Contributions
1,330 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren: Physical PunishmentThe law in this country gives the strong message that it is wrong to assault a child. The clear advice from government is that it is wrong to use physical punishment against a…16 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren: Physical PunishmentThe point I am trying to make is that, even if you look at the evidence in Scotland and Wales, I am not sure that changes to the specifics of the law around reasonable punishment…16 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren: Physical PunishmentThe noble Baroness is right to draw attention to that terrible case, and to the requirement, whenever we are faced with tragedies such as that, to learn the right lessons about…16 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren: Physical PunishmentMy noble friend is right that it is, as I have emphasised, already illegal to assault a child. He is also right to identify what we can most effectively do to prevent parents…16 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren: Physical PunishmentWe have looked, for example, at the Welsh report on the implementation of the abolition of the defence of reasonable punishment in Wales. As I said, the report is on the…16 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentMy Lords, I declare my interests as a recipient of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and as the parent of a teacher, both of which are in my public declaration of ministerial…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentMy noble friend is right. I am aware of the financial challenges that universities, particularly post-1992 universities, face, exacerbated by the large increases in the employer…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentThe noble Baroness is right: the higher education sector has faced considerable financial challenge, largely due to the decision of the previous Government to freeze the maximum…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentI have emphasised that I know that, for many members of staff, membership of the TPS is an important part of their terms and conditions. Although universities are autonomous and…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentMy noble friend is clearly more expert on elements of the public sector pension system than I am, but the reason why the revaluation has happened in the way that it has is to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentAs we said in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, we will continue to look in particular at the impact of TPS membership by talking, as we have done, to employers and…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentThere is no doubt about the overall position of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. That is why it has 2.2 million members and is seen as a very high-quality defined benefit pension and…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentIt might not surprise the noble Lord that top of my list of priorities is not undermining the terms and conditions of people working hard in our public services.15 Jun 2026HANSARDWelfare Reforms and Youth UnemploymentI am sorry that there has not been a reply yet. I think there should have been, and I have already made that point to both the DfE and the DWP. I will undertake to ensure that we…11 Jun 2026HANSARDWelfare Reforms and Youth UnemploymentMy Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Evans, for bringing forward this debate, which has been very constructive and wide-ranging. There was a clear consensus in it that far…11 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren’s Social Care: Enduring Relationships StrategyThe reason why we discussed that in the proceedings on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was precisely because we were taking action in that legislation to tackle this…08 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren’s Social Care: Enduring Relationships StrategyThe noble Lord knows from his experience about the range of traumas that young people, even those who have not been in care, may well be reflecting. As he says, severe mental…08 Jun 2026HANSARDSchool Admissions: Selective InclusionI always try my best to spread the news about the excellent work that teachers in England are doing and, of course, the excellent work that this Government are doing to support…08 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren’s Social Care: Enduring Relationships StrategyThat is a very important point. One of the important things we legislated for in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act is the requirement for the use of family group…08 Jun 2026HANSARDSchool Admissions: Selective InclusionMy Lords, as set out in our White Paper, Every C hild A chieving and T hriving , all children should have access to high-performing schools. However, more could be done to reduce…08 Jun 2026