Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI was going to say that, although public authorities and individuals played a role, it was by acting in concert with the UK Government that we were able to pressure the South…20 Feb 2024HANSARDSuccession to Peerages and Baronetcies Bill [HL]My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Northbrook on securing the Second Reading of the Bill and on the crispness of his opening remarks, which I will try to imitate. I…09 Feb 2024HANSARDSuccession to Peerages and Baronetcies Bill [HL]This is, of course, a different Bill; today we have been addressing another Bill and we have made it clear that it is not fit for purpose. I am sure we will debate other Bills in…09 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI agree with my noble friend. This is a live issue, because there was the example of a meeting between the Scottish First Minister and Turkish President Erdoğan with no FCDO…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI do not entirely agree with the noble Lord, but he may be pleased to hear that I am going to Wales to give evidence on the new border arrangements this week.05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI am not sure what sort of competence the noble Lord is talking about. Devolved competence is, of course, clearly set out in various bits of legislation. I note what he says about…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesThe noble and learned Lord makes an interesting and important point. I understand that any directions of that kind from a Minister would have to be published, and I am not aware…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI am sure we will get feedback on these very important discussions, and I do not want to be drawn in to making a comment today, despite the persuasion and charm of the noble…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI agree that we need to consider the presence of Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts, but there is a case for having individual officials knowledgeable about…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI agree with much of my noble friend’s sentiment, and that the Civil Service should not carry out political work. It has its own Civil Service Code, which replicates the Civil…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI think it is right for me to say that we welcome the return of the Executive and of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Indeed, I think the Prime Minister is attending…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesI know there are strong feelings about this, and people in Scotland want both their Governments to concentrate on the issues that matter most to them: growing the economy,…05 Feb 2024HANSARDDevolved Authorities: Expenditure outwith CompetencesThe Government agree with the House of Lords Constitution Committee that the principle of a single Civil Service across England, Scotland and Wales should be maintained. The…05 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeEach department is its own employer, as the noble Lord will know, so the arrangements vary. He is right that it is different not only for the people who clean the offices but for…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeClearly, the Civil Service is changing to have a very good approach, which is to modernise the property that civil servants are working in. We are doing more outside London, as…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeIt has, and the noble Baroness is right to mention attracting disabled persons into the workforce, which I have always thought important. We make some limited use of home-working…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeI do not see an overreliance on consultants. While I have been a Minister—only just over one year—we have moved to replace consultants with full-time civil servants in areas such…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeI completely agree with my noble friend and that is part of our approach. I noticed in the press recently that the president of Adecco, an international recruitment company, said…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeI agree with a lot of what my noble friend says. He and I both have a background in retail and leadership is very important. That is one reason why the new Minister for the…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Servants: Working from HomeMy Lords, there are clear benefits from face-to-face, workplace-based collaborative working. That is why departments have issued new guidance that most civil servants should spend…01 Feb 2024