Lords
Proceedings
14 July 2026
Autism: Parenting Support Programmes
My Lords, while acknowledging the great importance of services to these families, will my noble friend the Minister also acknowledge the importance of peer support in these circumstances and commend the work of the many charities enabling families in the same circumstances to talk to each other, to …
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
2 contributions
Unpaid Carers
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, and I declare an interest as vice-president of Carers UK.
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. The public consultation that has been launched is very welcome. As my noble friend knows, carers want to combine paid work with caring if they can because it provides income, independence and social interaction. There is never a problem making the mo…
Lords
Proceedings
6 July 2026
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, as usual I must advise your Lordships that, if there is a Division in the Chamber while we are sitting, the Committee will adjourn as soon as the Division Bells are rung and resume after 10 minutes.
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
NHS: Dementia Treatment Trials
My Lords, while accepting the importance of early diagnosis and the improvements that are being made, does my noble friend agree that families—and she has mentioned carers—are often reluctant to seek a diagnosis? They think that these are only small symptoms of confusion and do not want to go for th…
Lords
Proceedings
3 June 2026
Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis and Access to Experimental Drugs
I thank my noble friend for that reply. I am glad to know that she understands the importance of early diagnosis because it is the only way to access drugs that will delay, although not of course cure, this disease. But families are sometimes reluctant to get a diagnosis because they do not want to …
Lords
Proceedings
2 June 2026
Breast Cancer Screening: Women Over 70
My Lords, since there is a strong hereditary element in breast cancer, what action is being taken to make sure that women who have had cancer ensure that their daughters and granddaughters are rightly tested? Will the Minister acknowledge the information being given out via “The Archers” on this mat…
Lords
Proceedings
20 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, in my 29 years in this House I have spoken in many a debate on the health provisions in many a gracious Speech. I have longed for the day when I could rejoice in the plans set out for a new deal on social care. Sadly, I am still waiting. Whatever improvements His Majesty’s Government make …
Lords
Oral Questions
20 April 2026
2 contributions
Charity Giving
This Government are proud of our incredible culture of giving in the UK and are committed to doing what we can to promote and foster it. While the CAF research shows a fall in overall donations, charitable giving has broadly kept up with inflation over the last decade and the proportion of those who…
It is important that we focus on how we can support an already incredibly generous public, without playing down the reasons why people might be reluctant to give. We are putting in place measures to tackle the cost of living issues affecting people currently. As for some of the ways that my noble fr…
Lords
Debate
13 April 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
My Lords, the House has agreed Amendment 197 to leave out Clause 59. Clause 59 introduced Schedule 27. Amendments 198 to 211 are amendments to Schedule 27. I remind the House that our Standing Order 46 says:
“An amendment to a bill must not be inconsistent with a previous decision given on the same…
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
2 contributions
Unpaid Carers: Patient Hospital Discharge
My Lords, the Health and Care Act 2022 requires NHS trusts to involve patients and unpaid carers in discharge planning, reinforced by 2024 discharge guidance. However, this is not always done consistently and carer involvement is not monitored nationally. We will support better implementation by com…
I completely agree with my noble friend that the involvement of and support to unpaid carers is crucial when a patient is discharged because, as she says, it is vital not just for patient recovery but for the whole healthcare system. I welcome the recent Carers UK report that was published last year…
Lords
Oral Questions
12 March 2026
Children in Care: Illegal Accommodation
Generally speaking, in trying to analyse why the number of foster carers has dropped, it is around the general areas of support, which are so important. Of course, when people make such a life-changing decision, they want to get on with it, but it is absolutely paramount that this be done in a suppo…
Lords
Oral Questions
9 March 2026
Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
That is key in the mind of the noble Baroness, Lady Casey. We need to better join up the NHS and social care workforces. We will have a workforce plan for the NHS in spring this year and we are also investing in developing our social care workforce to professionalise and respect it.
Lords
Debate
3 March 2026
2 contributions
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
As Amendment 65 has been agreed, I cannot call Amendment 66 for reasons of pre-emption.
Amendment 67
As Amendment 67 has been agreed, I cannot call Amendment 68 for reasons of pre-emption.
Amendment 69
Lords
Oral Questions
9 February 2026
2 contributions
Hospitals: Delayed Discharges
My Lords, we know that too many people are delayed leaving hospital. We are determined to tackle this. This winter, we are ensuring that NHS trusts focus on improving in-hospital processes and work with local authorities to tackle the longest delays. We are providing targeted support to the most cha…
My noble friend is absolutely right. I emphasise her words that we must have an integrated, co-ordinated approach. She is quite right to highlight that some areas are doing this. It has not been straightforward, but dedication and bringing together all the elements that she raises, including health,…
Lords
Proceedings
4 February 2026
China and Japan
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is taking part remotely. I invite the noble Lord to speak.
Lords
Proceedings
3 February 2026
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, your Lordships will know that, 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.
Lords
Debate
28 January 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I should tell the House that if Amendment 114 is agreed to then I cannot call Amendment 117 for reasons of pre-emption.
Clause 30: School uniforms: limits on branded items
Amendment 114
Lords
Oral Questions
27 January 2026
Best Start Family Hubs
My noble friend, as always, raises an important point. We have committed in the best start in life strategy to having a children and family services practitioner in each family hub to support children and families with additional needs. We recognise just how significant demand is this year, particul…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 January 2026
Exercise Pegasus 2025
My noble friend is right. Many of us volunteered during that period, through our faith communities and the community groups with which we are associated. As we saw during the pandemic, voluntary and community groups are at the heart of our communities and faith groups. The reality is that during Exe…
Lords
Debate
6 January 2026
2 contributions
Sentencing Bill
I cannot call Amendment 65, as it is an amendment to Amendment 64.
I cannot call Amendment 67, as it is an amendment to Amendment 66.
Amendment 68
Lords
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
NHS: Wheelchair Services
My noble friend raises a point that applies not just to wheelchairs but to other aids and adaptations. There is indeed a very considerable issue. That is a matter for local services, but it is absolutely something that we will work with them on as part of how we improve services, because it also inc…
Lords
Oral Questions
18 November 2025
2 contributions
Carer’s Allowance: Overpayments Review
My Lords, the Government would like to thank Liz Sayce for the work and insights that went into the independent review of earnings-related overpayments of carer’s allowance. We are carefully considering the findings of the review and will publish the report and our response by the end of this year. …
My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend’s patience; I am afraid that I must ask her to be patient for just a little longer. On the important question of earnings-related overpayments, we are very conscious that some carers found this extremely difficult—hence the need for the report. As I said, …
Lords
Committee Stage
17 November 2025
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
My Lords, if this amendment is agreed to, I cannot call Amendments 176 and 177.
Amendment 175