Lords
Proceedings
9 September 2026
8 contributions
UK Automotive and Components Sector
My Lords, we understand the anxiety that this announcement causes among workers, families and communities in the area where JLR is based. We are determined that Britain will remain a world-leading automotive nation. Our industrial strategy reduces electricity costs, commits £4 billion to DRIVE35 to …
My Lords, my noble friend rightly reminds us that cyber attacks affect companies of all sizes, and this is a stark reminder that JLR is not only the manufacturer but also the anchor of the supply chain. We are working with JLR, lenders, local partners and suppliers to safeguard viable businesses, im…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
22 July 2026
11 contributions
Category 4 Steel Imports: Tariff-free Quotas
My Lords, before I respond to the noble Lord’s Question, I first want to say that in the last couple of weeks, we have been seeing each other across the Dispatch Box quite regularly, and it is arousing some suspicion from my wife.
I welcome the opportunity to respond to the noble Lord’s question. O…
My Lords, I will just say to the noble Lord that it was a pretty good try. First, there has been no change to India’s category 4 quota compared to the provisional quota published in April 2026. We did not negotiate quotas with any countries apart from our agreed outcome with the EU. We have been eng…
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Statutory Instrument
22 July 2026
2 contributions
Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026
My Lords, I shall also speak to the accompanying Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Ballots for Statutory Trade Union Ballots. I also note the regret amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe of Epsom, and I am glad of the opportunity to debate these important reforms. I will address…
My Lords, I am very grateful for the support across the House, especially from the noble Lords, Lord Balfe and Lord Fox, for the Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026 and the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Ballots for…
Lords
Debate
21 July 2026
Commercial Payments Bill [HL]
My Lords, first, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to this short debate; I thank in particular the noble Lords, Lord Holmes and Lord Fox, for their Amendments 1, 9 and 10. I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for all his work in the area of AI and digital technology, which we …
Lords
Proceedings
20 July 2026
10 contributions
British Steel
My Lords, I am sure the noble Lord remembers that we discussed this at length during the passage of the Bill; I am sure he would not want me to reopen the debate. We are where we are with British Steel. I totally understand the need for transparency on costs, including carbon costs. As it stands, we…
My Lords, British Steel is now a government-owned company with the Secretary of State as its sole shareholder.
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Statutory Instrument
20 July 2026
2 contributions
Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment etc.) and the EU Machinery Regulation (Enforcement etc. in Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026
My Lords, this instrument concerns machinery used every day across our economy and in our daily lives. It covers a wide range of products: from cranes and excavators used on construction sites to lawnmowers, leaf blowers and many other workplace and consumer products. The current machinery safety fr…
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to this short debate. I will address briefly the concerns and questions raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, and other noble Lords. This is a time-limited debate, so I will answer as many questions as I can and, if necessary, will write t…
Lords
Debate
13 July 2026
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
My Lords, I begin by making a short statement on legislative consent. The Government engaged with all three devolved Governments as soon as possible following the introduction of the Bill. A full devolution analysis was sent to all three devolved Governments on 18 May. Since then, my ministerial col…
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
9 contributions
Unpaid Carers
My Lords, I pay tribute to the millions of unpaid carers across the UK whose compassion, sacrifice and dedication support loved ones every day and make an immeasurable contribution to our society and economy. The Government recognise the immense contribution made by unpaid carers and the pressures h…
My Lords, I totally agree with my noble friend that supporting unpaid carers is both a moral and economic imperative. When experienced people are forced to leave work, we lose their skills, productivity and contribution to our economy. That is why we are reviewing employment rights for unpaid carers…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
8 July 2026
3 contributions
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
My Lords, before turning to the amendments before us, I begin by placing on record my sincere thanks to the noble Lords, Lord Sharpe, Lord Hunt and Lord Fox, for the constructive and collegiate way in which they have engaged throughout the passage of this Bill. We have not agreed on every point, but…
My Lords, I am grateful for the contributions to this debate. Noble Lords have highlighted that the public interest test in Clause 2 is a vital part of the Bill and I very much agree. It is important that we get it right. Noble Lords have tabled several amendments to this clause and we have had frui…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
1 July 2026
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
My Lords, before I start, I am sure all noble Lords want to join me in wishing the England team the very best for the rest of the match this afternoon.
First, let me thank the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, for his contribution and his amendments. Amendment 20, in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Fox, wo…
Lords
Committee Stage
30 June 2026
2 contributions
Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
My Lords, these regulations will make targeted and technical amendments to strengthen the operation and transparency of the register of overseas entities, which I will refer to as the ROE. They will also correct a technical issue relating to limited liability partnerships, which I will refer to as L…
My Lords, I welcome the noble Lord, Lord Ashcombe, to his new role and congratulate him on it, and I thank both noble Lords for the points raised during this very short debate. I start by saying that the UK’s approach to the ROE is way ahead of international standards in this area. The Government ar…
Lords
Proceedings
30 June 2026
3 contributions
Steel Trade Measure
First, I welcome the noble Lord, Lord Mohammed of Tinsley, to his place and thank him for everything he has done so far for Sheffield Forgemasters. I thank both noble Lords for their contributions.
Let me begin with first principles. The United Kingdom needs a strong and resilient steel sector, bot…
I thank the noble Lord. Ministers, colleagues and officials from the department have regular meetings with the sector, with producers and downstream users through an arrangement of sector councils and all that. We regularly get feedback from them. If any such requirements do hamper, we will take not…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
29 June 2026
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their constructive engagement in advance of Committee, and for all the amendments and valuable contributions that they will make during it.
Amendment 1 in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Sharpe and Lord Hunt, seeks to introduce a narrow definition of a “stee…
Lords
Statutory Instrument
23 June 2026
2 contributions
Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
My Lords, before I kick off, I am sure all noble Lords will want to join me in wishing the England team good luck and all the very best wishes for tonight’s match.
I note the regret amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, and I will address the points that he has raised. For context, these i…
My Lords, I will be speedy. First, I thank both noble Lords for their thoughtful contributions, which I respect. I will address the point that the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, made about the review of Section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999. The noble Lord is absolutely right: we are committed to …
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
7 contributions
Steel Tariffs
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that question. While calls for delay are totally understandable, our existing steel safeguard will expire and cannot be extended under WTO rules. Without replacement measures, the UK risks becoming a destination for diverted, subsidised steel, as other jurisdicti…
My Lords, I will address the noble Lord’s first point. Following extensive engagement with downstream importers, we have introduced a transitional arrangement, as the noble Lord knows, so that the new tariff will not apply to goods contracted before 14 March and imported between 1 July and 30 Septem…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
16 June 2026
2 contributions
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
My Lords, steel is a historic British industry at the heart of our national story. For generations, steelworkers have forged not only steel but Britain’s prosperity. From Scunthorpe to Sheffield, from Port Talbot to Teesside, steel communities have powered our industrial success, strengthened our ec…
I will continue. In developing this legislation, we have drawn heavily on the framework established by the Banking Act 2009, adapting well-established precedents, rather than creating entirely new mechanisms. The principal transfer powers are subject to a sunset clause and will expire two years afte…
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
8 contributions
Misinformation: Social Market Foundation Report
My Lords, the Government recognise the harmful impact of misinformation and the vital role of trusted local journalism in upholding democratic accountability. We continue to monitor emerging evidence, including the Social Market Foundation’s report. The Online Safety Act requires platforms to tackle…
My Lords, my noble friend raises an important point. The Online Safety Act captures disinformation intended to disrupt elections when it constitutes an electoral offence, including foreign interference, incitement of violence against candidates and false statements about personal character. The Defe…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
9 June 2026
Commercial Payments Bill [HL]
My Lords, at the outset I acknowledge the work of the previous Conservative Government in establishing the Office of the Small Business Commissioner under the Enterprise Act 2016, and in introducing the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations, which require large businesses and LL…
Lords
Proceedings
2 June 2026
10 contributions
Steel Import Restrictions
My Lords, the steel trade measure is being put in place to address the serious threat posed by global overcapacity to our domestic steel-making capability. Given the strategic and economic importance of steel, the Government cannot afford to leave the situation unaddressed. Today the DBT Secretary o…
My Lords, first, we use tariffs only as a last resort, and only in circumstances where we have no other choice. Without action, we risk losing domestic steel-making capability, which would mean that we could not mean critical infrastructure and defence needs without relying fully on imports. Further…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
28 April 2026
UK Biobank Data
My Lords, we are due to consider the Pension Schemes Bill, due from the other place. We will adjourn during pleasure until a point shown on the annunciator.
Lords
Debate
13 April 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
My Lords, before the first group of amendments is considered, I want to remind the House of the previous guidance on conduct during Report stage. This is the final day on Report, and proceedings on this Bill need to conclude today. I therefore urge all noble Lords to apply good discipline to ensure …
Lords
Debate
25 March 2026
4 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I cannot express my sadness enough about the issues that the noble Baroness raises, but I am seeking to reassure her and the House that the provisions we are bringing in will be sufficient as we move forward. That is the issue. I think the Minister she referred to from the conversation on Monday was…
My Lords, like other noble Lords, we very much welcome the Government’s amendment in relation to sibling contact and hope very much it makes a tangible difference in practice. I will speak briefly to my Motion F1, which relates to how we can provide the highest-quality care for the most vulnerable c…
+2 more contributions in this session