A selection of Lord Foster of Bath's votes

See full list of topics voted on

• Almost always voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 13 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2011–2014
• Almost always voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 11 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2003–2012
• Almost always voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 9 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2010–2013
• Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 7 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 1999–2012
• Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013
• Generally voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, 6 absences, between 2008–2014

We have lots more plain English analysis of Lord Foster of Bath’s voting record on issues like health, welfare, taxation and more. Visit Lord Foster of Bath’s full vote analysis page for more.

Recent appearances

• Visas: Certificates of Sponsorship - Question 13 Sep 2018

  My Lords, it is clear more generally that the rules around writers, artists and musicians coming to the United Kingdom are complex, opaque, very costly and damaging to our reputation as a cultural hub. Having abolished the UKVI’s arts and entertainment task force, which could have helped resolved these problems, will the Government now at least consider a system of direct contact with...

• Apprenticeship Levy: Creative Industries - Question 23 Jul 2018

  To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to amend the working of the apprenticeship levy to take account of the concerns of the creative industries.

• Apprenticeship Levy: Creative Industries - Question 23 Jul 2018

  I am grateful to the Minister for that reply but, rather more than challenges, does he not accept that the apprenticeship levy is fundamentally unsuited to delivering the skills that the creative industries need? It does not align with the sector’s own voluntary training, there are only a dozen approved apprenticeship standards for a sector with thousands of different job roles, and...

More of Lord Foster of Bath’s recent appearances

RSS feed (?)

Profile

Liberal Democrat Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 5 November 2015

Previously MP for Bath until 30 March 2015 — General election

Entered the House of Commons on 9 April 1992 — General election

Also represented Bath

• Personal website
• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Culture Media and Sport
• Transport
• Transport
• Local Government and the Regions
• Home Department
• Health
• Railways
• Olympic Games
• Olympic Games 2012
• Rail Safety
• Sports: Finance

Currently held offices

• Chair, Rural Economy Committee (since 17 May 2018)

Other offices held in the past

• Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) (28 Oct 2016 to 16 Jun 2017)
• Member, Licensing Act 2003 Committee (14 Jun 2016 to 4 Apr 2017)
• Comptroller (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons) (7 Oct 2013 to 8 May 2015)
• The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (6 Sep 2012 to 7 Oct 2013)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1 Jul 2003 to 6 May 2010)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Transport (1 Jun 2002 to 1 Jun 2003)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Transport and the Regions) (1 Jun 1999 to 1 Jun 2001)
• Member, Education & Employment Committee (15 Nov 1995 to 29 Mar 1999)
• Member, Education Sub-committee (15 Nov 1995 to 29 Mar 1999)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions) (1 Jun 1995 to 1 Jun 1997)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Education) (1 Jun 1992 to 1 Jun 1995)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Mobile Homes Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Live Music Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Bill Committee (3 out of 3)
• Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill Committee (0 out of 1)
• Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill Committee (2 out of 2)
• London Olympics Bill Committee (4 out of 4)
• National Lottery Bill Committee (8 out of 8)
• Gambling Bill Committee (2 out of 14)
• Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Bill Committee (5 out of 5)
• Gambling Bill Committee (6 out of 6)
• Railways and Transport Safety Bill Committee (18 out of 18)
• Homelessness Bill Committee (3 out of 3)
• Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill Committee (2 out of 2)
• Homes Bill Committee (12 out of 12)

Numerology

Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. More about this

• Has spoken in 96 debates in the last year — well above average amongst Lords. See all Lord Foster of Bath’s speeches
• Has received answers to 30 written questions in the last year — well above average amongst Lords.
• Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2014, according to constituents.
• Has voted in 76.61% of votes in this House with this affiliation up to the 2015 general election — well above average amongst Lords. (From Public Whip)
• People have made 36 annotations on this Lord’s speeches — well above average amongst Lords.
• This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 80 people are tracking this peer — email me updates on Lord Foster of Bath’s activity
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 60 times in debates — average amongst Lords. (Why is this here?)