Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
Police Leadership Commission Report
My Lords, I ask my noble friend if he could bring his comments, interesting though they are, to a conclusion with a question.
Lords
Proceedings
1 July 2026
Defence Investment Plan
My Lords, I think it is time to hear from the Labour Benches and then we can hear from the Liberal Democrats.
Lords
Proceedings
30 June 2026
2 contributions
Steel Trade Measure
My Lords—
My Lords, as noble Lords will be aware, we are now on the Back-Bench section of questions to the Minister on the Statement. As there do not seem to be any more Back-Benchers wishing to ask questions, and we are still waiting for the full complement of Front-Benchers to continue with next business, I…
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
9 contributions
Food Security
My Lords, the UK has a secure and resilient food system, built on strong domestic production and diverse trade relationships that provide a stable supply and safe food despite recent global crises. Defra lays the UK Food Security Report in Parliament every three years, providing a comprehensive asse…
My noble friend is of course entirely correct to underline the importance of the food manufacturing sector and the fact that the Government’s new farming road map recognises it as an important part of the food supply chain. We are supporting food manufacturers with export support, innovation funding…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry
My Lords, we have time for questions. We will hear from the Liberal Democrat Benches and then the Cross Benches.
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
8 contributions
Livestock Grazing on Dartmoor National Park
My Lords, Natural England has not announced plans to reduce livestock grazing on Dartmoor by 75%. However, we recognise that changes to grazing regimes need to be carefully and sensitively handled and agreed to collectively, in order to address declines in wildlife and biodiversity. We expect Natura…
The obvious answer to the noble Lord’s last question is, of course, yes. I want to be absolutely crystal clear: Natural England has not recommended a cull of Dartmoor ponies. It does not have the power to do so, and it has not advised one. As a Government, we are clear that Dartmoor ponies have an i…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
9 contributions
Devolved Public Services: Funding
My Lords, on 18 May the Secretary of State for Wales held her first call with the new First Minister of Wales. The Secretary of State made clear the benefit of the UK and Welsh Governments working together on shared priorities around public services and economic growth. That follows on from a call h…
Of course, the Government are always open to having constructive dialogue with the Welsh Government about new projects—and, indeed, to considering any requests from the Welsh Government. The noble Lord’s question ignores the fact that the UK Government recently agreed a £14 billion plan for the futu…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
28 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill
My Lords, as we have only just received the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill back from the Commons, we will have to adjourn during pleasure until a point, to be announced on the annunciator, when we can recommence on that Bill.
Lords
Statutory Instrument
27 April 2026
Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026
My Lords, next we are due to consider the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which has come from the other place. The window for tabling amendments will be open until 9.10 pm. We will adjourn during pleasure until a point announced on the annunciator.
Lords
Debate
27 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, as we are still awaiting the Minister for the next business—we moved a little faster than we were expecting—we will adjourn during pleasure for five minutes, until the Minister arrives.
Lords
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
9 contributions
Office for National Statistics Labour Market Data
My Lords, with over half a million 18 to 24 year-olds unemployed, nearly a million 18 to 24 year-olds not in training, education or employment, and vacancies now down to 711,000, the Government’s answer seems to be to commission a review by Alan Milburn. Is it not blindingly obvious to anyone with a…
My Lords, we know that AI will have a profound impact on work, particularly for young people. As it is already getting harder for graduates to get work, will the Minister urgently commission and publish research into the future impact of AI on the labour market, so that we can have a transparent evi…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
20 April 2026
6 contributions
Pension Schemes Bill
My Lords, in speaking to Motion B1, I welcome that the Government have committed to a review of Regulation 64A of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013. That is an important and necessary step, and their further commitments today are most welcome.
However, if the GAD review is to be …
Have they been moved?
+4 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
24 March 2026
Youth Unemployment
My Lords, we now have 20 minutes for Back-Bench contributions. I just want to give a brief reminder that this is an opportunity for Back-Benchers only, not Front-Benchers, to ask short, succinct questions of my noble friend the Minister, so we can maximise contributions.
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
8 contributions
Flood Detection and Prevention: Technological Assistance
I am grateful to the Minister for that Answer. The severe flooding that we have experienced again this winter makes it clear that increasingly urgent further action is surely needed to protect homes, businesses and communities. In south Yorkshire, where the River Don has flooded to devastating effec…
Does the Minister agree that some of the most natural, sustainable and environmentally beneficial projects are those such as Slowing the Flow at Pickering, which has prevented Pickering flooding in recent years? Will he use his good offices to ensure that farmers will be reimbursed through environme…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
5 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
I can clarify for your Lordships’ House that the noble Baroness is able to take interventions, or not, as she wishes.
The noble Baroness is perfectly entitled not to take any interventions. We will make better progress if people just agree to take interventions or not, and then we will be able to hear from everyone.
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, we are about to start the final day on Report of the Crime and Policing Bill. There are 13 groups of amendments to complete today, and multiple votes are expected. I will briefly remind the House of some key parts of the Companion that are particularly relevant to Report. This is intended …
I remind the noble Lord that interventions are meant to be short and to ask a question; his has gone on for quite a while.
Lords
Debate
17 March 2026
2 contributions
Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion
My Lords, we have time to hear from both Benches. Let us go to the Labour Benches first and then the Conservative Benches.
My Lords, we will hear from somebody on the Conservative Benches.
Lords
Committee Stage
17 March 2026
3 contributions
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2026
My Lords, this draft order was laid before the House on 2 February and is needed following the passage of the Senedd’s Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022. The Act provides a new statutory framework for what is now known as tertiary education and research in Wales, which encompasses hig…
My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in the debate on this SI, which I hope is the final stage of the formation of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales. As the draft Explanatory Memorandum to this SI explains, this consequential amendment order is made under Section 150 of the …
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
16 March 2026
5 contributions
Pension Schemes Bill
My Lords, I am grateful for our discussion on this first group. I am indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Palmer of Childs Hill, for reminding me too that I should declare my membership, as a former Camden councillor, of its members’ pension scheme—although I defer to him in terms of seniority in years …
I say simply that if we took that approach to all legislation, we would end up with Bills hundreds or thousands of pages long, because we might pile on more amendments simply because they are well-intentioned. It is important that we are clear about the legislation that we are drafting, so that peop…
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
12 March 2026
8 contributions
Peatland Restoration
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply. My understanding is that so far we have restored a quarter of a million hectares, against a target of 2 million hectares by 2040. That is only 10%. As the noble Lord says, it is crucial that we do this, to keep water higher up in the catchment…
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply to the right reverend Prelate and to the right reverend Prelate for referencing his diocese’s historic interests in the Norfolk Broads. I had the privilege of serving on the original Standing Committee to set up the Broads Authority. That was tak…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
11 March 2026
3 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Doocey, for these amendments, which bring us back to the important issue of police training.
Amendment 398 would require the Home Secretary to commission an independent review of police training. As your Lordships’ House will be aware, the College of Polic…
I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this wide-ranging debate on a wide-ranging group of amendments.
I begin with Amendment 400, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Doocey. I fully agree—indeed, we have cross-party consensus here—with the importance of transparency in the use of algorithmic to…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Debate
11 March 2026
5 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I join all the speakers in the debate on this small but important issue in praising the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, who, after almost 34 years of service in this House, retired just a few days ago. It would be remiss of me not to join in paying tribute to him, his work and the tenacity with w…
I would need to go back and check on the correspondence for the noble Lord, but this is about making sure that this is covering costs, rather than anything else.
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
9 March 2026
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who took part in this short but important debate, and I am grateful to the noble Lords, Lord Faulks and Lord Davies of Gower, for tabling these amendments which seek to narrow the existing lawful or reasonable excuse defences that may be used for public ord…
I was simply saying that, as the noble Baroness has already indicated that she is going to divide the House and given the hour, it would probably be quite useful just to go to that stage.