Contributions
107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLocal Councillors: Recruitment, Retention and Well-beingMy Lords, I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Forbes, for initiating this important debate. Abuse of local councillors is not new; I am afraid it goes back a long time. I was…04 Jun 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate today. Before I start, I congratulate the Government on the announcements today on the Gulf free trade agreement.…21 May 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechDoes the Minister agree that there is a key opportunity to reposition increased defence spending as an engine for domestic renewal and regional growth? If we anchor our sovereign…21 May 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I will speak to a number of the amendments laid in my name, starting with Amendments 24 and 25. Noble Lords will note that Amendment 24 seeks to establish a national…03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, my Amendment 136A deals with the rapid emergence of devices with a very high puff count—so-called “big puff” devices—which are clearly designed to circumvent the spirit…03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes Bill03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, while I am on my feet moving Amendment 149, I will also talk about the other amendments in my name. We must prevent an indiscriminate or blanket prohibition without…03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI thank the Minister for her explanations and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, it is really hard to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, when she gives a speech like that. Amendments 193, 194, 197 and 198 hope to address the powers to designate…03 Mar 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes Bill24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI will briefly speak to Amendment 26, which is in my name, about the cost implications for small retailers and convenience stores. It is really a plea to the Minister to make some…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, the purpose of my amendment to Clause 10 is simply to ensure that heated tobacco products are explicitly addressed within the age of sale framework. I am strongly of the…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI thank the Minister for her reassurances, although I am afraid that I do not agree with her. However, I accept that we have taken this as far as we can. I beg leave to withdraw…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI shall talk about the two amendments in my name. First, the Bill does not provide a deterrent; the proposed fixed penalty of £200 is nothing to those involved in this illicit…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes Bill13 Nov 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, in speaking to all the amendments in this group—Amendments 140AA, 140C, 140D, 140E, 147A and 147B—I seek your Lordships’ support to ensure that the Bill is both…13 Nov 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI thank everybody who has taken part in this debate. I shall return to this argument in a later group, so I will leave it at that and beg leave to withdraw the amendment.13 Nov 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes Bill13 Nov 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Mott is unfortunately ill, so with the permission of the Committee I shall move this amendment for him. I have made a few notes of my own, so this…13 Nov 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI am happy to withdraw Amendment 142.13 Nov 2025