Contributions
669 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTravel Disruption at UK Airports and Ferry PortsMy Lords, clearly, this is a topical issue that is causing much concern to many people. I am sure that all noble Lords will have read reports in the press, heard interviews on the…09 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, I want to add one thought to the debate. As my noble friend Lady Morris said, the Bill is setting out a brand-new structure for schools in this country. What is unclear…08 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, I support these amendments. I have just one narrow point I wish to add. One thing that is lacking and to me seems essential is some reference to school students and…08 Jun 2022HANSARDCost of Living: PensionersMy Lords, does the noble Baroness understand that pensioners’ incomes, this time, this year, are 5% lower in real terms than they were last year? Part of the reason for that is…26 May 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]My Lords, it has been an interesting, wide-ranging debate. I will base the bulk of my speech on the Government’s Green Paper, Transforming Public Procurement , published in…25 May 2022HANSARDUK Infrastructure Bank Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Penn, for the helpful meeting yesterday, at which we explored the background to the Bill. Unfortunately, I am still not…24 May 2022HANSARDSenior Citizens: Means-tested BenefitsMy Lords, the Minister mentioned that this was an urgent priority for the Government. It is an unfortunate fact that it has been an urgent priority for all Governments for at…23 May 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, we have reached that stage in the debate where there is little more to do than emphasise points made by earlier speakers, in my case particularly by my noble friends. I…23 May 2022HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, first, I must declare my interest as a non-practising member of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. That is because I want to use the opportunity to ask the Minister…16 May 2022HANSARDEuropean Research CouncilMy Lords, does the Minister understand that top-quality academic research is inherently an internationally co-operative effort? Oh, my phone is ringing. Pending the completion of…27 Apr 2022HANSARDTax Gaps 2019-20My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sikka, for raising this important issue and providing us with an opportunity to discuss the report from the Inland Revenue. I strongly…07 Apr 2022HANSARDJudicial Pensions Regulations 2022My Lords, I welcome the regulations: I am in favour of good pension schemes for our public servants, and this certainly counts as a good scheme. I thank the Minister for his clear…04 Apr 2022HANSARDEconomy: Spring StatementMy Lords, this is my third encounter in two days with the Minister. I am not sure whether she will be pleased about that, but I shall not repeat the detail of the criticism that I…31 Mar 2022HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Increase of Thresholds) BillMy Lords, this Government are collectively incapable of shame. I hope that, even if she cannot admit it, the Minister understands the shame that is inherent in the overall package…30 Mar 2022HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Increase of Thresholds) BillMy Lords, I am a bit unclear about quite how this process works, but given the limited number, I will not worry too much about that. I will not repeat my Second Reading speech but…30 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools White PaperI thank the Minister for the answers she has given. I welcome the ambition of the Government’s policies as set out in the White Paper. I will look at the statistics they have…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSocial Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022My Lords, I could not resist coming to this debate. It is akin to social policy archaeology. I very much thank the Minister for her clear, straightforward and unarguable…28 Mar 2022HANSARDPension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Redfern, for her detailed and clarifying introduction to the Bill. It is a complicated subject but she made an excellent job of…25 Mar 2022HANSARDSocial Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022My Lords, this has been a worthwhile debate. I am conscious of the time: I could spend a lot of time rehashing all the arguments, but I am sure we will return to them. I feel this…23 Mar 2022HANSARDSocial Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022That this House regrets that the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022, and the decision by Her Majesty’s Government to suspend the triple lock on pensions, will result in…23 Mar 2022