Contributions
39 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMusic and Dance Schools: Affordable AccessTo ask His Majesty’s Government whether they are committed to maintaining affordable access to specialist music and dance schools for talented children of all social backgrounds.16 Oct 2025HANSARDMusic and Dance Schools: Affordable AccessMy Lords, my purpose in raising this question is to highlight the vital role of MDS, the music and dance scheme, which provides means-tested support to enable exceptionally…16 Oct 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I oppose the amendment, and I should perhaps declare an interest as one of the many Members of the House who has had the privilege to be in the House for over 20 years,…09 Jul 2025HANSARDMusic and Dance SchemeMy Lords, I declare an interest as a governor of a specialist music school. As the Minister will be aware, the MDS covers music schools as well as dance schemes. Is she aware of…24 Jun 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, is a distinguished economist and I defer to his expertise, but I have to challenge him on the assertion that the measures in this Bill…25 Feb 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I would like to put this discussion in the context of the profitability of the small businesses that we are talking about. The noble Lords who proposed these amendments…29 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I want to add to the comments made by my noble friend Lord Altrincham in introducing these amendments. He spoke of a large number of young people who are not in economic…29 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I will not repeat the powerful arguments that have been made for this set of amendments, but I would like to put the argument in stark terms. What is exceptional about…29 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I will make a brief comment on these amendments. In the Committee’s discussions so far, the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, has made great play of the fact that the OBR…29 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillIn that case, I will address that amendment when we come to it.21 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, as the noble Baroness said, the easiest way to avoid exemptions would be not to raise this tax at all; then we would not have to deal with the sectors that will be hit…21 Jan 2025HANSARDMultilateral Free TradeMy Lords, the Minister will be aware that the most important and fastest-growing part of UK exports is services. Can he assure us that the Government will put equal emphasis on…06 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, in contributing to the debate on this Bill, I should declare my interest as a trustee of two charitable music organisations, which, like other charities, including…06 Jan 2025HANSARDBank of England (Economic Affairs Committee Report)My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the report from the committee of which I am honoured to be a member. I am also very honoured to follow the…02 May 2024HANSARDSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) BillMy Lords, listening to the speeches this evening, I have heard a number of noble Lords state their opposition to the Bill on what they said were moral grounds. I am not qualified…29 Jan 2024HANSARDFinancial Services and Markets BillMy Lords, I am concerned that, while seemingly innocuous, this amendment might turn out to be the thin end of the wedge of government intervention in pension investment. Clearly,…13 Jun 2023HANSARDFinancial Services and Markets BillMy Lords, since I have not spoken in Committee so far, I should remind noble Lords of my interest as a former chairman of a bank and a current shareholder. However, I am not going…07 Mar 2023HANSARDFinancial Services and Markets BillI was making the point that maintaining open bank branches as a solution to this problem is potentially a very expensive way of solving the problem and that the cost would be…07 Mar 2023HANSARDFinancial Services and Markets BillMy Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the excellent maiden speech of my noble friend Lady Lawlor, and to welcome her to the House. I have had the great good fortune to…10 Jan 2023HANSARDRenters Reform BillMy Lords, I declare my interest as an owner of rented properties. Following on from that last question, will my noble friend undertake that, in seeking to protect tenants from a…22 Nov 2022