Lord Vaizey of Didcot — Hansard

Lords Oral Questions 15 September 2025 2 contributions

Plastic Pollution

My Lords—

Yes, me. Not you!

Lords Oral Questions 15 September 2025 2 contributions

Online Safety Act 2023: Virtual Private Networks

My Lords, I declare my interest as the head of the Free Speech Union. As I am sure the—

My Lords, online safety regulation is a priority not only for this Government but for Governments around the world. A number of democratic nations are introducing legislation to better protect users from serious online harm, including child sexual abuse, terrorist content and misinformation. The UK’…

Lords Oral Questions 11 September 2025

UK and EU Trade: Arts and Creative Industries

I agree that they are an important part of soft power. I revert to the noble Lord on specifics around the UK Soft Power Council, which he has managed successfully to segue to from a quite specific Question. I will write to the noble Lord in due course.

Lords Oral Questions 16 July 2025

Parthenon Sculptures: Return

The noble Lord will be aware that the British Museum operates independently of the Government, and so decisions relating to its collections are, within the law, a matter for its board of trustees. I know that the British Museum recognises the strength of feelings on this issue, and the museum is act…

Lords Oral Questions 14 July 2025

Advertising Restrictions on Less Healthy Food

I thank the noble Lord for that question. The whole impact of this is closely monitored. There are all sorts of complexities that we have to bring in, including the impact on broadcasters and online advertising and how we deal with the fact that so many people watch on catch-up. All these issues are…

Lords Oral Questions 14 July 2025

Tourism Levy

The noble Lord is talking about something that, again, we have no present plans to introduce.

Lords Oral Questions 14 July 2025

Tax on Imports under £135

Again, I am very happy to take that as a Budget representation. As the noble Lord knows, we keep all taxes under review, but I will not be speculating on the next Budget.

Lords Oral Questions 10 July 2025

Tax Increases

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question. It is not for me to ban conversations about tax rises or cuts, but I understand what he says about tax simplification and will take his thoughts about ice cream cones back to my colleagues in the Treasury.

Lords Proceedings 25 June 2025

Palace of Westminster: Restoration and Renewal

My Lords, that was a very good plug for the noble Lord’s activities. However, let me be serious: a lot of work was undertaken as to the most sensible, practical and cost-effective places to go. I know that a number of options and buildings were looked at, and I know about the river proposal as well,…

Lords Oral Questions 23 June 2025

Live Music Industry: Support

I am grateful to the noble Lord. Can the Minister hear the noise from today’s discussion, in which Members are raising all sorts of problems that the cultural industries face? Do we not need a complete strategy that deals with all these issues, and do we not need to be clear about how we are going t…

Lords Oral Questions 5 June 2025

AI Opportunities Action Plan

This is an area close to my heart. It is a crucial part of stimulating innovation right across the patch. Government procurement ought to be a way in which innovation companies get their first indication of a signal, in many cases, of a potential customer. A commercial innovation hub has been set up…

Lords Debate 2 June 2025 2 contributions

Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]

We only need the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, who also shares our birthday, to speak after me, and we will be making history, even if we do not pass this amendment. I will steer a middle course, if I may, because, if this amendment is not passed, I do not believe—I know this is heresy to say so—that th…

My Lords, this is my first time speaking on this Bill, so the Government Chief Whip will be pleased to know that I am not able to repeat comments I have previously made. I have followed the debates on it closely and followed, with great admiration, the campaign led by the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron…

Lords Oral Questions 2 June 2025

Ofcom: Protection of Children Codes

I welcome the noble Lord’s comments. He is absolutely right: this has been a mammoth exercise, and I am so pleased that we are now beginning to see the fruits of it. There are huge numbers of people working in Ofcom on this important issue. We very much hope that, with the implementation of the ille…

Lords Debate 19 May 2025

Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I thank everybody who has spoken on this issue in the House and outside of the House. I particularly thank the Members on the Government Benches; I know it comes hard to disagree with your party, and I really appreciate it, as do all those outside the House. I am going to try to take the …

Lords Oral Questions 14 May 2025

Telecommunications Fraud: Reimbursement of Victims

Absolutely. I am keen on having not just data sharing but data metrics and performance in the fraud strategy. The noble Lord’s point is extremely valid. There is a lot of good talk, but we need to measure action.

Lords Debate 12 May 2025 2 contributions

Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for her full and detailed answer. Having heard the tone of the debate, I think it is clear that the focus and energy of the House are more on the amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, but I am happy to take up the Minister’s offer of a further meeting.

My Lords, I happened to be in the House when the noble Baroness, Lady Owen, was taking her Private Member’s Bill through, and I remember very well the reply given by my noble friend to her Bill. Therefore, it is a great achievement that this has become part of government legislation, but it is not c…