Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, that concludes Oral Questions for today.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: That is not a question for me, as the noble Lord knows, but he is absolutely at liberty to make a representation to the committee if he wishes to do so.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: I remind the House that the debate before Second Reading on the Bill took place in Grand Committee on 19 October, and call the noble Lord, Lord Callanan, on behalf of the noble Lord, Lord Greenhalgh.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed and I must ask the noble Lord to resume his seat.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has now elapsed and we move to the second Question.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: Before I call Amendment 1, I should alert the Committee that the noble Baronesses, Lady Harris of Richmond and Lady Brinton, will be taking part remotely. Clause 1: Police covenant report
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, the time allowed for this Private Notice Question has now elapsed.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional funding they will provide to the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership to combat the incidence of metal theft.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the incidence of this crime can be reduced only by effective enforcement action? That worked really well when we had a dedicated metal theft task force and the British Transport Police-led Operation Tornado, supported by excellent police forces around the country, including West Mercia Police. Now the numbers are shooting up again and the national police...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: The House is a little confused by that exchange. I have to say that if my Amendment 127 were to be agreed to, there would be no question of local authorities being able to bring in by-laws or other restrictions on heritage organisations from burning coal, whether on canal boats, steam boats, railway engines or historic houses. It would be a lot easier for the Minister if she were willing to...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, I am disappointed by that. I will seek an opportunity to discuss this matter further with the Minister before we finish the Bill. However, as far as this evening is concerned, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 122 withdrawn. Amendment 123 not moved.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, in moving Amendment 122, tabled in my name and those of noble Lords across the Chamber, including the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean—whom I am pleased to see in his place—I shall speak also to Amendment 127, which is in my name and supported by the same noble Lords. I declare my interest as president of the Heritage Railway Association. The Heritage Fuels Alliance, which...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, there is a great deal in the Minister’s answers and the initial Statements with which I totally agree, particularly his statement about the threats to leading medical figures and leaders of the vaccine movement. Anti-vaxxers are a vile section of our community and I hope everything can be done to stop their activities. I also strongly welcome, as the grandfather of a teenage girl,...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: The noble Baroness has moved her amendment.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, that concludes Oral Questions for today.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, I declare an interest as a patron of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides. The guild’s UK members fall exactly within the description in the second part of the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Aberdare. Will the Minister support the restoration of a level playing field so that guild members may continue to provide guiding services in EU and EEA countries on the same...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, as we have reached 2 pm there is no need to adjourn the House, but I will arrange a short pause to allow the relevant people to be in their places for the next item.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, we now come to the 20 minutes allocated for Back-Bench questions. I ask that questions and answers be brief so that I can call the maximum number of speakers.
