Contributions
66 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill13 Apr 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I should first disclose my interests as the owner of a wheelchair-accessible London taxi and a past CEO of the manufacturer of London taxis. I thank the co-signers of my…13 Apr 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I am grateful for the words used by the noble Lord, Lord Hendy. To correct one of his points, the reason that my taxi is worth only £1,000 despite its very low mileage…13 Apr 2026HANSARDPublic Transport: AccessibilityMy Lords, I declare my interest as the owner of a wheelchair-accessible taxi. What is the Minister’s ambitious timetable to finish the work to make all public transport wheelchair…24 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I rise on this St Piran’s Day to carry forward the millstone of ensuring accessibility just a bit, knowing that so many disabled people still struggle with accessibility…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillOn taxi accessibility, is the Minister arguing that the local requirements of disabled people might be different in one area from those in another? Surely, that is completely…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank the Minister for his point, but I am not sure that I entirely agree with him and I look forward to the meeting and to Report. In the meantime, I withdraw my amendment.05 Mar 2026HANSARDRetail and Hospitality SectorFirst, I must declare my interest, in that my wife, Victoria, is chairman of VisitEngland—what older Peers might call the English Tourist Board. I congratulate all noble Lords who…22 Jan 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I think I might have discovered why Governments of all flavours make their legislation so heavy and long—in the case of this Bill, 371 pages, 93 clauses and 34…08 Dec 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for her Amendments 31A and 31B, which is very similar, as she said, to Amendment 31, which I proposed. The noble Lord, Lord Hendy, is a practical…24 Nov 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillMy Lords, first, I declare my interests as a taxi proprietor and driver of a wheelchair-accessible taxi. The reason why it is wheelchair-accessible is that I introduced that…22 Oct 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure BillI wish to test the opinion of the House.22 Oct 2025HANSARDAnimals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023My Lords, will the Minister confirm that the commitment previously given to provide an opt-out for certified zoos will be part of these regulations when they are published?01 Sept 2025HANSARDEngineering Biology (Science and Technology Committee Report)My Lords, a long time ago I had the privilege of being responsible for an engineering company that made the London taxi, and I had 1,000 employees at the age of 31. Quite a few of…28 Apr 2025HANSARDLong-duration Energy Storage (Science and Technology Committee Report)My Lords, this is a very good report by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, and I thank all our great staff, but I regret that I cannot be as complimentary about…09 Jan 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, in February 1987, nearly 38 years ago, I had the good fortune to be appointed chief executive of a public company at the age of 31. It was a terrifying prospect for me,…11 Dec 2024HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024My Lords, in 1961 Viv Nicholson won £152,319—the equivalent of about £4.3 million today. She, or rather her husband Keith, won it on the Littlewoods football pools. It was…11 Nov 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill24 Apr 2024