Contributions
90 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBirmingham: Waste CollectionMy Lords, in my experience, it is not helpful to comment on the complexities of a dispute from a distance. However, I am sure everybody in this House supports the view that this…24 Apr 2025HANSARDTackling Child Sexual AbuseMy Lords, my noble friend Lady Brinton should be speaking on this Statement on our behalf, but, unfortunately, she has been unwell and so cannot be with us. From these Benches, I…22 Apr 2025HANSARDLocal Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025My Lords, I am pleased to follow the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, but let me just point out to him that politicians do not want elections when they know they are going to lose, and they…24 Mar 2025HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperMy Lords, on these Benches we welcome the encouragement the Government are giving to improving apprenticeships, reforming jobcentres and investing in the health service to cut…27 Nov 2024HANSARDFuture of the Post OfficeMy Lords, I welcome the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, to his new Front-Bench role. The Post Office organisation is another problem area left by the previous Government. The Horizon…18 Nov 2024HANSARDArrangement of BusinessMy Lords, I join in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, on his appointment. I look forward to working with him on the Government Benches. I also pay tribute to the former…18 Jul 2024HANSARDLower Thames Crossing: Development ConsentMy Lords, does this issue reflect the general incompetence of the Government in dealing with large infrastructure projects, or is it due to the fact that over the last 14 years,…29 Apr 2024HANSARDPollution in Rivers and Regulation of Private Water CompaniesMy Lords, I am grateful to the House for allowing me to speak in the gap. I want to make three brief points, while declaring my interests as living in the Meon Valley in Hampshire…29 Feb 2024HANSARDRoyal Navy: Aircraft CarriersCould the Minister tell us how many other UK vessels are available to accompany and defend our aircraft carrier going to the Red Sea?12 Feb 2024HANSARDUkrainian HolodomorMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Risby, for initiating this debate and for a brilliant, concise and clear statement of the case. It is always slightly difficult to follow…23 Nov 2023HANSARDCar IndustryMy Lords, the news from Vauxhall should not have surprised anybody. These Benches have been warning about these problems for the last five years, ever since we launched this…17 May 2023HANSARDLeasehold ReformMy Lords, in 2020 the Law Commission recommended commonhold ownership as an option. I thought the Minister committed to that in her Answer. Can she tell us how the Government see…23 Mar 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, I must apologise that my noble friend Lord Purvis cannot be here with us today. He was coming down from the Borders, but he was unfortunately grounded by the winds at UK…13 Mar 2023HANSARDHS2: DelayMy Lords, is this Statement not yet another sign of the Government levelling down rather than levelling up? It is a carefully crafted Statement drafted to let us down gently.…10 Mar 2023HANSARDPlymouth ShootingsMy Lords, I thank the Government for their Statement. The horrifying and tragic events in Plymouth remind us all that guns are lethal weapons and should be kept out of the wrong…22 Feb 2023HANSARDMobile Homes (Pitch Fees) BillMy Lords, I am grateful to the House for allowing me to speak in the gap. I associate our group with the objectives of the Bill. Occupants of mobile homes are a very disadvantaged…03 Feb 2023HANSARDVoter Identification Regulations 2022If registration is so important—I agree that it is—why did the Government not start this process when they started the campaigns for registration in September, rather than…13 Dec 2022HANSARDCalled-in Planning Decision: West CumbriaI endorse the remarks just made by the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman. I agree completely with them so I will not repeat them, but I will make a couple of points. First, this is not…08 Dec 2022HANSARDCalled-in Planning Decision: West CumbriaCan the Minister clarify where this coal—the 85%—is going? Is the European single market likely to accept it?08 Dec 2022HANSARDG20I thank the Leader of the House for delivering the Statement. I am standing in for my noble friend Lord Newby, who cannot be here this evening. I welcome the outcome of the G20…17 Nov 2022