🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell, on securing this debate. The number of noble Lords who are here to contribute is testament to his keen insight into what is interesting in politics right now. Sadly, it is also testament to how much worry there is out there about the direction in which our economy is headed, and about the coming Budget, which is often...
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My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the maiden speech of my noble friend Lord Houchen of High Leven, not least because he is my friend who now happens to be noble, and it is a pleasure to sit with him on these Benches. We can see already the passion he for has the area of Teesside, the Tees Valley, where he is the directly elected metro mayor. I first encountered him when he was young,...
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My Lords, I had the good fortune to serve as a Minister in DfID in a previous incarnation of my political life. I saw at first hand the impact and value of much of the work that is done and funded by our foreign aid programmes. I have listened carefully to a number of the contributions today and many noble Lords have spoken of their experience and knowledge of individual programmes and their...
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My Lords, I declare my interest as chair of the Office for Students. Will my noble friend join me in commending those institutions which have offered rent rebates to students after a very difficult year for many and in calling for more to do the same?
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My Lords, the ODA budget performs a great role in fighting TB and many other evils across the world. At the same time, the UK Government have rightly spent billions on a superbly successful Covid-19 vaccination programme at home, and I congratulate them. However, when we have completed that work here and excess vaccines are, hopefully, shared with those countries that need them across the...
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My Lords, I draw attention to my interests in the register and congratulate all noble Lords who made their maiden speeches today—in particular my noble friend Lord Cruddas, who has an incredible life story, having built an impressive business and contributed significantly to our political life already. I am sure that he will contribute significantly to this place as well. It is good to see...
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My Lords, it is an honour to address your Lordships’ House for the first time. I thank those who have made me so welcome and been so helpful in my time here so far: the doorkeepers, the staff, Black Rod and of course Garter. I thank those who introduced me, my noble friends Lord Callanan and the noble Baroness, Lady Pidding. I started my career in politics in this building, although not in...
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What a pleasure it is to speak in this debate. Given recent announcements and national events, it is perhaps the last opportunity I will have to speak in a debate in my current role in the Department for International Development. Whatever happens, my interest in this work will certainly continue, even if my work itself does not, although of course I would like it to continue—it is hardly...
More of Lord Wharton of Yarm's speeches and debates
✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of poultry and egg imports from Ukraine in meeting demand that cannot be met by domestic production of those products.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has taken financial support or benefits in kind from anyone associated with Bangladesh’s Awami League party since July 2024.
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To ask His Majesty's Government why the Prime Minister did not meet the interim leader of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, on his recent visit to the United Kingdom.
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To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help the government of Bangladesh to extradite individuals in the United Kingdom who are accused of corruption in Bangladesh.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether any approach has been made to them by Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, regarding a request to settle in the United Kingdom.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether they support calls for a federal Syrian constitution in order to protect minority communities in that country.
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To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are based in Damascus.
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To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings they have held with the new government of Syria and what steps they have taken to raise human rights concerns.
More of Lord Wharton of Yarm's written questions
