Lords
Proceedings
6 July 2026
Fracture Liaison Services
My Lords, I apologise to the Minister for bringing her back yet again to this issue. However, it is now two years since the former Secretary of State said that a national fracture liaison service rollout would be one of the Government’s first actions in office. Two years on, we are still waiting for…
Lords
Committee Stage
4 June 2026
AI Regulation Bill
My Lords, I declare my interests as deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group and chairman of the News Media Association. The vast, unaccountable technology companies would have us believe that any attempt at regulation in this area would stifle their growth and damage the economy. That is nonsen…
Lords
Proceedings
20 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, I welcome the emphasis in the gracious Speech on renewing public services, modernising the NHS and supporting long-term economic security. They are the right ambitions, but they will matter to patients only if they translate into practical reforms that prevent ill health, reduce pressure o…
Lords
Debate
2 March 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment 390 in my name, to which my noble friend Lord Blencathra has added his own. He is an exceptional champion of animal welfare and it is an honour, as always, to have his support.
First, I shall speak to government Amendment 301. I am grateful to the Minister for h…
Lords
Oral Questions
2 March 2026
3 contributions
UK Streaming and Cinema Sector
My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I declare my interest as deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group.
The way we consume entertainment is changing rapidly, driving greater consolidation in the streaming and entertainment markets. Cinemas and independent British content play a vital role in our communities, and DCMS works closely with the BFI and the UK Cinema Association to ensure that they continue…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
11 February 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
My Lords, I support Amendment 202 in the name of my noble friend Lord Parkinson, to which I have added my name. I apologise that I was unable to take part in the Second Reading debate. This is a very important issue for our local media and I am most grateful to my noble friend for bringing it forwar…
Lords
Debate
22 January 2026
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I oppose Clauses 152 to 155 standing part of the Bill. I declare my interests as deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group and chairman of the News Media Association. This stand part notice is in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, who unfortunately cannot be here today as he is o…
I thank the Minister very much for her comments and the offer to meet. I suspect she is involved in a large number of meetings at the moment, and we will try not to add too much to the burden.
This has been a very good debate on a difficult subject, but one, as we have heard from a number of people…
Lords
Proceedings
8 January 2026
Broadcasting: Recent Developments
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, has done this House a major favour by sponsoring today’s debate. I will concentrate my own remarks on the aspects of broadcasting which are closest to my professional experience as a working diplomat for more than 40 years: the BBC’s World Service and its forei…
Lords
Debate
9 December 2025
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, Amendment 316 stands in my name and those of the noble Lords, Lord Goddard of Stockport and Lord Trees, and the noble Baroness, Lady Coffey. They are all passionate supporters of animal welfare and I have had the pleasure of working with them on a number of important issues in the past. I …
I am very grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. It is always good to move an amendment when there is a unanimity of view across the Committee; it does not happen to me terribly often. I am particularly grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, both for reminding us of the w…
Lords
Oral Questions
20 October 2025
3 contributions
HIV: Testing and Medical Care
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and I declare my interest as a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
My Lords, HIV testing rates in sexual health services increased last year by 3%. After nearly a decade of cuts, we increased the public health grant to over £3.8 billion in 2025-26, which funds HIV testing and sexual health services. This year we invested £27 million in HIV opt-out A&E testing, …
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
2 contributions
Fracture Liaison Services
My Lords, at the start of September the Prime Minister made it clear that his Government are now entering the delivery phase. I take him at this word and would like our debate today to focus on helping him to do just that, by setting out how they can deliver on three goals: reducing waiting lists an…
My Lords, the timer seems to have stopped. We will take a short break while it is being fixed.
Lords
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
Music and Dance Schools: Affordable Access
I shall speak in favour of another part of the MDS scheme: the role played by the centres of advanced training, the CATs. These provide specialist training in music or dance for talented 10 to 18 year-olds, while allowing them to stay at home and attend their regular schools. When I chaired the Musi…
Lords
Debate
14 October 2025
Renters’ Rights Bill
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. I thank again the noble Lord, Lord de Clifford, and the noble Baroness, Lady Grender, for their positive approaches throughout the course of the Bill. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Black, for his support—I will come on to some of the p…
Lords
Debate
10 September 2025
2 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 429 and 433 in the name of my noble friend Lord Lexden, to which I have added my own. It is a pleasure to see my noble friend back in his place. In Bills such as this, his authoritative and powerful voice on issues related to independent education is extremely i…
That is not the case, as I understand it, but perhaps we could speak about that afterwards.
Most importantly, the regime is effective because inspection is best conducted by experts who know the sector. The ISI is made up of people who understand how it works. That is particularly true for boarding…
Lords
Debate
5 September 2025
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill
My Lords, when I first read the Title of this Bill, I did wonder about the ferrets, but now I understand, because dogs, cats and ferrets can carry rabies and are kept as pets—although I have never kept a ferret, but, obviously, who knows about the future?
I do not often agree with the noble Lord, L…
Lords
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023
Oh!
I congratulate the noble Lord on sponsoring the Bill; I was very happy to support him. I point out that it may be two years since the legislation, but I have not been the Minister for two years. That is not to say that it has not been some time. I have met campaigners and stakeholders, and I am dete…
Lords
Oral Questions
7 July 2025
3 contributions
Artificial Intelligence: News Media
My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I declare my interest as deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group.
Trustworthy journalism plays a vital role in our democracy. Rapid recent developments in generative AI pose both significant risks and opportunities for news media. We are engaging with press stakeholders on this. The Media Minister and the Technology Secretary each held roundtables earlier this yea…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
25 June 2025
2 contributions
Independent Schools: Tax Changes
My Lords, the Government published impact notes on the anticipated impact of the VAT and business rates changes affecting private schools. We monitor the impact on the sector and published details of pupil numbers in June 2025. A drop in numbers was expected following these changes and due to other …
No, because I am proud that this Government are prioritising investment in the 93% of our children who attend state schools. On the point about the legal action that the noble Lord started his question with, that was a legal case won by the Government. It was found that the Government had not, as wa…
Lords
Oral Questions
24 June 2025
Music Education: State Schools
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Keeley, on her comprehensive introduction and the noble Baroness, Lady Debbonaire, on her passionate maiden speech.
In Keir Starmer’s Guildhall speech in March last year, he said that
“from day one, Labour will reform the school accountability fram…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 June 2025
2 contributions
Alaa Abd el-Fattah
I thank the noble Lord for his Question. Both and I and the Foreign Secretary were deeply concerned at Laila Soueif’s hospitalisation on Thursday. Certainly, our officials are in regular contact with the family. The Prime Minister had met Laila only on 14 February. The Foreign Secretary raised the c…
I hear what the noble Lord says, but our absolute priority remains securing Mr el-Fattah’s urgent release and engaging the highest levels of the Egyptian Government. The Government judge that the best way to achieve this is engagement with the Egyptian Government at a bilateral level. We approach th…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 May 2025
3 contributions
Artificial Intelligence: Creative Content
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and declare my interest as deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group.
The Government recognise the significant global value of UK creative content in AI development. As part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan , we are exploring how to unlock this value and ensure that creators and rights holders are properly rewarded. We support industry-led licensing models and are …
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
12 May 2025
2 contributions
Renters’ Rights Bill
My Lords, I will speak also to my Amendments 192 to 196 and 198, which are also signed by my noble friend Lord Lexden and, with the exception of Amendments 193 and 198, by my noble friend Lady Coffey. I am very grateful to them. Given the hour, and as we are discussing animals, it is right to acknow…
I am grateful to all who have taken part in this short debate, particularly my noble friend Lord Lexden, who rightly told us about the heartbreak that can follow when tenants have to choose between a home and a pet, something that happens far too often and which the Bill is determined to diminish. I…
Lords
Debate
12 May 2025
Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]
My Lords, I rise to speak as the founder of two AI spin-outs, and I draw the House’s attention to my registered interests as the founder-director of Oxehealth, a University of Oxford spin-out that uses AI for healthcare applications. I am also the author of three copyrighted books.
Since these amen…
Lords
Debate
6 May 2025
6 contributions
Renters’ Rights Bill
My Lords, it is a pleasure to introduce this important group on pet ownership, which is a subject of real concern and interest to hundreds of thousands of families that live in rented accommodation and desperately want to share their lives with a pet. I will speak to Amendments 118 and 125, which ar…
My Lords, I am very grateful to all who have taken part in this debate. I always knew it would be an interesting debate, and so it has proved. I did not know until we had the appearance of Wilberforce the snake that it would be quite so wide-ranging, but that has certainly been the case.
One of the…
+4 more contributions in this session