Results 1-20 of 887 for speaker:the Earl of Listowel

Crime: Domestic Violence — Question (11 Nov 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, given the important role of social workers in supporting these families and, in particular, protecting the children in them, does the Minister share my deep concern at reports today in the media that six out of 10 local authorities are having difficulty retaining their social workers—a 50 per cent increase—since the death of Baby Peter? Will he communicate to his...

Policing and Crime Bill: Report (2nd Day) (5 Nov 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, if there were more social workers making the sort of interventions in families that my noble friend Lady Howarth has just said are so important, this would be much easier to achieve. Similarly, if there were more social workers, there would be many more foster carers because they rely on good quality social workers to support them in managing children who are often difficult because...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Report (2nd Day) (4 Nov 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, might one of the benefits of such an international benchmark be to help us when policy perhaps inadvertently strays away from the best interests of our children? A recent Cambridge review of primary education, to which the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, alluded, praised the Government for their investment in education in primary schools and for many of the innovations that they have...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Report (2nd Day) (4 Nov 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, the Minister, in her rejection of Amendment 150, said she wished to have head teachers on the Ofqual board. It prompted me to think of a question that has often been through my mind in these debates, and I know it is a concern of my colleagues. While the Government give such priority to education, and while we regularly have such legislation before this House, there are no primary...

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

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I offer support for my noble friend's Amendments 51 and 52. I cannot see why there should not be an assessment when a young person enters and leaves custody. The amendment speaks of six months, but I cannot see why it should not refer to three or four months. I look forward to the Minister's response. I strongly support my noble friend.

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (3rd Day) (28 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I support these amendments, to which I have attached my name, having had concerns raised with me by the Magistrates' Association. My noble friend Lord Tenby is unable to speak today, but in Committee he spoke eloquently about his concerns as a long-standing magistrate and a representative of magistrates' voices in your Lordships' House. In 2003 the noble and learned Lord, Lord...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (26 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I beg the noble Lord's pardon, but are the Government themselves not introducing in this clause the defence of developmental immaturity?

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (26 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I have misunderstood; I apologise and withdraw what I said.

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (26 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I have my name attached to the amendments, and I strongly support them. It is hard to follow the eloquent and pithy contribution from my noble friend, with all her experience in psychiatric matters. As vice-chair of the All-Party Group for Children and Young People in Care and a trustee of a fostering agency, I am particularly concerned that children who have experienced trauma may...

Welfare Reform Bill: Report (1st Day) (22 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I, too, support the principle behind my noble friend's amendment and pay tribute to him for the long-standing commitment he has to the welfare of children, particularly that they should experience a secure family life as they grow up. I am led to reflect on past briefings that I have received on the continental experience, where it appears that more mothers are in employment, yet...

Families: Marriage — Question (21 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: Is the Minister aware of the strong evidence that good-quality sex and relationship education has an important role in reducing teenage pregnancy and thereby encouraging more stable long-term relationships and adults making a commitment when they are mature enough to do so effectively?

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Youth Conditional Cautions: Code of Practice) Order 2009: Motion to Approve (15 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bach, for presenting these instruments, but I share the concerns expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Seccombe, and the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford. I see there being a risk of injustice. I have read the letter from the Magistrates' Association and it causes me concern. I agree of course that it is appropriate to use this sort of...

Policing and Crime Bill: Committee (4th Day) (13 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, may I express my concern about the Government's proposal to lower the age to 10? I admire the Government for the seriousness with which they have taken anti-social behaviour over the past 10 years. It has been a real blight on the most deprived areas, making those communities very uncomfortable for many people to live in. The Government deserve credit for taking this matter...

Policing and Crime Bill: Committee (4th Day) (13 Oct 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, as regards the training of police officers, we are talking about very young people. Of course, police officers encounter them, but I would appreciate receiving a letter from the Minister advising me and other Members of the House what support officers are given to engage sensitively with 11 and 12 year-olds. Is there a lead officer within each team, for example? I envisage a...

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

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, I take the opportunity, given what my noble friend has just said, to thank the Minister for the recent meeting on the Bill, particularly for what was said in that meeting about the social workers who have been appointed to young offender institutions. As my noble friend has said, they play a vital role in ensuring that our most vulnerable children make a smooth transition back to...

National Criminal Justice Board — Question (21 Jul 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, does the Minister accept—

Education: Teacher Training Courses — Question (21 Jul 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: My Lords, is it easy for children to access school laboratories in school breaks and after school hours? What progress has been made in addressing health and safety issues concerning children accessing school laboratories?

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (5th Day) (16 Jul 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: The amendment prompts me to ask whether the Minister can give some information of the state of libraries in secure accommodation. There was concern some time ago regarding children's homes and there was a big push on that. I imagine that, as the Government have been investing heavily, there should be plenty of magazines and books available. That also makes me think that it is a long time...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (5th Day) (16 Jul 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: I warmly support what the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, is driving at. I remember visiting Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre some time ago and speaking to a young man who had made immense strides in his reading during his short time in custody. He was going to go home and teach his mother and his siblings how to read. I strongly support the principle behind the amendment. I suppose it is like...

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee (5th Day) (16 Jul 2009)

The Earl of Listowel: I have with me a case history which helps to illustrate the concerns being raised. Recently I attended a meeting hosted by my noble friend Lord Ramsbotham. There was a clear and strong view among the stakeholders present that the cost of these places was being severely underestimated, thus putting in doubt a project to set up a small local institution in east London. Perhaps I may remind...