Lords
Oral Questions
2 March 2026
2 contributions
UK Streaming and Cinema Sector
Is that related to AI or content generally?
In relation to the screen workforce and skills, we are investing across the skills pipeline: there is £10 million for the National Film and Television School expansion, and we are scaling up the British Film Institute Film Academy and delivering short stories through the growth and skills levy. We a…
Lords
Proceedings
24 February 2026
Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving
My Lords, the first thing to say is that I have been asking for this to come out for a long time, so I thank the Government for getting there eventually. The document does accept that it is a difficult and slow process that we are starting, and anybody who kids themselves that it is not will be doin…
Lords
Oral Questions
24 February 2026
Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper
The noble Lord is right. When we were talking yesterday about the opportunities provided by V-levels and T-levels, I also talked about the way in which they would increase the numbers of people who would take level 4 and 5 courses. We all have a responsibility to show the credibility and the currenc…
Lords
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
V-levels
The noble Lord is right that good careers advice is important. Some 96% of secondary schools and colleges are now in careers hubs, connecting them to employers and apprenticeship providers in their areas. Over 3,500 business volunteers work with schools and colleges to inspire young people about car…
Lords
Proceedings
10 February 2026
2 contributions
Separation Centres Review
My Lords, when it comes to the basic question that has already been raised today—the European Convention on Human Rights—I am afraid that my Benches very much disagree with the noble and learned Lord who has just spoken. It was Churchill who said that it is the way you treat your prisoners that defi…
Things such as de-escalation training might keep officers safer in conflicts. If the Minister has any figures on that, can he let us know here, or later on by letter?
Lords
Oral Questions
9 February 2026
Royal Navy: Caribbean
I am very happy to reassure the noble Lord and the entire House on that point. There has been no UK involvement in operations outside our own policy remit, and specific operational activities undertaken by the US military—which I assume is what the noble Lord was referring to—in the Caribbean and th…
Lords
Committee Stage
9 February 2026
2 contributions
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
I was waiting for the Minister to reply before I summed up.
My Lords, I want to say a few words about the amendment I introduced. I think that this is the longest I have ever done on a group, returning on a Monday after a Wednesday; but I am sure that it is not setting a record.
The tone of what came out in the debate was, “Okay, maybe there’s a difference …
Lords
Committee Stage
4 February 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
That is a challenge that the Committee should probably face more often.
The amendment calls on the function here of strategic authorities. It talks about sport and recreation and comes under the heading of health. There is a general consensus that exercise is the wonder drug. If you make your body …
Lords
Debate
3 February 2026
4 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
This is fairly straightforward. There is a bit of passion being stirred up and a nice pace, so let us not delay too long. The reason I am suggesting that we include smartphones as assistance to those with special educational needs is because smartphones fit in your pocket and are a great way of carr…
My Lords, as it appears that everybody wants to vote on this, I would like Amendment 215 to be in half-decent shape. I think it needs my amendment; therefore, I beg leave to press my amendment.
+2 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, my Amendment 230 in this group is on off-rolling. Whatever the good points of academisation, there has been a strong suspicion—a fact, in some cases—that certain schools are off-rolling pupils who are seen to be a problem. The best of the academies are probably dealing with this. I remembe…
My Lords, I shall make a couple of brief comments on the amendment that the noble Baroness, Lady Sater, introduced so well. I draw the House’s attention to proposed new subsection (2)(k). If you take part in physical activity only in educational establishments, you generally stop doing it when you l…
Lords
Oral Questions
28 January 2026
Schools: Music and Dance Scheme
I agree with the noble Lord; that is the whole point of the music and dance scheme. It enables 2,000 young people who might not otherwise be able to get, as he says, that private education at the very highest levels, to benefit from it. This Government have maintained investment in that. I am please…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 January 2026
ILO Convention 190
The noble Lord is right that enforcement is as much a part of tackling the issue as is creating solutions to the nature of workplace culture. The Employment Rights Act does a number of things in this regard. As well as what I have already mentioned, it voids non-disclosure agreements between employe…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 January 2026
In-game Purchases: Protections for Children
This is about making sure that children are safe. The Government are committed to ensuring that games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone, including children. The Government maintain the view that loot boxes should not be purchased by children, unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and …
Lords
Debate
14 January 2026
2 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I stand here today as a rather inadequate replacement for my noble friend Lady Tyler, so I will be very brief. As the noble Baroness, Lady Barran, pointed out, in Amendment 6 we are talking about the most vulnerable group—certainly a group that does not have the added protection of, for in…
My Lords, I will briefly join the support for this amendment. If somebody is doing something that is potentially difficult, training will be essential, so that they understand what their role is, do not make basic mistakes, et cetera. I would have thought that this is something that should be there,…
Lords
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
2 contributions
Special Educational Needs: Investment
My Lords, the £3 billion in high needs capital announced last week is intended to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those who require alternative provision by creating facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more flexible support adap…
The noble Lord makes a very important point. This funding is an opportunity to support those pupils to remain in schools close to home and enable them to learn and thrive alongside their friends, in environments that support their learning, by developing safe and quiet spaces and improving the acces…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 December 2025
West Midlands Police: Maccabi Tel Aviv Match
I first congratulate the noble Lord on the announcement yesterday of his retention in the House through his new peerage. I think I have already said but will re-emphasise that the Home Office has commissioned two reports: a report into the intelligence surrounding the Maccabi-Aston Villa match and t…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 November 2025
West Midlands Police: Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
I thank the noble Lord for that question. I have already made it clear that the Policing Minister has written to West Midlands Police to find out precisely what intelligence it received about what happened in Amsterdam and how that is reflected in the various press reports. On a wider scale, we are …
Lords
Oral Questions
20 November 2025
Litter on Canal Towpaths
My Lords, this has been an important and enjoyable debate. I congratulate my noble friend Lord Evans of Rainow on securing it. The fact that concerns have been raised in so many towns and cities across the country is demonstrative proof that there is a problem here that the Canal & River Trust m…
Lords
Committee Stage
19 November 2025
Football Governance Act 2025 (Specified Competitions) Regulations 2025
My Lords, I commend the regulations in front of us. I strongly support the points made by the noble Baroness, Lady Evans, on the question of the inclusion of the women’s game. It is an argument that I have heard on a number of occasions. The fact that there is willingness and a desire on the part of…
Lords
Proceedings
18 November 2025
Independent Football Regulator
My Lords, if we are to assume that this is cock-up and not conspiracy, can the Minister assure us of the process that will happen next time to make sure that this does not happen again? Also, it might be helpful for this ongoing situation if we could get some definition of what we are looking for as…
Lords
Oral Questions
17 November 2025
Dyscalculia
I think I said that I completely understand that children who have difficulties in maths, including those with dyscalculia, will need support. My emphasis was on the action that the Government are taking to support those children, which is, I suspect, where both noble Lords are in asking this questi…
Lords
Oral Questions
13 November 2025
Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Reports
Again, I certainly accept the important points that the noble Lord is making. It is unacceptable that there are health inequalities and poorer life outcomes. Indeed, action could be taken. That is why our 10-year health plan recognises these inequalities and identifies particularly those with disabi…
Lords
Debate
27 October 2025
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
My Lords, I discussed this at the beginning of the day and ruminated long on what the Minister said. I am afraid it does not meet my objections. I beg leave to test the opinion of the House on my amendment.