My Lords, I begin by thanking the members of the Science and Technology Committee for their superb contributions to this report, and the clerk and policy analyst for their excellent support. In particular, I thank Professor Sir William Wakeham, our specialist adviser, for his wise and expert advice, and David...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the members of the Science and Technology Committee for their superb contributions to this report, and the clerk and policy analyst for their excellent support. In particular, I thank Professor Sir William Wakeham, our specialist adviser, for his wise and expert advice, and David...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and, indeed, for the very comprehensive way in which she has dealt with many of the core issues. We look forward to having individual responses to some of the specific questions which were laid down. I also thank all noble Lords...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and, indeed, for the very comprehensive way in which she has dealt with many of the core issues. We look forward to having individual responses to some of the specific questions which were laid down. I also thank all noble Lords...

I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Willis, on obtaining this debate and on his excellent opening speech. I also thank the clerks for their support, and Professor William Wakeham for his invaluable and insightful advice. He knows as much about this field as anyone.

I will address my brief remarks...

I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Willis, on obtaining this debate and on his excellent opening speech. I also thank the clerks for their support, and Professor William Wakeham for his invaluable and insightful advice. He knows as much about this field as anyone.

I will address my brief remarks...

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Higher Education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. (HL 37 2012-13). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Higher Education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. (HL 37 2012-13). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for introducing this debate and I thank the members of the Science and Technology Select Committee for the very substantial report that we are considering today. The Government have responded to the report at length, which suggests that they fully recognise...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for introducing this debate and I thank the members of the Science and Technology Select Committee for the very substantial report that we are considering today. The Government have responded to the report at length, which suggests that they fully recognise...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Willis for an excellent report. I am a member of the Select Committee on Science and Technology at the moment but I was not a member when this report was produced nor was I a contributor to it.

It is timely for...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Willis for an excellent report. I am a member of the Select Committee on Science and Technology at the moment but I was not a member when this report was produced nor was I a contributor to it.

It is timely for...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of Cambridge University and as this year’s president of the Association for Science Education. I add my tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for introducing this debate and for his superb chairmanship. His earlier incarnation as a headmaster not only...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of Cambridge University and as this year’s president of the Association for Science Education. I add my tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for introducing this debate and for his superb chairmanship. His earlier incarnation as a headmaster not only...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for his chairmanship of this inquiry. When we started out, it seemed such a broad topic that we did not know how we would focus on key issues. However, the skill, discipline and good humour of the noble Lord, Lord...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Willis, for his chairmanship of this inquiry. When we started out, it seemed such a broad topic that we did not know how we would focus on key issues. However, the skill, discipline and good humour of the noble Lord, Lord...

My Lords, I start by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Willis of Knaresborough, for introducing the report in such a good way and for giving us an insight into the thinking that went into it. I also thank the noble Lord and his colleagues for the report itself. This has...

My Lords, I start by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Willis of Knaresborough, for introducing the report in such a good way and for giving us an insight into the thinking that went into it. I also thank the noble Lord and his colleagues for the report itself. This has...

My Lords, I am pleased to wind up for the Government in this debate. I thank the sub-committee and its chairman, my noble friend Lord Willis, for a thoughtful and incisive report on a very important subject. The quality of the debate reflects the expertise in this House. I note...

My Lords, I am pleased to wind up for the Government in this debate. I thank the sub-committee and its chairman, my noble friend Lord Willis, for a thoughtful and incisive report on a very important subject. The quality of the debate reflects the expertise in this House. I note...

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on allergy (HL 166 2006-07). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on allergy (HL 166 2006-07). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I am most grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken and covered so many aspects of our report in their excellent speeches. I am also grateful to the Minister for having addressed in detail so many aspects of our debate. Indeed, his speech, which I plan to...

My Lords, I am most grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken and covered so many aspects of our report in their excellent speeches. I am also grateful to the Minister for having addressed in detail so many aspects of our debate. Indeed, his speech, which I plan to...

My Lords, I greatly enjoyed the debate. As my noble friend and others have declared their allergic reactions, I probably should declare my own. I am a hay fever sufferer and, for years, living from April to July has always been hell, although my asthma is certainly not as severe...

My Lords, I greatly enjoyed the debate. As my noble friend and others have declared their allergic reactions, I probably should declare my own. I am a hay fever sufferer and, for years, living from April to July has always been hell, although my asthma is certainly not as severe...

My Lords, this is a first-class report, as has been mentioned several times; it is highly professional, lucid and well illustrated, and the House is rightly grateful to all those who have taken part, especially to the chairman, the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff. The report draws attention to...

My Lords, this is a first-class report, as has been mentioned several times; it is highly professional, lucid and well illustrated, and the House is rightly grateful to all those who have taken part, especially to the chairman, the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff. The report draws attention to...

My Lords, when the hunting legislation was going through your Lordships' House I was asked by another Peer whether I had ever hunted. When I said no, that Peer was rather disparaging. I redeemed myself only by saying that I had not done so because I am severely allergic to...

My Lords, when the hunting legislation was going through your Lordships' House I was asked by another Peer whether I had ever hunted. When I said no, that Peer was rather disparaging. I redeemed myself only by saying that I had not done so because I am severely allergic to...

My Lords, as I am the last Back-Bencher to speak, what is there left for me to say? Not a lot, unless I repeat matters raised by other noble Lords, and I shall do that occasionally. The Select Committee of which I was a co-opted member, chaired very efficiently by...

My Lords, as I am the last Back-Bencher to speak, what is there left for me to say? Not a lot, unless I repeat matters raised by other noble Lords, and I shall do that occasionally. The Select Committee of which I was a co-opted member, chaired very efficiently by...

My Lords, while I am no medical expert I am glad that this debate has been scheduled for today as I recently experienced serious allergy problems and can offer a layman’s perspective on this excellent report. There is great interest in this debate and I believe that I know why....

My Lords, while I am no medical expert I am glad that this debate has been scheduled for today as I recently experienced serious allergy problems and can offer a layman’s perspective on this excellent report. There is great interest in this debate and I believe that I know why....

My Lords, the noble Baroness who initiated this debate and chaired the committee which produced this important report has, not for the first time, rendered a very considerable service to the House, to medicine and, above all, to those afflicted by illness. This allergy report was produced by the Science...

My Lords, the noble Baroness who initiated this debate and chaired the committee which produced this important report has, not for the first time, rendered a very considerable service to the House, to medicine and, above all, to those afflicted by illness. This allergy report was produced by the Science...

My Lords, many speeches today have stressed the seriousness of what can be described justly as an epidemic of allergy. We learned in committee that, among six and seven year-olds, one in five of suffers from asthma. Some 5 million people suffer to some extent from allergy to grass pollen....

My Lords, many speeches today have stressed the seriousness of what can be described justly as an epidemic of allergy. We learned in committee that, among six and seven year-olds, one in five of suffers from asthma. Some 5 million people suffer to some extent from allergy to grass pollen....

My Lords, I, too, would like to pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, both for opening this debate so expertly today and also for her chairmanship of the sub-committee. She has a degree of energy and expertise from which we were all able to benefit and she became...

My Lords, I, too, would like to pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, both for opening this debate so expertly today and also for her chairmanship of the sub-committee. She has a degree of energy and expertise from which we were all able to benefit and she became...

My Lords, this Select Committee report is particularly timely. Under the excellent chairmanship of the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, it produced a thorough, thoughtful and constructive review of the rising incidence of allergies in the United Kingdom and, helped by its excellent secretariat and its specialist adviser, Professor Kay, produced...

My Lords, this Select Committee report is particularly timely. Under the excellent chairmanship of the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, it produced a thorough, thoughtful and constructive review of the rising incidence of allergies in the United Kingdom and, helped by its excellent secretariat and its specialist adviser, Professor Kay, produced...

My Lords, much of the fundamental research on allergy and its management has been done in the United Kingdom, and yet with allergy reaching epidemic proportions, this report of the sub-committee so ably chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff, and guided by our expert adviser, Professor Barry...

My Lords, much of the fundamental research on allergy and its management has been done in the United Kingdom, and yet with allergy reaching epidemic proportions, this report of the sub-committee so ably chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff, and guided by our expert adviser, Professor Barry...

My Lords, as always it was a great privilege to serve on your Lordships’ Science and Technology Committee. We were extremely lucky to have such a cheerful and energetic chair. She has already paid tribute to our specialist adviser, but I should like to pay special tribute to our clerk,...

My Lords, as always it was a great privilege to serve on your Lordships’ Science and Technology Committee. We were extremely lucky to have such a cheerful and energetic chair. She has already paid tribute to our specialist adviser, but I should like to pay special tribute to our clerk,...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, should be congratulated. Without being too light-hearted, I must say that if he is on that cocktail of drugs, I am surprised that he managed to stay awake during his own speech today let alone others. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, should be congratulated. Without being too light-hearted, I must say that if he is on that cocktail of drugs, I am surprised that he managed to stay awake during his own speech today let alone others. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady...

My Lords, as this debate has shown, yet again, there is no subject on which there are not a number of people in your Lordships’ House who are highly expert—many, in this case, as a result of serving on the committee so excellently chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay....

My Lords, as this debate has shown, yet again, there is no subject on which there are not a number of people in your Lordships’ House who are highly expert—many, in this case, as a result of serving on the committee so excellently chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay....

My Lords, I put on record my appreciation for the work of our clerk, our special adviser, my colleagues and our chair. It has been a wonderful experience to work with them. It is sometimes quite daunting to be a member of your Lordships’ Committee on Science and Technology. There...

My Lords, I put on record my appreciation for the work of our clerk, our special adviser, my colleagues and our chair. It has been a wonderful experience to work with them. It is sometimes quite daunting to be a member of your Lordships’ Committee on Science and Technology. There...

rose to move to move, That this House takes note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on allergy (6th Report, Session 2006-07, HL Paper 166). The noble Baroness said: My Lords, it has been a great privilege to chair the committee and to introduce the debate today....

rose to move to move, That this House takes note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on allergy (6th Report, Session 2006-07, HL Paper 166). The noble Baroness said: My Lords, it has been a great privilege to chair the committee and to introduce the debate today....

My Lords, the whole House will be grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, for introducing the debate with such authority and for having chaired the inquiry so skilfully. We all learnt a lot. Like the noble Lord, Lord Haskel, I do not feel myself as qualified as some of...

My Lords, the whole House will be grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, for introducing the debate with such authority and for having chaired the inquiry so skilfully. We all learnt a lot. Like the noble Lord, Lord Haskel, I do not feel myself as qualified as some of...

My Lords, before my noble friend Lord Bhattacharyya rises, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, for interrupting her excellent speech with my mobile telephone. I apologise to her and to the rest of the House.

My Lords, before my noble friend Lord Bhattacharyya rises, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, for interrupting her excellent speech with my mobile telephone. I apologise to her and to the rest of the House.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to science teaching. Motion withdrawn. (Debated with Lords motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Select Committee on Science Teaching in Schools (HL 257 2005-06)).

Lords debate on motion to call attention to science teaching. Motion withdrawn. (Debated with Lords motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Select Committee on Science Teaching in Schools (HL 257 2005-06)).

My Lords, the House is indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for opening this excellent debate on science teaching in schools and for the thorough report of the Science and Technology Committee, which he chairs. I thank also his committee colleagues, several of whom spoke in the debate, for...

My Lords, the House is indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for opening this excellent debate on science teaching in schools and for the thorough report of the Science and Technology Committee, which he chairs. I thank also his committee colleagues, several of whom spoke in the debate, for...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on securing this very significant debate. It is invaluable to discuss the wider impacts that the teaching of science in our classrooms has on the UK economy as a whole. There are huge difficulties facing teaching...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on securing this very significant debate. It is invaluable to discuss the wider impacts that the teaching of science in our classrooms has on the UK economy as a whole. There are huge difficulties facing teaching...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on two scores: first, for introducing this timely debate; and, secondly—I speak as a member of the Science and Technology Committee—for being an excellent committee chair and for taking us through this extremely important topic and helping us to produce a...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on two scores: first, for introducing this timely debate; and, secondly—I speak as a member of the Science and Technology Committee—for being an excellent committee chair and for taking us through this extremely important topic and helping us to produce a...

My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the Motion for Papers. Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.

My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the Motion for Papers. Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.

rose to call attention to science teaching; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I would like to say how grateful I am that such a distinguished group of noble Lords, who are so knowledgeable about science teaching, are taking part in this debate. There can...

rose to call attention to science teaching; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I would like to say how grateful I am that such a distinguished group of noble Lords, who are so knowledgeable about science teaching, are taking part in this debate. There can...

My Lords, I am very grateful to have the opportunity provided by the noble Lord, Lord Broers, to debate this matter. I immediately echo what he said at the end of his speech, which was picked up by the noble Lord, Lord Winston, on the importance of breadth—for scientists, who...

My Lords, I am very grateful to have the opportunity provided by the noble Lord, Lord Broers, to debate this matter. I immediately echo what he said at the end of his speech, which was picked up by the noble Lord, Lord Winston, on the importance of breadth—for scientists, who...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for introducing this important debate. I am a former science teacher. I taught general science in a comprehensive school—a boys’ school—and biology up to A-level. That was a long time ago, but I think that I can assure the noble Lord...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for introducing this important debate. I am a former science teacher. I taught general science in a comprehensive school—a boys’ school—and biology up to A-level. That was a long time ago, but I think that I can assure the noble Lord...

My Lords, there can be no doubt of the importance of today’s subject if Britain is to retain its economic success in today’s competitive world. There are few areas of industry and commerce in which a sound and innovative knowledge of science, technology and maths is not essential. That means...

My Lords, there can be no doubt of the importance of today’s subject if Britain is to retain its economic success in today’s competitive world. There are few areas of industry and commerce in which a sound and innovative knowledge of science, technology and maths is not essential. That means...

My Lords, this is a slightly curious situation when we have two debates in one. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on his outstanding contribution in chairing the recent inquiry, but also in introducing this debate, which is of immense importance. There is an echo in this debate of...

My Lords, this is a slightly curious situation when we have two debates in one. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Broers, on his outstanding contribution in chairing the recent inquiry, but also in introducing this debate, which is of immense importance. There is an echo in this debate of...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Broers, both on an excellent and timely report and on bringing forward the debate. There are four points on which I want to comment. The first relates to student choices. To accommodate the challenges of the 21st century advances, we might even...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Broers, both on an excellent and timely report and on bringing forward the debate. There are four points on which I want to comment. The first relates to student choices. To accommodate the challenges of the 21st century advances, we might even...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Broers and his committee for their timely and perceptive report. I declare an interest as a former chairman of SETNET, which supports the teaching of science and mathematics by partnering with schools and employers to show young people that these subjects...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Broers and his committee for their timely and perceptive report. I declare an interest as a former chairman of SETNET, which supports the teaching of science and mathematics by partnering with schools and employers to show young people that these subjects...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the committee’s hard-hitting and cogent report. The Government’s advertising campaign some years ago, ““Thank a Teacher””, resonated with many of us who went into science, because we were lucky with our teachers. It is worrying that now, when opportunities should be much greater, there may...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the committee’s hard-hitting and cogent report. The Government’s advertising campaign some years ago, ““Thank a Teacher””, resonated with many of us who went into science, because we were lucky with our teachers. It is worrying that now, when opportunities should be much greater, there may...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for securing the debate. Asking a science teacher for the biggest problem facing teaching science in schools, I got the reply ““You just can’t get the staff””. There are no physicists and chemists out there clamouring for jobs to teach in...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for securing the debate. Asking a science teacher for the biggest problem facing teaching science in schools, I got the reply ““You just can’t get the staff””. There are no physicists and chemists out there clamouring for jobs to teach in...

My Lords, I join in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for introducing this debate. It so happens that, in 1995, the then Government appointed me to carry out a review of qualifications for 16 to 19 year-olds. It quickly became apparent that there was a crisis in science and...

My Lords, I join in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Broers, for introducing this debate. It so happens that, in 1995, the then Government appointed me to carry out a review of qualifications for 16 to 19 year-olds. It quickly became apparent that there was a crisis in science and...

My Lords, we have heard many good points. I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Broers for this debate. The topic could not be more important. Curiously, although I have never been a working scientist, or even a non-working scientist, I have an interest to declare in that I chair...

My Lords, we have heard many good points. I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Broers for this debate. The topic could not be more important. Curiously, although I have never been a working scientist, or even a non-working scientist, I have an interest to declare in that I chair...

My Lords, I, too, express my gratitude to my noble friend for introducing the debate and particularly for a chance to discuss the Science and Technology Committee’s report. I think that everybody agrees that investment in teachers is the most important thing. The second most important thing is the need...

My Lords, I, too, express my gratitude to my noble friend for introducing the debate and particularly for a chance to discuss the Science and Technology Committee’s report. I think that everybody agrees that investment in teachers is the most important thing. The second most important thing is the need...

Lords motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Information Society: Agenda for Action in the UK (5th Report HL 77 1995/96) and of the Government's response (Cm 3450). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Information Society: Agenda for Action in the UK (5th Report HL 77 1995/96) and of the Government's response (Cm 3450). Agreed to on question.