Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillOkay; it is going to be a long day.12 Mar 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillMy Lords, I understand that, but I have looked at what the last Government spent the money on and at the results, and I do not like them, so we are going to do something…12 Mar 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillMy Lords, I am so grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate. I love listening to maiden speeches, when we get an insight into the range and depth of…12 Mar 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI knew I should not have mentioned him.12 Mar 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI have given the same answer about the levels a number of times. The cap has to be reviewed by 2027. The Secretary of State will review it at the appropriate time, certainly…12 Mar 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillMy Lords, this Government believe that the UK should be a country where every person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. That is why we are so committed to removing the…12 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy Lords, to be clear, the Government designed this power specifically to backstop the Mansion House Accord, and that is our intention. I am always open to suggestions of ways to…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy Lords, first, as I have said before, the Government are very clear—and the Bill makes clear—that were the power ever to be used, the Government must commission a report that…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy noble friend is quite right; we have had many opportunities. It has been a joy to discuss the Pension Schemes Bill over many weeks, and that joy is set to extend for some weeks…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy Lords, the Government have not set out a timeline for using the power precisely because we have made it clear that we do not wish to use it, and do not expect to use it. The…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersI thank the noble Lord for an excellent question; with his background I would expect no less. The simple answer is yes. To be clear, the power does not direct schemes into any…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy Lords, I have said this many times in Committee, as the noble Lord knows, but I am delighted to explain again for the benefit of the whole House. I have just explained what the…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersThere is a short and a long answer. The short answer is no. The long answer is that the Government have made it abundantly clear, because I have done it myself many times in…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersMy Lords, the Pension Schemes Bill contains a reserve power on asset allocation, designed as a backstop to the voluntary commitments made by the pensions industry under the…11 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes: Ministerial PowersAs the noble Baroness well knows, we have been discussing this matter for some weeks now in Committee and will be discussing it again on Monday, when we come to the matter on…11 Mar 2026HANSARDAccess to Work FundMy Lords, Access to Work is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant programme, which supports the recruitment and retention of disabled people in employment. As part of…05 Mar 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillThat the amendments for the Report stage be marshalled and considered in the following order: Clauses 1 to 118, the Schedule, Clauses 119 to 123, Title.05 Mar 2026HANSARDMesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2026That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 15 January be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 2 March .05 Mar 2026HANSARDAccess to Work FundI am grateful to the noble Lord both for the history lesson and for his support. Access to Work has many challenges, but getting people to apply for it is not chief among them.…05 Mar 2026HANSARDAccess to Work FundI commend the noble Baroness for the really interesting and innovative work she has done in the past, and for her commitment to this area. It is always a pleasure to debate these…05 Mar 2026