Contributions
783 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]28 Jan 2025HANSARDDevon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2024My Lords, I remind the Committee of my relevant interests as a councillor on Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire and as a vice-president of the Local Government Association. These…27 Jan 2025HANSARDCommunity Engagement Principles and Extremism DefinitionMy Lords, knowledge and understanding of communities is crucial in this regard. Councillors are elected to serve their communities and know them well. Does the Minister agree with…22 Jan 2025HANSARDPrimary Schools: Swimming LessonsMy Lords, in response to an earlier question, the Minister said that local government could fund additional swimming pools where they have been closed. I am asking her to put her…21 Jan 2025HANSARDCombined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing and Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025My Lords, these are important changes to the devolution in the three mayoral authorities referenced by the Minister. In general, I and my party support devolution, of course, but…13 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsMy Lords, following on from the answers that the Minister has just given—and I have relevant interests to declare in the register—all water companies have a variety of schemes to…09 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]My Lords, this is a poignant moment as I reflect that our deliberations on this Bill will be done without our wonderful colleague, Baroness Randerson. To Jenny, public transport…08 Jan 2025HANSARDBuilding HomesMy Lords, I too have relevant interests, primarily as a councillor in a metropolitan authority in west Yorkshire. This is the season of good will, so I am going to start by…17 Dec 2024HANSARDHomes: Existing CommunitiesMy Lords, this debate took a turn that I was not expecting which has made me entirely rethink what I am going say. I ought to declare from the outset my relevant interests as a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformMy Lords, strategic planning is very important but very difficult for members of the community to grasp. Often, local residents do not get involved until there is a real planning…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Reforms: Net-zero Carbon EmissionsMy Lords, building regulations —approved document L, in fact—set out how properties should be heated, so it is within the Government’s remit to change the building regulations to…03 Dec 2024HANSARDDrug-related Deaths in England and WalesMy Lords, many charities that support those with drug addiction are raising concerns about the increased costs that they will have to fund as a result of the increases in national…26 Nov 2024HANSARDGrenfell Tower Inquiry ReportMy Lords, 72 people were killed by the fire that raged through Grenfell Tower in June 2017. It was the largest single loss of life in a residential building since 1945. That is…22 Nov 2024HANSARDWater BillsMy Lords, all water companies have social tariffs to help reduce water poverty. I have relevant interests on the register. It would be extremely helpful in expanding the help to…21 Nov 2024HANSARDBus FundingMy Lords, reliability of services is as important as fare levels to bus users. Many folk in my patch in west Yorkshire tell me that they were at risk of losing their jobs because…19 Nov 2024HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, I have relevant interests in the register. Since 2016, the previous Government imposed the social care precept on councils which have those responsibilities, and this…19 Nov 2024HANSARDBarnsley and Sheffield (Boundary Change) Order 2024My Lords, I thank the Minister for her introduction to this statutory instrument and for highlighting the changes made. I know she has the misfortune of being from the south of…11 Nov 2024HANSARDHigher Education ReformMy Lords, I have an interest as a vice-chair of the University of Huddersfield, which takes on a considerable number of young people from poorer backgrounds. The finances of the…05 Nov 2024HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]My Lords, the amendments from the noble Baronesses, Lady McIntosh of Pickering and Lady Browning, and the noble Duke, the Duke of Wellington, are, in their varied ways,…30 Oct 2024HANSARDIndependent Water CommissionMy Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that the pollution through sewage overflows into our waterways is abhorrent and needs to be dealt with urgently. Here is the…29 Oct 2024