Contributions
26 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAI Systems: RisksTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that advanced AI development remains safe and controllable, given the recent threat update warning from the…08 Jan 2026HANSARDAI Systems: RisksMy Lords, I am grateful to have this opportunity to discuss the most pressing issue facing humanity: the advent of superintelligence. I am particularly grateful to have had the…08 Jan 2026HANSARDPassenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) BillMy Lords, this Bill and this debate are primarily about passenger railway services but, with the permission of the House, I shall say a very few words about a closely connected…07 Oct 2024HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT ExemptionMy Lords, I too thank my noble friend Lord Lexden for bringing forward this debate. Like many others, I agree with every word that he said. I had intended to speak in this debate…05 Sept 2024HANSARDKing’s Speech (4th Day)My Lords, I too congratulate the two main speakers on their impressive —or, in the case of the noble Lord, Lord Petitgas, perhaps it is better to say “formidable”—maiden speeches.…22 Jul 2024HANSARDArtificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill [HL]My Lords, I too congratulate my noble friend Lord Holmes on bringing forward this AI regulation Bill, in the context of the continuing failure of the Government to do so. At the…22 Mar 2024HANSARDAdvanced Artificial IntelligenceMy Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate. I declare my interest as a member of the AI in Weapon Systems Committee. I very much thank the noble Lord,…24 Jul 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration BillMy Lords, as other speakers said, we now live in an age of mass migration. As my noble friend Lord Hague often says, the population of Africa and the Middle East is expected to…10 May 2023HANSARDSeafarers’ Wages Bill [HL]My Lords, I apologise; I have only just arrived, because I was detained elsewhere. I want to pick up on the point of the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, about ferries. Ferries have…12 Oct 2022HANSARDSeafarers’ Wages Bill [HL]My Lords, I first declare an interest: apart from working in shipping for 40 years and being a director of one of the ship owners’ P&I clubs, I am currently a non-executive…20 Jul 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, very briefly, I would like to respectfully adopt the arguments of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Brown, and others, including the noble Lord, Lord Trevethin and…09 Feb 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillThe use of the word “abuse” is somewhat tendentious. As I was saying on the question of the rule of law, and as held by the divisional court, until the Supreme Court decision on…09 Feb 2022HANSARDPostmasters with Overturned Convictions: Settlement FundsI endorse and adopt almost everything that was said by the noble Lord, Lord McNicol, and the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson. I have one theoretical question. If the Wyn Williams…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAssisted Dying Bill [HL]My Lords, as the holder of a Scottish peerage, I particularly welcome and congratulate my noble friend Lady Davidson on what was, as one expected it to be, an excellent maiden…22 Oct 2021HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I too commend the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their maiden speeches, which were excellent in their different ways. I declare my interest, as set out in…17 May 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I too speak this evening in support of the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Marks. I apologise that I was unable to speak in Committee but I have read that debate,…10 Mar 2021HANSARDCovid-19: VaccinationsMy Lords, I would like to ask my noble friend the Minister two questions, if I may. Like many others, I first congratulate him and the Government on the progress made so far with…13 Jan 2021HANSARDEU-UK Trade and Cooperation AgreementMy Lords, I also congratulate my noble friend Lord Wharton on his strong maiden speech. Like many others, I congratulate the Prime Minister and my noble friend Lord Frost and his…08 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, while my noble friend the Minister is of course only responsible for health matters, would he not agree that, with the economic emergency—as the Chancellor had said—just…30 Nov 2020HANSARDSmart MotorwaysMy Lords, I also thank my noble friend very much for bringing this debate on a pressing current issue. I first thought of speaking in this debate because, like many drivers, I…13 Feb 2020