https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from Liberal Democrats in Business en-GB Liberal Democrats in Business https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Liberal Democrats in Business 2008-06-08T15:57+01:00 United Kingdom https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000038/global_security_5_years_after_911_is_it_here_to_stay.html 9/11 is not the cause of our malaise. It is only the symptom of it. 2006-09-19T18:15+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000030/horwood_wants_clarification_on_wind_energy_related_initiatives_and_polices.html Mr Horwood said, 'There are issues with wind power. On a large scale, community consent is overwhelmingly the most important issue. The onus is on companies that are developing wind power and large-scale wind farms not to attempt to ride roughshod over local feelings, but to consult and involve local people wherever possible. As the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth said, however, we now have an opportunity to move beyond consultation and into involvement, and to see a policy shift that supports and empowers community ownership and involvement in smaller-scale generation. I would be interested to hear the Minister's comments on that. The hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead) mentioned the good example of Woking district council, where a partly community-owned company has been instrumental in achieving a radical shift in the reduction of CO2 emissions.' 2006-07-12T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000031/ed_davey_presses_the_minister_to_go_further_and_faster_on_energy_efficiency.html Mr. Davey said, 'I thank the Secretary of State for his statement and for making an early copy available to me. Three years ago, the Government had an energy review, which the Prime Minister described as a "milestone in energy policy". The then Secretary of State said that her White Paper established an energy policy "for the long term". What went wrong? Will the Secretary of State tell us, for example, why the Government are not on track to meet either their renewable energy targets or their energy efficiency targets, which were set only three years ago, and why carbon dioxide emissions are increasing, not falling?' 2006-07-11T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000034/speech_in_fair_trade_debate.html Sajjad Karim, on behalf of the ALDE Group. - Madam President, I wish to begin by congratulating our rapporteur, Mr Schmidt, on raising the standard and with it our ambitions. I am sure we shall all benefit greatly from following his recommendations. I also welcome the views as expressed by the Commission. I am sure that our partnership approach will deliver much good. 2006-07-06T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000032/micromanagement_by_politicians_from_whitehall_is_inefficient_and_ineffective.html Micro-management by politicians from Whitehall is inefficient and ineffective. 2006-06-13T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000035/trade_and_poverty.html One of the most important achievements of the 20th Century was the lifting of millions out of poverty. The emergence of China and India on the global trading scene played a huge role in this feat and they continue to lead the developing world by example. 2006-05-31T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000036/wto_talks_need_to_be_open_and_transparent.html The WTO has taken concrete steps to improve the transparency and democratic participation in its decision making processes. Yet, there remain basic flaws, which many of my contributions to this report have sought to address. 2006-04-03T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000033/britains_energy_supplies_must_be_secured_through_efficiency_and_diversity.html I think that the crucial first step in achieving security of supply is to ensure the efficient use of existing supply. The better we use what we have, the less we need to worry about imports and finding new sources of generation. 2006-03-08T00:00+00:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000037/conference_speech.html Dr Cable says that obsessive government meddling and over-centralisation are not achieving a fairer society and set out an alternative economic agenda. 2006-03-04T00:00+00:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000029/conference_speech.html In a few weeks, Gordon Brown will give his annual pre-budget report on the economy. I can anticipate the opening lines: "Under Labour, Britain has enjoyed the longest period of economic expansion since the Black Death. We have the best employment creating record since the construction of the pyramids. We have the most dynamic, successful, economy in the known universe. Any problems are the fault of Arab oil producers, Europe… or Tony Blair." 2005-09-22T15:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000028/constitution_essential_for_eus_success_and_uks_prosperity.html In a speech in the House of Commons today, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, urged the government to publicly stress the importance of the European Union in the promotion of peace, prosperity, stability and democracy throughout Europe. He said: 2005-05-18T00:00+01:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000025/health_and_safety_directors_duties_bill.html Health and Safety (Directors Duties) Bill 2005-03-04T00:00+00:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000026/westminster_hall_adjournment_debate_on_attacks_in_the_workplace.html Westminster Hall adjournment debate on attacks in the workplace 2005-03-01T00:00+00:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000024/the_chancellor_must_avoid_spin_and_ensure_the_public_trusts_the_governments_figures.html Speaking at the Commonwealth Club ahead of the Chancellor's pre-budget report, Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, set out the party's approach to issues of taxation and government spending. Mr. Kennedy made specific proposals to strengthen the role of the National Audit Office so that it could formally report on the economic performance of the Government. 2004-12-01T09:05+00:00 https://libdemsinbusiness.org.uk/speeches/000023/britains_economy_today.html I am speaking to you at a time when there is growing uncertainty in the business environment - rising interest rates may have 'cooled' the housing market but have meant higher borrowing costs for manufacturers, there is slower domestic and export demand due to high exchange rates and record oil prices, which have recently hit over $55 a barrel. 2004-10-28T17:18+01:00