Lords
Proceedings
14 July 2026
8 contributions
Business Hiring
The UK labour market and economy remain resilient despite geopolitical uncertainties. The UK had the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first quarter of this year. For the labour market, ONS data shows that there are 399,000 more people in work than a year ago, and its business insights survey…
That is a nice and easy first question. It is an honour, and slightly terrifying, to answer my first Oral Question from a previous Secretary of State for Employment. It is, however, a very interesting Question.
Summer jobs—particularly in hospitality, retail and tourism—are often a young person’s f…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
7 July 2026
2 contributions
Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
My Lords, noble Lords in the Room have just spotted the mystery mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, about why two Ministers are answering on these two SIs. I suspect that those who decided and invited me to lead on this know that it is my first outing on the Front Bench and think—I shar…
My Lords, I am grateful for the support across the Committee for the draft Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. I particularly offer my gratitude and thanks to my noble friend Lord Stansgate, the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, and the noble Viscount, Lord Camrose. I appreciate their…
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
Antisemitism
My Lords, the Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025, including 1,500 online incidents and 984 involving Holocaust denial, Nazi glorification or Holocaust distortion. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that social media platforms are no longer passive hosts of hat…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, last week the Home Affairs Committee in the other place held a very important session on the scourge of antisemitism, which has just been described very powerfully by the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes. Among the experts they took evidence from were Dave Rich from the Community Security Trust…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, last week the Home Affairs Committee in the other place held a very important session on the scourge of antisemitism, which has just been described very powerfully by the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes. Among the experts they took evidence from were Dave Rich from the Community Security Trust…
Lords
Proceedings
27 April 2026
Antisemitic Attacks
My Lords, given that we are seeing what appears to be a co-ordinated effort to target Jewish sites, will my noble friend the Minister outline what the Government are doing to prevent further incidents, including disrupting the networks and methods being used to organise these distressing, frightenin…
Lords
Committee Stage
21 April 2026
Cancer Outcomes in the UK
My Lords, I pile on to the congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Patel, on this fantastic session. Given the excellence of the contributions that we have already heard, I will just draw out a small number of things. I will try not to be duplicative of the brilliant contributions that the Committee…
Lords
Debate
14 April 2026
Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill
My Lords, I, too, welcome the Bill. I do not think it is acceptable that we ask Ministers to do their work unpaid, a burden that has fallen disproportionately on Members of this House. As we have heard, former Leaders on these Benches have worked hard to change that, but, sadly, without success. The…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
Learning Disabilities: Health and Social Care Access
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, for securing this important debate and acknowledge with deep respect the noble Lord’s personal connection to the death of his nephew Myles; and to the noble Baroness, Lady Ramsey, for her moving speech.
This issue is about real lives, real fa…
Lords
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
Curriculum and Assessment Review
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Freyberg, for securing this debate and so brilliantly illustrating the “arts dividend” in education—the phrase used by Darren Henley, CEO of the Arts Council England. The Francis review contains important proposals, but the response to it falls short on the iss…
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
5 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
Is the noble Baroness aware that, if Clause 208 became law, abortion law would continue to apply to doctors and healthcare professionals and they would still be subject to time limits and all other aspects of the current abortion law?
My Lords—
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
2 March 2026
NHS: Violence Against NHS Staff
I think I understand my noble friend’s question; if I have misunderstood, I will gladly write to her. The point here, I think, is about not just practice but culture. We need to see good leadership. We need good organisational culture to improve staff engagement and staff responsibilities when faced…
Lords
Debate
3 February 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I support Amendment 209, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan of Cotes, to which I have added my name. I declare my interest as a parliamentary ambassador for the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
In doing so, I will not see my youngest daughter this evening, who is severely …
Lords
Proceedings
26 January 2026
Holocaust Memorial Day
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Ramsey of Wall Heath. I thank her for all the work that she has done to combat antisemitism. I also thank the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor of Stevenage, for arranging this debate and for commemorating so kindly those who witn…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 January 2026
Early Years Education
The IFS report published last year should be essential reading for everyone, especially those who have responsibility for nurturing and developing the next generation. The evidence shows that children with access to Sure Start centres, defined as those within a 2.5 kilometre radius, performed signif…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 December 2025
Sydney Terrorist Attack
I am grateful. It is important that we recognise that the Government have a responsibility in this area, but so do we all. We all have a responsibility to have no tolerance of antisemitism and racism. I will work with anybody, through the powers that we have in the Home Office, to look at how we can…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 December 2025
2 contributions
Emergency Adrenaline
My Lords, the Government welcome the approval of needle-free adrenaline delivery methods in July. The medicines regulator, the MHRA, recommended consideration of changes to legislation to allow the supply of and access to such methods of emergency adrenaline delivery, particularly in schools. The Go…
I very much understand my noble friend’s personal involvement in this area. I congratulate her on her work in promoting the availability of needle-free delivery of adrenaline, and I too welcome its approval. It is down to local area prescribing committees to provide advice to integrated care systems…
Lords
Proceedings
25 November 2025
Separation Centres: Terrorist Offenders
My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister think that we are doing enough to keep our prison staff safe? With increasingly violent prisoners challenging authority, what else is being done?
Lords
Committee Stage
17 November 2025
2 contributions
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
My Lords, I support Amendment 180 in the name of my noble friend Lord Faulkner, to which I have added my name. Amendment 180 would remove the sampling exemption to smoke-free legislation that currently allows cigar lounges to operate.
This exemption has created a loophole that accommodates smoking …
I wish to correct a potential misapprehension in the description of my view of Amendment 180. The “cigar-tasting tasting experience” at this particular hotel is described as:
“Explore the finest traditions of handmade cigars and sample an exceptional collection”.
Availability is “all year round” a…
Lords
Oral Questions
10 November 2025
Accidental Prison Releases
I thank my noble friend for that important question. I have been visiting prisons and been interested in this area for 25 years, and with the previous Government I saw a lack of investment across the board. There are three specific areas. First, they did not build enough prisons and did not maintain…
Lords
Committee Stage
3 November 2025
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
My Lords, I wish to speak in support of Amendments 141 and 143, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Rennard.
This Bill is a world-leading piece of public health legislation. It is comprehensive in the powers it takes to regulate tobacco products; flexible; and, we hope, future-proof. This subject is dea…
Lords
Oral Questions
29 October 2025
Antisemitism: Universities
My noble friend is right and, like the noble Lord, Lord Leigh, she has identified the shocking increase in the scale of antisemitic abuse and intimidation that not only students but staff are facing. We are clear—and, to be fair, I believe the vast majority of vice-chancellors are clear—that this is…
Lords
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
Music and Dance Schools: Affordable Access
My Lords, the Government’s clear manifesto commitment was that
“the arts and music will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few”.
Nothing is more crucial to the fulfilment of this pledge than ensuring continued access to our world-class specialist music and dance schools on the basis of tale…
Lords
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
School Fees: VAT
I absolutely agree with my noble friend on that point. This is a necessary decision that will generate additional funding to help improve public services, including the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people. This Government are committed to breaking down barriers to opportu…
Lords
Debate
16 September 2025
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
My Lords, I speak in support of Amendment 502YG, in the names of the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan of Cotes, and other noble Lords. Your Lordships may well have seen the helpful briefing from the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, of which I have the honour to be a parliamentary ambassador. For thos…