Contributions
262 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDGovernance of the Union (Constitution Committee Report)My Lords, there are moments in political life when structures matter and there are moments when tone matters. There are moments—rarer, but no less important—when what matters most…28 Apr 2025HANSARDPublic Inquiries: Enchancing Public Trust (Statutory Inquiries Committee Report)My Lords, public inquiries are supposed to shine a light into dark corners. Too often they resemble a candle flickering in a drafty room—costly, slow and easily extinguished. When…25 Apr 2025HANSARDGovernment Supply Chains: CottonMy Lords, this side of the House supported the excellent amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, to the Great British Energy Bill. We welcomed the Government’s…24 Apr 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, these amendments relate to the review of appointments, the composition of the House, claims to peerages within it and, indeed, its very name. I thank all noble Lords for…25 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillBefore I turn to the substance of the amendments, I will interrogate the premise that this House is too large and should be made smaller. Time and again in this debate, noble…25 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Burns, with Amendment 82, proposes an immediate restriction on appointments—a two-out, one-in policy— until this House reaches 650 Members, at which…25 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I start by making it clear that we value the contributions of all noble Lords in this House, regardless of whether they have served as Members in the other place or as…25 Mar 2025HANSARDPublic Sector: Working From HomeWe heard what the Minister said about working with the unions. Last month the FDA Civil Service union published its findings that almost two-thirds of the staff it surveyed felt…20 Mar 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025My Lords, there are moments in history when the machinery of the state fails its people so gravely that it leaves scars on the national conscience. The infected blood scandal is…19 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth on securing the Second Reading of his Bill and thank him very much for setting out his arguments with such clarity. I…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, for his response and for the time that he has taken. I totally understand his frustration with current practice. I thank…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, this Bill seeks to give Ministers the power to change the text of statutory instruments after they have been approved by Parliament. The Hansard Society discussed the…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, for engaging with me on this amendment yesterday. I understand why, as he explained then, he thinks that it…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, Amendment 4 seeks to grant another place the same power to initiate the “think again” procedure under Clause 1. In the other place, secondary legislation is considered…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, for his response to my amendments, and I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Hunt of Wirral and the noble and learned…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]I think the Minister may be talking to the next group of amendments.14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, in moving this amendment, I start by setting out the Official Opposition’s broad approach to the Bill. We wholeheartedly support the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford,…14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]14 Mar 2025HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]14 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, this is an interesting amendment in the name of my noble friend Lord Blencathra. To continue the Lloyd Webber theme, he has certainly been a diamond in our dull grey…12 Mar 2025