Results 1-20 of 751 for speaker:Baroness O'Cathain

Small Businesses: Late Payments — Question (11 June 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I ask my noble friend whether it is a great thing that 75% of the FTSE 100 who actually pay have subscribed to this code? First, a code is a code, not a law. Circumstances are such now, with austerity in such a state, that we ought to look at this seriously. If 75% of the FTSE 100 pay on time, that still leaves one in four of our major companies that do not. I also support the point...

Queen’s Speech — Debate (2nd Day) (9 May 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, it is a great honour to take part in the debate on the most gracious Speech. Reading through the speech several times, I was struck by how central to everything is the economic situation in this country and how we have to measure everything against that. The first statement in the gracious Speech is: “My Government’s legislative programme will continue to focus on...

Queen’s Speech — Debate (2nd Day) (9 May 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: I could never have said it as well as that, but I thank my noble friend. What is likely to be the reaction of those who have been made summarily redundant and have to rely on food banks to tide them over until they can access benefits, of those thousands of young people whom I have already described, who are living in a state of deep concern, and of pensioners holding steadfastly to values...

Procedure of the House — Motion to Resolve (24 April 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I think the noble Lord should cast his mind back to what happens on such occasions. I always note just how courteous people are about not interrupting people with mobility issues, and we all listen very intently to them. Actually, they normally obey the rules much better than those of us who are able-bodied.

Death of a Member: Baroness Thatcher — Tributes (10 April 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, this has been a remarkable day-one that none of us who has sat through it will ever forget. Of course, it is also a very sad day. It is a day of finality-a day when we know that we will never have Margaret Thatcher in our midst again. Having said that, we of course send our condolences to the family. As I do that, I am convinced that once the raw effects of bereavement-and they can...

UK: Poverty — Question (25 March 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, is not the use of the term "food banks" confusing to many people? They are actually temporary measures for people who are suddenly put out of work and do not have enough cash to feed children and so on. Normally, the food banks under the Trussell Trust give families food for three days while it puts them in touch with social services, charities and other organisations. If there is...

Crime: Stalking — Question (12 March 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My noble friend has been very informative about what has happened. After all, nothing was done-there is no point in the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, shaking his head-by the previous Government. Does my noble friend have any idea whether any advice is given to girls, particularly in the last stages of their schooling, about what could happen and what advantages there are in learning how to avoid...

Dyslexia: Apprenticeships — Question (28 February 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, perhaps I could ask my noble friend whether any trainers are available for people in this House, either as Members or working for the House. The spectrum of dyslexia is more serious in some cases than others. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs trainers for the people who work there. I am sure that the Minister will not have a reply to this, but it would be very useful for...

Death Penalty — Question (26 February 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, told us about the dreadful situation facing Mr Hill, and my noble friend agreed that she would “write” about this issue. However, today is 26 February and the execution is, I understand, due to take place on 1 March. Can we do something a bit more than write? Can you not make a positive statement that you are going to do something...

Electoral Registration and Administration Bill — Order of Consideration Motion (17 January 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, does that mean that the demands of time for the Electoral Commission are more important than the demands of time for us to make sure that what we decide on is the right way of tackling this Bill?

Gender Balance among Non-Executive Directors (EUC Report): Motion to Take Note (10 January 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: I thank the noble Baroness for giving way. This same argument came up before. This has nothing whatever to do with the place of women as non-executive directors on boards of listed companies. The opposition spokesperson in the other place went that way in his opening statement as well but then came firmly down against quotas and for the reasoned opinion.

Gender Balance among Non-Executive Directors (EUC Report): Motion to Take Note (10 January 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I support the Motion. Before giving my reasons for doing so, I want to reassure the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, whom I greatly admire, particularly for his assiduousness in pursuing all the nooks and crannies of European legislation. As far as we know, eight member governments and parliaments are against this draft directive, which is just under a third. As there are 27 members and...

Gender Balance among Non-Executive Directors (EUC Report): Motion to Take Note (10 January 2013)

Baroness O'Cathain: The fact is that we were determined that it had to be absolutely evidence-based. Do not worry-we went to McKinsey. We do not have firm evidence for that; in fact, figures were floating around which were withdrawn when we started to pursue that assertion.

Older People: Their Place and Contribution in Society — Motion to Take Note (14 December 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, it is typical of the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury that in his last debate in this House as archbishop he chose to move that we take note of the place and contribution of older people in society. It is a mark of the huge compassion that he has shown us for the past 10 years and we will certainly miss all his contributions, I hope only temporarily. He also knows...

Energy: Tariffs — Question (13 December 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, what is the future for smart meters? All the evidence suggests that smart meters, when installed in the home, cut the cost of electricity, but not to the detriment of heating. They seem to be able to do it in such a way, through the mechanics of the thing, as to benefit the consumer completely. Is the same attitude being taken by the energy companies as was taken by the water...

Parliamentary Privilege — Membership Motion (11 December 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, perhaps I may ask the Chairman of Committees for his great advice on how to tackle this, to make sure that we do not develop into a second House of Laity of the Church of England and have no women on any of these committees.

United States Budget: Economic Impact — Question (10 December 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, can we not realise that trade is a two-way thing? It is import substitution and exports. We should encourage more import substitution in all our purchasing in this country. It is never mentioned and there is no reason why some of the wonderful British goods that are exported to earn foreign currencies should not be bought by people here, thereby reducing our imports.

EU Report: Women on Boards — Question for Short Debate (13 November 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, this is a time when we are making history. The report of the European Union Committee on Women on Boards was published last Friday and we are debating it tonight, which is two working days. This is excellent, of course, but it gives no time whatever for a government response. We hope that they will give one in due course and we look forward to that. Gender equality has long been one...

Inheritance (Cohabitants) Bill [HL]: Second Reading (19 October 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I oppose the Bill because I believe in the importance of marriage. Before continuing, I have to say that we have had very thoughtful contributions from all speakers. Most have been clear, but there have been some legal situations that I, as a non-legal person, cannot really put my head round. I will, however, make some conclusions at the end of my speech. My first concern is that...

Equality: EC Policies on Women on Corporate Boards — Question (17 October 2012)

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the work commissioned by this Government and continued by the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Abersoch, still continues and that he is very concerned about the issue raised by my noble friend on the pipeline leading to executive directors? I am convinced that progress has been made since 2010 whereby 13.3% of FTSE 100 companies had women on boards at that...