Contributions
1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBusiness and Planning BillMy Lords, I put my name to the noble Baroness’s amendment to indicate cross-party support, and I now add a brief footnote to her excellent speech. Winding up the Second Reading…13 Jul 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Local Government FinanceMy Lords, further to the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, on financial stability, local authorities borrow substantial sums of money from the market. While some…07 Jul 2020HANSARDBusiness and Planning BillMy Lords, others have raised the concerns of inner-city residents about the implications of Clause 11, which will encourage drinking in the streets into the early hours, and I…06 Jul 2020HANSARDPension Schemes Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank noble Lords who have taken part in this debate, not least my noble friend Lord Howe for his response to the issues raised. I repeat the welcome given by all…30 Jun 2020HANSARDPension Schemes Bill [HL]My Lords, I will add a brief footnote to the powerful case made by the noble Baroness, Lady Bowles. She referred to the Railways Pension Scheme. As Secretary of State for…30 Jun 2020HANSARDPension Schemes Bill [HL]My Lords, Amendment 53 in my name presses the Government to clarify progress on identity verification. This is crucial because without a system for identity verification—proving…30 Jun 2020HANSARDPension Schemes Bill [HL]30 Jun 2020HANSARDHouse of Lords: SizeMy Lords, last July the Burns committee produced its third report with benchmarks for year 3, indicating by how much each group should reduce its numbers if we were to hit the…23 Jun 2020HANSARDEmissions: HousingMy Lords, in its report on energy efficiency last year, the BEIS Select Committee recommended that the winter fuel payment, which costs around £3 billion per year, be refocused…22 Jun 2020HANSARDManifesto CommitmentsI am very grateful to my noble friend for that reply, but one of the commitments in the manifesto said: “We will not borrow to fund day-to-day spending”. Another promised that the…16 Jun 2020HANSARDManifesto CommitmentsTo ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review their manifesto commitments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.16 Jun 2020HANSARDBanks: Authorised Push Payment FraudMy Lords, this crime is so prevalent because of the ease with which fraudsters can open bank accounts with false details. Does my noble friend agree that responsibility for paying…11 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: AviationMy Lords, the challenges facing the UK aviation industry are replicated throughout the world. The International Civil Aviation Organization has set up an aviation recovery task…04 Jun 2020HANSARDUK Shared Prosperity FundMy Lords, the assurance that the Minister has just given on funding is very welcome. Do the Government propose to invite competitive bids for the prosperity fund in England and…21 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: HousingMy Lords, one constraint on the construction industry as it recovers from recession is the shortage of skilled workers from the EU, who have left and are unlikely to return. What…18 May 2020HANSARDHousing for the HomelessMy Lords, we are grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bird, not just for this short debate but for the work that he has done over the past three decades in helping rough sleepers to…14 May 2020HANSARDCensus (England and Wales) Order 2020My Lords, as the Minister who took the Census Act through your Lordships’ House last year—I am grateful to the Minister today for his kind words—I have a paternal interest in this…12 May 2020HANSARDIncome Equality and SustainabilityMy Lords, the House is grateful to the most reverend Primate for this debate. It is timely because the Government are about to embark both on a spending review and a Budget which…06 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: People Living in PovertyMy Lords, it is difficult to find any silver lining in this corona-cloud, but the response to Louise Casey’s request for help for some of the poorest in our society, namely the…30 Apr 2020HANSARDVagrancy Act 1824My Lords, I am grateful to my noble and learned friend for that reply. Does he agree that attitudes to those who sleep rough have softened over the past 200 years and that…23 Apr 2020