Contributions
52 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I am pleased to contribute to this debate on a subject that I believe sits at the very heart of everything else that we discuss in this Chamber: the security and safety…21 May 2026HANSARDRail Safety Recommendations: BacklogMy Lords, I draw attention to the role of the trade unions in improving safety on the railways. I have acted on behalf of ASLEF on a number of occasions, and I commend the trade…28 Apr 2026HANSARDNHS: Corridor CareMy Lords, as a former chair of an NHS community trust, I say that the situation often arises because of the shortage of social and community care. What are the Government doing to…04 Feb 2026HANSARDUK Start-up CompaniesMy Lords, I too have been very much involved in start ups, including chairing a fintech. At the moment, the real issue for start-ups is scalability. I wonder what the Government…28 Jan 2026HANSARD80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over JapanMy Lords, yesterday we celebrated VE Day with a fly-past, parades and parties. It was a happy time, a reflection of the relief and joy that was felt at the end of a long and…09 May 2025HANSARDFood BanksTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to eliminate the need for food banks.31 Oct 2024HANSARDFood BanksDoes the Minister agree that the very existence of food banks in the UK is shameful? Notwithstanding our admiration for the amazing efforts of the thousands of volunteers around…31 Oct 2024HANSARDMedical Student PlacesWe need to keep the doctors we already have, not just the ones we are training for the future. Does the Minister know how many doctors are leaving the country and going to places…22 Apr 2024HANSARDAsylum: UK-Rwanda AgreementMy Lords, I am grateful for the indulgence of the House for allowing me a few minutes in the gap before the parties’ Front-Benchers speak. I was very lucky and grateful to be a…22 Jan 2024HANSARDGlobal HeatingMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Sheehan, for initiating this short debate. It is interesting that there was some overlap between these issues and those that were…18 Jan 2024HANSARDZimbabwe: ElectionMy Lords, I have just returned from Zimbabwe. I was a member of the Commonwealth observer group, and we did an extensive report, the interim statement of which Members can find in…05 Sept 2023HANSARDBBC: Appointment and Resignation of ChairMy Lords, would it preferable if Ministers and holders of public office were, in fact, suspended when being investigated for various situations, such as bullying or arranging…02 May 2023HANSARDChild SafeguardingMy Lords, I would like to add to the comments made. When I was a practising lawyer, I represented social workers in two child abuse inquiries and the two little girls, Kimberley…06 Dec 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillIs the Minister saying therefore that it will be a mandatory sentence unless there are exceptions?10 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillIt is awfully important in these kinds of cases that we are very clear and precise in our language. There is a difference between minimum and mandatory. I think what the Minister…10 Nov 2021HANSARDSocial Care Funding (EAC Report)My Lords, I am delighted that we have at last got this debate, and I share the frustration of the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, at the time it has taken. He has been an indefatigable…28 Jan 2021HANSARDSocial Care Funding (EAC Report)On that point, I will sum up simply by saying that I commend this report and hope that action comes as a result of it.28 Jan 2021HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillMy Lords, I started my career living in France in my early 20s, and for the last 10 years I have earned my living in Europe in several different countries. Living and working in…16 Jan 2020HANSARDCrime: RapeMy Lords, does the Minister agree that it might be helpful if children—and I repeat: children—were taught at an early age about the issues around sexual encounters and consent?…22 Oct 2019HANSARDSpecific Food Hygiene (Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, I shall add a few comments to my noble friend’s remarks on subjects that concern me considerably. I lived through the BSE food crisis. It was the result of what was…16 Oct 2019