Contributions
240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCreative Industries: QualificationsMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Keeley for introducing this debate in such a thoughtful and compelling way. I am delighted to follow my noble friend Lord Knight. This House…23 Jul 2026HANSARDSocial Housing Bill [HL]My Lords, I added my name to Amendment 29, and I am delighted to see that it is grouped with the Government’s amendments extending protections for victims of domestic abuse, which…20 Jul 2026HANSARDHigher Education: Affordability and QualityMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for giving us the opportunity to reflect on the future affordability and quality of higher education in this country. Her interest in…02 Jul 2026HANSARDHome Ownership: First-time BuyersMy Lords, home ownership is important, but social housing must play a central role in meeting the housing needs of young people. Over the past year, government decisions have put…22 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Housing Bill [HL]My Lords, Clause 12 and Schedule 1 introduce important new protections for social housing tenants experiencing domestic abuse. I welcome these measures, which will help ensure…17 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the value for money of automatic enrolment in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme for (1) higher education providers,…15 Jun 2026HANSARDTeachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic EnrolmentI thank the Minister for that reply. She will, of course, be aware of the disparity between the main pension schemes in the university sector, with both employer and employee…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Housing Bill [HL]My Lords, I will say something about disposals, but as this is the first time I have spoken in the debate, I will make some general comments in support of the Bill. Social homes…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Housing Bill [HL]I did realise that, which is why I made the point that I just wanted to make some general references because it is the first time that I have spoken. I will continue on to my…15 Jun 2026HANSARDThe Building Safety Regulator: Building a Better Regulator (Industry and Regulators Committee Report)My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lady Taylor of Bolton on her comprehensive and forensic introduction to this report. I wanted to speak in this debate because the role of…08 Jun 2026HANSARDNational Arts BankMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord John for securing this debate. It is a welcome opportunity to highlight the difficulties faced by our theatres, galleries and arts venues,…04 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Housing Bill [HL]My Lords, it is an honour to follow the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester, who has consistently championed the social housing sector. Social housing is a vital…01 Jun 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, we have already had three excellent maiden speeches from my noble friend Lord Hobby, the noble Lord, Lord Blackwater, and the noble Baroness, Lady Leaman. I am looking…19 May 2026HANSARDStudent VisasTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the adequacy of training and quality-assurance processes for student visa caseworkers, and (2)…27 Apr 2026HANSARDStudent VisasMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply. The universities agree that the changes to thresholds in the compliance assessment metrics should help to further…27 Apr 2026HANSARDCancer Outcomes in the UKMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Patel, for securing the debate and pay tribute to his indefatigable commitment to improving health outcomes and championing research and to…21 Apr 2026HANSARDGrenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) BillMy Lords, like every other speaker, I start by remembering the 72 lives lost and the countless others—the victims’ families, friends and the community—whose lives were for ever…14 Apr 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillMy Lords, I am sympathetic to the probing amendments in the names of the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, and the noble Viscount, Lord Younger—Amendments 47 and 51 respectively—on…22 Jan 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillMy Lords, I have no extant interests to declare—my interest in pension schemes is in the past—but I have considerable sympathy with my noble friend Lord Davies’s Amendment 7. We…12 Jan 2026HANSARDPension Schemes BillMy Lords, I too look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady White of Tufnell Park. I was delighted to discover that we are both honorary alumni of the University…18 Dec 2025