Lords
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Southport Inquiry: Prevent Programme
My Lords, our thoughts are with the victims and their families, especially this week with the publication of the inquiry report, which will have brought back many sad memories. The inquiry report is very clear that, unlike with the safeguarding of children, there is a glaring hole in the joint shari…
Lords
Proceedings
15 April 2026
Death of a Member: Viscount Bridgeman
My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the death of the noble Viscount, Lord Bridgeman, on Thursday 9 April. On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences to the noble Viscount’s family and friends.
Lords
Proceedings
13 April 2026
Clerk Assistant
That this House do approve the appointment by the Lord Speaker, pursuant to the Clerk of the Parliaments Act 1824, of Duncan James Sagar to be Clerk Assistant of the House in place of Chloe Kilcoyne Mawson appointed Clerk of the Parliaments.
Lords
Proceedings
13 April 2026
Clerk of the Parliaments
My Lords, as I conclude the tributes from your Lordships’ House to our departing Clerk of the Parliaments, it remains for me to thank Simon Burton for his much-valued service and contributions. From his appointment to the post in 2021 to his retirement this year, the activity of the House has increa…
Lords
Proceedings
13 April 2026
Retirements of Members
My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from 27 March, of the noble Lords, Lord Dunlop, Lord St John of Bletso and Lord Trefgarne; with effect from 28 March, of the noble Earl, Lord Lytton; with effect from 31 March, of the noble Lord, Lord Bragg; and with effect f…
Lords
Oral Questions
12 March 2026
NHS: Heart Valve Disease
My Lords, the Resuscitation Council UK, the British Cardiovascular Society and the National Council for Palliative Care have excellent and sensitive joint guidance on the use of cardiovascular implants towards the end of life. My family’s experience in different parts of the country shows that not a…
Lords
Proceedings
9 March 2026
Retirements of Members
My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from today, of the noble Lord, Lord Suri, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his much-valued service to the House.
I must also notif…
Lords
Proceedings
4 March 2026
Death of a Member: The Lord Bishop of Guildford
My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the death of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Guildford on 3 March. On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences to the right reverend Prelate’s family and friends.
Lords
Proceedings
2 March 2026
Retirements of Members
My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement with effect from yesterday of the noble Lord, Lord Turnberg, and with effect from today of the noble Lord, Lord Dykes, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank both noble …
Lords
Proceedings
24 February 2026
Lord Speaker’s Statement
My Lords, before we come to the Statement on the Government’s response to the House of Commons humble Address, I remind the House that various police investigations have been reported in the media in recent days. While none of the cases is currently sub judice, I invite noble Lords to exercise restr…
Lords
Proceedings
23 February 2026
Retirement of a Member: Lord Browne of Ladyton
My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from today, of the noble Lord, Lord Browne of Ladyton, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the whole House, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his much-valued service to the House.
Lords
Proceedings
4 February 2026
Retirement of a Member: Lord Mandelson
My Lords, I announced in the Chamber yesterday that the noble Lord, Lord Mandelson, had given notice of his retirement. I now formally notify the House of his retirement, with effect from today, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.
Lords
Proceedings
3 February 2026
Tributes: Lord Wallace of Tankerness
My Lords, I would like to say a few words of my own in tribute to Lord Wallace of Tankerness, or Jim as he was known to his many friends both inside and outside Parliament and from all parts of the political spectrum. Lord Wallace lived a life of public service that stands as an example to us all, o…
Lords
Proceedings
3 February 2026
Lord Speaker’s Statement
My Lords, given the public interest and for the convenience of the House, I have decided to inform the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments has today received notification from the noble Lord, Lord Mandelson, of his intention to retire from the House, effective from 4 February. I will formally no…
Lords
Proceedings
2 February 2026
Tributes: Lord McFall of Alcluith
My Lords, I wish to add a few words of my own in tribute to my predecessor, the noble Lord, Lord McFall. I have known him since the 1980s, when the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond divided us: he was the Member for Dumbarton, and I was the Member for Stirling. We sat on opposing Benches in the Ho…
Lords
Proceedings
2 February 2026
Death of a Member: Lord Triesman
My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the death of the noble Lord, Lord Triesman, on 30 January. On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences to the noble Lord’s family and friends.
Lords
Oral Questions
19 January 2026
Public Inquiries: Costs
The noble Lord makes a genuinely important point, in remembering that this is also about value for money. But I remind all noble Lords that this is truly about getting answers for people who have been victims of potentially horrendous and heartbreaking experiences, and about rebuilding trust in the …
Lords
Proceedings
12 January 2026
Election of Lord Speaker
My Lords, I am most grateful for these very flattering tributes from all the Front Benches. My father would have been astonished and my mother would have believed them. I am overwhelmed and slightly humbled, believe it or not—I do not know why noble Lords are all laughing—by the confidence and trust…
Lords
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
Employment Gap for Blind and Sight-impaired People
I have always known the noble Lord as a good European—I am glad to hear him speaking up for the European Parliament today. To be honest, I am not sure we can use that as an excuse. We do not have to be made to do something to do it, and the House should look at it.
Lords
Oral Questions
25 November 2025
Schools: Funding
The point I was making was that the VAT on private schools is raising £1.8 billion a year, and in just one year we are investing £3.7 billion in the increase in the core schools budget. If the argument that noble Lords opposite are making is that this is a small amount of the increased investment th…
Lords
Oral Questions
19 November 2025
Telegraph Media Group
It would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the potential approaches that might be taken at this stage, although I and the Secretary of State are keenly aware that the sale process has taken too long. We are clear about the negative impact of this uncertainty, not least on the Telegraph staff. …
Lords
Oral Questions
17 November 2025
Inheritance Tax: Pensions
As I say, given that all the normal nil-rate bands will continue to apply, an estate can pass on up to £1 million with no inheritance tax. If you are leaving £1 million, you probably have the cash to pay the tax.
Lords
Oral Questions
12 November 2025
Barnett Formula: Wales
I think it is fair to reiterate to the noble Lord what I have already said: Wales is receiving a massive uplift in its budget via the Barnett formula. It is the biggest increase since 1998, and I think we should welcome that. As I said earlier, we are looking at the Barnett formula again, with the d…
Lords
Oral Questions
3 November 2025
Public/Private Partnerships: Shares
I agree with the noble Lord and accept his point of view. There have been a lot of benefits from public/private partnerships in the past—they have invested in many schools and hospitals, where pupils and patients have benefited—but we need to look at how we reform public/private partnerships and mak…