Lord Edmiston: My Lords, I declare a personal interest as a sponsor of Grace Academy, which has featured in recent articles. Is the Minister aware that many sponsors have put multiple millions into the academy programme rather than taking funds out?
Lord Edmiston: My Lords, I share many of the concerns of the noble Lord, Lord Dear, although I have to confess that I have spent many a sleepless night agonising over this subject: what is the right position to take? I, too, am a committed Christian and so I have looked for inspiration as to what marriage really is. The earliest reference I can find is in Genesis, chapter 2, which is often used in wedding...
Lord Edmiston: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord McNally on 5 November (Official Report, col. 756), whether they will review the Financial Ombudsman Service's case fees in cases where companies represent complainants to enable costs to be met by those companies in the event of the complaint failing.
Lord Edmiston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of access to finance and loans for people in employment on zero-hour contracts in the light of Financial Services Authority requirements for responsible lending.
Lord Edmiston: My Lords, I entered your Lordships' House with some trepidation, knowing that it was full of experts on every subject. For someone who had spent their entire career outside politics, it was a daunting prospect. I thank noble Lords for allaying my fears and for making me so welcome. I thank in particular those who introduced me to this House: the noble Lords, Lord Marland and Lord Howard of...