic has revealed. Sadly, many of congratulating the noble Lords who made their maiden these issues have been ignored by this gracious Speech. speeches today. The noble Lord, Lord Coaker, spoke I could go on at length, but it is late, so I will instead with such passion about poverty that the gods responded recommend a report by the small charity Neighbours immediately with a thunderbolt. In his excellent speech, in Poplar, commissioned by Sister Christine Frost. She the noble Lord, Lord Morse, reminded the House that has inspired generations in Poplar, east London, and, his career at the National Audit Office will greatly during the Covid crisis, she has gathered an army of strengthen our hand in our role of scrutinising the volunteers to provide support, food banks, befriending Government. and hot meal deliveries to hundreds of people who In his speech, my noble friend Lord Stunell said would otherwise have been forgotten, isolated or ignored. that the environmental targets exist, and many of As others have said, the gaps created by the state them are perfectly good, but we lack the detailed steps should not be filled by charities. It is clear, therefore, on how we get there. This has been the theme of today. that the Government now need a far greater focus on There are no proposed Bills in the gracious Speech the social care economy, recognising that it is broken aimed at cutting emissions and tackling the climate and simply does not work for care workers, employers, emergency. The key is there in that phrase: it is an local government and—most of all—users. emergency, and it requires government action this I turn to the announcement that the Government year—not next year or the year after. This applies will bring forward measures to ban so-called conversion particularly to transport-related emissions, which are therapies. The announcement is welcome, but what responsible for around one-third of the total. They detail there is is deeply flawed. We do not need more constitute a two-pronged assault on our well-being, consultation. It is nearly three years since the Government causing ill health as well as climate change. There has first committed to banning conversion therapy; further been significant technological progress, so as a nation delay would put more people at risk from these inhumane we can tackle many of the issues. However, transport and degrading practices. We urgently need a draft Bill is the one sector where, despite having the technology, and a clear timeline for its implementation. there has been no reduction in emissions in recent It is stated that the ban will focus on coercive years. That is because we travel more often and further. practices. This is entirely unacceptable: it will create There are particular problems in relation to aviation loopholes or exemptions, and would be a tacit and the increased sales of SUVs, which produce much endorsement of conversion therapy. LGBTI+ people greater emissions than average cars. Those points are and our allies need a comprehensive ban on all conversion being neglected by the Government. practices in all settings.Let us be clear: banning conversion The Government have a unique opportunity, as practices does not undermine religious freedom. Holding, national life restarts following the pandemic. We can teaching and preaching religious belief will always be drift back largely to our bad old ways, or maybe even 419 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 420

[BARONESS RANDERSON] The failure to use taxation as a weapon in the take a step backwards by returning in greater numbers climate change fight is noticeable. I will give noble to our cars, or the Government can use this time to Lords another example: the Government charge 5% steer us into less polluting habits. We urgently need the VAT on gas for a household boiler, but they charge Government to lead the way,with legislation, investment 20% VAT on home improvements to improve energy and a new environmental tax regime, but sadly there efficiency. That is nonsensical. was nothing in their proposals. The Government have The Government are also failing to set out the huge so far shown little commitment to the steps needed to benefits that the revolution to come will bring to our meet their targets. Rail fares were increased above economy: the many jobs that will come in building inflation this year, while vehicle fuel tax was frozen yet homes to the highest environmental standards and again and grants for purchases of EVs were cut. The replacing all our gas boilers. The Government must Government’sspending commitments include £27 billion level with the population: our apparent success in on A roads and motorways, which academic experts reducing emissions has come from relying on other have estimated will produce an astonishing 100 times nations to manufacture the goods that we use. If we more CO2 than official government estimates. How measure our carbon footprint on the basis of our can the Government be serious about leading COP 26 consumption, it has hardly changed. The scandal of when they remain wedded to that? the abandonment of the green homes grant was mentioned The reference to the next phase of HS2 in the by many noble Lords, including my noble friend Lord gracious Speech was welcome but the omission of any Stunell. I urge the Government to give it another go, mention of the eastern leg to Leeds undermines the with redesigned policy and financial support. Government’s claims to be levelling up in the north-east. This has been a very wide-ranging debate. A frequent Yet, at the same time, they maintain their support for theme was the notable omission of social care. My the outdated and damaging plan for the Heathrow noble friend Lady Benjamin talked about the importance third runway. There is a welcome commitment that of young people and made the memorable statement public transport connectivity will be extended. In the that “childhood lasts a lifetime”. Very recently, my previous Session, they unveiled their national bus strategy, noble friend Lord Shipley, among others, concentrated which the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, discussed, but on the need for decent affordable housing. we are still waiting for details of the long-promised Many noble Lords have expressed serious concerns 4,000 zero-emission buses. On Wednesday, here in about the planning Bill: the noble Lord, Lord Kerslake, Westminster, the Campaign for Better Transport is and my noble friends Lady Pinnock and Lady Thornhill. launching its new campaign, “The way forward is They all emphasised the danger of excluding local public transport”. I hope that Ministers will find their voices, and they made the point that there are 1 way over to that event and pick up some good key million homes for which planning permission has been action points. given but which have not been built. The Government I very much hope that the White Paper on rail reform really must not let the building industry off the hook is followed rapidly by legislation. The pandemic has on this. My noble friend Lady Pinnock, among others, stretched the current structure beyond breaking point also referred to the cladding scandal, which the but, again, we need action now to restructure the industry Government must deal with. for the widespread investment in electrification and line In conclusion, I spur the Government on. Social reopenings that is so badly needed. Unlike bus services, change does happen, underscored by legislation. which can be transformed in a small number of years, They must act now to ensure that social change can transformational investment in railways takes decades. make throw-away fashion and technology as socially On many occasions, I have referred to the need for unacceptable as drink-driving. I press the urgency of more measures to encourage the take-up of EVs. this. So far, all that we have done as a planet is to slow Motor manufacturers are increasingly concerned at the rate of the increase of climate change. The the slow and chaotic development of the infrastructure concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to support them, including urgent investment in the has kept on growing. I end by restating my noble national grid and a well co-ordinated and massive friend Lord Oates’s reference to the words of Mahatma expansion of urban and motorway charging points. Gandhi: the future is decided by what you do today. Neither of these can be left to the market alone; they need government leadership. 9.05 pm Then there is taxation. What is the future for vehicle Lord Rosser (Lab) [V]: My Lords, we have had the taxation? Will the Government tax EVs as they do privilege this afternoon and this evening of listening petrol and diesel cars or will there be road pricing? to many thoughtful and interesting speeches, not least There are crucial issues for the future that need to be to the acclaimed maiden speeches of my noble friend planned now. Even minor steps, such as changes to Lord Coaker and the noble Lord, Lord Morse. Judging vehicle taxation to discourage the use of SUVs, would by the comments of so many who have spoken, both make a worthwhile difference. maiden speeches have been much appreciated. I am In the Budget, the Government announced that sure we all hope that they will be but the first of many they would remove APD on internal flights.Short-distance contributions in this House from both noble Lords. flights are more carbon-intensive. There is a need for In her comprehensive opening speech, my noble reform of APD and aviation taxation, and, as my friend Lady Jones of Whitchurch raised numerous noble friend Lord Oates suggested, we need to follow questions and points. One point which she raised was the French and ban domestic flights that cover journeys the recent Public Accounts Committee report’sconclusion of under two and a half hours by train. that Defra 421 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 422

“does not have ‘the clout to lead the rest of government’” the Grenfell tragedy four years ago and its already to deliver their environmental programme. That does devastating effect on leaseholders, to which the right not bode well for the relevance and effectiveness of the reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans referred. Environment Bill and our ability to address climate I turn to transport. The Government have just change. It also raises the issue of how much clout any produced a bus strategy. They say they want to increase of the departments with responsibility for the issues levels of service but seem unwilling to accept that a we are discussing today actually have in influencing key reason we have lost so many bus routes is because government policy. local authorities no longer have the financial resources Local government has been decimated over the last to support loss-making but much-needed routes and decade, with spending power reduced by a third at a services. time when demand for services has soared. To meet The Government’s bus strategy refers to an objective legal duties to balance budgets, already depleted reserves of cheaper fares outside London, which are way higher and yet further cuts to already heavily reduced services than those within London, where the mayor and Transport are having to be used and made. What is it that this for London have much greater power over levels of Government continue to have against local government services, routes and fares. I hope that, if elected metro and the vital services it provides to the communities it mayors also want greater powers over bus service serves? The government department concerned is clearly provision within their areas, the Government will not either unwilling to, or incapable of, standing up for allow bus operators to delay or thwart them in achieving local government. Yet the effects of the rundown of that objective. Perhaps in winding up the Minister local government services on local communities are all could give that assurance on behalf of the Government. too obvious and numerous. For example, while the As the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson, said, there Government express concern about levels of youth has been no reduction in overall transport emissions, crime and acknowledge the social and mental issues which make up a significant percentage of the UK that many young people now face, including youth total. If we are to reduce harmful pollution and unemployment, they seem unwilling to accept that the greenhouse gas emissions, address the looming disaster rundown of local government youth services we have that is climate change and improve the environment, seen has withdrawn a vital pillar of support for many we will have to encourage people back on to public young people in need of help and advice. transport through the provision of better and cheaper The extent and breadth of social care provision has services.That means recognising—including by providing already been, and continues to be, cut back by local the necessary resources—that the overall value of such authorities as a result of funding being reduced over services to society and the environment extends far the last decade. One in seven adults were unable to get beyond the state of a financial balance sheet. the social care they needed even before the pandemic. The likelihood of this Government recognising any Yet there was nothing specific in the Queen’s Speech such thing is a matter of some considerable doubt. We that recognised the hardship and problems this has have recently seen the Government put pressure on the created for many vulnerable people and their carers. Mayor of London to increase fares, which might The continuing non-appearance of the Prime Minister’s suggest that their approach to reducing the gap between oven-ready plan for social care clearly indicates that fare levels in London and most areas beyond it will be it remains simply a figment of the Government’s more by forcing up fares in London than by providing imagination. the resources to reduce them outside London. A projected planning Bill, based on proposals drawn We have recently seen the Government’s approach up by friends of property developers, will further to encouraging people back on to our trains; namely, reduce the ability of local government and local an above-RPI inflation fare increase some two and a communities to influence the nature and form of half months ago. Quite what that is meant to achieve future developments directly affecting their localities, when it comes to encouraging passengers deterred by as many noble Lords have already said. Existing planning Covid and government instructions back on to our laws and regulations are not unnecessary red tape. trains is far from clear. The Government claim that They are there to prevent inappropriate and excessive above-inflation fare increases are needed to finance developments, and to strike a balance between protecting improvements to the rail network. The reality is that the environment, while taking proper account of the the Government’s deliberate high-fare policy is to interests, needs and priorities of local communities, ensure that passengers in this country continue to pay and ensuring an appropriate supply of new homes and a higher percentage of the running costs of the rail other needed infrastructure. network than in virtually any other country in Europe. My noble friend Lady Jones of Whitchurch and Environmental and societal considerations and benefits other noble Lords have referred to planning permission appear to get little of a look-in, which says a great deal that has already been granted for an estimated 1 about the attitude—or alternatively the lack of million homes that have, nevertheless, still not been influence—of both the Department for Transport and built. A Government who were serious about providing the Department for Environment, Food and Rural more affordable homes and social housing would be Affairs. addressing this unacceptable situation, rather than The only high-power energy source offering rail seeking to pass legislation which rides roughshod over potentially net-zero carbon is electricity.Rail decarbon- democratic local government and the concerns of local isation is unlikely to happen without further electrification, communities.This legislation seemingly also takes priority yet in 2017 the Government cancelled a number of over acting now on the cladding scandal arising from major rail electrification projects—another short-sighted 423 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 424

[LORD ROSSER] people back into work post lockdown and the decision if ever there was one. Indeed, this Government Government’s plans to revitalise the nation’s transport have cancelled more rail electrification projects than network to help the UK to build back better, post probably any other. pandemic. The noble Lord also detailed the reforms The Queen’s Speech provides for a Bill for phase 2b we will make to improve the way our natural world of High Speed 2 from Crewe to Manchester.Consultation and its animals are treated, which says so much about with residents and communities affected by phases 1 who we are as a nation. and 2a has left a lot to be desired. Whether or not the I thank all noble Lords who have contributed to Government have learned anything will become clear today’s debate on these important matters. The range over their approach to phase 2b. If the Government of topics has been wide and there have been many want communities immediately affected by a new high- contributions, so I will not be able to respond to every speed rail route running non-stop through their back noble Lord—indeed it is not physically possible for me yard, as well as communities further away, to at least to do so. However, I will do my utmost to respond to not strenuously oppose the project, they need to look the key points that were raised. Should any noble at it also from the perspective of those impacted— Lords seek further assurances, I shall endeavour to including looking at improving transport links from write and copy these responses to the Library. those communities to the new high-speed route so that those most affected can at least see some potential The case for tackling the environmental crisis and benefit coming their way. There is, though, continuing biodiversity loss—experienced both here and globally—is silence in the Queen’s Speech on the exact fate of patently clear, as many noble Lords have said. However, phase 3 of HS2 from Birmingham to Leeds—not so I am obliged to take issue with a number of comments, much levelling up as levelling off. particularly those from the noble Lord, Lord Oates, echoed by the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson. They My noble friends Lady Sherlock and Lord Coaker, said that the Government are doing nothing, there was the latter in his passionate maiden speech, spoke nothing in the Bill and we are achieving nothing in powerfully about the inadequacies of current welfare relation to climate change and biodiversity. The word and employment rights and protection policies and “nothing” appeared over and over again, and it is the silence of the Queen’s Speech on this issue. Even simply not true. That is not a serious observation of before the pandemic, there were over 5 million people where we are. Of course, there is no Government in in low-paid or insecure work and well over 4 million the world who are doing enough. The gap between children growing up in poverty. The pandemic has where we are and where we need to be is huge, but the now ruthlessly exposed the inadequacies and gaps in idea that this Government are doing nothing is absurd. current government policies, which an either unwilling or lightweight Department for Work and Pensions We were the first country in the world to commit to does not intend to address or does not have the clout net zero in law. We are the only country in the world, within government to address. What, for example, has at this point, to have begun to take steps to legislate to happened to the employment Bill announced in the clean up our supply chains, to get rid of deforestation 2019 Queen’s Speech? from our supply chains as 80% of the world’sdeforestation We now await the Government’s response to the is caused by commodities. We are the only country in many questions and points raised in this debate on the world to commit to, and actually begin, the process communities, the environment and climate change, of shifting our land use subsidies away from destruction transport and welfare. However, that response cannot towards environmental renewal. If every country in cover up the reality that too many of the crucial major the world did that, we would be well on our way to issues requiring transformative change we face today restoring the abundance of the natural world. We have have not been addressed by the legislative programme doubled our international climate finance, the only set out in the Queen’s Speech. country to have done so in the last couple of years at least. We will be finished with unabated coal by 2025. We are one of the only countries in the world to stop 9.15 pm investing in fossil fuels overseas, and our emissions The Minister of State, Department for the Environment, reductions have been faster than any other country in Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth the G20. and Development Office (Lord Goldsmith of Richmond The noble Baroness, Lady Jones, quoted me. Her Park) (Con): My Lords, it is an honour to conclude quote was correct, but it was slightly out of context. I today’s debate on Her Majesty’s gracious Speech—the made a comment that we are not doing enough, but first since the United Kingdom’s formal exit from the the comment was really “we” in a global sense. As I European Union. Before I start, I join noble Lords in said, the gap between where we are and where we need paying tribute to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and to be remains huge. All governments need to catch up. Lord Morse, on the delivery of excellent maiden speeches, That gap is there, and the UK is doing everything it delivered with great passion and commitment. possibly can to encourage the world to join it in The UK has embarked on a period of great possibility closing that gap. She is right to say that President and has the opportunity to make headway on the Biden is providing leadership, but the US has an hugely important issues that matter, not just to me and enormous amount of catching up to do. I am not to many noble Lords here today, but for the British aware of any important, significant step that the US people as a whole. My noble friend Lord Greenhalgh has taken to tackle climate change and biodiversity outlined an ambitious agenda, raising issues such as loss that we have not already taken. Indeed, the US building and planning reform, the importance of getting needs to catch up fast with where the United Kingdom 425 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 426 is, and most officials in the United States that I have of new statutory regimes and regulations that reduce been speaking to in the last few weeks would very the risk of poor farming practices and the impact of readily agree. Yes, we do need leadership; we need storm overflows on water quality.The Storm Overflows leadership all around the world, and I think the UK is Taskforce was set up in September 2020 to bring providing much of that leadership. together government, the industry, regulators and environmental NGOs to accelerate progress in this The noble Lords, Lord McNicol and Lord Stunell, area. This is just the next step in a journey that we are both questioned the lack of detail in the Queen’s committed to seeing through. In direct answer to the Speech. My understanding is that the gracious Speech noble Duke, we are incorporating Philip Dunne’s Bill is normally pretty high-level and does not go into the as a series of amendments to the Environment Bill. minutiae of how policies are going to be delivered. But what I would say is that the steps outlined in the The urgency to act means that while the Bill has Speech are just part of a much wider programme. Net been carried over from the previous Session, the work zero, for instance, is not covered by the commitments has continued. This Government have been working made in the Queen’s Speech. It is affected by them and with experts to develop our legally binding targets. features throughout many of the areas where we have The draft of the environmental principles policy statement made significant promises, but net zero goes far beyond was published and is now out for consultation. the commitments made in the gracious Speech. This is Consultations have been launched on the deposit return a cross-Whitehall endeavour. Indeed, we are not going scheme for drinks containers, extended producer to get to net zero without a cross-Whitehall endeavour, responsibility for packaging and consistent recycling and every Minister, every colleague, has a role to play. collections. That is something we are very much aware of. As my I assure my noble friend Lord Kirkham that we are noble friend Lord Lansley and the noble Baroness, going hard on both waste and litter. Indeed, they are a Lady Worthington, pointed out, we need global action central part of the environment Bill that we will shortly but not all the change needed will require legislation. be introducing. The Government appointed Dame We need to operate on every conceivable level. Glenys Stacey as chair of the Office for Environmental The Environment Bill is an important part of the Protection. Weare particularly excited about the challenge Government’s response to the clear scientific case being set by this independent public body. The OEP and the growing public demand for a step change in will monitor the way public authorities implement environmental protection and recovery. Acting as one environmental law, unencumbered by ministerial or of the key vehicles for delivering the bold vision set any political agenda. out in the 25-year environment plan and the Prime In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Browne, the Minister’s10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, Office for Environmental Protection will work closely the Environment Bill will act as a catalyst for urgent alongside our world-leading Committee on Climate and meaningful action to challenge the environmental Change, and I thank my noble friend Lord Deben and crisis we are facing and support the economic recovery the noble Baroness, Lady Brown of Cambridge, for from Covid-19. This legislation will deliver radical the guidance they have provided in this regard. benefits by setting legally binding targets on biodiversity, air, water quality, resource efficiency, waste reduction I am confident that this Bill will deliver on the and more. Thanks to measures in the Bill, we will have Government’s manifesto commitment to create powers to set standards for eco-design and consistency “the most ambitious environmental programme of any country in recycling that will move us towards a more circular on earth”, economy and lower emissions. even as we navigate economic recovery. It will help We are setting legally binding targets on levels of establish the UK as world leaders as we head towards fine particulate matter—or PM 2.5—that permeate COP 26, taking place in Glasgow this year. the air. The noble Baroness, Lady Worthington, stressed I want to address points made by noble Lords on the damage to human health this particulate matter the Environment Bill before I move on to other areas. can cause. She identified some measures being taken The noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, mentioned the in Spain, such as diesel engine bans and fossil fuel importance of food. She rightly suggested that our investments being cut back. Actually, it sounded like climate agenda cannot rest on the shoulders of a much of what she proposes is already being done here single food strategy, and of course it does not. We in the United Kingdom, but I will look further at the address the issues that she raised in many different policies she identifies. PM 2.5 poses a real risk to the regards. I mentioned earlier our legislation to break health of the population, and exposure to high the link between commodity production and deforestation concentrations can cause all kinds of health issues and —a world first—and that is something around which respiratory conditions. While the World Health we are now building an international coalition of Organization guidelines on PM 2.5 are not specifically countries committed to doing the same. being legislated on, we are gathering the necessary My noble friend Lady McIntosh questioned whether evidence to set targets that best fit the UK’s particular the shift to ELM would prevent inappropriate context. This approach is endorsed by the World Health development, a point echoed by the noble Lord, Lord Organization, and this Government will engage in a Curry. The answer is that the principle of ELM is very fully costed analysis before a target is set. clear: it will be the provision of public money purely In answer to the noble Duke, the Duke of Wellington, and simply in return for the delivery of public goods. this legislation will also fortify the way our precious Yes, the definition of “public goods” remains broad, water resources are managed through the development as it should. 427 Queen’s Speech [LORDS] Queen’s Speech 428

[LORD GOLDSMITH OF RICHMOND PARK] noble Baroness, Lady Bakewell, why it has been delayed; The noble Lord, Lord Curry, asked whether our the answer is a combination of Covid and, I am afraid, standards would be damaged through imports of low- vested interests taking us to court to try to stop us, but quality food. We have been very clear that, in our we are very nearly there. Only a fortnight ago, as noble pursuit of free trade agreements, we will not allow our Lords will know, we raised the maximum sentence for standards here domestically to be undercut. animal cruelty offences from six months to five years. The noble Lord, Lord Colgrain, and the noble We have some of the highest animal welfare standards Baronesses, Lady Young and Lady Benjamin, all in in the world, and our plans will build on this record one way or another touched on the tree strategy, and go further. woodlands and related issues. The answer is that we Indeed, I believe the action plan for animal welfare must use every tool that we have to deliver the hugely that was launched a couple of days ago represents the ambitious strategy that we are shortly to release in a biggest shake-up of animal welfare standards for few days’time.That involves talking to other departments; generations, and that is something that I think has I am lobbying colleagues in the Ministry of Defence, been acknowledged by pretty much all the animal asking them to make available some of the land that it welfare organisations—certainly the ones that I have does not use—it is one of the biggest landowners in been in contact with. Our exit from the EU allows us the country—in order to help us to accelerate our to do things that simply were not possible before. The plans towards achieving the objective of 30,000 hectares plan contains five key strands of focus: recognising per year by 2025. A number of noble Lords asked animal sentience, supporting international advocacy about the funding. We have a fund specifically designed and enhancing the welfare of farm animals, companion to support the tree programme as well as our peat animals and wild animals. As part of the action plan restoration, and that is the nature for climate fund. we are going to crack down on puppy smuggling, To the noble Earl, Lord Sandwich, I simply want to unscrupulous breeders and pet theft. We will incentivise say congratulations to his relatives on their rewilding farmers to have healthier animals on their farms that initiatives. are kept to higher welfare standards. We are examining The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Bristol, the case for ending the use of cages for poultry and the noble Baroness, Lady Parminter, and the noble farrowing cages for pigs. We are ending the live export Earls, Lord Devon and Lord Sandwich, all talked of animals for fattening and slaughter, and we are about the importance of global agreements. Clearly, committed to improving the conditions of animals the UK cannot do any of this on its own. We can subjected to lengthy journeys. provide a moral authority through the example that We are honouring our commitment to end the we set, but we can achieve nothing without global keeping of primates as pets. We will stop the import of targets, agreements and commitments. gruesome hunting trophies from endangered animals. The noble Earl, Lord Devon, talked about the Weare banning the import of shark fins and low-welfare importance of forests. He is of course right. Again, produce. We will introduce greater protections for the UK can make a difference on our own but not a British hares and will end the use of excessively cruel defining one, so we are building an alliance in the implements such as those appalling glue traps. run-up to COP 26 where we hope we will be able to Beyond our borders, we want holiday firms to cease deliver a significant forest moment—a moment where advertising entertainments abroad that involve extreme people can afford to invest a bit of hope that perhaps cruelty, such as elephant training, and there is a whole we can turn the tide on deforestation, which continues range of other measures.The action plan is not exhaustive. at the rate of 30 football pitches’ worth of forest every I know that there are welfare issues that concern many single minute. noble Lords and the wider public. There is always The noble Duke, the Duke of Somerset, and more that we can do, and this Government are always the noble Viscount, Lord Hanworth, talked about the open to pro-welfare reforms. As my noble friend outlined tension between the need to keep costs down and the earlier today, our animal welfare strategy will be need to reduce carbon, but in fact that conflict is out implemented in law, initially through a kept animals of date. As we have seen, the cost of solar has collapsed Bill, which will set an example for the treatment of by 90% since the banking crisis. Even under President animals in a domestic context. Trump, who lavished public money on keeping the I turn to communities issues and say to the right coal sector alive, coal use declined faster on his watch reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans that our than under President Obama. The market is moving building safety Bill will catalyse a once-in-a-generation rapidly ahead of the politics in many respects, and the improvement to the building safety regime to ensure costs are coming down. that tragedies such as Grenfell never happen again. As In the interests of time, I am going to move on to well as introducing a new, more stringent regime for another area of Defra’s agenda, and that is animal higher-risk buildings, the Bill will create clearer welfare. The UK has a record that we can be proud of. accountability and duties for those responsible. We The UK banned keeping calves in veal crates in 1990, will also give residents a stronger voice in the system. 16 years before the rest of the EU. We banned keeping The noble Lord, Lord Stunell, asked about timing. I sows in close-confinement stalls in 1999, we banned am afraid that I am going to defer to my colleague, conventional battery cages in 2012 and we banned fur who will be in touch with as much information as he farming and foie gras production in the UK. More can provide. Following expert advice, the Bill takes a recently, we required CCTV in all slaughterhouses and risk-based approach, prioritising action on the buildings banned the use of wild animals in circuses. Our ivory that face the greatest risk. We are providing direct ban is the strongest in the world. I was asked by the funding to address unsafe cladding in buildings over 429 Queen’s Speech [17 MAY 2021] Queen’s Speech 430

18 metres in height, ensuring that those buildings most noble Lords, including the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, at risk will pay nothing. The noble Lord, Lord Thurlow, and the noble Lords, Lord Bilimoria and Lord Shipley. mentioned the French company that failed to show at We will identify opportunities for environmental the inquiry. All I can say is that its actions speak for improvement and simplify and improve methods for themselves. The noble Lord, Lord Jordan, raised assessing environmental impacts. important concerns about other dangers associated I turn briefly to Department for Work and Pensions with buildings, not least unsafe staircases and the matters. Alongside these important reforms, this consequent falls, usually of elderly people. That is an Government want everyone to be able to find a job, issue that I know my colleague will also be considering. progress in work and thrive, whoever they are and We have brought forward a financing scheme to wherever they live. The Government champion work ensure that leaseholders living in buildings between as the single best route out of poverty and towards 11 and 18 metres in height will never face costs of financial independence. Pre-pandemic, this approach more than £50 per month. Again, many will pay delivered record levels of employment, supported by a nothing at all. I say to the noble Baroness, Lady universal credit system which withstood extraordinary Warwick, that this will protect leaseholders from big challenges, with caseloads doubling in number since remediation bills while also respecting taxpayers’money. March 2020. As we make an economic recovery,through I say to the noble Baroness, Lady Andrews, that we are our ambitious £30 billion Plan for Jobs, the Government also introducing measures to protect future leaseholders are creating jobs and supporting people of all ages to from unreasonable ground rents. move into work or gain the skills that will open up new My noble friend Lord Howard raised a number of opportunities. concerns, citing Berlin, in relation to ground rents and I recognise that I have not got a chance of answering reforms thereof. I know those concerns will have been all the questions that were asked. A very significant heard by my colleague, my noble friend Lord Greenhalgh, number of questions were asked in relation to transport, who will take them away.The Leasehold Reform (Ground and I long to be able to answer in more detail about Rent) Bill, will, however, remove the inconsistency and the plans put forward by my colleagues to decarbonise ambiguity around the issue that have plagued leaseholders the transport sector—an issue that came up time and for too long. again in numerous speeches by noble Lords. Needless Weare introducing vital reforms to make our planning to say, the plans are there and my colleague Grant system fit for the future. The planning reform Bill will Shapps is particularly enthusiastic about a shift to leave behind an antiquated and unengaged system. zero-emission buses and vehicles. I recognise that I will Contrary to concerns raised by the noble Baronesses, not be able to give any evidence of that in this speech, Lady Pinnock, Lady Mallalieu and Lady Thornhill, but I am happy to follow up afterwards. and the noble Lords, Lord Kerslake and Lord Rosser, This is an important gracious Speech, made even among others, the Bill will give people a greater role in more so by its timing. We are at the forefront of the shaping how their communities will look through opportunity that the UK’s exit from the EU presents their local plans and design codes. It is a localist the Government to create a more prosperous, healthy agenda. It will replace lengthy documents with easy-to- and sustainable future for our people. As a Government, access digital tools and map-based local plans, allowing we will continue to put the necessary support in place people to visualise local plans for development and to ensure that our bold and ambitious vision for the participate in a way fit for the digital age—that was a future is achieved and the issues discussed in this point made by my noble friend Lord Lansley. It will debate will play a key part in this process. I thank most support every community to produce its own design sincerely all noble Lords who have taken part in this code, to reflect its own local needs, heritage and identity, important debate today for their insightful contributions putting design and quality at the heart of the planning and dedication to progressing these important matters. system. Throughout these reforms, the Government will Debate adjourned until tomorrow. prioritise maintaining environmental protections—I say this in response to questions raised by a number of House adjourned at 9.37 pm.

GC 1 Arrangement of Business[17 MAY 2021] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 2

Grand Committee progress further along the road map today, we must continue to exercise caution and common sense because Monday 17 May 2021 the choices we have to make in the coming days will have a profound effect on the road ahead. The Grand Committee met in a hybrid proceeding. It has been a year like no other but we are taking significant steps forward to regaining our freedom. It is this combination of the public’s dedication, our Arrangement of Business world-leading vaccine programme and the unrelenting Announcement hard work of our health and care workers that has allowed us cautiously to unlock the country. 2.30 pm The road map seeks a balance between our social The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Haskel) and economic priorities and the need to save lives and (Lab): My Lords, the hybrid Grand Committee will avoid another surge in infections. The decisions to now begin. Some Members are here in person and move to step 2 and 3 were both informed by the latest others are participating remotely, but all Members will scientific evidence and based on the assessment that be treated equally. I ask Members in the Room to all four tests set out in the road map had been met. respect social distancing. If the capacity of the Committee Room is exceeded or other safety requirements are The tests are as follows. First, the vaccine deployment breached, I shall immediately adjourn the Committee. must continue successfully. We continue to make great The time limit for the first debate is one hour. progress in vaccinating the most vulnerable, having offered a first dose to the nine priority cohorts, which included everyone aged over 50, front-line health and Health Protection (Coronavirus, care staff, residents in care homes for the elderly and those deemed clinically vulnerable. As of 15 May, Restrictions) (Steps and Local Authority more than 36.5 million people have received their first Enforcement Powers) (England) dose of an approved vaccine and another 20.1 million (Amendment) Regulations 2021 have received their second dose. In total, a staggering Considered in Grand Committee 56.6 million Covid vaccine doses have now been administered in the UK. 2.31 pm On test 2, the evidence suggests that the vaccine Moved by Lord Bethell continues to be effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths. Public Health England reports that the That the Grand Committee do consider the Health UK Covid-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and more than 12,000 deaths in those aged 60 and above. Local Authority Enforcement Powers) (England) Furthermore,it is reported that 33,000 hospital admissions (Amendment) Regulations 2021. have been prevented in those aged 65 and older. Relevant documents: 52nd Report from the Secondary On test 3, we need to determine that infection rates Legislation Scrutiny Committee, Session 2019–21, do not risk a surge in hospital admissions, which could and 48th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory put undue pressure on the NHS. Currently, hospital Instruments, Session 2019–21 (special attention drawn admissions continue to fall and case rates among the to the instrument) over 60s are also declining. The NHS emergency alert level has been dropped from level 4 to level 3, mirroring how the NHS was operating in the summer of 2020. TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof State,Department of Health and Social Care (Lord Bethell) (Con): My On test 4, our assessment is that the risks have not Lords, we are here today to discuss the regulations fundamentally been changed by the variants of concern. allowing the move to step 2 of the coronavirus road We will continue to monitor variants closely as we ease map, a decision which not only allowed us to reclaim restrictions and the Government will not hesitate to take some normality in our lives but set the platform for firm action as necessary and where needed to protect today’s move to step 3. Getting to this point has taken lives and livelihoods. Having met these four tests on remarkable perseverance and resolve; I am hugely grateful 12 April 2021, we were able to take the next cautious to everyone involved in getting us there. We are clearly step in easing restrictions. Today we are debating this not free of coronavirus yet and, while we have met the move to step 2, as set out in the regulations agreed by first four tests that have enabled the move to step 3, the the House on 25 March. They were as follows. disease still poses a clear and present threat. The first was the reopening of non-essential retail, The Prime Minister’s address last week clearly personal care and indoor leisure, including hairdressers highlighted the threat from variants of concern and and gyms, and additional outdoor settings, including we must remain cautious and vigilant. We are putting the hospitality sector and attractions.Outdoor hospitality in place measures to combat variants. The evidence so is no longer required to provide a substantial meal far suggests that the vaccine is effective. I am heartened alongside the serving of alcohol, although there is the to hear that teams deployed to Bolton over the weekend requirement for table service. As well as ordering via were well received and reported a positive atmosphere—a table service, if the venue sells alcohol, payment must result of strong community engagement and an effective be taken at the table or another outdoor location communications campaign conducted in the area. As wherever possible. Further to this, the early closures the Prime Minister made clear on Friday, while we imposed on pubs and restaurants were removed. GC 3 Health Protection Regulations 2021[LORDS] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 4

[LORD BETHELL] 2.39 pm Step 2 also allowed the resumption of indoor childcare Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab): My Lords, I am and supervised activities for children, provided they very grateful to the Minister. The debate takes place as are not in private homes, and includes indoor sport, we take the next step out of lockdown, but it also and parent and child groups of up to 15 people. It also comes as concern rises about the impact of the Indian allowed wedding ceremonies for up to 15 people, with variant. Getting the balance right between getting wedding receptions permitted outdoors for up to 15 people back to normal as soon as possible and understandable in the form of a sit-down meal. This has changed again caution about the risk of opening up too soon will from today, with up to 30 people being able to attend always be an incredibly difficult judgment. But the weddings and other life events, and the capacity limit Government’s record of vacillation and delay over key at funerals is removed. Furthermore, smaller outdoor decisions does not inspire confidence, and the delay in events, such as fetes, literary fairs and fairgrounds can placing India on the red list is at least questionable, restart, as can the use of self-contained accommodation given the rate of Covid cases in that country at the for single households or bubbles.Finally,social restrictions beginning of April. remain the same as those in place from 29 March, with The SAGE meeting on 13 May pointed to the the rule of six or two households allowed to mix multiple fast-growing clusters of the B16172 variant, outdoors only. most noticeably in the north-west of England, with I thank the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments transmission faster than that of the B117 variant most for its crucial and tireless work in scrutinising all the prevalent in the UK. SAGE concluded that it is a secondary legislation that the Government bring forward, “realistic possibility” that the Indian variant is and I acknowledge the committee’s report on the wider “as much as 50% more transmissible” steps regulations, which are amended by the regulations and warned: that we are debating today. I am pleased to say that we “In the areas where numbers of infections are increasing have already implemented responses to some of the rapidly under the measures” issues the committee raises, through the regulations then that we are debating today, and we have brought “in place, an even faster increase can be expected if measures are forward more amendments as part of the separate relaxed.” step 3 regulations. Of course, today, they have been so relaxed. SAGE warned that if the Indian variant It is unfortunate that there was a delay in debating “were to have a 40-50% transmission advantage nationally compared these regulations. However, the content of each step to B.1.1.7 … it is likely that progressing with step 3”— received the prior approval of Parliament during the which we are doing today— extensive debates on 25 March, and it was essential to bring these measures in quickly once it had been “would lead to a substantial resurgence of hospitalisations.” determined that the four tests had been met. As ever, SAGE concluded: no restrictions should be in place longer than is necessary, “Progressing with both steps 3 and 4 at the earliest dates could and it remains extremely important that decisions on lead to a much larger peak.” the road map steps are informed by the latest evidence. It is therefore legitimate to ask the Minister why, in view of that, we are going ahead with step 3 today. By way of closing, I just say this: as we journey What factors will be taken into account in respect of a through the road map we are making great progress decision to go ahead with step 4? What will the but will maintain caution; we are not out of the woods Government use as metrics to decide whether tougher yet. New variants are a risk—we remain in a global restrictions need to be imposed nationally or locally? pandemic. Events in India show the heartbreaking As we will not know until mid-June at the earliest the and devastating impact this disease can cause. We full impact of step 3 on hospitalisations and deaths, must all remain vigilant; it is vital that people continue does the Minister agree that decisions on further steps to follow the restrictions in place to minimise the risks out of lockdown must be considered after this information to themselves and others—hands, face, space, fresh air becomes available? and take up the offer of a vaccination as soon as it is SAGE also pointed out that offered. “increasing regional vaccination in areas where it is prevalent Wehope that the continued successes of the vaccination could dampen growth in infections”. rollout, and our increased testing capabilities alongside Why do the Government seem to have been so slow to falling infections and hospitalisations, will allow us to respond to health bodies in the north-west which continue to lift restrictions. In light of the most recent wanted them to approve an emergency vaccination data and advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre, we programme? The Minister may have seen reports today have not only moved to steps 2 and 3 but the UK Chief that health officials in Bolton have fast-tracked vaccination Medical Officers and the NHS England national medical to residents as young as 17. What is the Government’s director were recently able to announce that the UK view on that? alert level should move from level 4 to level 3. This is another positive sign on the road to recovery. We must 2.42 pm continue the cautious approach and be guided by the Lord Scriven (LD): My Lords, these regulations latest data and scientific evidence before moving to were laid on 7 April. It is ironic that we are discussing step 4. However, considering all that we have achieved them today, as we start moving to step 3. If they to bring us to this point today, there is reason for had been discussed earlier, the facts on 9 April might cautious optimism. I commend these regulations to have been raised to help us keep all local areas safer. the House. On 9 April, Bangladesh had the South African variant GC 5 Health Protection Regulations 2021[17 MAY 2021] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 6 but not the Brazilian variant but was put on the travel It is important for our town centres that people return red list. Pakistan had neither the South African nor to the office. Are we really to wait until step 4 before the Brazilian variant on that day but was put on the that happens? red list. India had both the South African and Brazilian On travel, my understanding was that having an amber variants and the emerging Indian variant but was not code for a lot of countries meant that those who wished put on the red list. On 9 April, cases per 100 million on to travel there and were prepared to quarantine on their a seven-day rolling average were 21 in Pakistan, which return could do so. But we now hear the Foreign Secretary was put on the red list, and 43 in Bangladesh, which say that people should certainly not take holidays in was put on the red list. India had 84 cases per million— amber-list countries. Understandably, the travel industry four times as many as Pakistan—but was not put on is unhappy about this and would like firm guidance on the travel red list. the Government’s position on foreign travel. Why, with more cases per million and with both the Finally, I read over the weekend that the Government Brazilian and South African variants present, and the are in talks with airport operators about how to deal emerging Indian variant, was India left off the red list with travellers coming in from red-list countries. Surely, on 9 April? If the Government had followed the data, at this stage, to be in talks with the authorities is fairly it would have been put on the red list. However, the ridiculous. The stories from Heathrow about the Government were following a date—24 April—so that intermingling of travellers are quite terrifying. Can the Prime Minister could go on a trade mission. Dates, the Minister give us some indication of when talks not data, yet again, will cause problems for individuals, might turn into action? families and businesses. In the period between 9 April and putting India on the red list, 900 people a day entered The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Haskel) the country—nearly 20,000 people. They could have (Lab): The noble Lord, Lord Robathan, has withdrawn, been carrying the South African, Brazilian or new Indian so I call the noble Lord, Lord Rooker. variants. One can only assume that this was yet another 2.48 pm abject failure of government to act with speed and Lord Rooker (Lab) [V]: My Lords, nothing I shall good judgment to secure the nation’s borders and keep say to the Minister is addressed personally to him; he people safer. When trade deal trips trump the public is not in charge of this. health and safety of individuals and businesses, you On 21 April, a devastating report was published by have to ask when a government Minister will take the Hansard Society and the Constitution Unit about responsibility and resign. By not putting India on the the marginalisation of the House of Commons under red list and by following a date and not data, the Covid. Although it was specific to the Commons, it Government have put businesses and individuals at applied to Parliament as a whole. Of the five ways in risk of illness, death and bankruptcy. It is time now for which powers have been undermined, I just want to an independent inquiry to learn lessons and to put in deal with those in paragraph 2, headed “The erosion place secure border restrictions to ensure that people of parliamentary control: regulations”. It says: stay safe and what we see in Bolton is not replicated in “Over 400 Coronavirus-related Statutory Instruments … have any other community in this country. been laid … All have been subject to little or no scrutiny, a situation described as ‘totally unsatisfactory’ by the Commons 2.45 pm Speaker … An unusually high share of Covid SIs have been Baroness Wheatcroft (CB): My Lords, I thank the subject to the ‘made affirmative’ scrutiny procedure—meaning they became lawbefore being scrutinised, and require only retrospective Minister for his thorough introduction to these regulations. … These amendments were necessary at the time, and approval”. therefore need approval, albeit retrospectively, as we This is such an SI. The report continues: go into step 3 of the journey. But journeys are rarely “This mechanism, which severely undermines accountability, irreversible, and the road map may at some stage, at has been described as ‘addictive’” least in part, have to be reversed. by those who watch us. It goes on: What analysis is being conducted of the effectiveness “The government’s casual approach to the scheduling of debates on SIs means they have often been in force for weeks before MPs of the various regulations and restrictions so far? We could consider them … Frequent errors that need to be corrected, cannot wait for the eventual inquiry to produce its the lack of Impact Assessments, and discrepancies between law results; we need to know now what has been effective and guidance have all compounded scrutiny problems … for the and what has not. wider public”. Step 2 saw the opening of non-essential retail and This is such an SI, as it corrects errors in another: gyms. Personally, I have always thought that gyms had No. 364. As the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, said, it was to be a risk if the virus was around, but I would like to made at 10.30 am on 9 April, laid before Parliament at see some analysis of whether gyms have been responsible 1 pm on 9 April and was in lawon 12 April. It was debated for carrying Covid. As the Minister knows, I really do in the Commons on 26 April for 24 minutes. People not understand why non-essential retail could open would have been lonely in the room because, as far as I and galleries and museums could not. Can we have can see, only two people spoke. On 17 May, it was in some analysis of that? It would be useful, in case we the Lords. have to return to level 2-type restrictions. The preamble to this SI is essentially a two-fingered Can the Minister give us an indication of where the salute to Parliament. It is about time the Commons Government really stand on the importance of continuing got off its knees, and the Lords should encourage it to to work from home if one can work from home? For do so. I shall develop this theme further on Thursday instance, what guidance has been given to civil servants? in the debate on Covid and the Lords. GC 7 Health Protection Regulations 2021[LORDS] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 8

2.50 pm These regulations are part of the road map setting the way out of lockdown, which I support; the approach Baroness Walmsley (LD) [V]: My Lords, it is of is correct. I would like some reassurance from my noble great concern that we are moving today not to step 2 friend. As we are out of the eye of the hurricane, it is but to step 3 of the road map, while the more transmissible about time we saw these regulations in advance of them Indian variant is spreading—Professor Whitty expects becoming law.Weare looking at these some 37 days after it to become predominant in the UK. I make no apology they became effective. Frankly,it is just not good enough. for repeating the concerns of other noble Lords. While It is about time that we started to see these ahead of the vaccine will provide a high level of protection to their becoming law rather than in the rear-view mirror, those who have received it, unvaccinated people could as has become the case. There may have been a time now be at high risk of serious disease and the NHS when that was justifiable, but that time has now passed. again of being overwhelmed. I will take my noble friend up on some of what he The Prime Minister finally put India on the red list said about the Indian variant. I am sure that we will on 19 April, a few days before he was due to fly to look at this whole issue of why action seemed slow in India to discuss the trade deal he so desperately needed relation to India when it was not so slow in relation to after Brexit. Many commentators believe the two facts Pakistan and Bangladesh. It seems strange. Are flights are linked. Will the Minister give a clear answer to the still arriving from India in any way, as I have heard is following questions about India? the case? That might not be true. Could my noble Why was India not put on the red list on 2 April, at friend also provide some reassurance about our border the point when it had the same level of incidence as controls, which seem all too porous? People from Pakistan and Bangladesh? By 9 April, cases in India countries where there is a known risk mingling with were four times higher than in Pakistan, yet the other travellers when they arrive is, frankly, amazing Government waited another 10 days to act. During and needs to be stopped forthwith. I cannot understand those three weeks’ delay, around 20,000 people came why that is happening. here from amber-listed India. Do the Government My noble friend the Minister spoke about action at know whether they all quarantined for 10 days, as the weekend in Bolton, which I certainly welcome. required, and had the necessary tests? Could he tell us whether similar action has been taken When red-list powers were announced in mid-February, elsewhere, in other communities where there is clearly the Government said they could be implemented in hours. a threat from this variant, such as Blackburn, Bedford Why,then, did they wait four days before implementation, and so on? Could he indicate where that is the case? If allowing 900 people per day to come in from India he is unable to provide a detailed list—there might be without red-list restrictions? Why,when travellers arrived many areas that this applies to—perhaps he could from India, were they forced to mingle at immigration undertake to write and put a copy in the Library. with hundreds of people coming in on flights from In short, while the vaccine programme has been other countries? Why have the Government not insisted highly successful and the Government certainly deserve on dedicated arrival facilities for passengers arriving praise for it, it is not the sum total of what is happening. from red-list countries? What support is being given to We have to look at the whole position. The position at those people arriving from India who find it difficult our borders is worrying. The Minister himself said to quarantine? that one of the four tests, quite rightly, is whether Why have the Government not learned that the there are variants of concern. He said that this test characteristics of variants of concern are not the only was being satisfied. He said later in his speech that new reason to put countries on the red list? The cases in variants are a risk. Frankly, one of those statements India had been rising exponentially for weeks before has to be right; I suspect it is the latter. I would 19 April. There were more than 100,000 cases a day in welcome the Minister taking that point up as well. I India on 5 April, and the cemeteries were overflowing. have these concerns and look forward to hearing from Why did the Government not act when that level of my noble friend on these points. cases was being reported? The BMA and several scientists are seriously concerned 2.57 pm about the further lifting of restrictions while this highly Baroness Tyler of Enfield (LD) [V]: My Lords, as transmissible variant is spreading. It is one of the has been said, even by recent standards the timing of Government’s own tests. In Scotland, the First Minister this debate is particularly ironic. On the very day that has postponed the easing of restrictions in the south we move to step 3 of the easing of lockdown restrictions, of Glasgow and in Moray, where cases of the Indian here we are debating the move to step 2, which happened variant are growing. Will the UK Government do five weeks ago. To make matters worse, given the much the same? more transmissible Indian variant, which the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the weekend could “spread like wildfire”, this easing now feels fraught 2.54 pm with risk. I very much support what the noble Lord, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Con) [V]: My Lords, Lord Bourne, just said about the need for us to scrutinise it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, regulations in advance. Lady Walmsley,who has made some extremely important The Indian variant has caused great anxiety in points. I thank my noble friend for setting out the recent days. For many people it feels as if, just when the purport of these regulations, applaud his work ethic sunlit uplands were coming into view, they are being and say that what I shall say, just as the noble Lord, snatched away by a new variant when more efforts could Lord Rooker, said, is no personal reflection on him. and should have been taken to avoid it. The Sunday Times GC 9 Health Protection Regulations 2021[17 MAY 2021] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 10 reported this weekend that at least 20,000 passengers With test and trace, free lateral flow tests now available who could have been infected with the new variant were and improved medication, many will agree with the allowed to enter the UK because the Prime Minister Government that the time is right. Yet, with variant B1617 delayed imposing a travel ban from India. I add my potentially 40% to 50% more transmissible than the voice to those of other noble Lords asking whether UK variant, step 3 could lead to a large resurgence of the Minister can explain why India was added to the red cases. Many scientists are arguing that we need more list only on 23 April, three weeks after the announcement time to assess the impact this surge is having on of a ban on flights from Pakistan and Bangladesh, transmissibility, infection and severity of illness. both of which had lower case rates than India. However, my major concern today, shared by my The combination of moving up the steps and the noble friend Lady Wheatcroft and others, continues to Indian variant makes having an effective test, trace, be the transport policies: international travel and the isolate and support system ever more critical. I place mixed messages regarding holidays and business visits; particular emphasis on the last two words—isolate the traffic light system; the time allowed for a massive and support—which is where things are still breaking influx of people from countries signalled to face future down. The major problem reported by local resilience restrictions just days before they come into effect; and forums is that people are still not self-isolating and inadequate border control measures when they fly here. will not until they get their income paid. It is those on It is not surprising to learn that the mayor has today zero-hours contracts, those doing jobs that you cannot indicated that in London there were some 400 recent do from home and families living in multigenerational cases of the Indian variant, of which 100 were associated households who need the support most. People do not with travel. want vouchers; they want their earnings reimbursed. I call on the Government to provide clearer and Reimbursing earnings is substantially cheaper than more effective travel policies, to review the policies running the test and trace functions and, if a serious they have set and to continue with clear restrictions on case of Covid occurs, the cost to the NHS. international travel. The weakest element of our overall I end by asking what planning is under way for a policy since the first lockdown has been our travel policy. third wave, especially for paediatric care, given that as For all my strong support of the vaccination policy more adults are vaccinated it is possible that a variant and the work the Government and my noble friend may affect much younger children than in previous waves. the Minister have done, especially this year, our policies Both the USA and Canada are reporting much higher on transport have been unclear, often poorly timed cases in children than before and are starting to vaccinate and, frankly, ineffective. We have encouraged tens of children in the 12 to 15 age range. What plans are thousands of people back to this country on crowded being developed for vaccinating children in this country? flights after announcing impending travel bans. 3 pm 3.03 pm Lord Moynihan (Con): My Lords, today signals a historic move in the Government’s approach to tackling Baroness Brinton (LD) [V]: My Lords, once again we the Covid-19 epidemic—a significant move away from meet to approve a statutory instrument that has already detailed government regulation and restrictions; a return come into effect. As others have said, it relates to the easing to personal responsibility; a renewed emphasis on of lockdown by moving from step 1 to step 2 on 12 April, individual choice; and an “up to you to decide” policy but is being discussed in your Lordships’ House on the rather than the Government legislating over the intricate day England moves to step 3. Irony is not dead. details of every aspect of social behaviour. While this Can the Minister explain why the travel regulations, is welcome to the population at large, to government a 92-page document, were replaced and published last and, in particular, to the libertarian instincts of many Friday evening to come into force today? We also had politicians—not least the Prime Minister—it raises a the amendment to shift us into step 3 published only number of important questions for government. on Saturday morning. Why was this done so last Having decided to go ahead with a move to phase 3, minute? The Prime Minister confirmed the move days the Government are in practice demonstrating their before, and the amendment could have been ready to belief, driven by the evidence, that vaccination levels go. We say again: this is not a way to make the law or have now reached the point where we have decoupled for Parliament to scrutinise it. On these Benches we the number of people in our country being infected have been asking for more than a year why there is not with Covid-19, in particular variant B1617, from those more planning about the publication and presentation who would require hospitalisation or become ill with to Parliament of these SIs. long Covid, leaving those who, if infected, will have I also note that the steps legislation is due to expire increased resistance and can be treated at home with on 30 June. I ask the Minister now: what arrangements improved medication to counter the illness. If the will be put in place in the event that the Government Government are absolutely satisfied that, yes, we have have to extend these regulations in light of the Indian reached that point, we are right to take our foot off the variant beyond the end of June? With all the Minister’s restrictions and move to an era of personal responsibility. rightful warnings about having to take action if needed, If not, this is the most serious risk the Government surely this is a clear case of being able to plan, publish will have taken during the epidemic, and the scientific and debate it earlier. I also ask the Minister about the evidence they rely on will rapidly lose public confidence. following comments from the JSCI: On the one hand, the evidence is strong that the time “The preamble to these Regulations contains a statutory is right for phase 3. Since the winter peak, we have proportionality statement in respect of the Steps Regulations but seen a reduction of 96% in those requiring hospitalisation. not in respect of the Enforcement Regulations.” GC 11 Health Protection Regulations 2021[LORDS] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 12

[BARONESS BRINTON] able to carry this out? Their roles are vital in controlling The department responded Covid because without effective test and trace, isolation “that no statement is required for the amendment of the Enforcement and quarantining, this Government’s actions will not Regulations made by regulation 3, because it does not impose a keep people safe. restriction or requirement under section 45C(3)(c). The Committee … believes there are arguments either way the Committee notes 3.09 pm the Department’s approach and accordingly reports regulation 3 for requiring elucidation, provided in the Department’s Baroness Thornton (Lab): It is regrettable, as my memorandum.” noble friend Lord Rooker said with a certain amount Can the Minister comment and tell us when that of robustness, that yet again the House is being asked elucidation will be available? to retrospectively approve significant legislation that My noble friends Lady Tyler of Enfield, impacts on individual liberty, well-being and livelihoods, Lady Walmsley and Lord Scriven all asked why the five whole weeks after it came into effect and after it Government have been so slow to add India to the red was further amended, on the day when a new lifting of list. On these Benches we have raised the importance restrictions is taking place—I suppose we will get to of controlling our borders effectively, first in January discuss that some time in the next month. and February 2020, in relation to why the UK did not The regulations state that follow World Health Organization advice and enforce “the Secretary of State is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, quarantine from countries with Covid. We saw the it is necessary to make this instrument without a draft having consequences of that with Covid coming in and spreading been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House”. fast in our communities, causing the first lockdown. Nothing in the regulations or in what has been said by So, with a year’s experience, why did the Government the Minister today justifies using the emergency procedure not add India to the red list on 2 April when Pakistan to introduce previously announced policy changes at and Bangladesh were added? Was it anything to do the 11th hour. We are now well over a year into the with the Prime Minister hoping to go to India and pandemic and, while we encourage the Government to then having to cancel his trip at the very last minute? be proactive and driven by data, that does not prevent And why do we hear today on Radio 4’s “The World at or exempt them from following parliamentary procedures. One” that there is still no guidance for airports on The Minister will be familiar with this repeated complaint. passenger separation once landed and while queuing The countrywide road map for lockdown lifting to go through the checks? announced on 22 February advised that England would Tim Hawkins from the Manchester Airports Group enter stage 2 on or after 12 April. This date was said that it was still awaiting government guidance. He confirmed at a government press conference on 5 April, said that it would expect to put red-list countries into a yet these regulations were not laid before Parliament separate process but there is an element of mixing at until 9 April, coming into force three days later. While certain points at the moment. Last week we heard that that is definitely an improvement on the three hours’ Border Force was instructing people to get used to notice that we have had for some regulations in the long queues as there would not be extra staff at the past, there is simply no excuse for the Government’s passport and Covid check desks. This is intolerable; continuingindifferencetotheimportanceof parliamentary because of government inertia, there is no guidance, scrutiny. no extra border staff, and people arriving from red list We have so many errors in the regulations given to countries are still mixing with those from amber and us; that is another reason why they need to be subject green countries. That includes up to four flights a day to proper scrutiny before they become law. According from India into the UK. If the Indian variant is to the Explanatory Memorandum, alongside the stage 2 50% more transmissible than the Kent variant, we risk easements the instrument also makes rapid spread beyond those coming in from those red-list “minor drafting changes to remove superfluous wording and to countries. Quarantining and self-isolation are vital to amend references” effective management of transmission and what the in the original steps regulation. I am not sure that Prime Minister has called whack-a-mole. these are minor. The Minister will be aware that the Directors of public health and scientists from SAGE JCSI report raised a number of serious concerns about and alternative SAGE continue to ask for better support these regulations: first, because of their unusual or for people having to self-isolate. In particular, we on unexpected use of enabling powers; secondly, because these Benches ask the Government to pay the earnings of defective drafting; thirdly, because they required of those self-isolating, as happens in a number of elucidation; and, fourthly, because they failed to comply other countries that achieve a much higher success with proper legislative practice. Frankly, you would rate of self-isolation. Local authorities report that the have thought that after a year the Government would administration of the £500 grant has been so rule-bound have got used to all this, that they would be experts it is almost impossible for people to claim it. That is and certainly that they would not be making mistakes not good enough, especially when the vast majority of in the drafting of legislation. people who really need it—who need to pay the rent That is quite a sad list of failures for one statutory and put food on the table—cannot manage 10 days instrument whose purpose is to see us safely opening without their regular pay cheque. society following lockdown. In one instance, the Finally, while it is encouraging to hear that tracing regulations are so unclear that the Joint Committee is now primarily in the hands of the experts in local said that the law being laid down was unsatisfactory in resilience forums, can the Minister assure the Committee terms of the rule of law. If a committee of legislative that they are being given explicit extra funding to be experts is unsure what is or is not meant by certain GC 13 Health Protection Regulations 2021[17 MAY 2021] Health Protection Regulations 2021 GC 14 regulations and does not believe that they give sufficient that scrutiny, but I do not accept the implication of certainty and clarity, how will the rest of us fare, and the noble Lord’s comments that there has in some way how can an average person expect to understand them? been a grand injustice or that these regulations have in This is deeply unfair on those required to enforce the any way undermined the power of the policy behind rules and on the businesses grappling to comply so them. that they can safely resume trading. I fully expect the I gently remind noble Lords of the immense complexity Government’s use—or misuse—of the emergency of the policy we are trying to apply in these regulations. procedure and the impact of defective drafting to be They are extremely legally delicate and subject to covered by the inquiry, but I sincerely hope that the judicial review. It is therefore quite reasonable that Government will get a grip on this now, especially legal colleagues wish to spend as long as they possibly given the continued threat posed by new variants and can getting them right. The environment in which they the risk of a third wave, which many noble Lords are drafted has been fast changing, as this debate has mentioned. very clearly illustrated. They often require a very large Noble Lords will be well aware that the steps regulations amount of cross-government consensus and collaboration, have been further amended, with provisions to move which in itself brings in delays and a certain amount England into stage 3 coming into force today. It is of complexity. therefore important that the Minister addresses those Given all those considerations, I pay tribute to the changes, especially given the growing concern about officials, the clerks and the legal support, who have the B16172 Indian variant in the UK and calls from done a heroic job tabling these regulations. It is of leading experts to postpone the planned easements. I course up to the House of Lords itself to determine will not repeat the information given by other noble the sequencing of House business. I am afraid it is Lords, because that has been very well covered. However, above my pay grade to comment on that, but when the can the Minister confirm how many people to date inquest is finally done I think that the regulations will have been hospitalised with the Indian variant of be a huge testimonyto the thoughtfulness and effectiveness concern and how many of those had been partially or of our democratic processes. I say to the noble Lord, fully vaccinated? Over the weekend, the Health Secretary Lord Bourne, that the regulations are tweaked at the suggested that many coronavirus in-patients in Bolton last minute to accommodate the changes in the situation had not been vaccinated, despite being eligible. I would we face. That is why they are sometimes laid at the last like the Minister to address how that is being tackled. minute. I remind noble Lords that the House of Lords He has already mentioned that, and I know that my Constitution Committee is looking at processes around honourable friend Yasmin Qureshi, the MP in Bolton, emergency legislation. My noble friend Lord True and has been very active on this. Surge vaccinations have I have given evidence to that committee. I very much been introduced in many hot-spot areas, with some look forward to its recommendations. bringing forward second doses and others extending eligibility to younger age groups. Can the Minister The noble Baroness, Lady Wheatcroft, asked about confirm whether that is happening and what is the learning on the job, as it were, and what we are putting JCVI’s position on this? in place today for our future pandemic preparedness It is clear that it was a mistake to delay adding India and to prepare for any potential third wave. I assure to the travel list and not to implement a comprehensive her, my noble friend Lord Moynihan and the noble hotel quarantine policy. This morning, the Health Baroness, Lady Tyler, that we are doing a huge amount Secretary, Mr Hancock, said that people should not to put in place new systems, institutions and practices. travel to amber countries except for essential reasons The launches of the UK Health Security Agency and and “certainly not” for a holiday, because of the risk the office of health promotion have been brought of coronavirus. This is not what the regulations state. forward to ensure that we have the institutional resilience The Minister needs to confirm whether the regulations to meet any future pandemics, and to bring the learnings will be updated to reflect the Health Secretary’scomments from the handling of this epidemic in real time. They or whether this is yet another case of the Government’s are already making huge strides in the institution-building mixed messaging. and management systems necessary to upgrade our arrangements. The investment in diagnostics is remarkable. Last 3.15 pm week, I visited Leamington Spa, where I stood by a Lord Bethell (Con): My Lords, I am enormously machine that could do 13,000 tests in one go. It grateful to noble Lords for their thoughtful, at times reminded me of the days last March when we were passionate, but at all moments detailed and challenging struggling to do 1,300 tests in a day. In terms of our points. Rather than dwell on the regulations themselves, outbreak management, we have learned a huge amount I will address the three key themes that have been from the success of Project Eagle in containing both raised in this important debate. the South African and Manaus variants, although the The first theme I will address is that raised by escape of the Indian variant demonstrates how a the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, the noble Baroness, Lady highly transmissible variant is something that even the Thornton, and others on the presentation of the best systems cannot fight. regulations themselves. I completely acknowledge the To the noble Lord who asked about the stay-at-home specific points made by the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, protocols, I clarify that the guidance as of today is that and the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton. I fully people should continue to work from home wherever acknowledge the power of scrutiny, the consideration possible, but we look forward to a moment when we that noble Lords give to legislation and the benefits of can have a general return to the offices. GC 15 Health Protection Regulations 2021[LORDS] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 16

[LORD BETHELL] still very much to get the most vulnerable vaccinated— We are looking at ways of dealing with new variants those who are older or with pre-existing morbidities. by potentially introducing booster shots in the autumn, That is more important than getting young people, introducing VoC vaccines through other providers who are relatively low-risk with regard to the virus. and investing in therapeutics and antivirals. A huge The priority is to get those who have had a first jab amount of work is going into every level of our and convert them into having a second jab, because it pandemic preparedness. has emerged that, with the Indian variant, the second Let me tackle head-on the key issue of the India jab is all the more significant. variant and our travel arrangements, which several In conclusion, the good news is that the vaccine does noble Lords raised. On 8 April, we had the benefit of seem to work. The Indian variant is highly transmissible, more surveillance, more genomic sequencing and more but the vaccine is protection for all people against severe analysis of the infection rates in the UK than any illness and death. We should give thanks for that, but other country. It is easy to imagine that all that data, we are not counting our chickens quite yet and we which is so impressive to look at in retrospect, somehow remain extremely diligent and determined to contain gave a clear projection of what was going to happen, any other variants that may come along. I commend but at that date the India 2 variant with which we have the regulations to the Committee. now become so familiar had not been ascribed as a variant of concern. There were in fact three variants in Motion agreed. India, all of which were competing with each other, 3.26 pm none of which we had here in the UK—we therefore could not analyse them hands-on—and the anecdotal Sitting suspended. evidence from India was extremely unclear, whereas we had a lot more information on the presence of the South Africa and Manaus variants in the other Arrangement of Business neighbouring countries. Announcement At that time, it was right that we invested in our 3.36 pm red-list capacity, and I pay huge tribute to the officials managing the managed quarantine system, the airports The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Haskel) and transport partners running an extremely efficient (Lab): My Lords, the hybrid Grand Committee will travel system, and the hotel and transport partners now resume.Some Members are here in person, respecting doing so much to ensure that the system for both red social distancing, others are participating remotely, and amber-list countries is as good as possible. The but all Members will be treated equally. I must ask red-list system has been an incredibly impressive Members in the Room to wear a face covering, except mechanism for containing variant spread. It has grown when seated at their desk, to speak sitting down and to dramatically since launch to contain a very large number wipe down their desk, chair and any other touch of travellers each day. No other similar country has points before and after use. If the capacity of the quite such an effective system in place. It continues to Committee Room is exceeded or other safety requirements be an effective way in which we can maintain flights in are breached, I will immediately adjourn the Committee. and out of the country—something we are extremely If there is a Division in the House, the Committee will reluctant to turn our backs on. adjourn for five minutes. The time limit for this debate is one hour. On ongoing travel, to clarify for my noble friend Lady Wheatcroft, it was not legal to travel until step 3 was brought in. It is now lawful, but it is not advised. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Whatever was heard on the radio this morning, I Searches: Code of Practice) Order 2021 reassure the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, that we Considered in Grand Committee are not in talks with airport operators—we have been in daily contact for many months, running a complex 3.37 pm and detailed managed quarantine scheme, and I pay Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford enormous tribute to both Heathrow and the Border Force for the incredibly impressive arrangements that That the Grand Committee do consider the Proceeds they have in place. I say to my noble friend Lord Bourne of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) that, yes, there are still direct flights to India and Order 2021. Pakistan. It is actually better to channel passengers from those countries in direct flights to avoid what has The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams become known as the Maldives hop and to avoid of Trafford) (Con): My Lords, in moving this order, I mingling wherever possible. shall also speak to the following draft instruments: the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and My noble friend Lord Bourne asked about the VoC Detention of Property: Code of Practice) Order; the map, which is available on the department and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Sanger institute websites, and I would be glad to send Practice) Order; the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery a map. of Listed Assets: Code of Practice) Regulations; the In response to the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of I pay enormous tribute to those in Bolton who have Practice) Order; and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 done an enormous amount to upgrade the vaccination (Investigative Powers of Prosecutors: Code of Practice) of local people there. I remind her that the priority is Order 2021. GC 17 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 18

The Government are taking wide-ranging action to They are: the extension of various powers to officers crack down on crime and make our communities of the Serious Fraud Office; a change to the definition safer. One important part of that mission is our drive of cash for the purposes of cash seizure and forfeiture to stay one step ahead of criminals seeking to move, powers to include gaming vouchers, fixed-value casino hide or use the proceeds of their illegal activities, and tokens and betting slips; the creation of new powers to seeking to frustrate attempts by law enforcement agencies seize, detain and forfeit certain personal assets; a to recover them. The Criminal Finances Act 2017 was broadening of the use of disclosure orders, which may introduced to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 now be sought in support of a money laundering and significantly improve the UK’s ability to effectively investigation; and the introduction of unexplained trace and recover the proceeds of crime. The Criminal wealth orders, which require certain persons to explain Finances Act has not been fully commenced in Northern the origin and legitimacy of any assets that appear Ireland. The reserved aspects of that Act—the disproportionate to their known income. counterterrorist financing and tax evasion provisions— Codes of practice must be revised, or new ones were commenced, but the devolved provisions, primarily brought into force, when certain changes are made to those pertaining to asset recovery, are outstanding. the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. That Act mandates Noble Lords may recall that the Assembly was that the Secretary of State must publish a draft, consider dissolved during the passage of the Criminal Finances any representations made and modify the draft in the Bill, meaning that it was not possible to secure a light of such representations, prior to laying revised legislative consent Motion. It was decided that the codes. The draft codes of practice we are debating devolved provisions should remain in the Bill. At that were subject to a nine-week public consultation spanning time, we signalled our commitment to the central from the end of last year to the beginning of this year. principles of the Sewel convention by openly stating Information on the consultation can be found in the before Parliament that we would not commence provisions Explanatory Memoranda that accompany the statutory on matters devolved to Northern Ireland without the instruments. Additional codes of practice have also appropriate consents having been obtained. Following been publicly consulted on and revised by the Northern the reconstitution of the Assembly, and in the absence Ireland Department of Justice. of a mechanism to seek legislative consent in retrospect, To be clear, this debate does not concern the powers the Justice Minister agreed that the outstanding powers themselves. Rather, we are here to debate the codes should be commenced and—after engagement with that provide guidance about the use of those powers. the Northern Ireland Executive Committee and the The revisions that the Home Office and Attorney- Justice Committee and advising all Northern Ireland General’s Office have made to the codes are technical Assembly Members—asked the Home Secretary to and minor. The draft codes of practice largely replicate commence the relevant provisions. Weplan to commence the published versions, as debated and approved by the powers on 28 June this year. both Houses in 2017 and 2018. I am pleased to introduce the draft instruments that The Proceeds of Crime Act and its subsequent we are debating, which form part of the package of amending legislation are complex. The codes of practice legislation required to complete commencement. These are therefore required to aid law enforcement officers’ draft instruments will each bring one of five distinct understanding of the appropriate and proportionate codes of practice into force. Each of the five codes of way to utilise their powers. Additional record-keeping practice has been revised to reflect the extension of requirements imposed by the codes ensure that the Criminal Finances Act powers to Northern Ireland. public and judiciary can scrutinise the circumstances Some further minor amendments have also been made in which the powers are used, or are intended for use. for clarity. Certain powers governed by these codes of practice The first draft instrument brings into force a code are intrusive; they may involve significant interference of practice providing guidance for UK-wide agencies with individuals’rights to privacy and peaceful enjoyment exercising reserved functions in Northern Ireland. That of their property. That is not to say they are not code governs powers of search, seizure and detention justified, but it is clearly right that we provide guidance of property located in Northern Ireland to preserve it on the exercise of those powers to safeguard against for confiscation. While it applies only to Northern improper use. The codes of practice achieve this not Ireland, the code is issued by the Home Secretary only by clarifying the circumstances in which the because it relates to reserved bodies and their functions powers may be exercised but by ensuring a consistent in Northern Ireland. application of those powers. That is of vital importance The four remaining instruments before the Committee given the broad range of law enforcement agencies to bring into force revised codes of practice to provide which the powers apply.When new powers are introduced guidance on search powers for recovering cash, powers the codes must be revised and scrutinised to ensure to search personal assets, and investigatory powers. that the safeguards within are up to date. That is what Three of the four remaining codes are issued by the these draft instruments and these debates provide. Home Secretary and one is issued by the Attorney-General These five draft instruments are necessary to deliver and Advocate-General for Northern Ireland specifically theGovernment’sobjectivetobringoutstandingprovisions to provide guidance to prosecutors in the exercise of of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 into force in Northern investigation powers. Ireland. We are determined to use every possible tool The new powers that give rise to the revised codes to trace and recover the proceeds of crime. The draft of practice were debated extensively by both Houses codes that we are debating ensure that those powers during the passage of the Criminal Finances Bill. are used effectively, not only to deprive criminals of GC 19 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[LORDS] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 20

[BARONESS WILLIAMS OF TRAFFORD] spending review. Again, requests for the report or a their ill-gotten gains but to help prevent further offending, summary of its recommendations on those matters to therefore supporting our efforts to protect the public. I be released under the Freedom of Information Act commend the instruments to the Committee. have been rejected. The Government have committed in their economic 3.46 pm crime plan to develop a sustainable long-term resourcing Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted (LD) [V]: My Lords, model for economic crime reform. As part of that they I thank the Minister for introducing these instruments, have announced that they will introduce an economic which stem from the Criminal Finances Act. The crime levy, which they expect to bring in £100 million Minister will no doubt recall that I spent a fair bit of per year. The consultation closed in October last year time trying to encourage more and faster steps during and we are still waiting for its results. They have also the passage of that Act. However, today’s instruments made a one-year £63 million settlement with the Home relate to the codes of practice for enforcement, and I Office to tackle economic crime, but the director-general wish to speak around that more generally rather than of the NCA said in 2019 that the UK needed a on the particular extension to Northern Ireland. £2.7 billion investment over three years in tackling The codes are important because they give guidance serious and organised crime, which was estimated to on how officers exercise their functions, and are of interest cost the UK at least £37 billion a year. Without serious to persons who may be the subject of the powers. While funding, these codes of practice will surely be used a I have little sympathy for wrongdoers, functions must lot less than they might be. be exercised lawfully and proportionately. There may Will the full review be published? If not, why not? also be parties inadvertently dragged into scope. I What further information will be given to Parliament? therefore have no quarrel with the content of these Without publication of the reviews, one is left to instruments as such, but there are surrounding matters postulate that the content is embarrassing, but right of interest and I am taking the opportunity of the now the embarrassment is in the extent of organised time available for this debate to see whether the Minister crime, and that ultimately it falls as a cost on society can provide some more information. and the individual, yet the numbers indicate it should My first point is that the code of practice will be of be possible to recover far more. use only if it is backed up with a proper and robust Finally, the code of practice lays out how law training package by the NCA’s Proceeds of Crime enforcement can use unexplained wealth orders, among Centre. The Home Office’s Asset Recovery Action Plan other investigative tools. However, recent case law, the of July 2019 stated that the Government would conduct Baker judgment, has exposed significant gaps in the an independent review of the Proceeds of Crime Centre legislation for implementing unexplained wealth orders by March 2020. Earlier this month, the Government and exposed how, without greater protection against released a statement of progress on the economic crime costs, law enforcers are unlikely to use these tools plan, which states that this review has been completed against wealthy, litigious kleptocrats, if at all. It has and its recommendations are being implemented. The been suggested that there might be additional reforms, fact of that follow-up is good, one supposes, but the such as allowing production orders to be used before review has not actually been published and requests an account freezing order needs to be made. Is that for its release under the Freedom of Information Act reform something that the Government intend to pursue? have been rejected. Therefore, it is not possible to know what the recommendations from the review that The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Haskel) are being implemented are, what the background to (Lab): The noble Baroness, Lady Eaton, has withdrawn, those recommendations is or how effective they will so I call the noble Lord, Lord Dodds. be, because the information is not published. Given the centrality of the Proceeds of Crime Centre to 3.52 pm ensuring effective training on the code of practice, will Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP): My Lords, I begin the Government make public that review and put a by saying that I fully support the SIs that the Minister copy in the House of Lords Library? If that is not is proposing. I welcome her detailed explanation of being done, can the Minister explain why not and the purpose of the regulations and that they will allow what other information is available to Parliament? the full commencement of the Criminal Finances Act My second point relates to the first: these powers provisions in Northern Ireland at long last. This will will also be effective only if the UK has properly unlock better outcomes against organised criminality, resourced financial investigators and law enforcement protect our economy and reduce harm in those to investigate and prosecute for proceeds of crime. Again, communities that are particularly affected by organised there is an unpublished review, in Sir Craig Mackey’s crime gangs and paramilitarism, which has bedevilled independent review into law enforcement capabilities many communities in the area that I had the great for tackling serious and organised crime and the cost privilege to represent for many years in north Belfast. of implementing the 2018 serious and organised crime The Criminal Finances Bill, as the Minister said, strategy. The Government published the executive received Royal Assent back in April 2017 and has been summary of Sir Craig’s review in March 2021, but that fully commenced in England, Scotland and Wales. summary does not cover one of the key areas of The fact that it has not been fully operational— the review’s terms of reference: the funding for law the reserved matters have been, but the devolved issues enforcement to tackle serious and organised crime. have been disrupted and delayed by the previous That is despite the fact that the review was specifically suspension of devolution—is a matter of deep regret. commissioned in 2019 in the context of the comprehensive We certainly saw the fall of this legislation, which GC 21 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 22 proceeded in the other parts of the United Kingdom, Policing Board, to better capture the economic harm as a major disadvantage to the collapse of devolution. and proceeds of crime held by paramilitaries. There is It has led to a disparity in powers available to authorities a need to continue to focus all the time on how we can in other regions of the United Kingdom in the fight increase the effectiveness and targeting of tools to against serious organised crime—and my goodness we enhance outcomes against these groups. If we cut off need it in Northern Ireland perhaps more than anywhere their finance, we will go a long way to putting them else. out of business. It is one of the greatest priorities we The Justice Minister in Northern Ireland has rightly have in Northern Ireland. Make no mistake: some of said that she wants to see this introduced as quickly as these groups are still very active as crime gangs and possible, and there have been widespread calls, including drug gangs across Northern Ireland. I welcome the from Members of the Assembly, for the commencement Northern Ireland Justice Minister’s intention to establish of the powers, particularly in relation to the new new offences of participating in and directing organised unexplained wealth order,account freezing and forfeiture crime, as well as aggravated offences. provisions. We do not want Northern Ireland to have a I very much welcome this very positive step forward. weaker regime than other UK jurisdictions. It is therefore It is overdue, but at least come June we will be at the welcome news that these SIs have been laid. point where these powers are available in Northern It has been frustrating, as I say, but I hope that we Ireland. That is very good news indeed for the people can now look forward to the forces of law and order of Northern Ireland. and the NCA having all the tools at their disposal to tackle organised crime gangs. As the Minister said, 4 pm this will not just deal with those who have been Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Non-Afl) [V]: My directly engaged already but act as a severe deterrent Lords, I thank the Minister for the explanation of to others. When I was an elected representative for these instruments, all of which are important in the north Belfast, time and again residents would ask me, fight against crime and criminality, and to ensure that “How is it that so-and-so around the corner is driving the ill-gotten gains from crime do not fuel further an extremely fancy car and is able to go on foreign levels of criminality in our society. Like the noble Lord, holidays? We’re all here looking at this, we know Lord Dodds of Duncairn, I welcome these prescribed what’s going on and the police seem powerless to act.” codes because they will enable the Minister for Justice It was a severe problem and still is today. in Northern Ireland and those involved in tackling The unexplained wealth orders in particular are crime and criminality, such as the National Crime extremely welcome and will go a long way to tackling Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and paramilitarism and organised crime. When people do the Assets Recovery Agency, which was subsumed not see clear action taken in the face of obvious into SOCA, to do their job more effectively. We are fed wrongdoing, it erodes confidence in law enforcement up of seeing these criminal gangs feeding off their agencies’ ability to deal effectively with the problem. I ill-gotten gains at the expense, in many instances, of hope that this will really give the police and others the deeply marginalised and vulnerable communities, tools they need. particularly in urban areas. The noble Lord, Lord Dodds, referred to one of the There was a recent documentary on Northern Ireland greatest acts of criminality—the Northern Bank robbery, television—I do not know whether it was shown on about which there was a documentary and a BBC the mainland as well—about the Northern Bank robbery, Sounds drama in recent weeks. Two of the people one of the biggest bank robberies in the history of the abducted lived quite near me, and were my constituents UK, when £26 million was stolen by the Provisional when I was a Member of the other place and of the IRA back in December 2004. Many millions of that Northern Ireland Assembly. They vividly told me what money are still unaccounted for. People have been happened to them on that night, when they were searching out how it has been used to finance all sorts imprisoned in their own homes and the husband was of nefarious activity. It would be really good if some taken away to the Northern Bank to participate in the of these powers were used to track down that money robbery of his own place of employment. Like the and seize some of those assets from those who should noble Lord, Lord Dodds, I agree that these new codes not have them and are using them for nefarious purposes. of practice should be used to find out how and why The extension of the National Crime Agency to that money was stolen, where it is being used, how it Northern Ireland was, of course, resisted in the usual has been disbursed and in what ways it is strangulating quarters, but it is playing a vital role in disrupting and our society in Northern Ireland. dismantling organised criminality in our Province. All these instruments are very important for the Increasingly, protocols have been agreed with the PSNI recovery of cash obtained under illegal circumstances. to focus the National Crime Agency on major-impact I have already referred to Northern Ireland; that is my disruption, and it is important that this does not lead starting point and, I suppose, my end point. I note to a diminution of activity towards smaller groups, that the revised code is required due to the commencement particularly where the criminal finance element does of outstanding provisions in the Criminal Finances not meet the threshold for some of the powers afforded Act 2017 in Northern Ireland, which grants additional by today’s code. powers to law enforcement and prosecution agencies I believe that there is scope for the Justice Minister that are already available in England, Scotland and in Northern Ireland to examine the potential for a new Wales. All these codes have been amended to reflect assets-recovery agency,in line with the recommendations the commencement of new powers in Northern Ireland. of the Independent Reporting Commission and the The Minister for Justice has been looking for these GC 23 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[LORDS] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 24

[BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK] Although this SI and the others being debated enhanced powers, which could not have been enacted simply bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest earlier because of the lack of functioning political of the United Kingdom, and there is a good reason structures in Northern Ireland for three years.Thankfully, why this was not possible before, there is one aspect of those were reinstated in January last year with the this first SI on which I seek further information from launch of New Decade, New Approach. the Minister. The Explanatory Memorandum says While I support and underline the importance of that the codes of practice require these prescribed codes, I would like the Minister’s “an officer who is contemplating using the powers to consider the reassurances that they were subject to an equality impact impact on the community in their use, balanced against the public assessment. If not, why not? Are they human rights interest and the benefit … the powers would add to the case.” compliant? As others have mentioned, it is important For me, who has no knowledge or experience of Northern that the prescribed codes themselves, in their guidance Ireland, that still has particular resonance for Northern and in the powers, are proportionate and that they Ireland. Could the Minister explain further what the reflect good human rights practices. I am also in impact might be of the use of these powers in the light absolutely no doubt that many communities in Northern of the circumstances in Northern Ireland? Is there a Ireland, particularly in urban areas but also in rural potential for the use of these powers to be particular areas, have been left in a perilous state because of the sensitive against the background of the Province? The actions of paramilitaries and gangsters who have tried noble Lord, Lord Dodds of Duncairn, mentioned that to escape these rules in order to pursue and perpetuate there was a protocol between, I think, the Police Service their ill-gotten gains. That, I believe, must be stopped. of Northern Ireland and the National Crime Agency. The National Crime Agency and the Assets Recovery Is this further evidence of such sensitivity? The noble Agency have important powers that need to be used Baroness, Lady Ritchie of Downpatrick, wondered proportionately and assertively. The Serious Organised whether there was a diversity impact assessment and a Crime Agency concentrated on international crime, human rights assessment, again suggesting that there which was and is important, but it changed the threshold might be particular issues in Northern Ireland that are for crime detection. As a result, many others involved not as relevant to the rest of the United Kingdom. in paramilitary activity and gangsterism in Northern The second SI relates to revised codes of practice Ireland have escaped the net. It is important that those relating to the investigative powers of prosecutors to issues are looked at. cover unexplained wealth orders, interim freezing orders, While I agree with these rules, it is important that disclosure orders, extending the powers of members of we look at this in the all-Ireland sphere, because many staff of the Serious Fraud Office, detained property of the paramilitary operations, with their gangland assets and frozen funds investigations. These are again the and ill-gotten gains, operate on an all-Ireland basis. They result of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 amending powers also operate through drug trafficking. Many drug under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. As with the barons operate in the south of Ireland and in Northern other SIs, other than drafting changes and responses Ireland. There needs to be a greater level of co-operation. outside the scope of the SIs, there were no responses What efforts can be made with the Irish Government to the public consultation. In addition, I understand to look at this as an all-Ireland operation to tackle that the Home Office has invited representations from such crime, using these prescribed codes? the Attorney-General’s Office, Her Majesty’s Treasury, I am very happy to support these instruments because the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland and the I believe that we and the Government must have the Scottish Government, in accordance with the Proceeds intention and power to deal with drug trafficking, of Crime Act, and each organisation has confirmed money laundering and bank robberies on an all-Ireland that it is content. basis to free our communities from the danger of The third SI relates to revised codes of practice for paramilitarism and racketeering. investigations concerning the use of general asset recovery 4.07 pm investigation powers in Chapter 2 of Part 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, as amended by the Criminal Finances Lord Paddick (LD) [V]: My Lords, I thank the Act 2017, now that these provisions are being enacted Minister for explaining these statutory instruments. in Northern Ireland. These are codes of practice for My noble friend Lady Bowles of Berkhamsted has officers and other persons exercising their functions raised important issues relating to the operation of the under POCA, as opposed to those for prosecutors legislation more broadly, but as far as these SIs are contained in the second SI. concerned, the first relates to the code of practice covering cash searches under the Proceeds of Crime The fourth SI relates to the need for a revised code Act 2002, which needed to be revised as a result of the of practice in connection with the search, seizure and powers extended by Section 22 of the Criminal Finances recovery of certain listed assets, such as precious metals Act 2017. Although these new powers were brought and stones, watches, art works, vouchers and postage into effect in Great Britain shortly after Royal Assent, stamps, as opposed to the first, which relates to cash, as the noble Baroness explained, the suspension of the gaming vouchers, fixed-value casino tokens and betting Northern Ireland Assembly in February 2017, until its slips. reconstitution in January 2020, prevented the Home The fifth SI relates to a revised codes of practice in Office seeking the approval of the Northern Ireland connection with the search, seizure and detention of Assembly to commence the relevant provisions of the property, such as cars, jewellery, electric goods and 2017 Act in Northern Ireland. The Home Office has now clothing, that is often of high value and can be easily secured that approval, hence this and the other four SIs. moved, hidden or sold during a confiscation investigation GC 25 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021 GC 26 following a criminal conviction. As with all these SIs, delay, given that the request was made in June 2020— the need for the change is the result of the enactment nearly a year ago now? Is the delay because of the of changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act made by the pandemic? It is quite unusual to bring in legislation to Criminal Finance Act 2017 that were delayed in Northern be retrospectively consented, three years after the Bill Ireland as a result of the suspension of the Northern became law. I know that that is because the Assembly Ireland Assembly. As a result, with the exception of was suspended; I am delighted that it is up and working the community impact concerns, we are content with now, and we hope that we never again get a situation the orders. when it is not up and running. It would be useful to understand that. 4.12 pm What is the Minister’sopinion about how the legislation Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op): My Lords, works in the rest of the United Kingdom? It has been as we have heard, these orders are being brought in place for three years now—has it been good? I have forward to reflect the extension of the Criminal Finances seen a number of reports of when unexplained wealth Act provisions to Northern Ireland. I say right at the orders have been granted against individuals. Will the start that I fully support the orders and welcome the Minister tell us a little about what she thinks the effect fact that they are with us this afternoon. of the law has been? What additional training and I recall our extensive debates in the Chamber on the oversight has been put in place to help officers and Criminal Finances Act. It is about tackling money others to ensure that they can actually enact this laundering and terrorist finance, among other things, legislation and use the power that they have been and being able today to bring forward these orders to granted properly and forcefully so it can have the apply to Northern Ireland is very welcome. I agree effect that we all want it to have? with the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, that it was regrettable With that, I fully endorse the orders before us today that the Assembly was suspended and we could not get and look forward to the Minister’s response. them in place earlier, but now that it is up and running again, it is welcome that we are able to do so today. 4.17 pm I very much agree with the noble Lord that the measures will deal with criminality—that is really Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): I thank all noble important—and act as a deterrent to others who are Lords who have taken part in this debate. So many thinking of getting into criminality or paramilitarism. questions were asked that I can hardly keep up with It is very important we are seen to give a strong lead them. there. I endorse the remarks of my friend the noble The noble Baroness, Lady Bowles, asked about Baroness, Lady Ritchie of Downpatrick, in her support training for law enforcement, which is a perfectly for these measures and what she hopes will be their reasonable question, because of course the powers will positive effect. It is really important if they can help apply to them. The powers will largely be exercised by track down those funds from the Northern Bank asset recovery specialists, who require little to no robbery. I saw the documentary; I have not heard the additional training; this includes officers of the NCA stuff on BBC Sounds, but will have a look for it. It is and the Serious Fraud Office. Our operational partners important that we recognise what the money that was have a strongly embedded practice of supporting one stolen there has been able to finance. another in our asset recovery endeavours. That can I do not know Northern Ireland as well as either involve referring all aspects of the case to other agencies the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, or the noble Baroness, with particular expertise to ensure maximum proceeds Lady Ritchie, but I have been there many times and I of crime are removed from the system. have many friends who live in the Province. I think Noble Lords may also be aware that accredited that it is absolutely right, no matter what community financial investigators, individuals who support the you come from, to look at the effect that this sort of traditional law enforcement agencies to disrupt economic activity will have on marginalised communities and on crime, are trained, accredited and closely monitored all communities, on their prospects. If we can stop by the Proceeds of Crime Centre in the National Crime people being dragged into this sort of behaviour in Agency. Accredited financial investigators are subject future, that is a really good thing, and all communities to continuous professional development requirements will benefit from that. I very much welcome that. and have their accreditation reviewed every two years. I also endorse the comments from my noble friend To ensure that recruitment, retention and training of Lady Ritchie.It is important to work with the Government financial investigators is robust and effective, an in the Republic as well, because there are cross-border independent review of the current training provided issues there. That is a very important issue. by the Proceeds of Crime Centre—or POCC—was The order updates the codes of practice. I am aware commissioned. It was completed in 2020, and we are that Naomi Long has asked for these powers to be working with the NECC and wider stakeholders to extended; she actually asked for that in June 2020. My develop a comprehensive plan for reform. That will only regret is that we have not been able to do this ensure that the training offered to our financial sooner, which I suppose is because of the pandemic investigators is among the best. To that end, we intend and everything that has been going on. The sooner we to have a multiagency approach to the reform of get these powers in place, the better. POCC, and progress will be overseen by the multiagency I have a couple of questions, although nothing of strategic asset recovery group of Ministers. any major significance, because many points have already The noble Baroness is also right to make the point been raised. It is very good to get the orders in place, about resourcing; we understand those concerns and it as I say, but can the Minister confirm the reasons for is important that agencies have the required resources GC 27 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002/Order 2021[LORDS] Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Regs. 2021 GC 28

[BARONESS WILLIAMS OF TRAFFORD] wealth order and that that was then lowered to £50,000 to implement the new powers, which is why a proportion after the Government tabled an amendment following of the proceeds of crime recovered by law enforcement representations from the devolved Administrations agencies is reinvested into the system under the asset that the value of property varies considerably depending recovery incentivisation scheme. The more an agency on where it is held in the UK. Having a value threshold recovers, the more it receives to be reinvested in law as a qualifying criterion is considered to be a necessary enforcement capability.It is also important to recognise safeguard against what is essentially an intrusive that, although powers are necessary to keep pace with investigatory power. criminals’ ever-changing modus operandi, these new I underline the point that I made to the noble Lord, powers will not necessarily demand additional resource. Lord Kennedy, that the statistics demonstrate that the For example, existing resource that may have been Proceeds of Crime Act powers are having a good used exclusively to address criminal cash five or 10 years impact. However, as I said to the noble Baroness, ago may now be better deployed across cash forfeitures Lady Bowles, they are of course always kept under and forfeiture of funds held in bank accounts. review. The upcoming economic crime levy will also be I think I have answered all the points that noble used to drive reforms to the sustainable resourcing of Lords put to me and, with that, I beg to move. economic crime and could be used to fund an uplift in financial investigative capacity. On the SOC review, it Motion agreed. has always been our intention to publish its key recommendations and we did so on 16 March by releasing the executive summary. The full report will Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigative not be published because of its sensitivity, but we have Powers of Prosecutors: Code of Practice) made it available to the appropriate partners. Order 2021 An impact assessment has not been prepared for Considered in Grand Committee the instruments because we have considered the overall impact of commencing the Criminal Finances Act in 4.26 pm Northern Ireland rather than preparing separate assessments for each statutory instrument in this package. Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford On what has delayed it, the EU exit statutory instruments That the Grand Committee do consider the Proceeds —of which there were many—have to a large extent of Crime Act 2002 (Investigative Powers of Prosecutors: been impacting absolutely everything we have done Code of Practice) Order 2021. for the last couple of years, so that is the answer. The noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, is right to ask how Motion agreed. the Act is working; I think it is working well. The Criminal Finances Act has been vital in dealing with just the sort of people that the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 spoke about—those driving around in big cars and (Investigations: Code of Practice) you wonder where the heck they ever got the money Order 2021 from; that is absolutely right. On the utility of the regulations in Northern Ireland, the noble Baroness, Considered in Grand Committee Lady Bowles, asked whether we are going to bring in new legislation. Clearly, we will keep them under 4.26 pm review, which is very important, and update legislation Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford where necessary. That the Grand Committee do consider the Proceeds In Northern Ireland, civil recovery investigations of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) enhanced by the use of unexplained wealth orders, Order 2021. where appropriate, could play an integral role in tackling organised criminality and, as the noble Lord and the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie of Downpatrick, said, Motion agreed. paramilitarism, which is a key priority for the law enforcement agencies represented under the Organised Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Crime Task Force and the Paramilitary Crime Taskforce. Indeed, the Independent Reporting Commission Listed Assets: Code of Practice) recommended that the powers in the Criminal Finances Regulations 2021 Act were commenced in Northern Ireland as an utmost Considered in Grand Committee priority.Stripping criminals who are linked to organised crime and paramilitarism of their proceeds of crime 4.26 pm can prevent those engaged in criminal activity benefiting financially or materially. This, in turn, will discredit Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford them and prevent funding of other illicit activities. That the Grand Committee do consider the Proceeds On the thresholds that the noble Lord asked about, of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Listed Assets: noble Lords may recall that the Criminal Finances Bill Code of Practice) Regulations 2021. originally specified that only property valued in excess of £100,000 could be the subject of an unexplained Motion agreed. GC 29 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021 GC 30

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 because, as Seizure and Detention of Property: Code confirmed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, they have no recognised medicinal of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2021 use in the UK. This is the first proposed addition to Considered in Grand Committee control further benzodiazepines under the 1971 Act 4.27 pm since the control of 16 benzodiazepines in May 2017, which are also controlled under Class C of the 1971 Act. Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford Benzodiazepines are associated with a high dependency That the Grand Committee do consider the Proceeds rate and severe withdrawal symptoms from even short- of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention term use. Furthermore, their combined use with other of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) recreational drugs—in particular opioids and other Order 2021. central nervous system depressants—is associated with Motion agreed. an increased risk of mortality and contributes to a significant number of drug-related deaths each year. 4.27 pm Data provided by the National Programme on Substance Sitting suspended. Abuse Deaths showed that in England between 2006 and 2015, there were 5,740 benzodiazepine-related Arrangement of Business deaths. Of these, just under 4% recorded benzodiazepines Announcement as the only compounds implicated in the cause of death, which may indicate the frequency with which 4.40 pm they are associated with polydrug use. The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness I can provide some further background on the three Watkins of Tavistock) (CB): My Lords, the hybrid benzodiazepines covered by this order. The first is Grand Committee will now resume. Some Members flualprazolam. The ACMD’s report states that as of are here in person, respecting social distancing, others March 2020, there have been 12 flualprazolam-associated are participating remotely, but all Members will be deaths in the UK recorded by regional statistical agencies. treated equally. I must ask Members in the Room to It also states that the European Monitoring Centre for wear a face covering, except when seated at their desk, Drug and Drug Addiction issued a report on to speak sitting down and to wipe down their desk, flualprazolam in March 2019. This detailed deaths chair and any other touch points before and after use. with confirmed exposure to the compound in 24 reported If the capacity of the Committee Room is exceeded or cases in Sweden and two in Finland. In eight of these other safety requirements are breached, I will immediately cases, flualprazolam was cited as a contributory or adjourn the Committee. If there is a Division in the possible contributory factor. House, the Committee will adjourn for five minutes. I move on to flunitrazolam. It is likely that the potency The time limit for this debate is one hour. of flunitrazolam is greater than that of the already highly potent flunitrazepam, or Rohypnol, which is Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) controlled as a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Order 2021 Act 1971. A small number of seizures were made at Considered in Grand Committee the UK border between October 2014 and 2019. The ACMD report highlighted that small-scale seizures of 4.40 pm a mixture of tablets and powder had also been notified Moved by Baroness Williams of Trafford in Germany in 2016 and Denmark in 2017. That the Grand Committee do consider the Misuse I move now to norfludiazepam, which has been of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2021. identified in the UK twice, both in 2017: once from a police seizure and once by the drug identification The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams provider TICTAC. Small-scale seizures also took place of Trafford) (Con): My Lords, I beg to move that the in Germany in 2016, Sweden in 2017 and Norway in draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Order 2021, 2018. There has also been anecdotal reporting of the which was laid before the House on 25 March, be use or purchase of norfludiazepam by PostScript 360, approved. a charity that provides treatment for withdrawal from I am grateful for the advice provided by the Advisory benzodiazepines. Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which has helped to As well as the recommendation for control under the inform the order before the Committee. The proposed 1971 Act, the ACMD also recommended that the three amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which I benzodiazepines be placed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse shall henceforth refer to simply as the 1971 Act, follows of Drugs Regulations 2001 and part 1 of Schedule 1 to the ACMD’s self-commissioned advice published on the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England, Wales 29 April last year about benzodiazepines. and Scotland) Order 2015, as these drugs have no The draft order before your Lordships relates known medicinal use in the UK. Subject to the approval specifically to three of those benzodiazepines: of both Houses of Parliament of this draft order, it is flualprazolam, flunitrazolam and norfludiazepam. Due intended that a further statutory instrument, subject to their potential harm and the evidence of the prevalence to the negative resolution procedure, will come into of these drugs in the UK, the ACMD recommended force at the same time as this order, being 28 days after controlling all three substances under class C of the 1971 the date the Order in Council is made. This further Act. The ACMD also concluded that these three instrument would make the amendments to the 2001 benzodiazepines should be scheduled under Schedule 1 regulations and the 2015 order. GC 31 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021[LORDS] Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021 GC 32

[BARONESS WILLIAMS OF TRAFFORD] I understand the time and cost it will take to set up Parliament’s approval of this order to control new services but recognise that it would be quick and flualprazolam, norfludiazepam and flunitrazolam under relatively inexpensive to set up the helpline we have class C of the 1971 Act, and the scheduling of these recommended. This will benefit patients and clinicians under Schedule 1 to the 2001 regulations, as per the alike and, at last, begin the process of putting appropriate recommendations of the ACMD, would make it unlawful services into place. Will the Government set up the to possess, supply, produce, import or export these helpline in the near future? drugs except under a Home Office licence for research. In conclusion, I very much welcome this measure The maximum sentence for possession of a class C but also note that millions of people are suffering and drug is up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine or millions of pounds are being wasted. It is time that the both, while for supply it is up to 14 years in prison, an Government acted decisively to stop this. I know that unlimited fine or both. these issues are not the Minister’s responsibility but I We know that illegal drugs ruin lives and have a would be very interested in her comments and in her corrosive effect on society. It is clear from the advice addressing these concerns to the Department of Health we have received that these benzodiazepines can cause and Social Care and NHS England. serious harm, and that is why we are taking this action. I hope I have made the case to control them, even though I have not managed to pronounce them 4.51 pm very well, and I commend the order to the Committee. Lord Mann (Non-Afl): My Lords, it has taken some time for some very simple action to be taken on 4.48 pm benzodiazepines. I first recommended this action in 2003 in the House of Commons and was ignored. I do Lord Crisp (CB): My Lords, I support this measure not want to take issue with the Minister—I hope she and congratulate the Minister on her very clear explanation does not feel that I am—but there is a concept which of the reasons for it, and on her pronunciation, which she and the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, raised, which I I will not attempt to follow. want to disagree with. It is about the unintended I am pleased to see that the Government have consequences of it, and it is not nit-picking, because accepted the advice of the Advisory Council on the of where the logic comes from. Misuse of Drugs on this matter. As has just been Part of the justification for the proposal to the stated, the arguments in favour of it are straightforward Committee—I entirely endorse the merits of agreeing in relation to the potential of these compounds to it today—was that these three benzodiazepines have cause harm, the evidence of their prevalence in the no identifiable health benefit. That rather misses the UK and the absence of any clinical need for them. point, because even if they had a health benefit, the Benzodiazepines all have similar effects, but some— use of benzodiazepines in the illicit-drug-using and including, the evidence suggests, some of these—are problematic-drug-using communities is prodigious. It more powerful and addictive than others. There are can of course take place elsewhere, and there is a huge already more than enough licensed for clinical use and market for the resale of prescribed drugs; the noble there is no clinical need for more. Lord, Lord Crisp, alluded to that. That same market is As the Minister knows,I shall also take the opportunity particularly problematic when it comes to problematic as the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group users, by which I mean users whose drug dependency for Prescribed Drug Dependence to draw attention to is such that it dominates their entire life and leads the scale and severity of this problem in the UK. them into forms of behaviour that damage others. These three drugs are obviously very relevant to that That is distinct from those who suffer misery by themselves matter. In 2018, 11.5 million adults had one or more in their own home, which can be through illegal drugs prescriptions for drugs that can create dependence. but which is far more often through the misuse of Research suggests that at least half experience withdrawal prescribed drugs. That latter category of people do symptoms but only 3% of the population have access not tend to buy the drugs illegally; they simply get to withdrawal services. It is likely that these figures are them through perfectly legal prescriptions. However, now higher following the pandemic. there is a huge market in the sale of all products, some There are large financial as well as personal costs of which are obtained technically illegally—they are involved.Overprescribing—thatis,unnecessaryprescribing prescribed and then sold on—while others are in the —of these drugs is estimated to cost between £320 and entirely legal market, such as these three particular £642 million annually, and the costs and problems benzodiazepines. associated with withdrawal probably make that figure Part of the dilemma we have and part of the weakness much higher. Of course, the personal misery is in the system in this country is that the ACMD logic unmeasurable. still ties in with what criminal justice sees—and criminal I acknowledge the work of the chief pharmacist justice still has a tendency not to want too many Keith Ridge and his team, who are overseeing things to have to regulate and criminalise, because it implementation of the Public Health England means more work—as well as with health, and particularly recommendations on prescribed drug dependence, but public health, which has had an obsession with the this is going very slowly. We need more urgent and perceived positive benefits of a cocktail of drugs, timely action from the Department of Health and defined as one drug being used to counteract another Social Care and NHS England given the millions who drug. That is precisely the kind of use that drug are taking benzodiazepines and other drugs of dependence addicts have for benzodiazepines. In my experience, I beyond what is clinically necessary. do not know anyone who has a heroin addiction, for GC 33 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021 GC 34 example, who does not also use benzodiazepines. The TheDeputyChairmanof Committees(BaronessWatkins two go together, although not usually literally together. of Tavistock) (CB): I call the next speaker, the noble So the public health input has often been to say, Lord, Lord Paddick. Lord Paddick? “Things are better out there, because it will help people’s health”. I think that is fundamentally wrong. 5 pm Our inability to get on top of drug treatment in this Lord Paddick (LD) [V]: My Lords, I have to get country is partly because criminal justice takes too used to Grand Committee not being able to unmute much of a lead in this. That is not the Minister’s fault, me and having to do it myself, unlike in the Chamber. although it is her problem, because she then has a However, we shall go now. responsibility. I happen to be Lord Mann, of Holbeck Moor in the City of Leeds, and I hope that the I thank the Minister for introducing this order, Minister will at some stage—I would be happy to which brings three benzodiazepines under part 3 of accompany her—look at the managed prostitution red Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act, owing to their light district on Holbeck Moor. It is a health disaster potential harm and prevalence in the UK. The noble and catastrophe and very unpopular with members of Lord, Lord Crisp, quite rightly highlighted the issues the local community, as I know from listening to associated with similar drugs that are legally them. I in no way purport to represent them; that is for overprescribed. As the noble Baroness mentioned, the far more illustrious Members of the Commons. these drugs are related to Rohypnol, the so-called date However, the notion of a managed red light district is rape drug, and to Xanax and Valium—well-known precisely the kind of problem that has led to so much anti-anxiety drugs that are highly addictive, or, as the time being taken to make benzodiazepines illegal. Minister called it, resulting in high dependency. In addition to their potential use to sedate victims by The Minister is right to bring this forward, but I perpetrators of sexual offences, they are respiratory think we need to knock heads together more, particularly suppressants that can lead to the shutting down of the in public health, which is silent too often. It is precisely respiratory system and death, particularly if taken in why usually primary care, although it can be hospitals, conjunction with alcohol or similar drugs. has been allowed to overprescribe things that are actually a danger,either through overuse by the individual Of course, we on these Benches take a harm-reduction or misuse by others who get hold of them, sometimes approach to the misuse of drugs, and the fact that one by purchasing them. Benzodiazepines really fit that of these drugs has resulted in 12 deaths in the UK is of model in terms of the kinds of markets that are there. concern. Can the Minister give any more details of the circumstances of these deaths? Were they people with I commend the Minister for this, but there is a great mental health issues who were self-medicating? Were opportunity for this Government to take a leap forward they people who had taken these drugs in combination in getting the public health agenda aligned with the with other drugs or alcohol recreationally? Or were criminal justice agenda. For all sorts of reasons, the they drugged by others? Government are well positioned to do this in ways that other Governments were more fearful of. I hope that I ask these questions as there are concerns that the the Minister will look at that. It is not enough simply lack of mental health services for those suffering from to make this illegal, because the same people will still anxiety and the extended waiting times for people to be buying it, whether it is legal or illegal. We also need receive treatment, together with the stigma of suffering to try to get to the root causes and look at how health from poor mental health, may be driving people to does or does not deal with it, and then the country will seek substances such as these as a means of immediate literally be a healthier place. relief from their symptoms, without seeking professional medical help. Pushing people into seeking drugs where there is little or no quality control and where the 4.58 pm amount of active ingredient contained in each pill can Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]: My Lords, this SI has vary enormously can lead to accidental overdose, with been prepared by the Home Office, and this instrument disastrous consequences. brings three benzodiazepines—forgive me if I cannot Can the Minister point to any research that pronounce them, but I can send the details—under demonstrates the efficacy of moving psychoactive control as class C drugs under Part 3 of Schedule 2 to substances such as these from being covered by the the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, owing to their potential Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 into being included harm and evidence of the prevalence of these drugs in as class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971? the UK. This order controls these three compounds as How less likely are people to take these drugs as class C drugs under the 1971 Act, following advice a result of this sort of order? Does the Minister not from the ACMD published on 29 April 2020, owing to agree that, as far as most young people in particular the potential for these compounds to create harm and are concerned, it makes little difference whether a evidence of these drugs in the UK. The Home Office drug is illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act will issue a circular with legislative guidance primarily or the Misuse of Drugs Act, and that even the classification for the police and courts. The Government will continue of the drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act has little to update their messaging on the harms of these impact on the attitudes of those who misuse drugs substances, including through their information and towards different substances? advisory service online. Is it not time for an overhaul of the whole approach Can the Minister explain what fines and prison to the misuse of drugs, adopting a health-based, harm sentences will be given to individuals who breach these reduction approach based on educating people, orders? particularly the young, as to the effects and dangers of GC 35 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021[LORDS] Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021 GC 36

[LORD PADDICK] I will leave it there. I fully support the order but, as different drugs, rather than an emphasis of police and many noble Lords have said, there must be another other criminal justice system resources on criminalising prong to our attack on this process, and that is the the misuse of drugs that often have only a minimal health-based proposals many of them talked about. effect? Diverting resources away from the so-called war on drugs and into effective mental health provision 5.08 pm to reduce reliance on drugs, into drug treatment for Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): I thank all those addicted, and into education on the effects and noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. It is dangers of drugs misuse would be a far more effective worth stating at the outset that there are benzodiazepine way of dealing with the issues that this order is intended medicines which can be prescribed by clinicians and to deal with. have specific uses, but today’s focus is on illicit Is this order no more than rearranging the deckchairs benzodiazepines. on the Titanic that is the drugs-misuse crisis in the As the noble Lords, Lord Mann and Lord Crisp, UK? The Government’s failure to have any lasting said, this is often about polydrug use. These tend to be impact on the supply side of the illegal drugs market drugs used not just in isolation, and deaths tend to surely suggests that the focus should now shift to the occur when polydrug use is being practised. I totally demand side, reducing the demand for controlled drugs take the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Mann, through adequate mental health provision, education that the criminal justice system approach to drugs must and treatment of addiction. We do not oppose the be aligned to public health. When people have got order, we just ask: what evidence is there that it will be themselves into illicit drug use, you do not want to of any benefit? criminalise them; you want to get them off the drugs that they are on. The noble Lord, Lord Mann, made quite an interesting 5.05 pm point about managed red light districts not working. I Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op): My Lords, can think of a clear analogy: drug consumption rooms I am very happy to support the order, which, as we do not work. They are illegal. They exist in Scotland, have heard, is in response to advice from the Advisory but they do not work. Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Clearly, where drugs The point by the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, about cause harm, they must be classified and action taken. support for those dependent on prescribed medicine is As the noble Lord, Lord Paddick, said, these drugs an important one. There is the Talk to FRANK combined with alcohol can prove fatal in many cases website, which everyone will have heard about. I know because of the effect they have on the body, and can that NHS England and NHS Improvement are leading often lead to suicide. a programme of work in response to the recommendations I recall that when my noble friend Lord Mann was in Public Health England’s Dependence and Withdrawal in the other place, he did a lot of good work on the Associated With Some Prescribed Medicines: An Evidence issue of drugs in his constituency and many times Review. The recommendation for a time-limited dedicated spoke up about it. To tackle this, it is no good us just national helpline and website has been carefully considered adding more drugs to lists, saying that this cannot be as part of this work. They are also drafting a done here or that is criminalised there; there must also commissioning framework to help commissioners to be the preventive approach, which the noble Lord, optimisetheprescribingof dependence-formingmedicines, Lord Paddick, talked about. We must have both: as well as providing support to patients experiencing legislation that says that if you take, sell or use these dependence on prescribed drugs and symptoms of drugs, those are criminal offences, and, at the same withdrawal. That framework is expected to be published time, a health approach so that people understand. later this year. There is an absolute drugs crisis, as my noble friend Anyone who develops a problem of dependence on said, with people taking these drugs with other substances. medicines should seek help from their GP in the first Unless we can provide people with the support they instance. They might choose to go to a different GP need to get off drugs, we will not deal with the from the one who prescribed the medication, if indeed problem, as with any addiction. the medication was prescribed. I hope the noble Baroness can respond on that. The latest prescribing statistics I have are from the Does she have any information on what has happened ACMD’s 2020 report, which states: to drug treatment services during the pandemic? What “Prescribing of benzodiazepines by General Practitioners in support have we been able to give to people who find the UK has been discouraged and has fallen progressively in recent themselves in difficulty? The Health and Social Care years … from 16.3 million in 2015-16 to 14.9 million in 2018-19”— Select Committee found that funding for treatment that is still huge. It goes on: had fallen 30% in the three years up to 2019. We must “In 2017-18, there were 1.4 million adults in England and reverse that cut and increase funding. We can say that Wales who received one or more benzodiazepine prescriptions.” whatever we like is illegal, but unless we have in place Public Health England undertook an evidence review the process to get people off the substances, we will of prescribed medicines, which was published in 2019. struggle. We have all seen the corrosive effect on It concluded: individuals, their families and communities—the “Longer-term prescribing is widespread.” damage done to them by drugs. As my noble friend The review covered adults and five classes of medicines, Lord Mann said, these are often prescription drugs including benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, gabapentinoids, that are then sold on to other people, but drugs are opioids for non-cancer pain and anti-depressants, and corrosive. some 41 recommendations came out of that. GC 37 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021[17 MAY 2021] Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Order 2021 GC 38

The noble Lord, Lord Paddick, talked about education. opening speech, benzodiazepines are often taken with He is absolutely right: education is vital. He asked other drugs and alcohol. With that, I finish and beg to about reform of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We move this statutory instrument. keep drug controls under review but do not intend to reform the laws on drugs at this point in time. Drug Motion agreed. legislation is part of the Government’s wider approach to preventing drug misuse, and education in schools is TheDeputyChairmanof Committees(BaronessWatkins key to promoting healthy living, treatment and recovery of Tavistock) (CB): That completes the business before and stopping the supply of certain drugs. the Grand Committee this afternoon. I remind Members to sanitise their desks and chairs before leaving the The noble Lord, Lord Paddick, also asked me Room. about the specifics of each case where there was death. I do not have the specifics to hand but, as I said in my Committee adjourned at 5.14 pm.