Contributions
1,533 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFiscal RulesI hear what the noble Baroness says. As I have said already, the Chancellor will set out the Government’s full fiscal plan, including the precise details of our fiscal rules, in…29 Oct 2024HANSARDFiscal RulesI am very grateful to the noble Lord for allowing me to talk about the £22 billion black hole in the public finances that was covered up from the British people, from this House…29 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityI agree 100% with the noble Lord that one size does not fit all. So far, studies have been reasonably inconclusive. Some have shown significant drawbacks to working from home,…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityNo, there would not. One of the benefits of working from home is a much more efficient use of office space. It has a beneficial impact on capital in terms of releasing office…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityThis Government have exactly the same policy in terms of civil servants working from home as the last Government: civil servants should be in the office for a minimum of 60% of…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityIt is an interesting question, and the answer is yes, I would be very willing to look at those impacts. As we have been discussing, labour supply has impacts across the economy.…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityThe noble Lord makes an interesting point. The Government inherited a situation where public service productivity remained 6.4 % below pre-pandemic levels, and the ballooning size…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityMy Lords, the Government inherited a situation where public sector productivity remained 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels. This is clearly unacceptable. Our focus is on fundamental…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityI 100% agree with my noble friend. Most of the studies that have emerged so far on this subject suggest that there are very positive labour supply impacts of working from home.…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityThere are a variety of measures, as I understand it. The ONS has a fairly standard measure. However, the noble Lord is absolutely right that it is much harder to measure…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityI obviously cannot comment on the particular phone call that the noble Baroness had, but I will say that the same IMF study says: “Some studies … found large positive impacts,…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityI am not sure I am going to be able to answer that right now, but, as set out by the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, in his investigation into the state of the NHS, productivity in the…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWorking From Home: Public Sector ProductivityAt no point in any of my answers did I say it raises productivity—just so I am very clear. I will read from the IMF’s report, for the noble Lord’s benefit: “Classic firm and…23 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]What I read out was a response to the amendment tabled, which asked for exactly that; that is why I read it out. The noble Lord raises profound constitutional questions which I…22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, I will respond to the amendments tabled by the noble Baronesses, Lady Vere of Norbiton and Lady Smith, the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, and my noble friend Lord Berkeley,…22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, I am very grateful to all noble Lords for the points raised during this debate and for powerfully highlighting such important issues. I will respond to the amendments…22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Russell, for his amendment and I will seek to address some of the points that he has raised. This amendment would require the…22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]I am afraid that is not something I know about, but I am happy to write to the noble Earl.22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]Just to be clear, I wanted clarification as to whether the existing legislation could work, or, in itself, could not work.22 Oct 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, Amendment 37D, tabled by the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, would require the Secretary of State to lay a report before Parliament within 12 months of the day this Act is…22 Oct 2024