Lords
Debate
27 March 2026
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, it has been a privilege to listen and learn and to try to clarify my mind regarding the various amendments. I wish that some of our critics in the press had been here this morning, because the amendments today go to the very heart of the Bill and we have had the opportunity of hearing from…
Lords
Oral Questions
12 March 2026
2 contributions
Anti-Muslim Hostility: Non-statutory Definition
My Lords, the Government have adopted a definition of anti-Muslim hostility focused on protecting individuals. The definition provides a shared practical framework to help victims, communities and services respond to anti-Muslim hostility while improving understanding across wider society. It also e…
The noble and right reverend Lord is quite correct to say that this definition does not change the law. However, it describes distinct forms of unacceptable hostility that many Muslims experience. We know the terrible things that happen, online and in person, to members of our Muslim community. This…
Lords
Debate
27 February 2026
2 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
The noble and learned Lord talks about putting it to rest, but for many of us that issue is not at rest. I certainly supported the noble Lord’s Amendment 120, and I got the impression he was still thinking about its possible value—so, as far as many of us are concerned, it has not been put to rest.
I am still genuinely not quite clear who the noble and learned Lord thinks the commissioner, and indeed this whole process, is ultimately accountable to. With the rejection of the amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, and various others, I am trying to work out who ultimately is going to mon…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 February 2026
2 contributions
Smart Motorways
My Lords, I thank the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries of Pentregarth, for his Question. I assure him that safety is our top priority. While National Highways reports show that smart motorways are meeting or exceeding safety objectives in all but one upgrade, we know that people need to f…
Just to broaden the issue, the majority of schemes are delivering economic benefits and have created additional lane capacity, which is beneficial now and into the future. I think it goes back to the perception issue. Smart motorways remain our safest roads, and we are monitoring the impact of inves…
Lords
Debate
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, Amendment 206 is supported by the noble Lord, Lord Norton of Louth, and, before he retired, the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts. It is also strongly supported by the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, who hoped to be here this afternoon, but I see that he is not in his place yet.
I apo…
My Lords, I thank all those who have supported my amendment and those who have spoken to the other amendments. First, I will comment very briefly on the remarks of the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, who was her usual trenchant self. The reason for including respect for the environment in this list is tha…
Lords
Debate
30 January 2026
2 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, like the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, I will respond to the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone. She seemed to express a kind of common-sense view that of course we all agree that it is much better to have face-to-face interviews, and we have heard all sorts of evidence today from the medical …
I cannot quite understand why the noble and learned Lord is so unwilling to have in the Bill that the presumption should be face to face, with exceptions written into a protocol? Why is he objecting to having it that way round?
Lords
Debate
27 January 2026
3 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
Why could not or should not the disturbing examples that the noble Baroness has cited already have been prosecuted under current legislation on hate law?
My Lords, I will speak to the two amendments in my name, Amendments 440 and 445. Amendment 440 would require the respondent to receive citizenship education in British values, and Amendment 445 sets out what those values are. The noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, has also added his name to these amendments…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
9 January 2026
2 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
I wish to speak to Amendments 25 and 120 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of Berriew, to which my name is attached. They are amendments which I believe go to the very heart of the Bill. It is vital that if the Bill eventually comes into law the system set up for approving requests for ass…
My Lords, could I just put one thing to the noble and learned Lord? Granted that the panel and the court-based system have a great deal in common, six months to live and mental capacity are clear and settled decisions—
Lords
Oral Questions
15 December 2025
Sydney Terrorist Attack
I hope the noble and right reverend Lord will accept that I cannot comment on active live Australian investigations. It would be inappropriate for me to do so as a UK Government Minister, but in any UK context it would simply be the same. There has to be a due process to investigate what has happene…
Lords
Debate
12 December 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, I spoke at Second Reading but have not yet intervened in Committee. I have the greatest respect for the noble and learned Lord. However, would he not agree that there is a special vulnerability about all the categories that we have been discussing this afternoon? Are there any provisions t…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 December 2025
Wheelchair and Community Equipment Strategy
My Lords, I rise for the first time with gratitude, humility and, if I am honest, a certain amount of surprise, until I remember how hard it is to see a GP these days—and having me in the House at least solves that problem. It is a great honour to stand here, particularly in such a significant debat…
Lords
Oral Questions
29 October 2025
Antisemitism: Universities
The Office for Students’ new condition E6, which requires universities to take action and have in place the framework to tackle intimidation and harassment, is a route through which the OfS could take action against universities if they do not take this seriously—though I believe many vice-chancello…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
2 contributions
West Papua: Deforestation
My Lords, the UK has long been at the forefront of efforts to protect forests and halt and reverse deforestation, and we look forward to a strong focus on forests at the upcoming COP 30 in Brazil. Through our diplomacy partnerships and development programmes, we focus on forest governance, sustainab…
I thank the noble and right reverend Lord for his question on this important issue. The UK respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia, including the region of Papua. We support the efforts of the Indonesian authorities and civil society to address the needs and aspirations of th…
Lords
Debate
12 September 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, I am not opposed to assisted dying in principle but I am opposed to this appallingly drafted Bill, which is a travesty of a Private Member’s Bill. It is a massive 51 pages, with 59 clauses and three schedules, and is one of the largest so-called Private Members’ Bills ever introduced in Pa…
Lords
Oral Questions
9 September 2025
Grenfell Tower: Bureau Veritas
It is very important that those responsible for such issues are held to account as quickly as possible. There will eventually be a duty of candour, ensuring that those who are questioned on such matters respond in a timely and honest way. However, in this case the legal and investigative matters are…
Lords
Proceedings
16 July 2025
2 contributions
Afghanistan
My Lords—
My Lords, I say, if I might, how encouraging it is that the Government are working so closely with the Opposition on this issue. It helps increase respect for and trust in the British political system. It was absolutely right that there should have been a super-injunction. My question is related to …
Lords
Oral Questions
2 July 2025
2 contributions
India: Minorities
My Lords, India is a multifaith, multi-ethnic and multilingual democracy, and it remains among the most diverse societies in the world. It is home to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and several other religions. India should be proud of this diversity. The UK maintains a broad, deep and…
I thank the noble and right reverend Lord for bringing our attention to this. It is an important issue and he is right to raise it. We have our network across India and will raise issues such as those that he mentions. We keep a close eye on human rights in India. Human rights are of course universa…
Lords
Oral Questions
24 June 2025
Music Education: State Schools
My Lords, I want to congratulate my noble friend Lady Keeley on obtaining this debate, and of course I congratulate my noble friend Lady Debbonaire on her passionate maiden speech.
There is no doubt from all the speeches tonight: we have heard of the importance of music in the curriculum as a tool …
Lords
Proceedings
10 June 2025
Winter Fuel Payment
I welcome the new policy, but does the Minister agree that the public would find it helpful if some thinking was given by the Government about the choice of the figure of £35,000? I have no feelings one way or the other, but I think the general public might find it helpful to find some kind of ratio…
Lords
Oral Questions
3 June 2025
2 contributions
Gulf States: Trade and Human Rights
My Lords, the UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of human rights. This Government are in negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab …
Free trade agreements such as this are hugely beneficial to both economies, and I do not think that is at the cost of things such as human rights. It is really important that we all hold dear to us our own standards and become huge ambassadors and advocates for those standards around the world.
Whe…
Lords
Proceedings
15 May 2025
Immigration System
My Lords, there is an acute shortage in the social care sector. Will the Minister recognise that the policies in the White Paper will actually make that shortage even worse? We hear some talk about making the social care sector more attractive. Can he give us any kind of indication of when changes w…
Lords
Oral Questions
7 May 2025
Prime Minister and First Minister of Wales Meetings
My Lords, sometimes it is very helpful when colleagues are sitting next to you on the Front Bench. My noble friend Lady Smith has met with Wales’s Universities Minister to discuss the challenges being faced, and I assure the noble and right reverend Lord that conversations are ongoing.
Lords
Proceedings
6 May 2025
Energy Grid Resilience
I return to a question that was at least implicit in the question from the noble Lord, Lord Browne of Ladyton, on the national grid and possible cyberattacks. We are all aware that there has been a massive cyberattack on Marks & Spencer and one on Co-op Group. No organisation, however large, is …