Contributions
65 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSpring Budget 2024My Lords, I worked on seven pre-election Budgets over my life sentence at the Treasury, so I feel for any Chancellor having to deliver one. He has to reconcile the usually…18 Mar 2024HANSARDAlternative Investment Fund Designation Bill [HL]My Lords, I declare an interest as chairman of the Scottish American Investment Company, which last year celebrated its 150th anniversary, and also as a happy shareholder in…01 Mar 2024HANSARDSelf-employment: A1 FormsMy Lords, I declare an interest as my son is a rock musician. Does the Minister agree that the provision of music, particularly rock music, is something in which Britain has a…12 Feb 2024HANSARDAutumn Statement 2023My Lords, I too congratulate the Minister on her move to the Treasury. It is a much-maligned institution, but I am confident that she will enjoy her time there. I hope that, with…29 Nov 2023HANSARDBank AccountsMy Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of C Hoare & Co. Does the Minister agree that customer confidentiality should lie at the heart of banking, and that a bank apparently…19 Jul 2023HANSARDIncome Tax ThresholdMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the impact of inflation on taxpayers is corrosive, and therefore the sooner the Bank of England gets inflation back to target, the better?…04 Jul 2023HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency BillMy Lords, I will very briefly support the proposals. It makes sense to ensure that people who think that they are buying something legitimately are adequately informed. I like the…20 Apr 2023HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency BillMy Lords, I support the amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Agnew. I declare my interest as chairman of C Hoare and Co. I apologise for not being here at Second Reading.…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCivil Service ImpartialityMy Lords, like my noble friend Lord Butler, I remember a number of examples of people moving from the Civil Service to political positions, in particular my old friend, the noble…07 Mar 2023HANSARDMoney Laundering Regulations: Politically Exposed PersonsMy Lords, I declare an interest as chairman of Hoare’s bank. To pick up on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, it is now several years since we left the European…28 Nov 2022HANSARDHealth and Social Care Levy (Repeal) BillMy Lords, I welcome the Minister’s opening remarks on the Government’s economic policy. The Chancellor should be congratulated for restoring a more sensible fiscal policy and a…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomy: The Growth Plan 2022My Lords, there are some sensible policies in the Government’s growth plan. A better functioning supply side will enable higher growth of the economy—although I have a word of…10 Oct 2022HANSARDPost Office: Horizon CompensationMy Lords, I very much welcome the Minister’s Statement, particularly the announcement of the public inquiry. But however speedy these are intended to be, they have an uncanny…30 Jun 2022HANSARDEconomy: Spring StatementMy Lords, it is a privilege to take part in the debate. Sadly, the noble Lord, Lord Bird, has just left the Room, otherwise I, as a former official, would have responded to his…31 Mar 2022HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Increase of Thresholds) BillMy Lords, back in 1986, in my second job in Her Majesty’s Treasury, I was in charge of advising on national insurance and the National Insurance Fund. Here I am, 36 years later,…30 Mar 2022HANSARDAjax Noise and Vibration ReviewMy Lords, I welcome the Government’s response to this report, and the involvement in the other place of Jeremy Quin, who was a first-rate official in the Treasury at the time of…16 Dec 2021HANSARDHealth and Social Care Levy BillMy Lords, I draw attention to my declaration of interests in the register, including the ownership of a flat that I rent out. I have long been in favour of a health and social…11 Oct 2021HANSARDBudget StatementMy Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Khan of Burnley, on his eloquent maiden speech. There is much in this Budget which is sensible. It is right to support…12 Mar 2021HANSARDFinance BillMy Lords, I want belatedly to congratulate the Minister on his appointment to the Treasury. I had the good fortune of supporting from the official Box one of his distinguished…17 Jul 2020HANSARDAgriculture: Dairy PricesMy Lords, I draw attention to my interests in the register. Some of the dairy producers who have been hit hardest are specialists who work with artisan cheese manufacturers…28 Apr 2020