Lords
Proceedings
10 September 2026
Australia: Social Media Algorithms
My Lords, there is now a clear international shift towards giving users a genuine choice over their algorithmic feeds on social media. The recent Meta settlement and connected structural remedies in the United States, Australia’s proposed legislation that came out this week and the EU’s Digital Serv…
Lords
Proceedings
8 September 2026
Data Security: UK Citizens
My Lords, according to an Answer to a Written Question that I received last week, the Government do not centrally record how much of Government’s critical digital infrastructure relies on cloud or computing services that are headquartered overseas or under the jurisdiction of a foreign Government. W…
Lords
Proceedings
2 September 2026
Schools: Mobile Phone Policy
I listened closely to my noble friend the Minister’s response. It is fantastic to hear all the work that the Government are doing to reflect on this. Parents at this time are reporting that schools retaining the “not seen, not heard” policies are having lots of challenges. They are hearing from thei…
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2026
Digital and Technology Policy: National Sovereignty
My Lords, we stand today at a moment of profound vulnerability for the United Kingdom. Our economic security, our national safety and even our long-term sovereignty are at massive risk because we do not yet host or own enough of our own computing infrastructure, our own cloud services or our own adv…
Lords
Proceedings
22 July 2026
2 contributions
AI: International Co-operation
My Lords—
My Lords, there can be no greater motivation for extensive international co-operation on AI than when it comes to safety. Other noble Lords have referred to this, but it is worth reiterating in detail that, last night, the co-founder of OpenAI, Sam Altman, announced to the world that its latest next…
Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
Foreign Interference in UK Politics
My Lords, I welcome this very important review and that the Government are accepting all the recommendations. I am most concerned about the area pertaining to recommendation 13, on what is happening online in the social media space. The recommendation is that combating “hostile state online interfer…
Lords
Proceedings
16 June 2026
Online Hate Speech
My Lords, last month, X gave assurances to Ofcom, which were accepted, that it was taking steps to address illegal hate and harm on its platform. In light of the recent violence that we have seen in Belfast, and the role of X and its owner in inciting it, will the Government encourage Ofcom to revis…
Lords
Proceedings
16 June 2026
Social Media Ban for Under-16s
My Lords, I warmly welcome yesterday’s announcement of a social media ban. It will make a material difference to the future of many children and young people in our country and is what parents and carers across the country have been crying out for. I echo many of the sentiments expressed. I commend …
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
Misinformation: Social Market Foundation Report
My Lords, new analysis from the Social Market Foundation has found that more than one in four news-related posts on X are misinformation, and this proportion is rising sharply during election periods. Fake news spiked by one and a half on Facebook during the recent local election. We know that more …
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
Sovereign AI Fund
My Lords, France, Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada and Ukraine are all investing in their own sovereign AI models, for a variety of reasons, including data control, data protection and, most importantly, economic competitiveness. What consideration are the Government giving to us…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, and a privilege to have been here today to listen to the contributions so far in this debate, especially the valedictory speech from the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, and his important call to us all.
I stand in you…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, and a privilege to have been here today to listen to the contributions so far in this debate, especially the valedictory speech from the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, and his important call to us all.
I stand in you…
Lords
Debate
24 April 2026
8 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
This is a most interesting speech. On the basis of what the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, is saying, if the judge was still there then the Bill would be okay. Why could we not have got to Report and voted on that to make a decision on it?
The noble Baroness and I are relatively unique in that we were two of the 12 members of the Lords Select Committee panel that looked at the Bill. One issue that we found on our side was that the people against the Bill refused to take the evidence that we were trying to propose from other countries …
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
15 April 2026
2 contributions
Masculinity and Misogyny in Schools
My Lords, misogyny has no place in our society or in our schools. The NASUWT survey is deeply concerning and underscores why delivering on the freedom from violence 10-year strategy to halve violence against women and girls is a necessity and a government priority. This Government are committed to t…
I am sure it is the case that social media has had an impact here. We know the influence that those who choose to use it to express toxic masculinity and misogyny can have. That is why we need to support schools, as we are doing through increased investment in resources to help teachers and students…
Lords
Oral Questions
13 April 2026
2 contributions
Artificial Intelligence: Impact on Employment
The AI and the Future of Work Unit has been set up to research and monitor AI’s economic and labour market impacts and to provide policy advice. The unit published its first assessment in January, finding that AI capabilities are progressing rapidly and noting that hiring has been falling faster in …
The Government recognise that entry-level roles are important for building skills and progression pathways that underpin future leadership capability. Progression to senior leadership depends not only on job numbers but on the quality of training and in-work development. The Government want everyone…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
2 contributions
Golders Green Ambulance Attack
My Lords—
We recognise that the Iranian state is a malign influence, and we have taken steps to sanction individuals and prevent them entering the United Kingdom, and, as I said to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, we keep the issue of proscription under review at all times. We have also given £28 million…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
Antisemitism on University Campuses
I reassure my noble friend that I read her foreword too; I did not just focus on that of the noble Lord, Lord Finkelstein. She is absolutely right to draw attention to this, and I urge people to use BBC Sounds to listen to the debate and discussions on the radio. The Government are not at all compla…
Lords
Debate
13 March 2026
4 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
I have listened closely to all of my noble and learned friend’s responses and remarks on this sizeable group of amendments—by my count, there are 105 amendments. While a handful have been presented by the sponsor, my noble and learned friend, the overwhelming majority have been put forward by noble …
The noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, made some important points, as have been made by other noble Lords, about the drugs. Given the context of this debate, as we deliberate these amendments and later amendments, it is worth sharing that the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee of this…
+2 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
27 February 2026
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, I will speak to my Amendments 466, 471 and 474, as well as to Amendments 472 and 485 in the name of my noble friend Lady Gray of Tottenham; I will make different points on those. These are all forms of amendments that were tabled but not debated in the other place. They all seek to strengt…
Lords
Debate
6 February 2026
6 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, I am going to do as the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, has requested and carry on with the group of amendments before us. To echo the sentiment just expressed about the language we use in this place—and it does matter—there are Members on all sides who have used the term “commit suicide”. Su…
I just want to clarify that many of these organisations—including five royal colleges, the British Association of Social Workers and all the organisations for and on behalf of disabled people—are neutral on the principle of assisted death, but no external organisation will attest to the safety of th…
+4 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
3 February 2026
2 contributions
AI Superintelligence
My Lords, there is considerable debate around AI superintelligence. Some experts believe that AI could exceed human capabilities by 2030, which would significantly impact the UK’s economy and national security. The AI Security Institute helps the Government assess serious AI risks, equipping it to u…
My Lords, the Government recognise both the pace of AI development and the need to ensure that it is safe and inclusive. We have set out the proportionate, principals-based approach, enforced by existing regulations, to ensure safety, transparency and accountability. We are also working with interna…
Lords
Debate
30 January 2026
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, very briefly, I support the amendment that is calling for face-to-face consultations to take place, rather than only in exceptional cases. I want to reflect on why this matters. We know from other jurisdictions that many of these assessments are being done online. It is a really important …
Lords
Proceedings
30 January 2026
Arrangement of Business
I am listening very carefully. I am asking for a point of clarification from my noble friend, whom I have been listening to very carefully; obviously, we listen to his advice and guidance. My noble friend has said twice now that we should seek to make more progress. We have had other Members in this…
Lords
Oral Questions
27 January 2026
2 contributions
TikTok: Bereaved British Parents
We are aware of the case brought in the United States. No parent should have to go through what these parents have. Our deepest sympathies are with those affected. We have commenced powers through the Online Safety Act to require information from services about a child’s online activity in the tragi…
The Government are aware of calls to make the data preservation process faster. These are new powers and we are actively monitoring the effectiveness of the current process, working closely with Ofcom to do this. We are carefully considering any means that could allow relevant data to be preserved i…
Lords
Debate
23 January 2026
6 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
This is a point of clarification about access to high-quality palliative care. It should also be about timely access, because we know that, even in the parts of the country where high-quality palliative care exists, around 100,000 people do not get it at a time that would amplify it and ensure that …
The noble Lord and I sat on the Select Committee on the Bill. He may recall that I pressed the Minister specifically on this point: to clarify who would be delivering an assisted dying service in this country should the Bill be accepted. Only after a number of questions did the Minister acknowledge …
+4 more contributions in this session