Contributions
1,533 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI would not necessarily recommend that the noble Lord rely on a headline in the Daily Telegraph as the basis for his assumptions of what the Government are or are not considering.20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsAs always, the noble Lord is very interesting. I simply say that I always strive to be calm, factual and accurate.20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI absolutely understand the importance of the regulations that the noble Baroness is talking about. As her noble friend said, this is about what we as a Government can do, such as…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI am sure that there is much in what the noble Lord says. On regulatory burdens, the Prime Minister has set a 25% target to bring the cumulative cost of regulation down. We have…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsAs I said yesterday in response to similar questions, we want the most competitive supermarket sector we can possibly get, and it is not for the Government to tell supermarkets…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsMy Lords, the Chancellor has held a round table with supermarkets to discuss the role that retailers can play in bearing down on food prices and the additional steps that the…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI am not in a position to stand here and suggest a 50% business rates reduction for any business, but my noble friend is absolutely right on the importance of taking action across…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI am grateful to the noble Lord for his questions. I agree with his last point, if not all of what he said. I understand exactly what he set out, which is why we are not doing…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsThere is definitely something in what the noble Lord says, although I am not sure that I quite agree with where his question ended up. He is right to say that families are…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsThe noble Baroness is absolutely right. The Government are aware of the challenges and the cumulative pressures facing food and drink manufacturers, and farmers in particular. I…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI do not underestimate at all the significant climate factors to which the noble Baroness refers. I have said that, in April, major food and farming trade bodies came together…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI agree with the first half of my noble friend’s point but not necessarily the second half—I think there was an “if” in there, which is important. As I have said already, we are…20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsWe are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and I am sure that we will continue to do so.20 May 2026HANSARDSupermarkets: Voluntary Price CapsI understand that, but, as I already said, this Government are not considering price caps, as some speculation has suggested, and we would never advocate for that.20 May 2026HANSARDVAT Relief: Business DonationsThis tax relief is designed to help businesses donate surplus food to social supermarkets. This Government are dedicated to reducing reliance on food banks, which is exactly why…19 May 2026HANSARDDefence, Security and Resilience BankNo, and I do not quite understand why the noble Baroness is confused, because we are doing exactly what she says. We are setting up—or being part of—a proposed multilateral…19 May 2026HANSARDVAT Relief: Business DonationsI very much agree with the noble Lord. I think we may have discussed this once before, and I agreed with him then as well. As I understand it, HMRC is absolutely cracking down on…19 May 2026HANSARDVAT Relief: Business DonationsThe noble Baroness is far more expert in these matters than I am, but I fully understand what she is saying. I am sure that there is a lot in what she says and I am sure that the…19 May 2026HANSARDVAT Relief: Business DonationsI am grateful to the noble Baroness for her question. The short answer is yes, of course. We are hopeful that this new relief will help boost the supply of essential items to…19 May 2026HANSARDVAT Relief: Business DonationsI very much agree with my noble friend. It is one of the reasons why Sure Start was so important and so successful under the previous Labour Government. It was an absolute tragedy…19 May 2026