Contributions
152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I want to talk about the war in the Gulf. I do not often agree with Rachel Reeves but I had some sympathy with her when she told her opposite number in America that the…21 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsMy Lords—20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsMy Lords, I am extremely pleased that the Minister has confirmed that price controls, if they came in, would be voluntary. However, we have also been informed by his replies that…20 May 2026HANSARDSpring Forecast StatementMy Lords, I join with others in saying how sad it is to say goodbye to the noble Lord, Lord St John of Bletso. He will be much missed, particularly for his contributions on Africa…17 Mar 2026HANSARDUS TariffsI thank the Minister for that helpful reply. Does he agree that, following the Supreme Court judgment, the decision of the United States President to impose, even on a temporary…23 Feb 2026HANSARDUS TariffsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK economy of the announcement by President Donald Trump of increased tariffs, and what…23 Feb 2026HANSARDUK-EU Customs UnionMy Lords, it is a great pleasure for me on behalf of these Benches, this side of the House, to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, on her admirable maiden speech. She…29 Jan 2026HANSARDUK-EU Customs UnionI am just finishing—is now pleading for exclusion from any steps towards alignment. The Liberals claim a customs union would boost government revenues. They have suddenly become…29 Jan 2026HANSARDAutumn Budget 2025My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Portsmouth on his engaging and humorous maiden speech, which combined passion with making some very serious…04 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic and Taxation Policies: Jobs, Growth and ProsperityIf the Minister will allow me, he spoke about GDP being reduced by four percentage points. I assume he is referring to the OBR’s original projection, which was over the next 15…13 Nov 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, I speak with enormous hesitation on this complex and sensitive issue. Any Second Reading of a Bill must inevitably discuss the principle behind it. I acknowledge the…12 Sept 2025HANSARDPrimary Stock Exchange ListingsMy Lords, the loss of AstraZeneca, were it to happen, would be a devastating blow to the London Stock Exchange. Is it not therefore very important, if we are to retain the…10 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Modern Industrial StrategyMy Lords, over the years, Governments have introduced their industrial strategies—I remember the industrial strategy of the Callaghan Government—but I think sometimes they think…30 Jun 2025HANSARDConflict in the Middle EastMy Lords, I refer to my entry in the register of interests. It would be catastrophic if Iran were ever to get a nuclear weapon; I am totally opposed to that. I totally support the…16 Jun 2025HANSARDTrade NegotiationsMy Lords, I have two questions for the Minister. First, as my noble friend Lord Sharpe and the noble Lord, Lord Fox, asked, will the new agreement operate with most favoured…14 May 2025HANSARDUK-US TradeTo ask His Majesty’s Government what further action they plan to take to protect and increase trade between the United Kingdom and the United States.12 May 2025HANSARDUK-US TradeI thank the Minister for her reply, but after all the self-congratulation has faded away, is it not clear that this agreement is very far from being a comprehensive trade…12 May 2025HANSARDNational Debt: It’s Time for Tough Decisions (Economic Affairs Committee Report)My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Burns, not for the first time in my life. It is also a pleasure to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Bridges, on his…25 Apr 2025HANSARDNational Debt: It’s Time for Tough Decisions (Economic Affairs Committee Report)I am very grateful to the Minister for answering my question about primary surplus. He said that the OBR is saying that there will be a surplus in 2029-30. Am I not right in…25 Apr 2025HANSARDSpring StatementMy Lords, is the Minister aware that there is considerable support on this side of the House for the aims of the Government’s welfare reforms? We agree that the programme is…27 Mar 2025