Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI think I used the word “pressure”. Certainly, I was reading “pressure”, but perhaps I blurred the wording and said “pressurised”. I could equally have used “influenced” or some…20 Mar 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI thank all noble Lords, including the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for their interventions. I observe that, obviously, the Bill will make this boycotting activity by student…20 Mar 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Mann, for drawing the House’s attention to two important issues with his Amendments 8 and 9. Like my noble friend Lord Pickles, who it is a…20 Mar 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI am not sure that I said exactly that. However, there obviously is a problem in campuses and elsewhere with BDS, and that is what this Bill is about. I shall move on to Amendment…20 Mar 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI thank the noble Baroness for her intervention. These are difficult issues. I turn briefly to Amendment 9, which would ensure that the prohibition in Clause 1 applied to…20 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsAs set out in its terms of reference, the Covid inquiry will examine, consider and report on preparations for and the response to the pandemic. We expect the inquiry to explore…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsI thank the noble Lord for his wise observations. I would observe that the health of the economy and the health of the population tend to go in tandem, and that was one of the…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsAs it happens, I listened to Dame Kate Bingham, who we can all agree did such a good job with the Vaccine Taskforce. The decision on the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsI very much agree with my noble friend about the importance of looking after the poorest in society and I hope that it will be a focus of the inquiry, particularly in its module…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI can only agree with my noble friend, but I think it is a matter for Scottish taxpayers. I look forward with interest to the coming months and years. We need to try to work well…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI actually think that the joint committees are important and give a sort of discipline to business. Where I am with the noble Baroness is that it is actually important, on…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsI look forward to the results of the inquiry on these points. We expect to get some findings from module 1 in the not-too-distant future, and module 2 looks at a lot of the points…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsI agree that hard evidence is important and I too value academic studies. A lot of academic studies and reviews of the pandemic in other countries have already been published and…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsMy Lords, the pandemic was an unprecedented event, and the UK Government came together very well to deliver an unprecedented response to save lives and livelihoods and keep people…13 Mar 2024HANSARDCovid-19: Lockdown Costs and BenefitsI cannot accept that conclusion. Due diligence was carried out on all companies that were referred to the Department of Health and Social Care, and companies were subject to the…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesMy Lords, I start by welcoming my noble friend Lord Cameron of Lochiel and congratulate him on his recent appointment. I am sure he will prove to be a valuable Member of this…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI hear what the noble Lord says, but these are matters for the Scottish Government to answer. No doubt Scottish taxpayers will reflect on whether the donation to UNRWA was…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI think that the way in which the Cabinet is organised and the responsibilities of different Ministers is very much a matter for the Prime Minister, but I am glad that we have a…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI have no idea about the costs of those endeavours. However, I have no doubt that Scottish taxpayers will reflect on whether they were a good use of funds and whether the…13 Mar 2024HANSARDScottish Government: Devolved CompetencesI hope the noble Lord, Lord Cameron, and myself will be able to take on the challenge of the thistle. I reassure the noble Lord that there have been official-level discussions on…13 Mar 2024