Contributions
239 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArtificial Intelligence: Impact on Human Relationships and SocietyMy Lords, AI crossed the threshold of my understanding and experience much earlier than for any other speaker in this debate thus far. When I left for an underdeveloped country…05 Jun 2026HANSARDCombating Atrocity Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and GenocideMy Lords, all of us are deeply indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, who is like a dog with a bone—that is not a very noble metaphor, but I could not think of anything else—as…04 Jun 2026HANSARDCrown Estate: WalesMy Lords, when we had the misfortune of leaving the European Union, Wales lost a significant amount of money from its structural programmes. The then Government promised that that…09 Mar 2026HANSARDInternational Women’s DayMy Lords, I attend this debate regularly but do not always—or even often—put my name down to speak. I feel that what I need to do in attending the debates is to listen hard to…06 Mar 2026HANSARDBetter Prisons: Less Crime (Justice and Home Affairs Committee Report)My Lords, I rise to speak with some deference after the wealth of contributions that have been made thus far, but I want to begin by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Foster of…12 Feb 2026HANSARDViolence Against Women and Girls StrategyMy Lords—21 Jan 2026HANSARDViolence Against Women and Girls StrategyMy Lords, the Istanbul convention was signed up to by the British Government when it was promulgated. It took several years, until 2022, for it to be considered ratified and its…21 Jan 2026HANSARDCharities: Advancement of ReligionMy Lords, having spent the whole of my professional life combating those who, in the name of religion, promote misogyny, sexism or violence against women, I hope the questioner…26 Nov 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, this has been an extraordinary and wide-ranging debate. I will limit myself, in a very short speech, to Amendment 3, which would take out the indefinite article and…21 Nov 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, I am aware that many noble Lords will, knowing that my life has been spent as a Methodist minister in pastoral work, have reached an assumption that they know what I am…19 Sept 2025HANSARDUK Constitution: Oversight and Responsibility (Report from the Constitution Committee)My Lords, I rise with a mixture of intimidation and emboldenment to make my remarks. I have no experience in the law at all, and I have very little direct experience of the world…04 Jul 2025HANSARDBBC Sounds: Access from AbroadMy Lords, I indeed remember 1956, which I am sure is a surprise to most Members looking at me at this moment. For the benefit of all of us, I ask the Minister what discussions, if…14 May 2025HANSARD80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over JapanMy Lords, the words of His Majesty the King, as reported in the news, focused on the words that we should not forget. It is a privilege to be part of a debate like this where so…09 May 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I speak with great pleasure after my compatriots and certainly rejoice in the fact that we can add some Celtic flavouring—not vaped at all—on St George’s Day. I had…23 Apr 2025HANSARDChancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) MeasureMy Lords, I do not know whether it is appropriate for me to contribute, but I feel I must. I was also part of the committee coming to the conclusion that the noble and learned…31 Mar 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryMy Lords, I am a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and I am glad to begin my remarks by stating that bald fact. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Alton,…20 Mar 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryBut the rule of law is what we have set ourselves as our first project. Last week, I had breakfast at the Supreme Court. Never have I been surrounded by so many stars in the…20 Mar 2025HANSARDIntegration and Community CohesionMy Lords, I am almost speechless at the quality of some of the contributions to this debate. As to the two maiden speakers, what fun we are going to have in the future—fun even in…13 Mar 2025HANSARDHolocaust Memorial BillMy Lords, I echo what has just been said. I have no problem with the British taxpayer paying up its share to realise this noble objective; I just wish there were a figure that…04 Mar 2025HANSARDAsylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is with a readiness to admit that the substantive points that I might have wanted to make have been made that I begin to share my thoughts today. I began the week in…13 Dec 2024