Lords
Proceedings
10 September 2026
Jobcentre Plus and National Careers Service: Merger
My Lords, does the Minister remember when the Conservative Government closed all the Remploy sites? When they closed them, they told the people they would find them alternative jobs. That did not happen. Should they not apologise before they ask a Question on this subject?
Lords
Proceedings
9 September 2026
2 contributions
NHS: Agency Medical Staff
My Lords—
My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that health trusts could do a lot more than they do at the moment to offer flexible hours for nurses and other medical staff? I have known of many cases where nurses, for example, have tried to get flexible hours and, having been refused, then end up coming …
Lords
Proceedings
7 September 2026
Rural Businesses: Taxation
My Lords, has the Minister noticed that over the last few weeks the Opposition have been calling for more public spending at the same time as calling for lower taxes? Have they all joined the “Liz trust” of economics?
Lords
Proceedings
3 September 2026
Opt-out Collective Court Actions and Connected Litigation Funding
My Lords, does not everyone have their own favourite piece of legislation that they want introduced, and as quickly as possible? It is for the Government to set the agenda, and once they have promised to do something, they will do it within the timeframe of that Government. As far as the Starmer arg…
Lords
Proceedings
2 September 2026
Electoral Commission Investigations
My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that, at the moment, our politics is being funded by spivs, thieves and tax-dodgers, and that the only way we are going to control this is to control the amounts of money that can be spent at elections? That is the way to deal with this problem—not trying to…
Lords
Proceedings
1 September 2026
United Kingdom: Business Competitiveness
My Lords, is it not the case that these tax increases are required only because the last Government left us with a £22 billion deficit and hollowed out public services with their policies over many years? Is it not about time they apologise rather than criticise?
Lords
Proceedings
20 July 2026
Strait of Hormuz: Merchant Shipping
My Lords, is it not the case that we need to be realistic that the greatest military power in the world cannot put enough arms in that area to resolve the present conflict and the only way this is going to be resolved is by discussion and debate? Does the Minister agree that we need to increase that…
Lords
Proceedings
14 July 2026
National Crime Agency: Reform Party Funding
My Lords, no matter what action is taken by the Government, dodgy people will try to find a way around it. Will the legislation be drafted in such a way that it is flexible enough to take into account things that might happen in the future?
Lords
Debate
13 July 2026
Clean Water Bill: Chalk Streams
My Lords, does not the state of our chalk rivers demonstrate what problems were caused by a Government who did not care about the state of the rivers and a regulator that turned its back on them?
Lords
Proceedings
13 July 2026
Farming Practices: Sustainable Farming Incentive
My Lords, is it not the case that, for too long, rich farmers have been getting far too much subsidy? Is it not good that this Government are introducing a system that will help smaller farmers and hill farmers?
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
Covid Fraud
My Lords, the company owned by the noble Baroness, Lady Mone, owes the taxpayer £120 million. People who defraud the benefit system by £100 or £200 end up in jail; why is she not in jail? Why do the Opposition not say anything about this type of fraud, which brings disgrace on this House?
Lords
Proceedings
25 June 2026
Unemployment: Autism
My Lords, has my noble friend the Minister seen the drama “Patience”, which traces the actions of a young woman with autism? It demonstrates that you need to have special provision for such people but that it can be very rewarding to employers if they make that provision. Children with autism do not…
Lords
Proceedings
23 June 2026
Social Media: Use of X by Government Departments
My Lords, most of our media—whether the press or social media—is controlled by the right wing. Is it not important that we have legislation that stops these people putting out propaganda, which is what they do every day?
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
Master’s Level History Scholarships
My Lords, under the last Government, social mobility went backwards. Does the Minister agree that we have to reverse that policy if we are not to see the tragedy of lost talent?
Lords
Proceedings
16 June 2026
Children: Physical Punishment
My Lords, it is already the case that the serious assault of a child is illegal. What we are talking about is smacking children. Is there any evidence that, since that has been introduced into countries, parents are being prosecuted—that is what it means; prosecuting parents—and that that has helped…
Lords
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Middle East: Iran Conflict
My Lords, after all the death and destruction that we have seen, do we not appear to be back at the Biden deal, and the same negotiations that were going forward must now restart afresh?
Lords
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Immigration: Eurodac and SIS II
My Lords, is it not the case that we need a closer relationship with Europe financially and on security issues, and that people who talk down that relationship are doing tremendous damage to the UK?
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
Sustainable Drainage Systems
My Lords, large storage tanks can be used to store water at a time of flooding and then can be used in a dry period to pump off into the system. Are there any plans to extend the use of those tanks so that we can both deal with the flooding and provide water when we need it?
Lords
Proceedings
8 June 2026
Russian Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure
My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that what has gone on in Palestine weakens the international ability to criticise Russia, and that those people who do not make that case actually make it more likely that we will see more civilian attacks, as we have seen in recent weeks?
Lords
Proceedings
8 June 2026
Health-related Benefits Assessments
My Lords, I want to be clear that this is a policy that was introduced by the last Government, who had no policies whatever to address the problem. It has been left to this Government to come forward with policies that will address the problem. Is that correct?
Lords
Proceedings
4 June 2026
Military in the Gulf
My Lords, under the last Government, we saw the hollowing out of our Armed Forces. Now we have started to invest in our Armed Forces again, but there are limits to that. Does my noble friend agree that those advocating spending lots more money need to identify where that cash will come from and what…
Lords
Proceedings
3 June 2026
World Cup Ticket Prices
My Lords, people who are actually fans are going to America for the World Cup and are being ripped off with their flights, ripped off—and sometimes gazumped—with their hotels, and ripped off with their tickets. Can we do all we can, both internally and internationally, to stop these practices and gi…
Lords
Proceedings
2 June 2026
2 contributions
Steel Import Restrictions
My Lords, when we had Brexit, we were informed that there were oven-ready schemes for trade. Where are they?
The question is: when we had Brexit, we were told by the supporters of Brexit that we had oven-ready trade deals, ready to go, and they would boost the economy. Where are those trade deals?
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
Donations to Political Parties
My Lords, the present system has some controls during an election period but then, in a non-election period, there seems to be very little control, with one right-wing individual donating £10 million to one political party. Will the review deal with this issue?