Latest news with #BaronessJones
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Embassies should see cars clamped for congestion charge debts
Embassies which owe millions of pounds in congestion charge fees should face having their diplomatic vehicles clamped, peers have suggested. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb said the Government had 'far too much patience' with indebted foreign governments, while Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Lord Purvis of Tweed called for ministers to discuss outstanding fees with US President Donald Trump during his September visit. Responding, Foreign Office minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington described diplomacy as 'an art'. She said the fee for driving in inner London was a 'charge' rather than a tax, which embassies should pay. According to Transport for London, the US embassy based south of the River in Nine Elms owes almost £15.5 million in congestion charge debts. The Japanese mission faces debts of more than £10.6 million, while the Chinese embassy racked up a £10.3 million debt between 2003 and March 31 2025. Lord Purvis referred to a diplomatic reception held at the Foreign Office in central London and asked: 'Should we not start instituting a drop-off and collection fee at King Charles Street just as long as we get our money back?' The Liberal Democrat also said Mr Trump 'would certainly not want a reputation of not paying fines' and said: 'When he comes for the state visit, can we ensure that this is part of the agenda so that there's no congestion in the city of London from the American delegation and they pay us what they owe?' Baroness Chapman replied that there was a 'whole range of measures' open to the Government, and that she would 'take on board' the one which Lord Purvis suggested. 'Others include encouraging the use perhaps of public transport or cycling or walking around our wonderful city, but he suggests that we raise these matters directly with our counterparts, and I can assure him that we do just that,' the minister added. Former London Assembly Labour leader Lord Harris of Haringey asked: 'Would it, for example, be possible to clamp the cars that have done this, because I suspect that might concentrate the minds?' Following him, the Green Party's Baroness Jones said: 'This has been going on ever since the congestion charge first came in. 'They've racked up these debts and I love Lord Harris's idea – we should clamp them all. 'We have a record of which cars have infringed the congestion charge. We clamp them all.' Baroness Chapman told peers: 'All I would say is that diplomacy is an art and it comes more naturally to some than to others perhaps.' She added: 'I think it's right that we don't escalate this issue above some of our very real concerns around security and defence and trade that we seek to work very closely with our counterparts on.' Their exchanges were triggered by a question from Labour peer Lord Faulkner of Worcester, who asked about Government efforts to claw back unpaid business rates, parking fines and London congestion charges in April and May. Baroness Chapman said that the Government had received 31 responses to the exercise earlier this year. 'Some agreed to settle debts, other disputed charges, and some refused to pay the London congestion charge claiming exemption under the Vienna Convention,' the minister said. 'FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) action since April 3 2025 has helped reduce national non-domestic rates debt by £287,142, car parking fines debt by £7,035 and London congestion charge debt by £7,430.' To laughter, Conservative shadow foreign office minister Lord Callanan said: 'I think there is unity across the House on this one. 'I think we're all amused by the prospect of some poor parking warden having to put a ticket on President Trump's limousine and what might happen to him from the actions of the secret service. 'But it is of course that conduct of diplomatic staff is a reflection of important values, respect, dignity and mutual recognition between nations, so following on from the reply that she gave to the Liberal Democrats, will (Baroness Chapman) consider linking future privileges or engagement opportunities to the good standing of diplomatic missions in their civic responsibilities, so as to encourage greater accountability?' The minister said she would keep the situation 'under close consideration'.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Haleon Breaks Ground on new £130m Global Oral Health Innovation Centre
LONDON, July 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week, Haleon, a global leader in consumer health and maker of leading brands such as Sensodyne, parodontax and Polident, broke ground on its new Global Oral Health Innovation Centre in Weybridge, Surrey. This state-of-the-art facility will enhance Haleon's science capabilities, accelerate innovation, and serve as a centre of excellence for global oral health research. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by UK Minister Baroness Jones, marks an important step in Haleon's ambition to reach one billion more consumers by 2030, by strengthening its oral health R&D capabilities to put health in more hands globally. Set to become the R&D epicentre for Haleon's oral health portfolio, the centre will be a dynamic hub for pioneering research, product innovation, commercial and supply chain excellence, and cross-functional collaboration. Equipped with the latest technology and global expertise, the centre will feature a cutting-edge digital immersive room designed to unlock value at pace through real-time collaboration with Haleon's manufacturing site in Levice. At the heart of the building, the atrium will create a vibrant hub for teamwork and co-creation, bringing leading expertise together to develop solutions that address unmet oral health needs for consumers around the world. Designed with sustainability at its core, the site has recently achieved a BREEAM® Outstanding rating, recognising its exceptional commitment to sustainability at Phase 1 in the design stage. Franck Riot, Chief R&D Officer, Haleon, said: "We are excited to break ground on our Global Oral Health Innovation Centre - a major investment reflecting our commitment to advancing science and innovation. This powerhouse for oral health research will strengthen Haleon's R&D capabilities and accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving oral health needs of consumers around the world." Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, said: "This exciting milestone is another demonstration of the strength of the UK life sciences sector, a key pillar to our Industrial Strategy. Under this government Britain is open for business, and through our Plan for Change we're delivering more investment, more jobs and more money in people's pockets." UK Minister for Technology, Baroness Jones, said: "Haleon is breaking ground on a new centre that will place the UK at the forefront of innovation to improve everyone's oral health - which we know is important to our wider health, and to children's development. This centre, and the substantial investment behind it, is proof that the UK's world-leading life sciences sector is the place to be to grow businesses and work on fresh ideas to transform healthcare. Leveraging these strengths will lead to the long-term economic growth that will help us deliver on our Plan for Change." Jayant Singh, Global Category Lead, Oral Health, Haleon, said: "With oral diseases affecting nearly half the world's population, this marks an exciting step forward in our mission to put health in more hands for millions across the world. This centre will play a key role in harnessing the full potential of science and innovation across our oral health portfolio." About Haleon Haleon (LSE/NYSE: HLN) is a global leader in consumer health, with a purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon's product portfolio spans six major categories - Oral Health, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS), Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health and Therapeutic Skin Health and Other. Its long-standing brands - such as Advil, Centrum, Otrivin, Panadol, parodontax, Polident, Sensodyne, Theraflu and Voltaren - are built on trusted science, innovation and deep human understanding. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts Philippa +44(0)7969271455 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Baroness Jones: You're never too old to be arrested as a Green
Criminality in the upper house tends to involve pound signs, but Baroness Jones (Jenny as was) takes pride in her more on-brand naughtiness. She tells Lord McFall on the Lord Speaker's podcast: 'The thing about the Green Party is, if you get arrested because you're at a demonstration [a 2014 one organised by Occupy], it's almost a gold star.' When she got back to the Lords and told colleagues what had happened, one of them asked: 'Aren't you a bit old to get arrested?' It must be the only thing in the Lords for which one can be too old. The art of diplomatic umpiring has been recalled by veteran Australian actor Vincent Ball, who once played in a celebrity cricket match with Charles III,
