Contributions
541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAssistive TechnologyMy Lords, the present system is time-consuming, as the pupil often has to wait quite a long time, and it is costly. Would it not be sensible to use the expertise of qualified…20 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillNobody has spoken from these Benches because we did not expect to be talking in generalities. We welcome this very important Bill. As I listened to some important contributions, I…20 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, on these Benches we very much believe that there should be an independent and suitably trained person; that is really important to us. We also appreciate that if this…20 May 2025HANSARDSchools: Mobile PhonesI agree with what the Minister has said. One of the problems with mobile phones is to do with children’s mental health and well-being—and, of course, bullying. Mobile phones are…12 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I start by congratulating my noble friend Lord Mohammed of Tinsley and the noble Lord, Lord Biggar, on their maiden speeches. I also of course welcome them to the House.…01 May 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is not often that you are involved in a Bill and everyone agrees what the outcome should be and realises that the issue is more important than anything else. I…30 Apr 2025HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly on these two amendments. I come from the Blair school of thought on this matter, in that if we make our state schools as good as they possibly can…18 Mar 2025HANSARDNational Youth StrategyMy Lords, I declare an interest as a patron of Career Connect and patron of the Royal Life Saving Society UK. A new national youth strategy that engages and empowers young people…13 Mar 2025HANSARDIndustrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2025My Lords, I always remember how the late Lord Andrew Stunell, who was a spokesperson at one stage for the construction industry, used to rage at us about the huge shortages in…10 Mar 2025HANSARDSchools: Mobile PhonesMy Lords, the Minister is right that there is a place, I suppose, for phones in schools in terms of learning. Equally, parents think that, if the child has a phone, they are far…06 Mar 2025HANSARDHigher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025It always seemed to me that were almost gloating about this, but what a fine way to show that in the financing of our university sector, or in how we look after our students in…03 Mar 2025HANSARDHigher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025My Lords, the Minister is right to talk about financial sustainability. She is also right to talk about how we must value students. I remember quite clearly how the noble Lord,…03 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is appropriate that during National Apprenticeship Week we are coming to the end of the first part of this Bill. It was one of those few Bills where it was a pleasure…11 Feb 2025HANSARDRecruitment of TeachersMy Lords, the Minister has inherited a situation where we have the highest number of teachers leaving the profession and the fewest people wanting to go into teaching. As she…06 Feb 2025HANSARDLifelong LearningMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Knight, for securing this debate; I felt that I was honoured to be listening to a first-class university lecture. Like the noble Lord, Lord…06 Feb 2025HANSARDSchool Accountability and InterventionMy Lords, not having been a Minister, I am not sure of these terms such as 2RI+, but perhaps I will learn. In Oral Questions this morning, the noble Baroness, Lady Barran, raised…06 Feb 2025HANSARDAstraZenecaMy Lords, when the former Chancellor announced that AstraZeneca was set to inject £450 million into the establishment of a new manufacturing plant in Liverpool, the metro mayor…06 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]It always concerns me that when new Governments come in, they invariably get rid of particular bodies and create their own. For example, the previous Labour Government set up the…05 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]My Lords, the Minister makes very strongly the case for skills, in terms of the Government’s agenda for growth, which is something we all support. As a nation, we have been slow…05 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]I support and echo what the noble Lord, Lord Ravensdale, said, particularly on local and regional skills. It is important that our growth strategy is linked to the skills that we…05 Feb 2025