Contributions
1,193 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsMy Lords, a huge amount of effort is going into negotiating the SPS agreement, which will be incredibly important for our trade but also in reducing friction, including between…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsMy Lords, we have agreed with the European Union to work towards the establishment of a youth experience scheme with the EU, creating new opportunities for cultural exchange with…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsI thank my noble friend. He is right that this is for young people in the round. That is why I was delighted that the chief executive of the National Youth Agency welcomed…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsThe noble Baroness raises an important point about how important travel is for our young people. We are negotiating bilateral agreements with countries. We have done the first of…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsMy noble friend is absolutely right that one of the tests of this success will be making sure that my former constituents and his have access to this scheme and genuinely…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsGiven that we have not touched on this point so far, it would be helpful to update your Lordships’ House. The UK and the European Commission have concluded exploratory talks on…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsMy Lords, maybe this was not the Statement to bring some Christmas good will, cheer and unanimity across your Lordships’ House. It is a good thing that my language, I hope, will…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsThe noble Baroness is absolutely right to raise our security and defence relationships with the European Union. We see even today why that is so important in the ongoing…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsThe noble Baroness makes a very important point about visas. I will have to write to her about the detail of any changes we will need to bring forward. I remind and reassure noble…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsI thank my noble friend for her question and, more importantly, for the work she has done over many years in this area. She raises an important point, but one of the things we…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsThe noble Viscount is absolutely correct. Our trade with the European Union was worth £813 billion in 2024, and it is our most significant trading partner. It is incredibly…18 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-EU Common Understanding NegotiationsI was doing so well. What I have been told I can say is that it will be happening in 2026, so there will definitely be a summit next year. We genuinely are moving at pace, and…18 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for the work he has done to get us to this place. The office’s impact and progress will be measured against its remit, including an increase in…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyMy Lords, the office is already building partnerships to benefit people in exactly the way my noble friend has outlined. We are working with MHCLG to secure match funding for the…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyMy Lords, I thought it was the season of goodwill and I genuinely thought there was going to be a positive question. In terms of visibility, let us be clear that the Office for…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyMy Lords, I praise the civil servants that are genuinely communicating well in this space. With regard to the hub-and-spoke model, the Office for the Impact Economy is based in…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyI thank the right reverend Prelate. She raises a very important point, especially at this time of year when many people are considering their charitable donations. The UK has a…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyThank you for the “Merry Christmas”. My Lords, let us be clear about why this is so extraordinary and exceptional. We are working to bring together social investors, social…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyThis is a genuinely important point from the noble Baroness. There are several parts to this: it is about empowering local communities but also ensuring that there is training…17 Dec 2025HANSARDOffice for the Impact EconomyAnd there was me hoping for Christmas miracles and not for the Grinch.17 Dec 2025