Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCollective Investment Schemes (Temporary Recognition) and Central Counterparties (Transitional Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2024My Lords, I take great pleasure in returning to the Front Bench to debate Treasury matters, albeit now in a shadow capacity. Although I do not have current interests to declare, I…18 Nov 2024HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024My Lords, I am speaking from the Back Benches today about productivity, but I want to start with a thank you to the Minister on two counts. He has rightly resisted the temptation…11 Nov 2024HANSARDUnited Kingdom Declining Birth RateMy Lords, we have just had a Budget which the OBR says will lead to a loss of jobs and the first ever taxes on education. What does this do for family life and for the birth rate…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSex and Gender: Official DataMy Lords, as this Question is about the census, will the Minister encourage the Cabinet Office to do something about the lack of comparability, between England on the one hand and…05 Nov 2024HANSARDMinisterial Code: Policy AnnouncementsDoes the Minister feel any shame that the Labour Party has constantly assured the country how devoted it is to propriety and the Ministerial Code, while the Speaker of the House…30 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityMy Lords, although good management certainly makes a difference, there is strong evidence from academic studies that working from home reduces productivity—although there are…23 Oct 2024HANSARDLords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL]My Lords, I welcome the fact that the Bill has strong support in the House, and that support includes these Benches. We are pleased to work with the Government in cases such as…22 Oct 2024HANSARDStatutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to debate this important matter. I am especially grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, for warning me of his intention and for…18 Oct 2024HANSARDMinisterial Gifts and HospitalityMy Lords, the Government pledged to act with trust and integrity, and it is extraordinary that, 100 days in, we have witnessed scandal after scandal—from cronyism to cash for…16 Oct 2024HANSARDMinisterial Gifts and HospitalityTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reporting and acceptance of Ministerial gifts and hospitality.16 Oct 2024HANSARDProcurement Act 2023To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change procurement guidance and operations under the Procurement Act 2023.15 Oct 2024HANSARDProcurement Act 2023I thank the noble Baroness for her courtesy. I remind the House that, in June, Prime Minister Starmer said that his number one mission was economic growth, so it is ironic that in…15 Oct 2024HANSARDPublic Sector ProductivityTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve productivity across the public sector.09 Oct 2024HANSARDPublic Sector ProductivityMy Lords, you might say that securing growth in productivity is the most important issue we face—it is certainly the most important economic issue. This is because in the long run…09 Oct 2024HANSARDPublic Procurement: Data OffshoringMy Lords, the new Procurement Act will bring more transparency and new entry into contracting, which will help with these kinds of outsourcing and security issues. Will the…08 Oct 2024HANSARDBus Fares: National CapCan the Minister confirm that there are no plans to take away special arrangements for elderly passengers on buses or other forms of transport?07 Oct 2024HANSARDWhitehall: Prioritising PerformanceMy Lords, the Reform report feels HR led. While I agree with some of the recommendations, for example on the induction of outsiders, I know from my experience in business, as well…10 Sept 2024HANSARDLords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank the Leader of the House for her clear introduction, which I will not attempt to repeat. Like her, I also thank the Church of England for making the request. I…10 Sept 2024HANSARDCivil Service: RecruitmentMy Lords, despite the assurances the noble Baroness has given, there has been widespread and, I believe, legitimate concern about the politicisation of Civil Service appointments…04 Sept 2024HANSARDCivil Service: RecruitmentTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the political neutrality of Civil Service recruitment following recent appointments to Civil Service roles.04 Sept 2024