Contributions
3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, I move on to the second group of amendments. As I have spoken at length on the first group on the intention and rationale behind Clause 1, I hope that your Lordships…08 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThere is already a regulator. The Information Commissioner’s Office regulates this area and, if the noble Lord would let me respond, the key statutory functions of the Biometrics…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesMy Lords, the decision to use biometric technology rests entirely with individual schools, which must ensure that the use of biometric data complies with all relevant legislation.…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThere are a range of purposes. One, as the noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, mentioned, is in relation to payment; another is access to libraries, where fingerprinting is often used.…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThe Government have extensive legislation in relation to the individual’s rights for their own data, particularly highly sensitive data such as biometric data. The Government have…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThe Government are clearly not washing their hands; there are very clear procedures which schools must follow if they want to introduce this technology and very clear procedures…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThe Government are not softening up our children. The use of biometric data in schools requires explicit consent from both parents of a child, and the child themselves can…06 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools: Biometric TechnologiesThe noble Baroness is right. The department is working on the guidance and is aware that it needs updating. I am expecting it to be updated very soon. There will be some important…06 Jun 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareI am sure that I am not the only person in this House who has been inspired by the noble Lord’s work over decades, and I thank him deeply for that and for the leadership and hope…24 May 2022HANSARDSafeguarding of Young ChildrenI cannot comment on another Minister’s priorities. What I can say is that this Government are prioritising the safety and well-being of children so that they should all thrive…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareThe noble Baroness is absolutely right to focus on how we prevent children needing to go into the care system or, indeed, needing a social worker at an earlier stage. I…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareThe right reverend Prelate’s final point is right; Josh MacAlister’s review has set out very clearly the scale of the challenge we face and has worked through the financial impact…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareMy noble friend is right to pick up on all the “love” and “loving” in the report. Kinship carers are an incredibly important part of providing that to children, and I send them my…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareIt is not for me to tell the national implementation board what it should or should not look at: it will have the 80 recommendations from the report. We will bring together a…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareIn relation to the noble Baroness’s first point, I can only say that all those issues, including whether the definition should be covered in legislation, will be in our…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareThe noble and learned Baroness makes very important points, first in terms of a child’s right to be listened to and have their views respected. On the point about caseload, one of…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareOne element focused on in the review is the ambition that we should have for children in the care system in relation to setting up their own businesses and having successful…24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareThe noble Lord is absolutely right and, yes, that is absolutely an area of focus.24 May 2022HANSARDIndependent Review of Children’s Social CareMy noble friend is right to press on this point. This needs to be multiagency at both the local level—it must include the voluntary sector, as the noble Baroness, Lady Armstrong,…24 May 2022HANSARDSafeguarding of Young ChildrenThe noble Baroness is right: health visitors play an incredibly important role in identifying families that need support and children at risk. I know that my colleagues in the…24 May 2022