Contributions
219 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL]I would embrace the noble Lord as any father would.13 Mar 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]Is it not a fact that in previous debates, the noble Lord endorsed a hotel tax—a view shared by many of us—quite enthusiastically, whereas his noble friend Lord Addington…25 Feb 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]Is my noble friend aware that the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London intends to fight the mayoral campaign later this year with one of his policies being the right to levy…25 Feb 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak to this group of amendments, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan. He has a distinguished record both as an athlete and as a Minister.…25 Feb 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My Lords, I fear the sense of anticipation outlined by the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, will be equalled only by the sense of disappointment when I sit down. Speaking in these…25 Feb 2020HANSARDSmart MotorwaysMy Lords, like previous speakers I thank the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, for introducing this debate. It is apparent that smart motorways have few friends—other than perhaps in…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]Fine, I promise not to overegg it too much in the future, although I am sorely tempted if my noble friend will be as complimentary as he appears to be. Birmingham New Street…03 Feb 2020HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the Minister. I welcome her comments, as I am sure they will be much welcomed in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. We spent considerable…03 Feb 2020HANSARDHigh Speed Rail (West Midlands–Crewe) BillMy Lords, as a former railwayman I have never made any secret of my support for this scheme, which in my view ought to go ahead as quickly as possible. The fact that both your…09 Sept 2019HANSARDHigh Speed Rail (West Midlands–Crewe) BillDoes the Minister agree that those who demand longer tunnels and deeper cuttings are usually the ones who then complain about the extra costs there involved?09 Sept 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]Do we get a discount?24 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]I point out to my noble friend that not only is there no Chancellor but we have an old Etonian Prime Minister taking office shortly—I think he has taken office. We also have—on…24 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]I think that I can handle most things that the noble Baroness throws at me in this place. Of course, it is not the first time that the noble Lord has defended the Government;…24 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My Lords, I support my noble friend in these two amendments. I shall try not to repeat anything that I said in Committee, but I want to express my disappointment with the…24 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My noble friend asks if I pay. Well, I would not normally stay at the Crowne Plaza unless there was a pretty severe domestic dispute chez Snape—which has not yet happened, but one…09 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]Well, it would be the George V, in that case, for the noble Lord. Again, for the United Kingdom, this proposal would not be particularly revolutionary. As a result of escaping the…09 Jul 2019HANSARDBirmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]My Lords, I too rise to support this amendment, moved by my noble friend Lord Rooker. However, I do not underestimate the difficulties of a tax like this. My noble friend became a…09 Jul 2019HANSARDRailways: South-eastern FranchiseDoes the Minister agree that it was perhaps an unfortunate business for the coalition Government—which I recollect included the Liberal party—to vote to sell Britain’s first…04 Jul 2019HANSARDPublicly Funded Infrastructure ProjectsI am referring to the Channel Tunnel.02 Jul 2019HANSARDPublicly Funded Infrastructure ProjectsNo, I just said that my noble friend did not say it should be cancelled, despite the massive cost overrun—about which I do not remember him complaining at the time, although I…02 Jul 2019