A selection of Lord Foster of Bath's votes

See full list of topics voted on

• Voted a mixture of for and against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 4 votes for, 2 votes 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
• Generally voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2010
• 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
• Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes 43 votes for, 12 votes against, 13 absences, between 2006–2014
• Generally voted against replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2007–2015

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

• Mobile Networks: Resilience - Question 11 Dec 2018

  My Lords, any measures that improve the resilience of mobile connectivity for those that already have it will be welcome but sadly, many people, particularly in rural areas, have no or poor mobile connectivity. What steps are the Government taking to help those people? In particular, do they intend to place on the winner of the auction of the 700 megahertz spectrum a rural coverage obligation...

• Taxation: Digital Publications - Question 6 Dec 2018

  To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the possibility of a flexible Value Added Tax regime to allow digital publications to be zero-rated; and whether they intend to make use of this flexibility should it come into effect.

• Taxation: Digital Publications - Question 6 Dec 2018

  I thank the Minister for his predictable response. He will be aware that there are hundreds and thousands of blind and partially sighted people in this country who rely on audiobooks or digital books whose print size they can alter. Now that the EU has agreed that the anomaly whereby those products are charged 20% VAT and the print books that the rest of us can rely on are zero-rated can be...

More of Lord Foster of Bath’s recent appearances

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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
• Early Day Motions signed by this MP

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)
• London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Bill Committee (3 out of 3)
• Live Music Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• 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 120 debates in the last year — well above average amongst Lords. See all Lord Foster of Bath’s speeches
• Has received answers to 48 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 74.68% of votes in this House with this affiliation up to the 2015 general election — well above average amongst Lords. (From Public Whip)
• This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 76 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?)