Lord Stevenson of Balmacara

13 parliamentary sessions on record in this archive

13 sessions
Lords Debate 25 March 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, my Motion H1, as we heard earlier, is around the issue of a monetary cap on school uniforms. I will not rehearse the arguments that we have had already in Committee and on Report. However, if the Government are minded to continue to push for a numbers cap, as opposed to a monetary cap, on …
Lords Debate 25 March 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I too support the noble Baroness, Lady Owen. As ever, she has spoken fantastically convincingly to her amendments, which sit in a broader set of aims that we have heard in Committee and on Report—at many stages. While recognising that the Government have moved considerably, I believe that …
Lords Debate 18 March 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I speak from the Labour Benches and first congratulate the Minister on listening to the debates we had in Committee. I thank him very much for bringing forward an amendment which is as close as I have seen this Government move to try and patch up some of the problems we are facing but, as …
Lords Committee Stage 16 March 2026
Treaty Scrutiny in Westminster (International Agreements Committee Report)
My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, for his fair-minded chairmanship, and intellectually able and collegiate steering of our committee. It was particularly welcome to me, as a refugee from the European Affairs Committee. Others have discussed the report and its co…
Lords Committee Stage 4 March 2026
UK-India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
My Lords, I speak passionately in support of this landmark trade agreement between the country of my birth and my adopted country. This comprehensive economic and trade agreement represents a defining moment in our post-Brexit trade policy and stands as one of the most economically significant bilat…
Lords Debate 2 March 2026 2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I was also at the meeting, which has been referred to, that was held this lunchtime and dealt with the troubling question of what seems to be an epidemic of growth in the exploitation of children on the internet. I must say that it revealed figures that I was not aware of, and I regard mys…
My Lords, in speaking on issues related to online safety, I seem to spend most of my time apologising for the fact that the Act is not as up-to-date, efficient or effective as it should be, but here is another example of where technology has overtaken the good work that we did all those years ago to…
Lords Committee Stage 25 February 2026 2 contributions
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Conferral of Functions) Regulations 2026
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his introduction, which was very clear, and to the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, who asked some of the questions I was going to ask, which is good. I too worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. It seems longer ago than 2024, and it…
I think I did cover that but, if I did not, I will come back. The accredited providers will charge only a fee that is agreed already with the CTSI. That will be agreed up front and that will be published so that consumers know the charges they will be subject to. Perhaps we can pick this up afterwar…
Lords Debate 4 February 2026
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill
My Lords, when there is such a short Bill, there is a temptation to repeat what has already been said in great detail, because it has not been said by me. I will not succumb to that temptation but will briefly point out the areas where I agree with what has been said, particularly by the noble Earl,…
Lords Oral Questions 29 January 2026
Superintelligent AI
My Lords, I also want to thank and congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, on securing this question for short debate on such a pressing issue. I also want to thank ControlAI for its support. It is particularly encouraging that this issue has come to the Floor today, because it is the second debate …
Lords Committee Stage 8 September 2025 2 contributions
Online Safety Act 2023 (Qualifying Worldwide Revenue) Regulations 2025
My Lords, we on these Benches support the draft regulations. They represent a crucial step in implementing the Online Safety Act, aiming to foster a safer online environment. The principle that the financial burden of regulating the vast and complex online landscape should fall on those service prov…
My noble friend makes a good point. Ofcom is consulting on the guidance to help providers understand the ways of apportioning revenue in a “just and reasonable” manner. Its guidance will hopefully be published in the last quarter of this year. Until such time, I am sure there will be further guidanc…
Lords Committee Stage 15 July 2025 2 contributions
Online Safety Super-Complaints (Eligibility and Procedural Matters) Regulations 2025
My Lords, I welcome these regulations and congratulate the Minister on introducing them. I have a couple of questions and will also support some of the comments made by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Can the Minister tell us when the department will undertake the guidance that it has…
As I have said, small organisations can get involved in the super-complaint process. The wording is designed as it is to allow new campaigning organisations, if you like, to come through, because this is a new territory that we are operating in, and we do not want to consult with or hear messages fr…
Lords Proceedings 19 June 2025
HS2 Reset
My Lords, one of the problems encountered by all major projects such as HS2 is the difficulty of getting the public generally on side. I declare an interest here as a former owner of a property that was on the route of the original plans for HS2. I am sure the House will understand the issues that a…
Lords Debate 4 June 2025
Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]
My Lords, I once again declare an interest as chair of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, and once again give the staunch support of these Benches to the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, on her Motion A1. She made an incontestable case once again with her clarion call. I follow the noble Lo…

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