Results 1-20 of 838 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Lord Addington

Armed Forces: Future Defence Policy — Motion to Take Note (6 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, this debate is one of those where a summing-up is either a joy because you have so much to go for, or a complete nightmare because there is so much to talk about. I pay the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, yet another career-damaging compliment when I say that he started with a worryingly fair and even-handed speech. Indeed, it was reassuring and relaxing to hear something that did not...

Disabled People: Student Loans — Question (5 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to investigate the problems caused to disabled students who are not receiving their support through the student loans system.

Disabled People: Student Loans — Question (5 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: I thank the Minister for that answer, but is he aware that there is overwhelming evidence from various bodies that students are not getting their support? Exactly who is responsible for breaking the commitments made in numerous Acts, many of which were passed by this Government? Whose head is ultimately on the block here and how many commitments have actually been broken?

Disabled People: Student Loans — Question (5 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, the noble Lord is wrong about that. Students are starting their courses, which are dependent upon this assistance that they are not receiving. Will the noble Lord kindly tell us correctly, ignoring the report, what will be done about this and when the Government will correct it for this year?

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Report (1st Day) (Continued) (2 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, I thank the Government for bringing forward Amendment 120. Without it, the Bill would have been a hugely retrograde step. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Young, for tabling the amendment, for the meeting that he held, and for the way in which he told us about it. This may be asking for the cherry on the top of the cake as well, but I hope he can confirm, given the traditions and...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Report (1st Day) (Continued) (2 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, I thank Ministers for all the work that they have done in changing the Bill. Will they please go back to their various departments and ensure that the wording that stirs up this sort of hornets' nest unnecessarily never appears again? As those of us who have been involved in these processes over many years know, that is not the intention of many Governments in their legislation on...

Elections: Armed Forces — Question (2 Nov 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, while associating these Benches with the tributes made by the noble Baroness earlier, can she think of another group who should be encouraged to take part in general elections as strongly as our serving personnel? Will the Government ensure that everything is done to allow them to take part as there cannot be a more deserving or important group?

Education (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 — Motion to Resolve (29 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, first, I must apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Verma, for missing the first couple of minutes of her speech. Pagers that are constantly buzzing and repeating messages occasionally do not get picked up on time. The idea of SENCOs being properly trained is not one that I have an instinctive reaction against. The idea that we might be getting rid of qualified teachers who are...

Education (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 — Motion to Resolve (29 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, I want to be clear about that. Is it right that those who took qualifications some time ago and who have kept up to date through correspondence and so forth will be encouraged to take an assessment of the level of their skills base?

Autism — Question (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: If these are not warm words, when will the Government have people properly trained in jobcentres to deal with people with disabilities and to give them the correct advice?

Autism — Question (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, the most depressing thing about this debate is that we have heard it all before in the context of other disabilities. The pattern of "if you do not spot it, you do not put in any money or effort, and you do not have anything" is quite clearly seen throughout the briefing and in the experiences that have been discussed in this debate. When I read the information that was provided by...

Iraq — Question (22 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, what is the status of the servicemen undertaking this training? If the security situation deteriorated around them, would they be treated as front-line troops or would they be withdrawn? We do need to know that.

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill — Committee (8th Day) (Continued) (15 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, I am afraid that this is an amendment where I am inspired to become involved by my noble colleague's speech. Once again, most of the objectives would seem traditionally to have been covered by best practice. Could the Minister give us an assurance that the reasonable adjustments of the DDA would be possible without this insertion into the Bill? The idea of saying "You cannot read",...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (8th Day) (15 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, which was slightly more helpful than I had expected, but nowhere near as helpful as I had hoped. I could wax long about the importance of volunteers in sport but I think that noble Lords' attention would wane if I did so. The Government have said that funding routes are available in this regard. However, it is evident that volunteer coaches do...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (8th Day) (15 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: With this amendment we go slightly away from the main thrust of most of the discussion. The Bill is entitled Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, and I consider that sporting activity is covered under skills, children and learning. The Government should provide greater financial resources for sporting activity given that they are encouraging everybody to be more active and...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (8th Day) (15 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: I thank the Minister for his comments and for the meetings, but will he also ensure as he goes through this that everything is at least within the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act? As the Bill is drafted, there may be a legal challenge against it. It has what I, and many people to whom I have spoken, regard as an arbitrary element, although the Minister did not like that term when...

Armed Forces: Pensions — Question (14 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, when many of these cases are brought to public attention it always appears that the law is, at least to some extent, an ass. Will the Government undertake to ensure that everybody knows exactly why these decisions have been made, and that this is put into the general media so that we can at least understand what the Government say, even if we still disagree with it?

Armed Forces: Parachuting — Question (14 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: My Lords, is it not the case that parachutists who complete the course get a bonus in their pay packet? Are we not effectively depriving a number of our troops of a bonus that they would have expected to get in their wages?

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (6th Day)(Continued) (12 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: In moving this amendment I shall also speak to Amendment 211A. The aim of these amendments is to expose what may be an unintentional result of some of the changes that the Government are proposing. The amendments were suggested by the Alliance for Inclusive Education, also known as Alfie. The alliance suggests that the Government's new funding structure may punish those who bring people with...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (6th Day)(Continued) (12 Oct 2009)

Lord Addington: It is late.