Contributions
374 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHealth and Disability ReformMy Lords, I will not repeat what the noble Baroness, Lady Sherlock, has just said about the lead-up to the publication of this Green Paper, but it can hardly be described as…01 May 2024HANSARDParents: SeparationMy Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, on securing this debate, and it is a pleasure to follow him. I have been involved in this area in various guises since my…22 Apr 2024HANSARDChildren and Young People: Local Authority CareMy Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Laming, on securing this critically important debate and introducing it so expertly. Pressure on children’s social care is at an…18 Apr 2024HANSARDNHS: Long-term SustainabilityMy Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Patel, for the debate and I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Ramsey, on her outstanding and moving maiden speech. As we have…18 Apr 2024HANSARDCarers: National StrategyMy Lords, I will pursue the point on the healthcare needs of unpaid carers and how the NHS treats them. The Government’s White Paper on adult social care reform had a range of…12 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools (Mental Health Professionals) Bill [HL]My Lords, I am delighted to introduce this Bill on a subject that is very close to my heart. I have been calling for counselling to be available in all schools since I first…01 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools (Mental Health Professionals) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank the Minister for her thoughtful response. It is true that we share broadly the same aspirations and, as she said, there is plenty in the spirit of the Bill that…01 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools (Mental Health Professionals) Bill [HL]That the Bill be now read a second time.01 Mar 2024HANSARDPupil Mental Health, Well-being and DevelopmentMy Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, on securing this debate. We have had a number of debates on children’s mental health in recent times, and…22 Feb 2024HANSARDCarer’s Leave Regulations 2024My Lords, I rise briefly, primarily to say how delighted I am that this legislation will come into force on 6 April. As the Minister said, there was strong cross-party support for…06 Feb 2024HANSARDChildren’s Care Homes: Private EquityMy Lords, a recent DfE review found that a third of the just-over 6,500 youngsters in residential care homes could have gone to foster homes, which usually offer better outcomes…30 Jan 2024HANSARDHigh Street Banks and Banking HubsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the closure of high street banks on local communities, and the need for a national network of…25 Jan 2024HANSARDHigh Street Banks and Banking HubsMy Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the Financial Inclusion Commission and president of the Money Advice Trust. I am grateful to the Library for its excellent briefing…25 Jan 2024HANSARDBanking HubsTo ask His Majesty’s Government how many banking hubs have been established in response to bank branch closures since January 2022, and whether they are taking steps to facilitate…11 Dec 2023HANSARDBanking HubsI thank the Minister for her Answer and welcome the steps being taken to safeguard free access to cash. Does the Minister agree that many people, particularly older people and…11 Dec 2023HANSARDNational Health Service: 75th AnniversaryMy Lords I start by expressing my heartfelt thanks to all NHS staff for the tremendously difficult and important job they do. I particularly pay tribute to the memory of close to…30 Nov 2023HANSARDMental Health: Children and Young PeopleMy Lords, it is always a great pleasure to follow on from the wise words of the noble Lord, Lord Laming. I congratulate my noble friend Lord Russell on securing and introducing…23 Nov 2023HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, the central theme of the gracious Speech was long-term decisions to change this country for the better, but so very much was missing. I particularly liked the…09 Nov 2023HANSARDChildren’s Social Care Implementation Strategy (Public Services Committee Report)My Lords, I declare an interest as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children. I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, on opening the debate so…20 Sept 2023HANSARDA Failure of Implementation (Children and Families Act 2014 Committee Report)My Lords, it is a real pleasure and privilege to open this debate. The purpose of the Select Committee’s special inquiry, which I had the honour to chair, was to conduct…06 Sept 2023