The Deputy Chairman of Committees — Hansard

Lords Proceedings 24 June 2026

My Lords, this Statement takes place in the context of a relentless campaign against trans people that started among right-wing politicians in the United States of America but has been seized on here: the bandwagon has been jumped upon by politicians in this country. That is the context. We on thes…

Lords Debate 27 March 2026

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

My Lords, I remind the Committee that the noble Lord, Lord Shinkwin, is taking part remotely. I invite the noble Lord to reply to the debate.

Lords Debate 18 March 2026 3 contributions

Crime and Policing Bill

My Lords—

My Lords, I am the first speaker from these Benches. For us, this is a matter of conscience. My noble friend Lady Smith of Newnham has not had the opportunity to speak. She disagrees with me. She is supportive of the other side. She wished for me to mention that she has been contacted by a young stu…

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Lords Oral Questions 9 March 2026

Independent Commission on Adult Social Care

What the noble Baroness describes—people getting the runaround—is, of course, unacceptable, and we have discussed this a number of times. I would be pleased to take back her suggestion to the Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock.

Lords Debate 2 February 2026 4 contributions

Crime and Policing Bill

My Lords, I start by thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, for setting out the context behind this debate, which takes place against a backdrop in this country of large-scale funding by anti-abortion groups across the piece and almost daily articles in our newspapers about anti-…

My Lords, I listened to the noble Lord, Lord Weir of Ballyholme, and what he said sounds eminently sensible, but the problem is this: the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, has set out the level of detail that is already gathered. The noble Lord, among other Members of your Lordships’ House, have gone o…

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Lords Proceedings 18 December 2025

Puberty Suppressants Trial

My Lords, the backdrop to this research is an extensive international religious nationalist campaign against women’s rights and LGBT rights. Since this research has been designed according to standard research protocols, has been approved by the NHS ethics committees and will be carried out by profe…

Lords Oral Questions 12 November 2025

Telemedical Abortions

I most certainly can agree with the points the noble Baroness has rightly made. There is a very clear pathway to providing safe care. The provision of telemedicine in this regard came in in 2022, and it has given safe abortions further ballast, so it is nothing other than a safe procedure, as I ment…

Lords Debate 4 July 2025

Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I also speak in the gap, and I apologise for not having been able to put my name down earlier. I most warmly congratulate my friend—we have worked together for about 30 years—the noble Baroness, Lady Benjamin, on her powerful, evocative and sensitive presentation of her Bill. I quickly de…

Lords Oral Questions 18 June 2025

Care Workers: Foreign Worker Visas

Perhaps I could assist by clarifying that the spending review, which allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for social care, is by 2028-29; it is not a matter of waiting for that long. That is in comparison with 2025-26. I hope I was helpful to your Lordships’ House in identi…

Lords Oral Questions 16 June 2025

Adult Social Care

Your Lordships’ House will be aware of the financial situation that we inherited and seek to put right. The Government have made available up to £3.7 billion in additional funding for social care authorities in 2025-26, and the noble Baroness is right that just last week the spending review allowed …

Lords Debate 10 June 2025

Employment Rights Bill

I advise noble Lords that if Amendment 216YC is agreed to, I cannot call Amendment 216YD because of pre-emption.

Lords Debate 6 June 2025

Complications from Abortions (Annual Report) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I, too, spoke at Second Reading and I welcome the opportunity to speak again to set in context what the Bill is part of and is all about. I, too, have to disagree fundamentally with the noble Lord, Lord Weir of Ballyholme, though not on the necessity for accurate data and statistics. You c…

Lords Debate 22 May 2025

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

I advise noble Lords that, if Amendment 50 were agreed to, Amendments 51 to 64 could not be called because of pre-emption.

Lords Oral Questions 20 May 2025

Healthy Life Expectancy

Prevention is certainly the best approach. As noble Lords will be aware, one of the three pillars of the published 10-year plan is moving from sickness to prevention, so that will feature very much in the plan. We work closely with industry to ensure that government can benefit from its information …

Lords Committee Stage 19 May 2025

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

My Lords, I inform the Committee that, if Amendment 1 is agreed to, I cannot call Amendment 4 because of pre-emption. Amendment 1

Lords Proceedings 19 May 2025

Arrangement of Business

My Lords, if there is a Division in the Chamber while we are sitting, this Committee will adjourn as soon as the Division Bells are rung and resume after 10 minutes.