Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFreedom of InformationMy Lords, while I am very sympathetic to the noble Baroness’s dilemma in this issue, we have to draw a balance between the rights of individuals, the burden imposed on our public…23 Jan 2024HANSARDFreedom of InformationMy Lords, the Government have no current plans to alter the law on freedom of information.23 Jan 2024HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseI thank my noble friend Lady Hooper for her question. In another life, she and I worked together on food safety and health issues. I know how much she knows about these issues,…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleI mentioned the convening work done across departments, which is important in relation to legislation, as the noble Baroness says. Obviously, the Covid inquiry is looking at what…19 Dec 2023HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseWith the agreement of the House, I will repeat a Statement made yesterday in the other place by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen: “With permission, I would like to…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleI thank my noble friend. I also mention my noble friend Lord Hague, who in the 1990s took through Parliament some ground-breaking legislation on the disabled that has changed the…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleThe noble Baroness may be right: perhaps Ministers do move around more than is ideal on occasions. I was delighted to discover that I was not moving in the last reshuffle and can…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleMims Davies is the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, but I do not think we should spend all our time focusing on titles. I do not want to tread on my noble friend…19 Dec 2023HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseI am sorry for the disappointment that the noble Baroness found it necessary to express. I cannot help sharing it, to some extent. I thank her for reminding us of the numbers…19 Dec 2023HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseThat is a question for many previous Governments. I can speculate, as can the noble Lord, but this Government have accepted the moral case. That has implications, and we have made…19 Dec 2023HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her comments about cross-party support because, after all, this dreadful scandal dates back, I think, 40 years and has involved many…19 Dec 2023HANSARDInfected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseI thank my noble friend Lord Lancaster for his comments. Of course, many people who had constituencies had similar experiences to him, including Mr Glen himself. The interim…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleThat is a great point, and noble Lords will know that I am very concerned about small businesses and how we can help them. This point needs to be taken into account in the work we…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleThe Government are doing just that. The noble Baroness will know that the national disability strategy promised in the 2019 manifesto was held up in the courts. That is now behind…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleThe present Prime Minister does take an interest. I re-emphasise that the Budget had a major package for the disabled. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions represents the…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleAll Ministers speak with the authority of the Government, and it is for the Prime Minister to decide how responsibility is allocated. The role of Minister for Disabled People has…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleI do not see it as a downgrade at all. The previous Minister was also the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work. To the extent that portfolios are changed, when Ministers…19 Dec 2023HANSARDMinister for Disabled PeopleThis not being my area, I am not able to answer the question fully, but officials are due to represent the UK and attend the meeting of the UN in March to discuss these issues. I…19 Dec 2023HANSARDTrade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2023That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 9 November be approved. Relevant document : 3rd Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand…19 Dec 2023HANSARDTrade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2023I commend officials for producing a detailed impact assessment and I will not renege on that. I also think that the TaxPayers’ Alliance is a perfectly respectable source.…18 Dec 2023