Contributions
2,291 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI do not want to give the idea that the parish and town councils across this country would not be able to do it. Some will, but some will not. I know town councils and parishes…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, this has been an interesting debate. I have found that some of my views have changed slightly as I have listened to noble Lords. The amendment in the name of the noble…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, first, before I start, I wish a belated happy birthday for yesterday to the Minister. I hear it was a big one, and I hope she enjoyed it. Secondly, I declare my…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThe Minister said that the affirmative procedure had to go through both Houses; I understand that. We have set up unitary authorities through secondary legislation up until now,…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI am sorry, but the Minister does not seem to have mentioned this: I think we are also probing where LRS would fit in and what level they would be if they are going to continue.20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillIt looks like a huge group, but that is only because of the scheduling. Most of the amendments are about the first part of the schedule, so I think we should get it done. Schedule…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his amendment. For me, it is a little too revolutionary, but I think the idea behind it—to enable strategic authorities to…20 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Gascoigne goes to the heart of what effective devolution requires: capability. As he set out so clearly, it is simply not…20 Jan 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillMy Lords, I declare my interest as a vice-president of the Local Government Association and of the National Association of Local Councils. I support my noble friend’s Amendment…14 Jan 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillThe reorganisation is very different from the day-to-day running of the local authorities. Once they are reorganised, it will calm down and balance out again. But what worries me…14 Jan 2026HANSARDNew Homes: TargetMy Lords, I have listened carefully to the Minister about what the Government are doing, but we have a country with the number of planning permissions granted in the past 12…08 Jan 2026HANSARDBusiness Improvement Districts: Town Centre RenewalMy Lords, although business improvement districts work hard to revive our town centres—for which we thank them—many of them face tightening fiscal environments, despite the…11 Dec 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister and the Government for accepting the substance of my noble friend Lord Lansley’s amendment —an important step that these Benches strongly support.…10 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal ElectionsMy Lords, three weeks ago, in this Chamber, the Minister assured the House that the Government intended to go ahead with all local elections in May 2026. What has changed in just…08 Dec 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I declare my interest as vice-president of the Local Government Association, and the National Association of Local Councils. I hope the House will forgive me if I begin…08 Dec 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI understand that there has been no agreement in the usual channels for the Bill to be committed to a Grand Committee. I put on record that it is very disappointing that the…08 Dec 2025HANSARDNHS Industrial ActionMy Lords, during the doctors’ strike in 2023, I was left to die, with untreated gallstones and sepsis, in an NHS hospital. The only thing they offered me during that time was, “Do…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, before turning to the specifics of the amendments before us, I will restate what has guided our approach throughout the passage of the Bill. We recognise the…24 Nov 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for tabling Motion F to agree with Lords Amendment 33 in the name of my noble friend Lord Lansley. This was a really important amendment, and I am…24 Nov 2025