Contributions
617 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKing’s Speech (4th Day)My Lords, I welcome new Ministers and Peers to this House and I look forward to working with them. There is much to admire in the King’s Speech, but I have a few questions. I…22 Jul 2024HANSARDDiplomatic Missions: Congestion ChargeMy Lords, on 11 July 2005 the US Government said that the “Congestion Charge is a tax that, under international law, should not be imposed on the United States Government, its…23 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill23 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister and his team for meeting me yesterday to discuss some of the issues relating to Amendment 1, which seeks to amend Clause 1 and quash convictions of…23 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI beg leave to withdraw the amendment.23 May 2024HANSARDWater Companies: FailureMy Lords, in 1990, Thames Water had net assets of £1,329 million. By 2023, they had increased to £1,435 million, which is a paltry increase of 8%, or a total of £106 million,…21 May 2024HANSARDFly-tippingMy Lords, fly-tipping has increased because many councils do not have weekly refuse collection and charge people for taking items to the local refuse collection centres. A major…14 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillMy Lords, I welcome this Bill, as it enables some postmasters wrongly convicted to secure some compensation and wipe the slate clean, though the scars of injustice will remain…13 May 2024HANSARDPost Office (Horizon System) Offences BillBefore we leave the issue of DWP convictions, can the Minister confirm or otherwise—he might wish to write—whether any DWP investigator, official or witness has at any point…13 May 2024HANSARDDeepfakes: General ElectionMy Lords, it is not just technology that can undermine the outcome of general elections; the Government are facilitating it, too. Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Business Secretary,…08 May 2024HANSARDWater Companies: Licence ConditionsMy Lords, as I have previously pointed out in this House, water company accounts are not only massaged but cooked and roasted with abusive accounting practices. Ofwat and the…01 May 2024HANSARDWater Companies: Licence ConditionsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what estimates have been made of the distributable reserves of each water company now that OFWAT has taken powers under the Environment Act 2021 to…01 May 2024HANSARDChild PovertyMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Bird, for facilitating this much-needed debate. In a country boasting a record number of billionaires and where the top 1% has more wealth…29 Apr 2024HANSARDStart-up Companies: Tax IncentivesMy Lords, in January the National Audit Office reported that error and fraud in SME research and development tax credits had increased to 24.4% or £1.04 billion. It added: “There…29 Apr 2024HANSARDData Protection and Digital Information BillI would be convinced about the Government’s intentions, and would not press this amendment at the next stage, if the Minister can name just one big accounting firm which since…22 Apr 2024HANSARDData Protection and Digital Information BillMy Lords, I ask the Minister for clarification. The noble Baroness, Lady Sherlock, asked about the number of individuals; I guess it may be 24 million or 25 million. However, from…22 Apr 2024HANSARDData Protection and Digital Information BillMy Lords—22 Apr 2024HANSARDData Protection and Digital Information BillA number of pensioner groups are watching these proceedings. I have received some messages. They are asking, “When is the Minister going to answer the questions asked about the…22 Apr 2024HANSARDPaying Polluters: UN ReportMy Lords, many developing countries are handicapped by clauses in foreign direct investment agreements—sometimes called stabilisation clauses—that forbid the hearing of disputes…22 Apr 2024HANSARDData Protection and Digital Information BillMy Lords, I will address, first, the exclusion of Clause 128 and, secondly, Amendment 219 in my name. I spoke at Second Reading to oppose Clause 128. I was a little too late to…22 Apr 2024