Contributions
276 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSocial Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025Can I ask about the record levels of deductions in universal credit that have been made in half of last year, which hit record numbers? I have been reading reports about them.…25 Feb 2025HANSARDSocial Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for her presentation. I also support very strongly the Government’s commitment to the triple lock, despite the loud and frequent calls for it…25 Feb 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillMy Lords, I declare my interest as a vice-president of the LGA. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Wilson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Brown, on their eloquent maiden speeches.…04 Feb 2025HANSARDState Pension: Triple LockMy Lords, 1.2 million pensioner households are dependent on the state pension. This includes three times more women than men in single-pensioner households. Does the Minister…21 Jan 2025HANSARDGaza: Healthcare System SupportMy Lords, I too welcome the prospect of a ceasefire, but the catastrophe of Gaza needs far more than a respite. We have heard about attacks on hospitals. There are no functioning…16 Jan 2025HANSARDBenefits: EligibilityMy Lords, seven in 10 refused claims for personal independence payments are overturned after mandatory reconsideration, even before appeal. Data has shown that the DWP spent £22.8…09 Jan 2025HANSARDFood SecurityMy Lords, families whose food security relies heavily on food banks may suffer nutritional deficiencies because so much of the produce is ultra-processed rather than fresh. Some…02 Dec 2024HANSARDInternational Aid Workers: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesMy Lords, in light of the findings of the ICC that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and his former Minister intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian…26 Nov 2024HANSARDInternational Aid Workers: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesMy Lords—26 Nov 2024HANSARDFood BanksMy Lords, to pay for the Government’s healthy eating recommendations, the poorest 10% of UK households would need to spend 74% of their post-housing disposable income on food. The…31 Oct 2024HANSARDUnaccompanied Migrant ChildrenMy Lords, in the light of 14 years of desperate cuts to local government, what will the Government do to support it in fulfilling its responsibilities to these children, many of…30 Oct 2024HANSARDPensioners: Winter SupportA large majority of low-income pensioners are not on pension credit and therefore will lose the winter fuel payment, although they are living below the poverty line. What…29 Oct 2024HANSARDMiddle EastMy Lords, I welcome the Minister’s Statement and his support for UNRWA. The United Nations has described what is happening in north Gaza as showing a blatant disregard for…29 Oct 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age: PHSO ReportMy Lords, by the time they reach 65, women will typically have £69,000 in their pension pots compared with the £205,000 the average man will have by the same age. What practical…28 Oct 2024HANSARDPublic LibrariesMy Lords, libraries are not only welcoming havens and refuges for people of all ages, but much more, as other noble Lords have said. Nearly 800 have closed since 2010 and many…12 Sept 2024HANSARDSocial Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024My Lords, as other noble Lords have said, there is a sense of bewilderment for so many people at one of the new Labour Government’s first actions being to punish the poorest…11 Sept 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, to answer some of the points made by the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, the idea that individuals are not targeted is certainly not sufficiently reassuring to make local…14 May 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, I also belatedly declare my interest as a beneficiary of the Local Government Pension Scheme.14 May 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, I support the amendments in this group and will speak to Amendment 45, which I have signed. This amendment would remove “management” from the definition of a fund…14 May 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, I should like to add a few points. As the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, says, many of them have been made by others but the confusion in this Bill that is causing us a…07 May 2024