I am grateful to my noble friend, particularly for his Diwali wishes. Unfortunately, I had to miss the Diwali celebration at home yesterday due to being here on the planning Bill, but it seems very appropriate that we have a festival of light at this time. I think we all need some light, so happy Di…
As my noble friend will guess from the questions I have had to date, we paused the family reunion scheme on 4 September pending a review, and we expect to bring forward proposals by April of next year. I am not in a position to give my noble friend a foretaste of what those proposals will be, becaus…
In terms of development, as my noble friend will know, the 10-year health plan speaks very clearly of a “neighbourhood health service”, which people will find it easier to access. It will be up to local areas how they do that. In a number of areas, as my noble friend refers to, that will mean clinic…
My Lords, if I can persuade the Cross Benches and the Bishops to raise it, I will have a full house. I completely understand the wider point that my noble friend makes. There is an issue in this country for larger families who are facing poverty. However, perhaps I can reassure him by pointing out t…
There are proposals that mean that, at the time that a planning application is delivered, local authorities can specify when that application needs to be built out. So we are taking steps to ensure that, once an application has received approval, it is built out as quickly as possible. It is in no o…
Let me consider that request from my noble friend. I am quite happy to meet him to see what more we can do to recognise the contribution of soldiers such as Sikhs, and those of many other faiths as well. We have VJ Day coming up on 15 August, and we should reflect then on the sacrifice that so many …
I am grateful to my noble friend. He mentioned a report, which was from 2023. This Government have been very clear that, as I said in my original Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Goodman of Wycombe, we need to provide accommodation that meets all contractual standards and is safe, fit for purpose and …
We have set out very clearly that we want to go further to modernise the system, over and above the tax cuts that I set out for small properties, exactly for the reasons my noble friend sets out. We have published a discussion paper setting out priority areas for reform that highlights further areas…
Noble Lords will have heard me stress the importance of Security Council reform. We have been at the forefront of arguing for two permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council, not least because, by 2030, a quarter of the world’s population will be African—that is really important. We have made…
My Lords, I join others in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Harper, on an entertaining maiden speech—although, like my noble friend Lady Brinton, I stand fully ready to vote to abolish myself.
I was as disturbed as many others were by the Prime Minister’s warning that without strong migration ru…
My Lords, in this landmark and moving debate, I would like to mention the Battle of Monte Cassino, which I do not think has been mentioned, but which deserves to be. It also has personal resonance for me and my family. Let us recall its significance: it was one of the most brutal engagements of the …