Contributions
253 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDData (Use and Access) Bill [HL]My Lords, I declare my interests as a composer and a copyright holder. I salute the speech of my noble friend Lady Kidron for its strength and accuracy. I too feel that there…28 Jan 2025HANSARDAgricultural and Business Property Reliefs: OBR CostingCan I ask for clarification on one thing? Using the Minister’s figures, if a farm was worth, say, £2 million or £3 million—and of course many farms, and I would say most, are…27 Jan 2025HANSARDErasmus ProgrammeMy Lords, I certainly welcome the Turing scheme, but it is not the same thing as Erasmus. The important thing about Erasmus is that it is not just about education; as we have…20 Jan 2025HANSARDGreat British Energy BillMy Lords, perhaps I may add a few words to some of the comments from the noble Lord, Lord Hamilton of Epsom. He mentioned the carbon cost of steel, but there is one other element…13 Jan 2025HANSARDOperaMy Lords, ultimately as a society we have to decide whether we want opera, and if we want it, we have to find a way to pay for it. I must declare an interest, having written three…10 Dec 2024HANSARDHousing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024My Lords, from listening to this debate, I recognise that there is a certain amount of agreement around the Chamber. It seems, as we heard from the noble Lord, Lord Porter, that…10 Dec 2024HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [HL]I imagine that this could be a rather tricky area, for the reasons we have just heard. I can see that someone who has great expertise —an ex-international, for example—would be…04 Dec 2024HANSARDCurriculum and Assessment ReviewMy Lords—18 Nov 2024HANSARDCurriculum and Assessment ReviewMy Lords, in addition to the subjects being considered, will the review look at the provision of the infrastructure behind them—for example, libraries for books and, for music,…18 Nov 2024HANSARDWomen, Peace and Security Bill [HL]My Lords, the admirable Bill from the noble Baroness, Lady Hodgson, covers not just violence to women and girls in conflict areas but also more generally, so I hope she will…15 Nov 2024HANSARDBudget: Arts, Heritage and Cultural OrganisationsMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Sater, for securing this important debate, and I declare my interests as a composer and broadcaster. I was delighted that the…14 Nov 2024HANSARDBudget: Arts, Heritage and Cultural OrganisationsI would appreciate that, too.14 Nov 2024HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024My Lords, I start with a few notes of welcome to the noble Lord, Lord Booth-Smith. On the Budget, I was very pleased that the Government have put aside money for the compensation…11 Nov 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, as someone who lives and farms in mid-Wales as well as writing music, I support this amendment. Living among people there, to me it seems that the comments we have just…05 Nov 2024HANSARDRelations with EuropeMy Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Lord, Lord Hannan; he always speaks with articulate conviction, which makes my disability always to agree with him the more striking.…10 Oct 2024HANSARDPublic LibrariesMy Lords, I feel as though I am in the BBC; I shall need a red light for this one-minute cue. Public libraries are gardens of earthly delights, especially in less advantaged…12 Sept 2024HANSARDKing’s Speech (4th Day)“Ich fühle Luft von anderem Planeten”, or “I feel air from another planet”. So begins the movement of the second Schoenberg string quartet, in which Schoenberg broke the mould by…22 Jul 2024HANSARDVictims and Prisoners BillMy Lords, I am not a lawyer but I do have some experience of visiting prisons, thanks to the Koestler Trust, which takes art into prisons. I was quite a close friend of the late,…12 Mar 2024HANSARDUK EconomyMy Lords, I am glad that the Minister feels encouraged by the latest figures. Can she understand why some people who have inflated mortgages feel they have them because of the…21 Feb 2024HANSARDDeath of Alexei NavalnyGiven what the Minister and other noble Lords have said, will the Minister comment on the importance of getting the message from the West across to the people of Russia? I am…19 Feb 2024