Contributions
225 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is an honour to speak on this short Bill, which seeks to extend by five years the period in which vacancies among our Lords spiritual are filled predominantly by…10 Sept 2024HANSARDPharmacies: Rural AreasMy Lords, I am chair of the Plunkett Foundation’s inquiry into the state of rural retail, in particular the loss of wholesale supply chains essential to the survival of rural…10 Sept 2024HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT ExemptionMy Lords, it seems that this is a debate somewhat about privilege and so I should declare some privileges as I start. The first is the privilege to listen to such an interesting,…05 Sept 2024HANSARDSocial DisorderMy Lords, the riots were deplorable and their perpetrators and instigators are criminals. Those criminals feed on a real fear, however, and a dangerous sense of dislocation among…04 Sept 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a pleasure to return refreshed from recess. I trust that the Government are refreshed as well, despite their rather riotous summer. This is, as has been…02 Sept 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]Before the Minister sits down, I remind him that I asked a number of specific questions, as well as making some general points. I also emailed him in advance with those questions.…02 Sept 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, it is always a poignant honour to attend His Majesty’s gracious Speech in this House, perhaps never more so than when it may be the very last to which I am invited.…18 Jul 2024HANSARDWater Companies: Licence ConditionsMy Lords, given the increasing regulatory and compliance burdens on water companies due to the Environment Act and such other essential recent legislation, is it not simply…01 May 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform BillMy Lords, I too was unable to speak at Second Reading, and I apologise for that. However, I was able to attend much of the debate and to listen to a number of your Lordships’…22 Apr 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform BillJust to return to the National Trust exemption, are the Government satisfied that there are no other institutions similar to the National Trust that have similar obligations of…22 Apr 2024HANSARDInternational Mother Earth DayThe Minister recognises the importance of indigenous land management for environmental benefit. Can he comment on why upland farmers in the UK are so mistreated by the SFI as it…22 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Meals for ChildrenMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the best source of food for schools is locally sourced, sustainably grown produce from identifiable farms that have an educational…20 Mar 2024HANSARDHome Insulation: Health and Mortality RatesMy Lords, to follow up on the issue of failed government schemes, would the noble Lord care to comment on the green homes grant scheme, which failed in 2021? As I understand it,…19 Mar 2024HANSARDBiomass: Power GenerationMy Lords, the renewable credentials of biomass are dependent on the trees cut down being replaced by trees that survive and live to full growth. Sure enough, the tragic disease…13 Mar 2024HANSARDLand Use FrameworkMy Lords, I attended a soil health conference this morning which was excellently chaired by the noble Baronesses, Lady Hayman and Lady Bennett. Soil health is synonymous with…12 Mar 2024HANSARDEnvironment Agency: Flood Defence ExpenditureMy Lords, I live and farm in a community that was inundated by inches of rain in a couple of hours last September. The 400 year-old school is no longer usable and ancient houses…20 Feb 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan. I much enjoyed the three maiden speeches delivered today and I welcome and congratulate all our new Members.…14 Nov 2023HANSARDArtificial Intelligence: RegulationMy Lords, the Government have noted that AI’s large language models are trained using copyrighted data and content that is scraped from the internet. This will constitute…14 Nov 2023HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration BillMy Lords, I had not expected to speak but this interesting debate has raised a couple of questions which maybe the Minister or the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, may address,…13 Sept 2023HANSARDNew HomesMy Lords, for some weeks we have heard scare stories that 100,000 new homes are blocked by the rules on nutrient neutrality. I am therefore glad that the Government have debunked…12 Sept 2023