Lord Kamall: ...in time. I just hope I have impressed noble Lords with our lean operation—although sometimes the leaner the operation, the more brittle it is. The amendments in this group all relate to questions of accountability. Amendment 29 addresses the question of workforce projections. I draw noble Lords’ attention to the sustained disagreement of the other place to this amendment. The...
Willie Rennie: ...that that progress is not fast enough. It has been two years. The announcements that the minister just described were made quite recently; we need much more speed. When it comes to the national care service, it is also disappointing that children’s services seem to have been an afterthought. They were not a core part of the initial independent review, and there seems to be a lack of...
Baroness Barran: ...I now turn to the Motion on the amendments in the second group, which relate to technical government amendments, the lifelong loan entitlement, the level 3 entitlement and apprenticeships, and the Office for Students. Commons Amendments 7 to 14 provide further clarification of the definition of relevant providers in scope of the duties relating to local skills improvement plans, and which...
Baroness Barran: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 1 and 2 en bloc. I will speak also to Amendments 3 to 6, 15 and 16 and associated Motions. I am delighted to be back in the Chamber to discuss the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill. It is the Government’s belief—which I know is shared by your Lordships—that the skills...
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: Moved by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle 141: After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—“Automatic voter registration(1) Registration officers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that all persons eligible to register to vote in elections in the United Kingdom are so registered.(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations require public...
Michelle Donelan: The government is committed to ensuring that students and the taxpayer see returns on their investments. We are tackling low-quality provision that results in unsatisfactory outcomes for students, as well as ensuring the sustainability of our world-class higher education (HE) system. The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 sets out the Office for Students' (OfS) duty to promote value for...
Baroness Barran: Alongside our allies, we are united in support for Ukraine. The Department for Education has been working closely with the education sector and across government more widely to ensure that Ukrainian and Russian students are supported during this difficult time. This includes a new visa option for Ukrainian nationals, including students, that will provide them with an opportunity to extend...
Deirdre Hargey: ...line 18, leave out subsection (2) and insert— “(2) The public service bodies specified under subsection (1) must include— (a) bodies with functions that would enable them to discharge the duty in subsection (3) in relation to persons in hospital premises; (b) bodies with functions that would enable them to discharge that duty in relation to persons in school premises; (c) bodies...
Robin Swann: I take great pleasure from moving the Final Stage of the Adoption and Children Bill. Born out of the Adopting the Future draft strategy in 2006, the Bill has been long-awaited by all those who are involved in the adoption process and children's social care. Indeed, the fact that Michael McGimpsey was the first Minister to try to secure these changes is indicative of just how long the wait has...
Lord True: ...I should take up a point made by the noble Lord opposite—about whom I would reciprocate his kind personal remarks—on the Elections Bill, which is obviously not the business directly before us. Of course, as I have said on that Bill, my intention is to meet and listen to as many people as I can. That process is ongoing. Indeed, after this debate I fear that I am not going for a plate of...
Viscount Younger of Leckie: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I will also speak to the other amendments and the Motions in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Brixton. Before I turn to the Commons amendments, I will take a moment to remind your Lordships of what the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill will achieve. The Bill ensures that those who deliver our valued public services continue to...
Pat Catney: I begin by thanking the staff in the Bill Office and the Committee staff, who have provided invaluable help and assistance throughout the process. I can say for sure that I would not have got to this stage without their help and guidance. I also thank the Business Office, the Speaker's Office and, indeed, you, Mr Speaker, for progressing the Bill to this stage, particularly when time in the...
Michelle McIlveen: On this International Women's Day, I welcome the opportunity to participate in today's debate on behalf of Minister Poots, who is unable to attend. The report highlights the need to support women in the agriculture sector. It is a fact that women remain under-represented in the agriculture industry. There are real and perceived barriers to women undertaking a career in farming. That has been...
Meghan Gallacher: It is a pleasure to conclude on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. We have heard passionate contributions from members across the chamber, and, although we normally have different political views, we are united in our commitment to mark international women’s day and work together to break the bias that exists in our society. As we know, international women’s day is a global day on...
Robin Walker: Regular attendance at school is vital for children’s education, wellbeing and long-term development. School attendance is mandatory and parents have a duty, under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that their child of compulsory age receives an efficient full-time education either by attendance at school or otherwise. No targets for school attendance are set by government, but...
Gerald Jones: I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Wayne David) for securing and leading this debate. His recent announcement that he would be standing down at the next election took some of us by surprise, and I hope he knows that his wisdom, his counsel and his huge contribution will be missed in this place. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for granting this debate, and I thank all...
Pam Gosal: I thank the member for bringing forward such an important motion for members’ business, celebrating international women’s day. I, too, hold in my thoughts the women and girls of Ukraine while I make this speech. I am honoured to be opening today for the Scottish Conservatives, as the subject is close to my heart. Tomorrow is the anniversary of my father’s death. As a teenager and female...
Shona Robison: ...women to obtain a gender recognition certificate. It is now for Parliament to consider the bill. Trans people in Scotland risk inequality, harassment and abuse simply for living their lives. They are among the most marginalised people in our society. Recent Police Scotland statistics show increases in hate crimes with a transgender aggravator. As a society, and a Parliament, we have a...
Darren Henry: I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Mrs Latham) for introducing the Bill and allowing me to be part of this debate. The Bill seeks to bring laws on marriage into the 21st century. As my hon. Friend the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French) pointed out, this is an issue that overwhelmingly affects women and girls, with 80% of under-age marriages in 2018 being...
Marion Fellows: I beg to move, That this House has considered the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for the opportunity to raise these matters. Around the world, 1 billion people live with a disability. According to World Vision 20% of the world’s poorest live with a...
