Contributions
1,118 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsI would be very happy to meet the right reverend Prelate’s colleague, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Bristol. The Government are very clear that the Listed Places of…14 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsI hear the noble Lord’s concerns. From a government perspective, we would be very keen to understand how this would be funded, given the overall economic situation we find…14 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsThe Government are committed to protecting the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations. DCMS and its arm’s-length bodies deliver funding to the…14 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsDecisions on tax policy are for the Chancellor, which are made in the context of the overall public finances. The noble Lord will note that my noble friend Lord Livermore is here,…14 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsI am very happy to agree with my noble friend about the value of heritage. Indeed, in preparing for this Question I read a fascinating list of properties, buildings and even high…14 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Historic BuildingsMy noble friend the Leader of the House has noted the issues with the heating. I will not comment on the heating, but it is quite warm in the Chamber today—so that at least is…14 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorThat is a matter for the Chancellor, and I will pass on my noble friend’s suggestion.13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorThe noble Lord gives a powerful example of the valuable work that charities undertake. It is hugely difficult for this Government to find ways of filling the £22 billion black…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorI think we need not to talk ourselves into a corner on this, where we assume that things are going to be as dire as they might be. In response to the question put to my noble…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorThe noble Lord will be well aware of the Secretary of State for Health’s commitment to hospices, including supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million boost for adult and…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorMy noble friend makes an important point. I have not personally received an apology. I would not necessarily expect such an apology to come to me; I would expect it to be made to…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorThe Government highly value the charity sector and its positive contribution across society. However, as noble Lords are aware, we have had to take a number of difficult decisions…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorMy understanding of the NICs change is that it is about employer increases. This Government have not increased the tax paid by workers, including national insurance.13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorI hope it is reassuring to the noble Baroness that the smallest charities and organisations should not see a rise in their national insurance contributions. If she has examples of…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorI have not seen the workings out where the sector arrived at the figure, but I am not trying to play down its concerns about the NICs increase. It is a usual approach for the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance: Charity SectorWithout wanting to repeat what my noble friend Lord Livermore would have said had he been here, we inherited a £22 billion black hole. I appreciate the sector’s concern, but,…13 Jan 2025HANSARDCivil Servants: Compulsory Office AttendanceMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, for securing this really interesting debate on an important issue. Rightly, we have heard a range of views; I will do my best in the…09 Jan 2025HANSARDCultural Sector: Freedom of SpeechWhile I support philanthropy, I am clear that there is a place for government funding as well. We need to make sure that we do not cut off people’s willingness to put money into…08 Jan 2025HANSARDCultural Sector: Freedom of SpeechAs my noble friend the Leader of the House said yesterday, the new approach taken by Meta, which I think my noble friend Lord Watts refers to, relates to the United States and not…08 Jan 2025HANSARDCultural Sector: Freedom of SpeechThe noble Baroness raises a really interesting point. It goes some way from the original Question so I will be honest and say, rather than answering it on the hoof, that I would…08 Jan 2025