Lords
Statutory Instrument
20 November 2025
3 contributions
Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
I thank the noble Lord for his intervention. I sincerely hope that there are no particular difficulties, but if there are any hiccups in the situation, I hope that, as part of that, the challenges and the operational difficulties that have presented themselves over the last number of months can be i…
My Lords, this instrument, as the Minister has outlined, amends the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 to ensure that additional essential requirements covering cyber security, data protection and fraud prevention apply to certain categories of radio equipment marketed in Northern Ireland. The objecti…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
19 November 2025
2 contributions
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry
My Lords—
I thank my noble friend for that question. Obviously, homegrown hydrogen is the way forward. The Government are considering expanding the clean industry bonus to hydrogen and will consult on proposals and publish the hydrogen strategy in the future. The UK is well placed to develop a thriving hydrog…
Lords
Oral Questions
13 November 2025
Goodmayes Hospital Mental Health Facility
The Mental Health Bill, which is, I hope, within touching distance of Royal Assent, is absolutely crucial. It is a reform of an Act which was 41 years old; it will undoubtedly be crucial. I am grateful to many noble Lords for their participation in getting us to the right place. It will deliver on o…
Lords
Oral Questions
12 November 2025
Barnett Formula: Wales
I thank my noble friend for that question. I repeat that this is the largest spending review settlement received by the Northern Ireland Executive in real terms since devolution started in 1998. The Northern Ireland Executive are receiving at least 24% more per person than equivalent UK government s…
Lords
Oral Questions
28 October 2025
Plant-based Diet
I thank my noble friend for that question. As she suggests, the farming road map is part of a package of land-based strategies being published by Defra, which will include the food strategy. It will set out what is needed to restore nature, address climate change and support the production of health…
Lords
Oral Questions
22 October 2025
Rules on Duty-Free Goods
I am very grateful to my noble friend for her question and I agree with every word she said. The Windsor Framework is the best workable solution to Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. As she said, it places Northern Ireland in a uniquely beneficial position within the United Kingdom—which I hop…
Lords
Committee Stage
21 October 2025
2 contributions
Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her very clear introduction of this SI. It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baronesses, Lady Hollins and Lady Ritchie, and to say, perhaps counterintuitively, that I agree with both of them. It is very clear that there are arguments for steps forward because of th…
I cannot give a specific answer, but I will be pleased to write to my noble friend and other noble Lords about the timetable rather than land Minister Nesbitt in it in any way, which I would never wish to do. But I can give the assurance to noble Lords that officials are in regular contact with thei…
Lords
Proceedings
20 October 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for the Statement this evening. I also thank her for the engagement we have had over the last few weeks and for the letter I received today in response to the representations I had made. I totally condemn all that violence and terrorism, and the murder …
Lords
Oral Questions
20 October 2025
HIV: Testing and Medical Care
I certainly can assure my noble friend that, in our discussions with the devolved Governments, we highlight this area and will continue to do so.
Lords
Proceedings
14 October 2025
Digital ID
My Lords, further to the question posed by the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, has careful consideration been given to the circumstances on the island of Ireland, where there is quite a lot of cross-border working, both from south to north and north to south? The Government should also be mindful of the …
Lords
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
2 contributions
Alzheimer’s Disease
My Lords, in the 10-year plan we announced that we would deliver the first ever modern service framework for frailty and dementia to reduce unwanted variation and narrow inequality in diagnosis and care for those living with dementia. It will set national standards and redirect NHS priorities to pro…
In our development of the modern service framework for frailty and dementia we are engaging with a wide group of partners, because we need to understand what should be included to ensure the best outcomes. I hope my noble friend will welcome that we are going to be considering what interventions sho…
Lords
Oral Questions
18 September 2025
2 contributions
Gaza: UN Commission of Inquiry Report
My Lords, the Government’s long-standing position remains that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made following a judgment by a competent national or international court. However, officials are carefully considering this report, and it will be taken into account …
We respect and will always continue to adhere to the convention that the noble Baroness refers to, but it will remain the Government’s position—I genuinely think that this is right—that we do not ascribe genocide; it is for a competent court to do that. That is the right way to tackle these issues. …
Lords
Debate
12 September 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, when I spoke at Second Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill in 2021, I expressed grave concern about the “hidden persuasion” being used by family members, encouraging loved ones to take their own lives. This means that by words or conduct a patient is made to feel guilty that they continue t…
Lords
Oral Questions
9 September 2025
2 contributions
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Vaccination Programme
My Lords, first, I thank the Minister for being present to respond to this debate; the noble Lord, Lord Kamall, on the Opposition Benches, who used to be the Minister responding to my questions and debates on these issues; and the Government Whip, who also used to respond to some of my questions.
R…
My Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, in this important debate this evening. Summer is only just behind us, yet I have no doubt that minds of NHS leaders will already be turning to how to deal with winter pressures. The NHS has always faced challenges in winter but, b…
Lords
Oral Questions
8 September 2025
2 contributions
Suicide Reduction
My Lords, our Plan for Change clearly commits to a renewed focus on preventing suicides. We know that one-third of all suicides are committed by people who are in contact with mental health services, and our new 10-year health plan sets out how we will strengthen and improve those services. We are c…
I am very pleased to be able to provide the assurances that my noble friend seeks. I reiterate our commitment to implementing the strategy. My colleagues and I continue to work closely with our trusted partners in civil and voluntary society and elsewhere. The Secretary of State will be joining the …
Lords
Oral Questions
3 September 2025
Republic of Ireland: Defence Co-operation
I thank my noble friend Lady Ritchie for her point. Last week, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said—I quote directly—:
“Let’s be clear: the ECHR underpins key international agreements on trade, security, migration and the Good Friday agreement”.
That encapsulates government policy on th…
Lords
Oral Questions
23 July 2025
Casement Park: Spending Review
I thank my noble friend. I am very aware of her personal support for the GAA and the sport. To reassure her, there is now an official-level working group between the NIO and the Northern Ireland Executive to try to deliver on Casement Park. The Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for the deli…
Lords
Debate
22 July 2025
Universal Credit Bill
First, in her absence, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Shawcross-Wolfson, on a very graceful maiden speech. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Elliott, that if he goes ahead with the idea of having meetings of former heads of the No. 10 policy unit, I hope that I, as a mere humble member, might o…
Lords
Oral Questions
22 July 2025
Illegal Migration: Pull Factors
I am grateful to my noble friend. She raises a sector where there are employment shortages. One of the tasks of the Government in the employment and immigration White Paper is to reskill and upskill individuals from the United Kingdom to fill those vacancies. With social care visas, there were signi…
Lords
Oral Questions
17 July 2025
Syria: Druze Community
It is vital that the international community comes together to support emerging stability in Syria. We are very willing to do that, and we are engaged in that process, but we need to support the Governments of countries that have been supporting Syrians away from their home for very many years now, …
Lords
Oral Questions
9 July 2025
3 contributions
Fujitsu: Government Contracts
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and refer to my entry in the register of Members’ interests.
My Lords, the impact of the Horizon scandal on postmasters and their families has been horrendous. The Government are determined to hold those responsible to account and will continue to seek to make rapid progress on compensation and redress. Fujitsu’s role in Horizon is one of the issues currently…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Proceedings
2 July 2025
Welfare Reform
My Lords, I welcome the concessions from the Government on welfare reform. Having been a Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive with responsibility for welfare reform and disability benefits, I know that this is a difficult issue.
These concessions will cause a funding gap for the Treasury. Can…
Lords
Oral Questions
1 July 2025
Plastic Pollution
As I have said, we really need to move away from this. Many members of the public, me included, put their plastic into recycling bins in very good faith and expect it to be recycled—I buy things made out of recycled plastic—but we have to look at how we can stop plastic that should be recycled just …