The principal justification for the House of Lords’ existence is the careful and experienced scrutiny of legislation. Making lots of small improvements – not the sculptors of legislation, but the ones who do the polishing. The one that I am proudest of is helping add “an apology, an offer of treatment or other redress, shall…
The House of Lords is settling the new membership of its Select Committees, all of which fell into abeyance with the general election. There are 16 of them, and the European Union one has 7 subcommittees. I am pleased to have been appointed a member of the House of Lords Communications Committee, the remit of…
A number of peers have said things which have entered the dictionaries of quotations. Baroness Thatcher is an especially good example, primarily when she was Prime Minister (‘You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning’, ‘There is no such thing as society’, ‘No, No, No’). This week’s quiz tests your knowledge of what…
Some colleagues are complaining that their in-boxes are being clogged with invitations to join particular all-party groups. Many are established groups being re-formed in the new Parliament and others are new creations. I have previously written about the growth in the number of such groups. Such groups can form a useful purpose in providing a…
This is the photo of Lord Hill of Oareford, the Schools Minister that I thought I’d inserted into my last post. As Jonathan Hill he was a ministerial advisor in various departments in the 1980s and 1990s (he had the reputation for being what my auntie would call ‘a head full of smarts’). He headed up…
In the committee stages of the Academies Bill yesterday we had a fascinating debate about the role of faith schools and the risks they pose. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100623-0005.htm#10062341000480 . I am concerned that a quarter of existing academies are faith schools, ranging from the traditional Church of England local community primary schools to the highly selective fundamentalist Christian,…
Kosovo was part of the former Yugoslavia. The majority of its population are Albanians, but there is a Serb minority mainly living in the North East of the territory. In addition, there are several historic Serbian orthodox monasteries, dating from the Middle Ages. At least two of them are UNESCO listed sites and they also…
Today is the first day of the committee stage of the Academies Bill. The only other Government Bill starting in the Lords is the Local Government Bill. As a result, time is being utilised to debate select committee reports and motions by back-benchers. Some members look forward to more legislation coming forward in order to ensure it is effectively…
I await the budget with interest. I fear the Government is going to push us into a home produced recession following the international one. It is the combination of cuts and rising unemployment and lack of investment in the infrastructure (dare I mention Heathrow!). Put together they take a lot out of the economy just when…
