Lords
Debate
12 September 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, it has been a long day at the end of a very long week. As we adjourn our proceedings, I am sure all noble Lords will join with me in thanking the catering staff, the attendants, the clerks, Hansard staff, the broadcasting unit, the police, security staff and the doorkeepers for their excel…
Lords
Proceedings
12 September 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, before we begin Second Reading, I want to remind all noble Lords of a few important points. There is an advisory speaking time limit for Back-Bench contributions of four minutes. This reflects the large number of speakers, while providing a respectable amount of time for everyone to outlin…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 September 2025
Youth Unemployment
My Lords, building on an earlier question and the Minister’s reply, she will be aware that, as well as young people claiming unemployment benefits, large numbers of them are not in education, employment or training. Given the lasting damage that long periods out of the labour market can have, especi…
Lords
Oral Questions
8 September 2025
Gaza City
My Lords, given the general consensus that the displacement of the Palestinian people is in itself a war crime, will the Government now take the opportunity to place before the House all the assistance that we give to the State of Israel now, so that harder decisions can be taken on what sanctions m…
Lords
Proceedings
5 September 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, we have four important Private Members’ Bills to consider today. I draw colleagues’ attention to the advisory speaking time. If we all stick to that, we will be able to leave the House at a reasonable time, and it shows respect to colleagues who come in later.
Lords
Debate
3 September 2025
Employment Rights Bill
My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King to acquaint the House that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Employment Rights Bill, has consented to place his interest, so far as it is affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.
Lords
Proceedings
2 September 2025
Borders and Asylum
Before we move on to the 20 minutes of protected time for Back-Benchers, I want to make it clear that this is 20 minutes for Back-Benchers only and that the form of the Back-Bench contributions should be questions on the Statement and not speeches.
Lords
Oral Questions
2 September 2025
Public Order Legislation
My Lords, I point out to the Minister that the large majorities he is so proud of were achieved by bundling together Palestine Action with two obvious and very extreme terrorist organisations. In Israel, many citizens are lawfully protesting against the slaughter and starvation of the people of Gaza…
Lords
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
Palestinian Territories: Development Support
My Lords, the viability of any potential Palestinian state must surely depend not just on effective institutions but on credible, capable political leadership. What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the prospect of that emerging in the Palestinian Territories in the near term?
Lords
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
Civil Service: Artificial Intelligence Productivity Gains
My Lords, while the results from the landmark Civil Service AI trial are clearly encouraging, does the Minister agree that it highlights the urgent need to train up public sector workers across all departments on the effective and appropriate use of generative AI? I suggest that such training and gu…
Lords
Proceedings
24 July 2025
Tributes
My Lords, before we move on to the main business, I want to start with some words of thanks to staff across the House and all colleagues ahead of Summer Recess. I am delighted to be able to confirm the current plan for the start of Summer Recess next year. Subject to the progress of business, we wil…
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, as set out in T oday’s L ist s , at a convenient point after 7.30 pm we are taking ping-pong on the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. Due to an oversight, while appearing on T oday’s L ist s , it does not appear on the green sheets, for which I apologise to the House. Once we have finished p…
Lords
Oral Questions
23 July 2025
Pensions: Low-income and Self-employed Workers
My Lords, the Minister is quite right to talk about the success of automatic enrolment but, as she touched on, the pension contributions of the self-employed raise alarm. Could the Government think of ways of increasing this, perhaps using the tax return process as an opportunity to get self-employe…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 July 2025
Parthenon Sculptures: Return
My Lords, the Minister has been rolling out excuses for no action on the Parthenon sculptures that have been used by Ministers of all parties for the last 50 years, at least to my knowledge. The role of museums is changing and there is great capacity for what I would describe as museum diplomacy. Is…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 July 2025
2 contributions
Female Genital Mutilation
My Lords, first I will pay tribute to our noble friend Baroness Rendell, who championed this and ensured it was put on the statute book; she is much missed by all of us. Does my noble and learned friend agree that one of the most important things the Government must succeed in preventing is young gi…
My Lords, your Lordships supported an amendment to the Health and Care Act 2022 to make virginity testing and hymenoplasty illegal, as part of broader efforts to address violence against women. Like female genital mutilation, these practices are typically hidden within families and communities, maki…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 July 2025
Rutland Lieutenancy
I have just been reading the newly published English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill; I have not yet got through the full 300 pages but I am puzzled by the term “community empowerment”. The Bill empowers mayors and strategic authorities and gives mayors the power to appoint up to seven com…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 July 2025
2 contributions
Rail Freight
My Lords—
My Lords, I am grateful that the Minister confirmed the 75% increase in rail freight—the target that I set in December 2023. I listened carefully to his Answer, in which he talked about the Secretary of State setting a target for GBR. Can I confirm that he is intending that Great British Railways wi…
Lords
Oral Questions
9 July 2025
Prisons: Early Release
My Lords, how does the reoffending rate of those released early compare with that of those released after full term?
Lords
Statutory Instrument
3 July 2025
Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025
It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and I certainly agree wholeheartedly with her final sentence. I too support a two-state solution, but I also support this SI and I am very grateful to the Minister for his clear explanation of why it is necessary.
I have to say to the noble Lady Barones…
Lords
Proceedings
2 July 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, we have another busy day ahead of us, with several Divisions planned. We have also seen increased moving around the Chamber when Divisions are called, with Members jumping up straightaway. I remind colleagues that once the question has been put, the voting system needs to be activated befo…
Lords
Oral Questions
2 July 2025
NHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public Meetings
My Lords, I had a long and much reshuffled career in a variety of Governments, going right back to the early 1970s. In my last post, under the Cameron Government, I was introduced to the Grid, which had been developed in the 21st century. I found it utterly ridiculous and quite inimical to the prope…
Lords
Oral Questions
1 July 2025
F35A and F35B Jets
My Lords, I welcome the announcement of the procurement of the F35As. Some 15% of every single F35A will be produced in the UK. Does my noble friend agree that those who are calling for us to limit our involvement in this programme to try to restrict the export of these components would do huge dama…
Lords
Proceedings
24 June 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, there have been many cases in recent weeks of noble Lords, during Oral Questions, referring generally to their interests as set out in the register. I want to highlight to colleagues that this is now the incorrect procedure. Following recent changes to the Code of Conduct, noble Lords must…
Lords
Oral Questions
18 June 2025
Wild Camping
My Lords, given Labour’s manifesto commitments to improve responsible access to nature and enhance community rights to green space, can the Minister clarify what specific changes we can expect in the law and whether the rumours of a Green Paper are true? If they are not, can the Minister tell us why…