Contributions
670 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, it is a privilege to speak in response to His Majesty’s gracious Speech, and I am grateful to my noble friends who moved and seconded the Address with such witty…14 May 2026HANSARDWarm Home Discount (Scotland) Regulations 2026My Lords, I thank the Minister for setting out so clearly the warm home discount SI before us today. How confident are the Government that this scheme will both reach the right…27 Apr 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy Lords, I am quite heartened that the questions from across your Lordships’ House have not descended into an attack on local authorities’ electoral registration officers and…25 Feb 2026HANSARDUS TariffsMy Lords, one way to deal with this issue is by the acceleration of the free trade agreements. Under the last Government, we had agreements with New Zealand, Australia and then…23 Feb 2026HANSARDV-levelsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to communicate the purpose and value of the newly introduced V-Levels to students, parents, and employers, to ensure…23 Feb 2026HANSARDV-levelsI thank my noble friend the Minister and welcome the clarity and reassurance she has given. Given the concerning new figures on youth unemployment, what steps are being taken to…23 Feb 2026HANSARDArtificial Intelligence: UK PreparednessMy Lords, I want to agree with one of my noble friend the Minister’s previous answers about opportunity. Yes, there are risks, but the UK is best placed to seize the opportunities…22 Jan 2026HANSARDGraduate JobsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decline in graduate jobs and the extent to which it is a long-term trend that requires intervention.06 Jan 2026HANSARDGraduate JobsMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer and agree with many of the points she has made. For a number of decades now, Governments of all shades have…06 Jan 2026HANSARDJobs MarketMy Lords, I bring to the House my registered interest—I chair the Nuclear Industry Association. We had the recent announcement of the SMR, the small modular reactor, the…13 Nov 2025HANSARDPost Office Horizon Inquiry: Volume 1My Lords, like others across the House, I welcome Wyn Williams’s first report into this IT scandal, and it is an IT scandal. It is clear from looking at the Green Paper that there…17 Jul 2025HANSARDIntegration and Community CohesionMy Lords, I start by congratulating the noble Baroness, Lady Verma, on a wonderful introduction to today’s debate. As a Scot who prefers curry to stew and broth, I am quite happy…13 Mar 2025HANSARDArtificial Intelligence Opportunities Action PlanMy Lords, Monday’s Statement on the AI Opportunities Action Plan highlighted the Government’s ambitious vision on AI adoption across the UK, and I welcome it. While the plan…16 Jan 2025HANSARDPlanning Reforms: Net-zero Carbon EmissionsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that their proposed planning reforms contribute to the delivery of net zero carbon emissions.03 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Reforms: Net-zero Carbon EmissionsI thank my noble friend the Minister for her response. Nye Bevan said in 1947 that “we shall be judged for a year or two by the number of houses we build”, but we shall be judged…03 Dec 2024HANSARDScotlandMy Lords, what discussions have His Majesty’s Government had with the Scottish Government following the launch last month of the UK industrial strategy? Have the specific Scottish…04 Nov 2024HANSARDKing’s Speech (4th Day)My Lords, I will focus the short time I have on one of the starkest areas of contrast between the priorities of this new Labour Government as set out in the gracious Speech and…22 Jul 2024HANSARDPedal Cyclists: InsuranceMy Lords, as both a cyclist and a driver I understand the strength of feeling on this issue. Cycling insurance would be impractical to implement, particularly since so many…23 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillMy Lords, I am obviously dealing with this in wash-up. The priority is to ensure that we get this Bill through. The arguments have been very well rehearsed across your Lordships’…23 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillMy Lords, this Bill has always been about justice and getting it quickly for the victims of the Post Office/Fujitsu scandal. We can all agree—and have all agreed—that they have…23 May 2024