Results 1-20 of 1,738 for in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates' speaker:Baroness Walmsley

Adoption: Adoption Legislation Committee Reports — Motion to Take Note (16 May 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, this debate has been interesting, stimulating and challenging, as was membership of the committee. I am sure that the debate will continue to be as stimulating. Being on such a committee, so ably led by the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, was a great honour and pleasure. One felt that one was doing something really worth while. I very much thank her, the members of...

Queen’s Speech — Debate (4th Day) (14 May 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I like roundabouts. They often have flowers on them and are very good reservoirs for wildlife. I shall focus my remarks on the Children and Families Bill that is currently going through another place. I am pleased to say that there are several things to welcome; for example, the improvements in the independence of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Like Oliver Twist, I...

House of Lords: Oral Questions — Question (21 March 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: Does my noble friend agree that there are occasions when certain Members of this House who find some difficulty in standing up quickly should be shown a little more patience by the rest of the House?

Schools: Academies — Question (14 February 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: Will the Minister say how many academy schools are fulfilling their duty to support other schools to improve? Is he satisfied with that number? I have an indication that not all academy schools are doing that.

Education: English Baccalaureate Certificate — Question (24 January 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: Does my noble friend the Minister accept that assessment only by examination at the end of the course discriminates against girls and some pupils with particular disabilities, who find that they can demonstrate their learning more effectively through coursework? If there is some concern about cheating in coursework, surely there is another way to deal with that problem, rather than just...

Helicopter Flights: Central London — Question (22 January 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that the planning application for the very tall tower into whose crane the helicopter may have crashed was turned down by Lambeth Council following massive objection from local residents? It was then passed by the Planning Inspectorate. I declare an interest as a local resident. Do the Government think that the criteria used by the Planning...

Children: Suicide and Self-harm — Question (22 January 2013)

Baroness Walmsley: Is my noble friend aware that the cluster of young suicides in Bridgend, south Wales, was no coincidence? It was preceded by the dissemination of very worrying images of suicide not just on internet sites but also in films and plays? What can the Government do to make theatre and film companies aware of the potential for damage to young, vulnerable and immature minds when these dark subjects...

Children: Child Protection — Question (22 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords-

Children: Child Protection — Question (22 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: Will the Minister join me in condemning those who called yesterday's excellent report "hysterical"? The evidence was extremely sound. Will she encourage those who inspect local authorities to ensure that if authorities do not take into account the very clear evidence about the factors which lead to a young girl being abused, they should be downgraded when they are inspected?

Schools: Parenthood Education — Question (13 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, will my noble friend look at the work being done by David Lammy MP with teenage fathers from the Afro-Caribbean community, with a view to learning whatever lessons are appropriate from that work? Is this not an area where we ought to be able to work cross-party?

Education: Early Years — Motion to Take Note (8 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his very full reply and all noble Lords who have taken part in this very wide-ranging debate. We have had everything from brain development, early intervention, the international perspective, parenting and preparation for parenting, to funding issues, the connection with social mobility and well-being, communication skills and the all-important...

Education: Early Years — Motion to Take Note (8 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, many years ago someone described this country as an island standing on coal and surrounded by fish. Nowadays the treasure of our country is our people and our future fortune is our children. That is why the way in which we nurture and teach them, especially in the early years, is so important to their and our economic future. But we must not just talk about economics. One of the...

North Wales Abuse Allegations — Statement (6 November 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, following on from what the noble Earl has just asked, will the reports that the Minister has just announced be free to make recommendations to public services and organisations? It seems likely that recommendations will be made to social services, the criminal justice system and the police. Health services, such as STD clinics where young girls go over and over again, are very often...

Education: English Baccalaureate — Question (22 October 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: Is the department considering including computer science in the EBacc certificate? I mean real computer science and not just how to use applications.

Antarctica: Centenary of Scott Expedition — Motion to Take Note (18 October 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Hooper for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to those of other noble Lords in objecting to the NERC proposal to merge BAS and NOC. It is short-sighted and dangerous, will not necessarily save money and must not happen. Along with the noble Lords, Lord Oxburgh and Lord Mitchell, I visited the Antarctic and the Falkland Islands in January 2004 for...

Education: Development of Excellence — Motion to Take Note (18 October 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I, too, congratulate my noble friend Lady Perry on introducing this important debate. I am sure we all want the outcomes she described, but we may not all believe in the same methods to achieve them. To my mind, there are two requirements before an excellent education can be achieved: the first is excellent teachers and the second is eager children who have been prepared through...

Child Development — Debate (11 October 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chester for introducing this important topic. Our people are our national capital, which is why I agree with the premise of the right revered Prelate's speech that child development has a major effect on national well-being and, of course, the economy. If we were manufacturers, wanting to produce a high-quality product, we would not...

Schools: Children in Care — Question (18 July 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, in 2008, under the previous Government, we had the Boarding School Provision for Vulnerable Children pathfinder. Since we should be in favour of evidence-based policy, can my noble friend tell me whether that pathfinder has been evaluated, what the results were and whether the Government will take action along those lines?

Education (Exemption from School Inspection) (England) Regulations 2012 — Motion of Regret (17 July 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: Since my noble friend appears to be drawing his remarks to a close, will he write to me about the questions that I asked him?

Education (Exemption from School Inspection) (England) Regulations 2012 — Motion of Regret (17 July 2012)

Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, I do not have a "pathetic faith" in inspections, as my noble friend Lady Perry of Southwark, put it, as may become clear as I progress through my comments. The Explanatory Memorandum is very interesting and raises a number of issues. I am not against exempting outstanding schools and giving them more autonomy, as long as the risk assessment described in the memorandum is rigorous...