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1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPreparing for Extreme Risks (RARPC Report)I must make progress. If I can answer, I will do so—otherwise, I shall speak with or write to the noble Lord. It is important to remember that data cuts through everything that we…12 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandThe trouble is that combining the existing public services ombudsmen—there are several, as the noble Lord explained—would be a complex and substantial undertaking. It could lead…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandI am tempted to say that I will write to the noble Baroness. Obviously, there are surveys and things that I do not have to hand today because I came to talk about the ombudsman,…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandPartly as a result of work by PACAC, the ombudsman has improved transparency. There are now summaries of decisions on the website in a user-friendly form. The website shows how…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandMy Lords, the Government have no plans at this time to create a new single public service ombudsman for England. The Government are supportive of the ombudsman institutions and…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandOne always hears these arguments in relation to agencies; for example, we put some together to form the Environment Agency. Although there were many pluses, there was also a…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandOn the health area, there was an extensive debate during the passage of the Health and Care Act last year, and I will reflect further on the point the noble Baroness has made and…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandI think I have already commented on the MP filter. We do think that the international principles are important, but we also need to make sure that the existing system, which…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandAs I said in my opening remarks, some changes we are able to look at, and we have made improvements. On the MP filter, which the noble Lord refers to, it is designed to help…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandThe noble Lord always talks good sense. I agree with his point in relation to the public sector ombudsman, but he is talking about financial services, which are the subject of…10 Jan 2023HANSARDPublic Service Ombudsman for EnglandAs the noble Lord says, the war in Ukraine has caused problems as well. We also face a challenging demography in this country. All these things have an effect, but this Government…10 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceIn a very fetching way, the noble Baroness raises some very important constitutional questions. When giving consideration to the composition of the House, we really do need to…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI am not sure I entirely understand my noble friend’s point. However, I will say that new lists are a matter for the Prime Minister. The normal process is followed, as noble Lords…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI cannot agree with the noble Lord. However, I can refer the House to an excellent chart provided by your Lordships’ Library which shows exactly the current pattern, broken down…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI am not familiar with the precise terms of the 1999 White Paper to which the noble Lord is referring. I do not think we have ever suggested that the proportion should be at a…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI certainly cannot speculate on what any future Government might do. However, one must be careful about the subject of age. Some of the greatest contributions to this House are…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceMy noble friend is right. The HOLAC indeed makes a contribution through the Peers that it recommends. In fact, 74 such Peers have been recommended since the year 2000. However,…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI was glad to hear that “Hear, hear.” We are also increasingly refreshing the House, as we should, with new Members, some of whom are generations younger.09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceMy Lords, appointments to the House of Lords are a matter for the Prime Minister to advise the sovereign. There is a long-standing convention that the leader of the Opposition may…09 Jan 2023HANSARDHouse of Lords: Party BalanceI have a simple answer to that: yes.09 Jan 2023