Contributions
276 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 Lockdown: Homelessness and Rough SleepersMy Lords, there is a story in Sikhism about the young Guru Nanak spending money given to him for investment on food and blankets for the homeless who were shivering in the winter…12 Nov 2020HANSARDUK Terrorism Threat LevelMy Lords, the Statement stresses that religion should not be used to justify murder, yet religious texts make frequent allusions to God-sanctioned rights to kill disbelievers.…10 Nov 2020HANSARDLife in the UK TestMy Lords, the Life in the UK test is a bit of an obstacle course, requiring A-level English and a detailed knowledge of cultural trivia that, as mentioned, would defeat many of…03 Nov 2020HANSARDJammu and Kashmir: Human RightsMy Lords, Britain’s partitioning of India on the fallacy of irreconcilable religious differences promoted active hostility between Pakistan and India, particularly in Jammu and…02 Nov 2020HANSARDCivil Servants: Public ProcurementEvery day, the House starts its proceedings with Prayers, reminding us to set aside factional interests and private prejudices in the work we do, yet, with some notable…29 Oct 2020HANSARDClean Growth FundMy Lords, while schemes such as the Clean Growth Fund are helping to boost the supply of solar and wind power, less is being done to use heat in the earth as a source of green…28 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Disparate ImpactMy Lords, the Statement does little to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on minority communities. We already know that ethnic differences linked to diet and…27 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Catch-up PremiumMy Lords, if properly used, the pupil premium can make a huge difference to an individual’s life chances once they are in school. Does the Minister agree that, for maximum impact,…26 Oct 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Commission for Victims and SurvivorsMy Lords, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, like similar inter-religious disputes in other parts of the world, resulted from a misplaced emphasis on supposed irreconcilable…22 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesMy Lords, Sikhs contributed out of all proportion to the Commonwealth war effort, with some families settling with family in Afghanistan following the partition of Punjab. Sadly,…20 Oct 2020HANSARDSocial MobilityMy Lords, the report of the Social Mobility Commission usefully reminds us that widespread social disadvantage can be successfully countered by carefully tailored interventions.…15 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, the Government’s overriding objective must be to reduce both the direct threat to life from Covid-19 and the indirect threat of an overwhelmed health service being…14 Oct 2020HANSARDHousing Delivery TestMy Lords, having worked for a large construction company, I know how easily housing output can be affected by varying demand, the weather and the economy. With that in mind, does…13 Oct 2020HANSARDHealth Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Obligations of Hospitality Undertakings) (England) Regulations 2020My Lords, there is a cartoon with a Sikh commenting on the rule of six, saying, “It is time Sikhs were in charge”. More seriously, while I support these regulations, it is…09 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Transport IndustryMy Lords, in the wake of the pandemic, the Government have promised new structures and relationships with rail and other providers based on value for money and traveller…06 Oct 2020HANSARDStudents’ Return to UniversitiesMy Lords, the Statement contains several excellent initiatives. My main concern is that students leaving home for the first time will be under additional pressure to socialise.…01 Oct 2020HANSARDHolidays: CancellationsMy Lords, while every effort should be made to compensate those whose holidays are cancelled because of the Covid pandemic, does the Minister agree that the main focus of the…30 Sept 2020HANSARDPerforming Arts: Job Support SchemeMy Lords, the arts and creative industries find themselves at the bottom of the Chancellor’s new economic package. However, they are an enormous help in sustaining well-being in…29 Sept 2020HANSARDHealth Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions on Gatherings) (North of England) Regulations 2020My Lords, first, it would be a little irresponsible for a doctor to stop giving medicine to a seriously ill patient at the slightest sign of improvement. Does the Minister agree…25 Sept 2020HANSARDEU Exit: End of Transition PeriodMy Lords, the Statement gives a sombre picture of what could happen on our exit from the EU, with only 24% of businesses believing that they are ready. We are reminded that the…24 Sept 2020