Contributions
2,184 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, and the noble Lords, Lord Jamieson and Lord Lansley, for their amendments on established mayoral strategic authorities. Amendment…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their amendments on mayoral commissioners and for the wide-ranging debate that we have had on the subject. Before I respond to any individual…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, Clause 13 will allow combined authorities and combined county authorities to make a transport levy on their constituent councils to cover any transport costs not met by…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Bassam and the noble Lord, Lord Bichard, for their amendments relating to accountability and scrutiny, and I hope that the noble Baroness,…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, for her amendments relating to providing allowances for combined county authority members with special responsibilities.…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI did confirm that the commissioners will be subject to the Nolan principles. I will go back over Hansard —I always do after these debates—and if I have missed anything, I will…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, for her amendments on precepts. Amendment 63 probes why the Government are changing precept arrangements, and I completely understand why…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank noble Lords for their scrutiny of the first clauses of the Bill last week. I have replied in writing to some of the questions noble Lords asked me last week, and I hope…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillYes, the noble Lord is right, but this is quite a high level of criteria. There are some financial aspects, but the fact that the authority must not have been subject to a best…27 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, for her Clause 12 stand part notice, ably spoken to by the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson. All existing mayoral combined and combined…27 Jan 2026HANSARDHolocaust Memorial DayThat this House takes note of Holocaust Memorial Day.26 Jan 2026HANSARDHolocaust Memorial DayMy Lords, it is with great respect and solemn reflection that I move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. As I rise today, I do so with a heavy heart and a deep…26 Jan 2026HANSARDHolocaust Memorial DayMy Lords, as ever on these occasions I am struck by the depth, dignity and sincerity of the contributions we have heard. I am not sure I can do justice to every powerful point…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy Lords, in 2024, councils were on the financial edge and sat as part of a patchwork map that did not make any sense to anybody—it did not to me, and I have been involved in…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government (Exclusion of Non-commercial Considerations) (England) Order 2026That the draft Order laid before the House on 2 December 2025 be approved. Relevant document: 46th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationThe fair funding formula that we announced this year has given local government a significant increase in funding. Having spent the 17 years that I was a council leader cutting…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationI am certainly not calling the result of the Denton by-election at this stage. I do not think we even have a candidate yet, so I think it would be unwise. In response to the noble…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationWith respect to the noble Baroness, putting in new resources at this stage would not really help matters. Councils have their programmes of work under way. They are all working…26 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationI am afraid it was the failure to bite the bullet and get on with this kind of radical reorganisation for decades that has meant that we have decided that we cannot go on any…26 Jan 2026