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3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIndependent SchoolsThat is a real risk. Your Lordships may have seen recent research published by the Adam Smith Institute that pointed this out.18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsOf course independent schools charge fees, which parents pay for out of income that has already been taxed. The question here is why pick on independent schools to charge VAT,…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsThere are a number of ways in which the Government are thinking about this. A number of your Lordships, including my noble friend Lord Black, have pointed to the partnerships, and…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsAs my noble friend behind me said, vote for a Conservative Government—but the noble Baroness might not entirely agree with that, and she is obviously entitled to her views. I…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsI absolutely agree with the right reverend Prelate. I know of a number of independent schools and their local state schools that are considering just the sort of arrangement that…18 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersMy Lords, data on the gender pay gap is collected by the Office for National Statistics and published annually, with the latest results published in November 2023. These showed…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI thank my noble friend for his question. We can all imagine how successful “Lehman Sisters” would still be. The Government have long supported an independent, business-led,…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI think the noble Lord might want to look again at what I said. I absolutely did not say that the Government do not gather any information on discrimination. Our domestic law on…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersThis is the third time in fairly short order that the noble Baroness and I have touched on this important subject. As she knows— I know she believes this is not sufficient, but to…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI do not accept that it has been an abysmal failure. I appreciate that the numbers are still modest, but they are definitely going in the right direction, with 13,000 couples…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI say two things to the right reverend Prelate. First, statutory leave and pay is only part of the state support available to new families in the first year of their child’s life.…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI very much welcome my noble friend’s suggestion in this regard, and I share her belief that greater transparency and more data to help understand the issues are really helpful. I…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersThe Government have made tremendous strides, particularly in relation to the national living wage and the increases that we have seen in that in real terms since the Government…13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersClearly, such cases are extremely regrettable. I can only repeat what I have already said: the law is absolutely clear on this, as are the routes to redress.13 Mar 2024HANSARDEarnings: Mothers and FathersI have touched already on issues of maternity and pregnancy discrimination. The Government have already extended legal protections on redundancy and the DBT’s Pregnancy and…13 Mar 2024HANSARDGender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for participating in this short debate. I accept that the views expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, come from her own perspective, but…12 Mar 2024HANSARDGender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023That the Grand Committee do consider the Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023.12 Mar 2024HANSARDGender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023My Lords, this statutory instrument updates the list of countries and territories from which citizens are eligible to use the fast-track recognition process to obtain a gender…12 Mar 2024HANSARDGender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023The legislation in Germany has not yet been passed. The noble Baroness alluded to this—forgive me; it was on my list. As a team within the equalities hub, we remain very open to…12 Mar 2024HANSARDInternational Women’s DayMy Lords, it is an extraordinary privilege but somewhat of a challenge to be closing this International Women’s Day debate. I thank all noble Baronesses and noble Lords for their…08 Mar 2024