Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
European Entry and Exit System
A few months ago I flew to Málaga, where they had decided not to apply the new system. Is it possible to persuade the EU to put off the system until October?
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
Immigration and Asylum: Appeals
If I may add to the questions on training, will the new people working have some training on genuine cases of modern slavery and human trafficking?
Lords
Proceedings
24 June 2026
Clergy Conduct Measure
My Lords, I will speak to the report that I seek leave to present to the House, as chairman of the Ecclesiastical Committee. I will leave the answers to the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, to the right reverend Prelate, although I will make just one or two comments.
I chair the Ecclesiastical Committ…
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
Livestock Grazing on Dartmoor National Park
My Lords, I live in Devon, partly, and I have owned Dartmoor ponies, although I do not, unfortunately, live on Dartmoor. Is not one of problems that Natural England wants to reduce the grazing on Dartmoor, and the farmers understandably want to protect their cattle and sheep, rather than protecting …
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
Transnational Marriage Abandonment
Can I raise with the Minister another group of very disadvantaged women: those who come from overseas to marry somebody in this country? They go through a religious marriage, very often a nikah, but they never have their marriage registered. The husband then abandons them, and they have no right to …
Lords
Proceedings
17 June 2026
Thames Water
Like many other people in this House, I am a Thames Water consumer, so I am particularly interested in this discussion. Will whoever takes over from Ofwat have the power to require Thames Water to invest?
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
Donations to Political Parties
In the light of the various issues that have been raised today, can the Minister say whether the Government would reconsider, and possibly put some amendments to, the Bill?
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, I should like to add my sorrow at the retirement of the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy. He will be sadly missed.
I strongly oppose the current proposals of the Government in relation to jury trials, for the reasons so brilliantly set out by the noble Lord, Lord Wolfson, but I would like to spe…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, I should like to add my sorrow at the retirement of the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy. He will be sadly missed.
I strongly oppose the current proposals of the Government in relation to jury trials, for the reasons so brilliantly set out by the noble Lord, Lord Wolfson, but I would like to spe…
Lords
Debate
24 April 2026
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
I apologise for intervening but I completely agree with what the noble Baroness has just said. The way in which that would happen is that the Bill would come back from the Commons and we would agree here to put in the amendments that I put in as a result of the power of the noble Baroness’s speeches…
Lords
Debate
22 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, and his colleagues on the Conservative Benches for their consistent and solid support on the issue of fining for profit. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, for her consistent support throughout on the same issue. I add my thanks again t…
Lords
Debate
16 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, the Government are clearly very well meaning. They are very strong on discussion but weak on action. It is very sad that they should be so weak, and I strongly support the speeches that have been made so far.
Lords
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Southport Inquiry: Prevent Programme
As I mentioned, we have established a separate working group of officials. They are looking not just at the recommendations for advice for Ministers but at the type of individual and at the incident that occurred. They will test with police forces and others why and how that incident in Southport oc…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 April 2026
Masculinity and Misogyny in Schools
The new RSHE guidance that we published and the curriculum are clear that there is important work to be done at key stage 2 to support children to develop their ideas and approach to healthy relationships. That is a really important baseline from which to talk more explicitly later in their school l…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
HMT “Empire Windrush”: 80th Anniversary
The answer to the noble and learned Baroness’s question is that the specific projects for Windrush 80 will be confirmed in due course. We are having further discussion across government and with the Windrush 80 steering committee. Whatever the legacy will be, it is critical that it is designed by th…
Lords
Debate
25 March 2026
3 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I will confine myself briefly to supporting Motion B. It is commonly agreed now that the pilots of the pathfinder model in selected family courts have been a success and represent the way ahead. This model has been shown to reduce delays significantly and has forced the focus on to making …
My Lords, in speaking to Motion G, I will also speak to Motions G1, G2, N and N1. Lords Amendment 37 requires the Secretary of State to introduce regulations that prohibit under 18s from using VPNs. Amendment 38 requires the UK Chief Medical Officers to publish advice about children’s use of social …
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
25 March 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
I would prefer to get a move on so that everybody is happy that this comes to an end. Have we forgotten that hard cases make bad law and public policy should be a consideration? Knowing that she aborted a perfectly viable baby can haunt a woman for years. Even if we start and end with an individual …
Lords
Debate
24 March 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
My Lords, I support all these amendments, and in particular the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Best. The tiny village where I have a house, 10 miles from Exeter, is not just a rural community but a farming community. For years, Exeter City Council has wanted to take over the area; those of us living…
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I put my name to this amendment, as did the noble and learned Lord, Lord Burnett of Maldon. Not surprisingly, given the time, he has had to leave the House, but he asked me to say that he remains very supportive of this amendment, and noble Lords will perhaps realise that we are talking ab…
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I strongly support the amendment of the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti. It seems to me entirely sensible, for the reasons set out so well by the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, and I agree very much with what he said about the amendments of the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra.
I agree with the no…
My Lords, for the reasons that have been so excellently given already and, in view of the time, I support all the amendments from the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron.
Lords
Oral Questions
18 March 2026
Trail-hunting
I live in a very rural community and always have done, and we have plenty of options for things to do in the winter that do not involve supporting hunts. If it is a particular concern in the area where the noble and learned Baroness lives, again, I encourage her to take part in the consultation.
Lords
Oral Questions
17 March 2026
Plan 2 Student Loans: Repayment Terms
What I will say is that the imperative, for whatever comes in, is that fairness is at the centre of what we do. We have to make sure that the question of being able to afford studying is not something that puts people off. Courses should be available to all young people, regardless of their family b…