Contributions
151 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I rise very briefly in support of the proposed new purpose clause from the noble Baroness, Lady Barran. This is an enormous Bill on children’s well-being and schools. It…20 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, if the Bill is to succeed in breaking down barriers to opportunity and severing the link between background and success, let me give the Government a warning from…01 May 2025HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Use of ResourcesMy Lords, I run a charity in Scotland, and if somebody gave me £119 million, I would be expected to account for how I spent that money. So, going back to the Question asked by the…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNational Centre for Arts and Music EducationMy Lords, although I welcome the new national centre for arts and music education, I am concerned that dance currently sits within the PE in the curriculum. Can the Minister…23 Apr 2025HANSARDVictory in Europe and Japan: 80th AnniversariesMy Lords, popular thinking about VE Day is of parties and celebration. As the noble Baroness said, this will be the last opportunity we have to thank the veterans. But there were…20 Mar 2025HANSARDWelfare ReformMy Lords, I declare my interests in the register. There is much in this Statement to be welcomed, apart from the bit that says it is all the Conservatives’ fault. I particularly…18 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraine (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, it is a huge privilege to serve on the International Relations and Defence Committee and particularly so to be part of this inquiry. I add my thanks to our chair my…06 Mar 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, it seems to have fallen to me to again follow the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, and it falls to me to again disagree with his comments. I am delighted to support this…04 Mar 2025HANSARDHigher Education: Creative CoursesMy Lords, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is the only UK performing arts conservatoire in the top 10 of the QS world rankings outside London, yet its funding model has a…26 Feb 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I rise to thank my colleagues. As the chief executive of a charity, I know that the sector is watching and listening to what we are doing here and urging us on to do…25 Feb 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I am not an economist, but I run a small Scottish charity that provides health services. I want to come back on some of the points raised. I wish the noble Lord, Lord…25 Feb 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I apologise to the Committee that this is my first intervention on the Bill. I am not a FTSE 100 director, nor am I the chief executive of a great company like Next. I…04 Feb 2025HANSARDRoyal Albert Hall Bill [HL]My Lords, I add my support to the work of my noble friend Lord Hodgson and add my name to the list of the hall’s fervent supporters. As others have said, it has been a beacon for…29 Jan 2025HANSARDUK Strategy Towards the Arctic (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Ashton of Hyde for his excellent introduction and chairmanship of the International Relations and Defence Committee. Unfortunately, I was…09 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy Lords, I am aware that there have been a number of debates and Questions about education provision recently. I am sure the Minister is also keenly aware of this, especially…09 Dec 2024HANSARDChildren with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesTo ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.09 Dec 2024HANSARDSocial Cohesion and Community during Periods of ChangeI thank the most reverend Primate for his very moving opening to the debate, and I congratulate my new noble friend Lord Sharma on his quite excellent maiden speech. We are…06 Dec 2024HANSARDNational Carers StrategyMy Lords, I declare an interest as chief executive of Cerebral Palsy Scotland. Disabled adults of working age tell me that one of the reasons they have to fall back on family and…19 Nov 2024HANSARDHealth-related Benefit ClaimsMy Lords, many schemes have been getting people on benefits into work, but research shows that one of the biggest challenges is keeping people in work and enabling them to move on…05 Nov 2024HANSARDHigher Education ReformMy Lords, I declare an interest as the mother of a third-year undergraduate student at a Scottish university. I support the Government’s determination to break down barriers to…05 Nov 2024