Results 1-20 of 973 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 Barker

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: One thing that has not changed in the past six years is that the best children's hospital in Europe, if not the world, is not a foundation trust. That is not insignificant because part of the problem with this debate is that it is wholly out of context. The noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, tried to allude to the complex discussions around the establishment of foundation trusts. What he did...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, throughout the deliberations on this Bill, as noble Lords who took part in all of them may recall, I have at times been equally uncompelled by the campaign run by ASH as by the one run by the manufacturers. At times I have found both to be somewhat overstated. I have therefore spent all the time we have deliberated on this Bill coming at every issue and briefing with considerable...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I shall follow on from the last point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, about timescales. The noble Earl, Lord Howe, was right to remind us that these decisions are often made in the glare of publicity when something has gone seriously wrong. We are not talking simply about financial mismanagement; as the Minister said in her introductory remarks, we are talking about the...

Health: Side Effects of Medication — Question (3 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: Does the Minister agree that it would be beneficial if all pharmaceutical companies were required to print information about the half-life of tranquillisers and anti-depressant drugs, so that individuals trying to manage the process of coming off them could do so knowing what the effects were likely to be over a short period?

Health: Tobacco Products — Question (2 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords—

Health: Tobacco Products — Question (2 Nov 2009)

Baroness Barker: Can the Minister assure the House that the implementation of Section 3 of the Health Act will be carried out in conjunction with trading standards officers so that while the clear intent of Parliament to ban tobacco advertising and vending machines is carried out, it is done in such a way that it is as feasible as possible for retailers to comply with the law?

Health: Alcohol — Question (27 Oct 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I declare an interest in the subject, one that I hope will continue for a very long time. What is the department doing to encourage pubs to serve wine in 125 millilitre glasses—small glasses—so that people who want to enjoy a glass of wine and stay within the limits can do so safely?

Health: Tuberculosis — Question (26 Oct 2009)

Baroness Barker: Does the noble Baroness agree that it is in the interests of general public health that people who are at risk of developing TB are encouraged to go for early diagnosis and treatment? Can she confirm that it is not a requirement that a person has to be resident in the United Kingdom to receive diagnosis and treatment? If it is, can she tell the House whether that is a central message in the...

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009 — Motion for an Humble Address (21 Oct 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for his Motion, which has precipitated this debate. These matters are so important that it is vital that this House debates them extensively. Therefore, I welcome this evening's debate. When I looked at these regulations for the first time a couple of weeks ago my initial reaction was that they raised a whole raft of new, very important ethical...

Nursing and Midwifery Council — Question (12 Oct 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, the Prime Minister announced earlier this year that there would be a commission on the future of nursing and midwifery. Will that commission address how nurses and midwives should be held accountable for their actions?

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009: Motion to Approve (7 Jul 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, when the noble Lord referred throughout his speech to evidence relating to the importance of fathers, what evidence exactly was he citing? Was he, for example, citing the document produced by Christian Action, Research and Education, which was referred to throughout the passage of the Act?

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009: Motion to Approve (7 Jul 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, for the eloquent way in which he introduced the regulations. I, too, put on record my thanks to the officials who briefed me and the noble Earl, Lord Howe, last week. It was a most helpful meeting. I have a few questions and points I wish to raise. I will deal with these regulations in the order in which the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, introduced...

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009: Motion to Approve (7 Jul 2009)

Baroness Barker: Quite so, my Lords. The procedures to be followed by this appeals committee follow established principles and practices in similar organisations. It is helpful that appellants, witnesses and advisers should have a clear understanding of the procedure to be followed in the event of a dispute. I have one small technical question. Regulations 17, 18 and 27 spell out the number of days within...

Swine Flu — Statement (2 Jul 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I register our condolences from these Benches to the families of those who have died. I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement in this House. Given the dramatic increase in the number of people who have contracted flu, it is right that we should reassess whether the strategy that the Government have been following continues to be relevant and the right course of action....

Dementia — Debate (25 Jun 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, it is a privilege to begin to sum up at the end of what has been a highly informed and at times very moving debate. I pay particular tribute to the speeches by the noble Baronesses, Lady Murphy and Lady Perry, and my noble friend Lady Thomas of Walliswood. I should declare an interest as one of the 18 per cent of Members of your Lordships' House who does not qualify for a bus pass....

Health: Mouth Cancer — Question for Short Debate (22 Jun 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, one always approaches this subject knowing that the first thing one must do is to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gardner of Parkes, on her tenacity on the subject and the very clear way in which she puts together the case that she wishes to make. She makes it with commendable regularity, so I thank her very much for her introduction. The noble Baroness is right to focus our...

Health: Information Prescription — Question (19 May 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, the evaluation of the information prescription pilots suggested that PCTs needed to be given guidance about commissioning charitable and voluntary organisations to provide support to people to enable them to understand the prescription they have been given. What guidance does the Minister's department give to PCTs about commissioning information and support services?

Health Bill [HL]: Third Reading (12 May 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, during our earlier deliberations I had a great deal of sympathy with the position put forward by the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours. My name is on the amendment and the reason for that is very simple. We could debate how foundation trusts operate in great detail and at considerable length—as we did during the passage of the legislation to which the noble Lord, Lord Warner,...

Health Bill [HL]: Third Reading (12 May 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, for tabling these amendments. They are the product of intense discussions between the department and myself. I am most grateful that we have achieved a resolution of matters which although technical and boring are of great importance to the working of this policy. I am delighted to be able to do so in the presence of the noble Baroness, Lady...

Health Bill [HL] — Report (2nd Day) (6 May 2009)

Baroness Barker: My Lords, since the amendment stands also in my name, perhaps I might, with the leave of the noble Lord, Lord Patel, answer that question on his behalf. It is none of those things, which would remain on a plain package—the health warnings and all of that. It is the use of colours and effects on packets to make them attractive to young people and to imply some kind of value and quality....