Lords
Proceedings
21 May 2026
Higher Earners: Emigration
My Lords, is it not the case that if you are a patriot you are obliged to pay your fair share of tax and that people who do not want to do that are not patriots?
Lords
Proceedings
20 May 2026
Self-employed: Paternity Leave
Have the Government considered looking at the previous Government’s proposals in this area to see what lessons can be learned?
Lords
Proceedings
19 May 2026
VAT Relief: Business Donations
My Lords, the banks have opened hubs in some very poor communities. Would it be a good idea for the supermarkets to do the same and put food hubs in decent locations in some of these areas where people find it difficult to get good food?
Lords
Oral Questions
28 April 2026
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
Those who commit those types of offences do not fall within the remit of Martyn’s law, but they do fall within the remit of other criminal justice legislation. If individuals committing vandalism or intimidation on buildings or staff can be identified, they will face the potential, through the City …
Lords
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
Office for National Statistics Labour Market Data
I absolutely agree with my noble friend. Strong Labour councils and strong Labour mayors working with the Labour Government have delivered economic prosperity—and, I add, not only in Liverpool and Manchester but just down the road from me, in and around King’s Cross and the Knowledge Quarter that is…
Lords
Oral Questions
22 April 2026
World Economic Outlook: UK Growth and Inflation
My noble friend is absolutely right. The economy, at the time of the spring forecast, showed that we are well placed going into this conflict. Inflation was at 3% and is set to fall to target—a much lower starting point than when Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Borrowing was set to fall more over …
Lords
Oral Questions
20 April 2026
Schoolchildren: Swimming
My noble friend has put rather more clearly what I slightly pussy-footed around in drawing a comparison between 2010 and 2026. He is right. Those 591 pools did not just disappear by virtue of planning. They disappeared because of a failure of the last Government to invest in not just swimming but lo…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Southport Inquiry: Prevent Programme
It is a tangential point to the issue in relation to Southport, but I assure my noble friend that both Houses of Parliament have passed legislation—in this case, banning Palestine Action. That is subject to a current court case. We have taken that decision on solid advice from security services, and…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Farming Road Map
I am sure my noble friend will be delighted to be aware that the next round of the SFI is very much targeted at the smaller farmer.
Lords
Oral Questions
25 March 2026
Media Freedom Coalition
My noble friend puts his position across forcefully and clearly, as ever. My concern is with the Media Freedom Coalition and to make sure that the UK plays the fullest part it can in its role as co-chair. This is a vital international mechanism, and we intend to use it for good.
Lords
Oral Questions
24 March 2026
Reducing Government Spending
I am sure my noble friend makes a very interesting point. It is notable, though, that the party opposite’s first instinct is to cut spending at a moment of instability such as this. That is precisely the stop-go pattern of investment that got us into the problems that our economy is now in. Cutting …
Lords
Oral Questions
17 March 2026
Birmingham City Council and Unite: Refuse Workers’ Pay
We would certainly encourage all parties that can help with this dispute to get around the table and make sure that this is resolved. It is not in the interests of the people of Birmingham for this to carry on a day longer than it needs to.
Lords
Oral Questions
17 March 2026
Plan 2 Student Loans: Repayment Terms
My noble friend is absolutely right. The student loan situation is one we inherited from the Opposition. I think they have questions to answer about the approach they took. We will not take any lessons on how to do this. We are determined to move forward and do it properly on behalf of the young peo…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
UK Public Servants: International Secondments
My Lords, I thank my noble friend, but I suggest that it is always about your individual management style; for example, as a Minister, working with people and bringing them on a journey with you, making sure that you are able to deliver collectively and collaboratively in your policy area. But it is…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 March 2026
Sustainable Farming Incentive: Small Farms
One of the recommendations in the Batters review is about active farming and ensuring that the payments that we make from government go to people who are farming and supporting the food production that our country so badly needs if we are to have food security. That is what we are trying to do.
Lords
Oral Questions
5 March 2026
Small Businesses: VAT Threshold
Yes, absolutely, the Government are very aware of the points that my noble friend raises. HMRC has recently engaged in increased enforcement activity around those exact points.
Lords
Oral Questions
5 March 2026
Class Inequality in the Arts
We are aware of the basic income scheme for artists in Ireland. We are not considering a basic income scheme for artists at this time. However, we believe that British creators are second to none and we are committed to giving them security and a regulatory and fiscal environment where creativity ca…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 March 2026
Maternity Commissioner
As always, I thank my noble friend for his question. He raises a very serious point: how many experts can we have in this space? That is why the review and the task force will take these requests forward. Many different requests have come forward over, I have to say, the many years that there have b…
Lords
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
V-levels
The only thing about which I disagree with my noble friend is that that is not the only mess left by the previous Government that we have had to clear up.
Lords
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
Global Biodiversity Loss and National Security
We are currently looking at that. We need to reduce the amount of run-off, for example, from farms, and we are looking at how best to work with farmers to improve the situation.
Lords
Oral Questions
12 February 2026
Changing Weather Patterns and Floods
I am sure my noble friend is aware that the Government are keen to stop any inappropriate payments to senior members of water companies where they have been seen to pollute indiscriminately.
Lords
Proceedings
11 February 2026
Ministry of Defence: Palantir Contracts
My Lords, while I am not particularly worried about the way this contract was awarded, it does raise the issue of single companies being given large defence contracts without competition. It also raises value for money. I would hope that the defence department was looking at value for money and at m…