Lords
Oral Questions
21 April 2026
Midwives: Graduate Guarantee
That is the very reason why we have brought in this guarantee, because it provides an immediate route into employment for those who are newly qualified. A number of things about that are important, including reducing the risk of graduates leaving the profession because they cannot find jobs. The rea…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 April 2026
NHS Adult Gender Identity Clinics
It might be helpful if I speak in general terms. The Levy review highlighted multi-year waits for adult gender clinics. We recognise that waiting times are too long, and that is why we have increased the number of adult gender services from seven to 12 and we will be establishing a national waiting …
Lords
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
Single-sex Spaces: Equality and Human Rights Commission Guidance
I am afraid I have to repeat the point I made: I cannot comment on the draft code during this period of purdah. I think everyone in this House knows the Government’s position. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the rights of everyone under the Equality Act are, and continue to be, protecte…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
Curriculum and Assessment Review
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Freyberg for getting this important debate and declare, as ever, that I am a secondary school teacher. Several people have asked me recently why I always declare myself as a teacher, and I always answer, because I have to, but I would anyway. I am very proud of…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
Humanist Weddings
The assurance is that we have made the commitment and it is going to happen.
Lords
Oral Questions
10 March 2026
Equality Act 2010: Section 106
The noble Baroness is right. One of the things that is still to be determined is precisely what protected characteristics will be included under Section 106. In the EHRC guidance to political parties was a range of actions that could be taken to ensure diversity, including support for people with di…
Lords
Proceedings
6 March 2026
2 contributions
International Women’s Day
Ah!
My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in this debate and I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Lloyd, for securing it. It is an unusual debate because it feels really quite personal. Not only are all of we, noble Lords and Baronesses, in the room but, on many occasions, our mothers, grandmothers and …
Lords
Oral Questions
2 March 2026
NHS: Violence Against NHS Staff
The noble Baroness is right about the increase as reported in the staff survey, and it is indeed shocking and totally unacceptable. The reporting of incidents of physical violence has also increased and, while I do not want to see more violence, if it is there, we need to know about it. On funding a…
Lords
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
LGBT Veterans Independent Review
This gives me the opportunity to say this to the noble Baroness: I urge everybody that all applications for the scheme need to be in by midnight on 12 December this year. It is important to make that statement. The Government have no interest in trying to delay, or in not doing everything as quickly…
Lords
Debate
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 201 in my name, which deals with the issue of faith-based selection in school admissions. This speaks to the missing data that the Schools Minister raised in Committee in the other place. The Department for Education currently does not collect data on how admissio…
My Lords, I will speak on my Amendments 231 and then 232. Amendment 231 may be familiar to the House, as it reflects the substance of the Bill I previously brought forward on this subject, which is on spiritual, moral, social and cultural education in assemblies.
The amendment is simple in intent: …
Lords
Oral Questions
2 February 2026
Single-Sex Spaces: EHRC Guidance
As the noble Baroness knows, we have a duty to properly consult. By the way, under Section 14(9) the Equality Act 2006, that also involves consulting with devolved Governments at all relevant stages. Consultation with the Welsh and Scottish Ministers is required, as the code fully relates, but it al…
Lords
Oral Questions
29 January 2026
Battery Shortage for NHS Hearing Aids
I certainly agree with the concerns about the impact on individuals. Further to the point raised by the noble Lord, in addition to the noble Baroness, I would recommend that people who are using hearing aids do not ration their hearing. That is not where we want to be, but in fact it is about not gi…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 December 2025
Women’s Health Strategy
My examination of the gynaecology waiting lists shows a gradual decline since August 2023. However, I absolutely agree with the noble Baroness that the waiting lists are far too long: it is unacceptable. We are now seeing 57% of gynaecology referrals being seen within 18 weeks, compared with 62% acr…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 December 2025
Breast Cancer
I hope I have outlined to your Lordships’ House how the AgeX trial will greatly assist. Clinical evidence, as and when it is available—it is sought actively—is acted on by the National Screening Committee. I emphasise to the noble Baroness and the noble Earl who raised it previously that, as I said …
Lords
Oral Questions
26 November 2025
2 contributions
Charities: Advancement of Religion
Anyone who advocates for violence against women has absolutely no place in a charity. The Charity Commission, as the independent regulator, will not hesitate to act where charities promote harmful or unlawful actions. The Government will consult in due course on new powers for the Charity Commission…
The Charity Commission is currently reviewing the National Secular Society’s recent report to determine whether it raises any new regulatory concerns. I read the report over the weekend, and some of the examples provided are shocking. However, I am pleased to say that the commission has already inve…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 November 2025
Domestic Abuse: Emergency Accommodation
The noble Baroness makes a really important point. On Monday I addressed a reception held in one of the rooms in this Palace hosted by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. Listening to what was said there reminded me—I hope I did not need reminding, but it made it starkly clear—that for the survivo…
Lords
Oral Questions
5 November 2025
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Draft Updated Code of Practice
The Government will follow the process set out in the Equality Act 2006 for laying the code. As per the process set out in Section 14 of that Act, the Minister for Women and Equalities, after considering the updated draft code, and if the decision is taken to approve it, will lay it before both Hous…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 November 2025
Elon Musk
The Government can look at any time at contract issues, but I would not wish to equate Mr Musk and his comments, which I also find reprehensible, with doing business—that is an important point to make. We have relations with the American Government and American business, but I think he overstepped t…
Lords
Oral Questions
30 October 2025
National Curriculum: Religious Education
We have had several conversations on this, and I can only repeat the comments that were made. It is fundamental that we have a full range of views, right across the spectrum, and that they have equal respect within the curriculum. I look forward to taking these issues forward. They have been part of…
Lords
Oral Questions
27 October 2025
Non-crime Hate Incidents
The noble Baroness makes a very sensible point. Ultimately, the bottom line is that the Government believe that we should focus on real crime as a priority. That is why we are putting in 13,000 new police officers, police community support officers and special constables over the next few years, and…
Lords
Oral Questions
20 October 2025
HIV: Testing and Medical Care
We are currently in the process of reviewing existing mechanisms as well as options for improving retention and re-engagement in care for people who live with HIV. This is a crucial part of the new HIV action plan, for which we will not be waiting very long. The noble Baroness makes an important poi…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 October 2025
Equality Act 2010: Meaning of “Sex”
Put simply, that is why we have the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and that is why it has a responsibility independent from government to do precisely that. That is why we will give full and proper consideration to the draft code. It is important that we maintain that balance and understand o…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
Prisoners: Reoffending
The extra £700 million for probation is a 45% increase. From what I have learned, all roads lead back to probation, and so that is where we need to focus our investment. We are recruiting 1,300 more staff and we will be recruiting more. We have not decided exactly how the money is going be split up.…
Lords
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
Alzheimer’s Disease
As the noble Baroness says, diagnosis is absolutely crucial. I feel our health system has struggled somewhat to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. That is why I emphasise the role of the modern service framework in this area; it is the first time we have had one and it …