Contributions
154 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational 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 2025HANSARDUS Steel and Aluminium TariffsMy Lords, is it not the case that the reckless and ill-thought-out measures being taken by President Trump will only damage the US economy itself—they will not prevent imports but…12 Mar 2025HANSARDUS Steel and Aluminium TariffsMy Lords—12 Mar 2025HANSARDTariffs: Canada and MexicoTo ask His Majesty’s Government what communications they have had with the governments of Canada, Mexico and other countries about the decision of the President of the United…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTariffs: Canada and MexicoMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and welcome the fact that, in his talks with the President of the United States, the Prime Minister managed to obtain at least a…04 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesThe Minister knows well that it is not just service personnel but other people employed in the Civil Service who have their fees paid by the Government. Does what he has announced…05 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingThe noble Lord explained what the Government are doing to compensate service personnel who might be penalised by the VAT increase. Exactly the same problem arises with diplomats,…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMultilateral Free TradeMy Lords, I thank the Minister for both his good wishes and his reply. Does he agree that protectionism and tariffs are very great threats to growth both here and internationally,…06 Jan 2025HANSARDMultilateral Free TradeTo ask His Majesty’s Government what initiatives they plan to take internationally to support multilateral free trade and to draw attention to the risks posed to the world economy…06 Jan 2025HANSARDInternational Banking: PaymentsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the plan by the BRICS countries to establish a separate banking payments system, and of the implications for the…28 Nov 2024HANSARDInternational Banking: PaymentsMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. While the idea of a BRICS payment system, which was announced by Mr Putin at the BRICS conference in Kazan, may seem rather fanciful…28 Nov 2024HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024My Lords, as the first Labour Budget for 14 years, this was bound to be a very big occasion, and indeed it was: it was a bold Budget, with bold increases in taxation, bold…11 Nov 2024HANSARDUK Trade PerformanceMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his very robust reply. The main attack from the opposition spokesman last Wednesday was to criticise the Secretary of State…07 May 2024HANSARDBank of England (Economic Affairs Committee Report)My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Bridges, on his excellent speech and this very good report. I was not a member of the committee but I am most impressed by the report…02 May 2024HANSARDSpring Budget 2024My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Macpherson, has said, the Chancellor faced a very difficult set of conflicting challenges. Having myself delivered one Budget on the very eve of…18 Mar 2024HANSARDPoverty ReductionBrittan.22 Feb 2024HANSARDRegulatory Approval for New Products and ServicesMy Lords, what my noble friend the Minister has said is extremely encouraging and very much to be welcomed, particularly on the strong track record on investment into this country…22 Jan 2024HANSARDPoverty: International Development AidMy noble friend has mentioned many factors: aid, education, tax. The one word he has not mentioned is trade. Does he not agree that trade liberalisation is one of the greatest…15 Jan 2024HANSARDTrade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a pleasure to be the first speaker from this side of the House to congratulate my noble friend, as I must call him now, on his excellent maiden speech and to…21 Nov 2023