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…
Lords
Oral Questions
18 June 2025
Care Workers: Foreign Worker Visas
My Lords, as we have heard, concerns around low pay and insecure contracts are long-standing in the social care sector. The Minister made mention of the fair pay agreement; can she explain how this will ensure that a living wage, living hours and living pensions will be paid to staff among the priva…
Lords
Debate
17 June 2025
Holocaust Memorial Bill
My Lords, I thought it would be helpful to the House, before we move on to the Third Reading of the Holocaust Memorial Bill, to remind people of the usual procedures and courtesies. I am aware that some noble Lords may wish to speak, and any speeches should take place after Third Reading on the ques…
Lords
Debate
13 June 2025
4 contributions
Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL]
My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right. It is the normal convention that we rise at the hours that he set out, but we also have a problem in this House at the moment: we are struggling to work to these conventions. I have struggled to get agreement with the Opposition on a number of Bills. He …
My Lords, I am not suggesting that about today at all. No one should think that about today. I heard only part of the debate and thought it was very good. I have huge respect for the noble Lord, as he knows, and I say it again. I know he is doing it very sincerely, but my point was about this week. …
+2 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
11 June 2025
Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]
My Lords, before we consider the Commons message on the data Bill, I again remind the House of the importance of applying greater discipline to ping-pong. We have now spent nearly 44 hours debating this Bill as a whole, including nine and a half hours on the last four rounds of ping-pong. This means…
Lords
Debate
11 June 2025
Holocaust Memorial Bill
My Lords, before we start, I remind the House that a lot of people will be watching this debate, and of the importance of being mindful of the tone of contributions. This Bill, understandably, stirs passionate and strongly held views across the House from different perspectives, as has been seen at …
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, before we move on to the next item of business, I refer the House to the guidance on ping-pong as set out on T oday’s L ist s . We have three items of very important voting business before the House today. I want to ensure that all items are considered properly and in a timely manner.
Lords
Proceedings
6 June 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, the time is now 12.25 pm. I am conscious that we now have two PMBs. I am also conscious that it has been a long week for everybody. I want the House to rise, if we can, at around 3 pm, so I say to colleagues who intend to speak on the first PMB that I hope we will be able to bring that to …
Lords
Debate
5 June 2025
2 contributions
Employment Rights Bill
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness very much for that. I was the Opposition Chief Whip for three years in this House and always played fairly and reasonably with the then Government, even though many times I opposed them fiercely. I try to be reasonable and fair in all the things that I do as Gove…
It is because the Bill is so important and noble Lords have so much to say on it that I have given the Opposition three more days in Committee after this to make sure we have proper scrutiny. We will do one more group before the House adjourns.
Lords
Debate
4 June 2025
Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]
I am very disturbed that the Minister says there is a potential for the Bill to collapse, with all the important measures within it. If the other place chooses to collapse the Bill, can she tell me which Cabinet Minister or adviser will take responsibility for what is clearly an unprecedented legisl…
Lords
Proceedings
4 June 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, before we consider the Commons message on the data Bill, I remind the House again of the importance of applying some discipline to ping-pong. We have now spent 42 hours debating the Bill as a whole, including nearly eight hours on the last three rounds of ping-pong. The remaining issue is …
Lords
Oral Questions
3 June 2025
Health: Ultra-processed Food
My Lords, I declare my interests as recorded in the register. Last year, the author of the best-selling book Ultra-Processed People , Dr Chris van Tulleken, gave evidence to the Food, Diet and Obesity Select Committee, of which I had the privilege of being a member. He said that ultra-processed food…
Lords
Proceedings
2 June 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, before we start to consider the Commons message on the data Bill, I want to remind the House of the courtesies and discipline we should apply to ping-pong. We have now spent over 40 hours debating the Bill as a whole, including over six hours in the last two rounds of ping-pong. This is mu…
Lords
Proceedings
21 May 2025
Arrangement of Business
My Lords, before colleagues leave the Chamber, I am delighted to be able to update the House on the plan for recesses up to Whitsun next year. I have already announced the planned dates for recesses until January 2026. As ever, these and the new dates can change subject to the progress of business. …