Lords
Proceedings
8 September 2026
10 contributions
Criminal Justice Reform
My Lords, I begin by declaring my interest. I was the lead non-executive director and chaired the agency board of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service until March 2025. Last week the Lord Chancellor set out in the other place changes to the implementation of the Sentencing Act 2026 to strike a…
Yes, it goes back beyond that, but the intensity has not gone away. The answer cannot be a succession of emergency measures. The noble Lord, Lord Wolfson, said the Government had introduced various emergency measures. Well, we needed to, because the previous Government refused to act. Parliament leg…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
3 September 2026
8 contributions
Opt-out Collective Court Actions and Connected Litigation Funding
The Government recognise the critical role litigation funding plays in supporting access to justice and the need for such arrangements to be fair, transparent and commercially viable for funders. To support these aims, the Government have accepted the Civil Justice Council’s two key recommendations.…
We are committed to legislating. I hear the noble Lord’s concern about that, but I want to reassure the House that we are committed to legislating when parliamentary time allows. We are working urgently to identify a new legislative vehicle to take this forward. Legislation will clarify that litigat…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
1 September 2026
Public Office (Accountability) Bill
My Lords, I hope all noble Lords had a good break over the summer. As your Lordships might perhaps have noticed, we have been beavering away at the Ministry of Justice. If you get a call from No. 10, as I did on the last day before Recess, be careful what you wish for. I thank the many noble Lords w…
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2026
10 contributions
Charities: Banking Services
Charities make vital contributions across the country. While the provision of banking services is ultimately a commercial decision for banks, the Government believe that it is essential that charities and voluntary organisations can access suitable banking services for their needs. The Government ha…
I thank my noble friend for that easy, holiday-focused question on the last day of term. I also thank my noble friend Lord Pitt-Watson, who got to the Treasury job too late to take this Question. Mine’s a gin and tonic, David.
We recognise the concerns raised by charities about access to banking se…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
21 July 2026
11 contributions
Domestic Travel and Holidays: Visitor Levy
This Government believe in empowering mayors. Mayors will decide whether introducing a levy is the right choice, as is common for local leaders in countries all around the world. Mayors will need to consider the appropriate balance between supporting local economic priorities, including tourism, ens…
The visitor levy was announced on 25 November 2025 and a consultation on the design of the levy powers was launched in the Budget. The consultation has now closed, and the response will be published—perhaps the noble Lord will not be surprised to hear me say this—in due course. We expect that local …
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
7 contributions
Foreign Interference in UK Politics
My Lords, I will come to that question at the end, if I may.
The Secretary of State commissioned Philip Rycroft to conduct an independent review of risks posed by foreign financial influence in UK politics. In March, we welcomed Mr Rycroft’s comprehensive assessment and announced immediate plans to…
I am indeed a product of Dulwich College, which only goes to show that it is not the school’s fault. I am sorry to say that I am older than Nigel Farage, and I am tempted to make jokes about bins and recycling—but I will not, because the Chief Whip will tell me off. On the substantive point, we unde…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
24 June 2026
7 contributions
Edinburgh Anti-Muslim Attacks
My Lords, the Government are deeply concerned by the attacks in Edinburgh. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and the wider community, as well as the families of the injured. Investigations are live but I can confirm that a suspect has been arrested and charged. On behalf of the Governm…
I agree with the noble Baroness that people of any faith, and indeed of no faith, should feel safe, and we are taking sustained action to keep Muslims safe, to support victims and to challenge religious hatred. This includes strengthening protective security, with a record £40 million in funding for…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
10 June 2026
11 contributions
Mindanao Earthquake
My Lords, I was deeply saddened to hear about the earthquake in the Philippines on 8 June and I offer my condolences to everyone impacted. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I praise the strong and rapid response of the Government of the Philippines at a challenging time. Of course, the UK stan…
I pay tribute to my noble friend for the work that he has done in the Philippines over many years, particularly in the Bangsamoro region. He has been involved for more than a decade, I think, and that has been a remarkable commitment where he has achieved and contributed to real change.
The UK has …
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
9 June 2026
9 contributions
British Council
My Lords, I declare my interest: I was a board member of the British Council for 12 years—an unbroken record, I am told—many of them as a trustee, deputy chair and as acting chair.
The Government have increased funding for the British Council, and we are allocating it £173 million grant in aid per …
As my noble friend knows, the loan was made on commercial terms to ensure compliance with the UK Subsidy Control Act, which means that interest rates are set at market rates. For the last five years, the British Council has made losses of around £50 million per year, greatly in excess of the loan re…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
3 June 2026
2 contributions
Murder of Henry Nowak
My Lords, we now have up to 20 minutes for Back-Bench questions.
We will come to the Conservatives next. I encourage noble Lords on all sides of the House to keep their questions short so that the Minister has a chance to answer them fully.
Lords
Proceedings
20 May 2026
2 contributions
Youth Justice
I am sorry, the debate has timed out.
The time is up, I am afraid.
Lords
Committee Stage
18 May 2026
2 contributions
Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
My Lords, these regulations amend the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the UK has engaged with and supported the new Syrian Government to help to build a secure, prosperous future for all Syrians. The UK has long stood by the people o…
I thank the noble Lord for his support and those questions. I shall deal them, and if there are any outstanding matters I will deal with them by letter, if necessary.
In relation to progress in Syria, the next phase of Syria’s political transition is critical. We want to be sure that the Syrian Gov…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, before the full debate begins—I know your Lordships are looking forward to a full and fascinating debate—I note that we have 77 speakers today, and therefore the advisory speaking time has been set at four minutes. I therefore encourage your Lordships to stick to that, to give the later sp…
Lords
Proceedings
18 May 2026
King’s Speech
My Lords, before the full debate begins—I know your Lordships are looking forward to a full and fascinating debate—I note that we have 77 speakers today, and therefore the advisory speaking time has been set at four minutes. I therefore encourage your Lordships to stick to that, to give the later sp…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 April 2026
9 contributions
Zimbabwe: Constitution
I thank the Minister for that response, but does he realise that the constitutional changes proposed will mean that the people of Zimbabwe will no longer elect their president, the electoral commission will be abolished, judicial appointments will become very unsafe, and there will be many more chan…
My Lords, I begin by declaring that my British wife is also an African Zimbabwean. My father-in-law, who as a young man taught Robert Mugabe, resisted Mugabe’s regime with humour and disparagement. The Zimbabweans have a sophisticated understanding of democracy, which is their cultural tradition. Th…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
25 March 2026
Arrangement of Business
I just remind your Lordships that there is a hard stop at 8.15 pm because of Hansard, so that is when the Committee must end. I think everybody knows that there are going to be numerous votes this afternoon—noble Lords have just heard what the procedure will be. The advisory speaking time is 13 minu…
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
6 contributions
Refugee Movements: Lebanon
I am grateful to the Minister for that response, and particularly for his call for de-escalation in the conflict. I imagine that many of us are shocked by the Israeli Defence Minister drawing parallels with Gaza, and I know that Lebanese officials have expressed concern. Indeed, I was present at a m…
My Lords—
+4 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
18 March 2026
Strait of Hormuz
In terms of the Strait of Hormuz, the GCC countries are really important because they are the producers of oil and gas. If they are not willing to produce, given the attacks that are happening to them, opening the strait might not be that useful. What contact have His Majesty’s Government had with t…
Lords
Oral Questions
18 March 2026
Trail-hunting
It is nice to be back. I remember just enough of the rules to know that I should declare my interest as a trustee of the Countryside Alliance. I remember only too well how hard it is to bid for legislative time, particularly in Defra, and I am concerned that other priorities will be overtaken if thi…
Lords
Oral Questions
12 March 2026
Anti-Muslim Hostility: Non-statutory Definition
My Lords, to build on the Question from the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries, of course the Minister will be aware that the previous Government back in 2016—I know because I was instrumental in that—brought in the specific crime of anti-Muslim hatred, but the approach they took was one of…
Lords
Debate
10 March 2026
2 contributions
Victims and Courts Bill
We are now on Report on this Bill. It is relatively short but there are some important topics for discussion, so I thought it might be helpful to draw your Lordships’ attention to paragraph 8.151 of the Companion which says:
“Arguments fully deployed in Committee of the whole House or in Grand Comm…
I invite my noble friend to move his amendment as he has now been speaking for 10 minutes.
Lords
Committee Stage
5 March 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
My Lords, I am sorry to interrupt but I am conscious of the time; a number of us on all sides of this Committee will have a hard stop at 6 pm. We all want to use our best endeavours to complete these last two groups by 6 pm, I think, but we will stop then. I say this just so that noble Lords know th…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 March 2026
9 contributions
Taiwan
My Lords, the likely tactics, other than invasion, that China will use in its goal of incorporating Taiwan include grey-zone tactics, such as sabotage of infrastructure, cyber attacks to take down electricity grids, disruption of the internet by cutting undersea cables, aid to the opposition and, of…
My Lords, Taiwan has built an impressive democracy over the past 20 years and set up its own foundation for democracy along the lines of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which also works there. However, the reality for Taiwan is that its democracy will survive only as long as it survives an…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
26 February 2026
Transnational Repression in the UK (JCHR Report)
My Lords, it is an honour to open today’s debate on the Joint Committee on Human Rights report Transnational Repression in the United Kingdom . As chair of the JCHR, I pay tribute to my committee colleagues from both Houses and thank the terrific JCHR team, headed by our clerks Rhiannon Hollis, Mori…