Jim Shannon: I fully support that. I am probably of a greater age than nearly everybody in this Chamber, and I remember when we had not heard of insulation. We know about it today, and it is clearly part of having healthy homes. I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention, which sets the scene for what we need to do. I look to the Minister for a positive response. Energy efficiency, indoor air...
Felicity Buchan: ..., it is a highly topical issue. These taxes bring in some £35.5 billion to the Exchequer every year—money that is essential to fund high quality public services. That sum is worth about 4.3% of our total tax take, so it is critical. As the hon. Member for Bath said, the taxes have a crucial role to play in our transition to net zero, to which this Government are absolutely committed....
Jayne Bryant: Annual reports are always retrospective, but this annual report is even more retrospective than usual, because, of course, this year, the current commissioner is reporting on the work of her predecessor. With that in mind, I'd like to thank Sally Holland, once again, for everything that she did for children and young people in Wales throughout her tenure, and congratulations, once again, to...
Eleanor Laing: With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Government new clause 8—Injunctions in Secretary of State proceedings: power of arrest and remand. New clause 1—Guidance on locking on— “The Secretary of State must by regulations issue guidance to police forces about the protest technique of locking on, which includes— (a) examples of best practice, and (b) detailed guidance...
Andrea Jenkyns: The Office for Students (OfS) has a duty under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to have regard to being transparent, accountable, proportionate, and consistent, in line with the Regulators’ Code. The OfS performance, including its engagement, transparency and approach to regulation, as well as a range of other topics are discussed regularly by officials in the department and the OfS.
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: My Lords, at 11 am today, sitting on the number 29 bus, I flicked over to my favourite live blog to follow the speech of our newly minted Chancellor, the fourth in four months. As was noted widely over the weekend, if you are looking for some good news, it is only two more Chancellors until Christmas. It was an historic event, but not in a good way—an emergency mini-Budget delivered not to...
Samuel Kurtz: ..., Dirprwy Lywydd, and I thank the Minister for giving me an advance look at his annual report on 'Cymraeg 2050', and also for the statement this afternoon. From the outset, the Minister will be aware of my concerns about the accountability of this programme. As I have said in this Chamber previously, it is possible that neither he nor I will be in this Chamber in 28 years' time, so the...
Joel James: ...universal affordability scheme right across England and Wales, and to work with CCW, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the UK Government in helping to achieve this. I am aware that the UK Government has established a working group to explore the viability of a single water affordability scheme and are planning to consult on the proposal, with the proposed scheme...
Nicola Sturgeon: The programme for government is published in the context of the most severe cost crisis in our lifetimes. That crisis is pushing millions into poverty and threatening the viability of businesses, and it will almost certainly push the United Kingdom economy into recession. It poses a danger not just to livelihoods but to lives. To be blunt, it is a humanitarian emergency. The Scottish...
Baroness Barran: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. The government supports free speech which generates rigorous debate and advances understanding. It is the freedom to think independently, express and challenge ideas, and put forward lawful, new and controversial ideas, that makes our universities world-renowned. These are essential skills in a modern,...
Andrea Jenkyns: This government believes that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental pillars of our higher education system and that protecting these principles should be a priority for universities. That is why the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Bill has been introduced. The bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties and directly address gaps within the existing law,...
James Morris: ...was severely impacted by the pandemic. The government provided unprecedented financial support to the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that practices remained viable and able to offer treatment during the pandemic and to continue now, as we learn to live with Covid-19. Taking into account the evolving guidance on infection and prevention control NHS England has worked,...
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My Lords, I am going to speak to Amendment 97ZA, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins. Unfortunately, because of today’s conditions, she is not able to travel to your Lordships’ House. If the noble Baroness were here, I think she would first say that a lot of progress has been made in how we support those with learning disabilities and autistic people in the last parliamentary...
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: ...speaker and I join every other speaker in wishing this Bill a fast and successful passage into law, and I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, on it. I entirely sympathise with the comment of the noble Lord, Lord Young of Cookham, that some elements of the Bill could be implemented immediately, but really the great value of it is that it is the new systems-thinking approach that the...
Mike Amesbury: I agree with my hon. Friend the shadow Minister. Resources will have to follow statutory guidance. The pandemic has had a significant impact on schools’ ability to deliver careers advice. According to recent research by the Sutton Trust, 75% of teachers in state schools said it had a negative impact, far more than the proportion of similar results returned from private schools. There is an...
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My Lords, I am very grateful to the National Deaf Children’s Society for its support on this amendment. I said in Committee that the Bill requires improvements if the Government are to meet their ambitions around inclusion for children with SEND. I still feel that very much to be the case. It will also still need improvement if the Government are to reach the target that they have set for...
Lord Farmer: My Lords, I am very pleased that the House has an opportunity to debate the causes of crime and reoffending and the effectiveness of rehabilitation, including the contribution made by the voluntary sector. I am also delighted to welcome the noble and learned Lord, Lord Bellamy, to the Front Bench—I believe that he was here yesterday, but this is his first debate. He is very welcome. The...
Michelle Donelan: I would be shocked if the Office for Students said verbatim that it would take years, because it certainly will not. Of course, it is right and proper that a regulator would consult on such a change, but it certainly will not take years. It is a priority for me, the Secretary of State for Education and the Government at large. The registration condition would mean that higher education...
Earl Howe: ...the Bill a broad welcome and I look forward to their constructive support as it proceeds. As we heard, by no means all who have spoken were so positive. Some, such as the noble Lords, Lord Wallace of Saltaire and Lord Collins, the noble Baronesses, Lady Thornton and Lady Royall, and my noble friend Lord Willetts are clearly very troubled by the Bill. So it is perhaps appropriate for me to...
Jeremy Miles: This Bill, for the first time in Welsh legislation, brings together responsibility for overseeing Wales's higher and further education, school sixth forms, apprenticeships and research and innovation in one place, and places the values and vision that we have for post-16 education on a firm statutory footing. Whilst one of the main effects of the Bill is the creation of Wales's first ever...
