Contributions
408 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDomestic AbuseTo ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the analysis by Refuge that showed that (1) the National Domestic Abuse Helpline received more than 40,000 calls and contacts during…24 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Debt CollectionDoes the Minister agree that government, especially local government, needs to take a leaf out of the commercial sector’s book and adopt more humane and effective methods of…23 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Childcare SectorTo ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the childcare sector.21 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Childcare SectorI thank the Minister for the Answer, but it will not address the fundamental problem of underfunding in the childcare sector, which was on its knees before Covid. The early years…21 Jul 2020HANSARDFinance BillMy Lords, I will address my remarks from the perspective of small business. As other noble Lords have said, there is much to be welcomed in this Bill, especially the £3.7 billion…17 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Human TraffickingThe Walk Free Foundation, a human rights group, found that 75% of hospitality businesses were flouting anti-slavery legislation. As we emerge from lockdown, debt bondage will have…16 Jul 2020HANSARDBanks: Internet Transfers of CashMoney laundering is a very serious issue, but according to the FSB it comes on top of a worsening late payment problem during the Covid crisis. Can the Minister reassure the House…09 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Domestic AbuseHas the Minister seen the briefing produced by Birmingham University on domestic violence and child maltreatment during Covid? It proposes repurposing existing NHS surveillance…29 Jun 2020HANSARDNational Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020My Lords, I too welcome this order, which closes a loophole that allows companies operating in British territorial waters potentially to pay their workers below the minimum wage.…25 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Supply ChainsThe best way that tier 1 companies can help protect UK supply chains from the effects of Covid is by paying on time. The FSB reports that the problem of late payment is as bad as…22 Jun 2020HANSARDPost Office: Horizon Accounting SystemThe Minister seems keen to move on from this debate, but there are many faithful ex-servants of the Post Office who cannot move on, whose lives have been ruined. Does he agree…18 Jun 2020HANSARDCorporate Insolvency and Governance BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly to Amendment 6, but I associate myself with the comments of my noble friends Lady Kramer, Lady Bowles and Lord Palmer. Amendment 6 in the name of…16 Jun 2020HANSARDAbortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020My Lords, in all my dealings with the DUP—social and otherwise—it has always struck me just how much it values being a full part of the United Kingdom. Its loyalty to Britain and…15 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Recovery StrategiesMy Lords, I want to talk about one effect of coming out of lockdown on economic prospects for women. The Government have not published an equality impact assessment for the…11 Jun 2020HANSARDCorporate Insolvency and Governance BillMy Lords, like my colleagues, I give an overall welcome to this legislation. I understand that the urgency of helping businesses during the pandemic and its aftermath necessitated…09 Jun 2020HANSARDAutomatic Enrolment (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020I was not aware of that, and I do apologise.19 May 2020HANSARDAutomatic Enrolment (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020My Lords, both these instruments refer to offshore and maritime workers who, because of their special work circumstances, have never fallen conveniently into any standard worker…19 May 2020HANSARDAutomatic Enrolment (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020Understood. I shall draw my comments to a close. I welcome the legislation: it seems a pragmatic way to protect the interests of workers who have very varied working lives and…19 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Vulnerable PeopleTo ask Her Majesty’s Government when the £76 million funding to support vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced on 2 May, will be distributed.12 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Vulnerable PeopleThe Minister will be aware that the £76 million is a reannouncement of part of the £750 million announced for charities on 8 April, nearly five weeks ago. Charities are reporting…12 May 2020