My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that one of the problems with the national insurance hike, which was allegedly to pay for social care, is that most of that money in the first few years will go to the National Health Service and very little, if any, will support carers, who are doing such a great job?

My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that one of the problems with the national insurance hike, which was allegedly to pay for social care, is that most of that money in the first few years will go to the National Health Service and very little, if any, will support carers, who are doing such a great job?

My Lords, there is also a Northern Ireland Bill which the Government might reconsider, but I want to ask a serious question. It is well known and researched that carers, in general, suffer from worse mental health issues than a comparative population. Will the Minister’s department discuss with the Department of Health and Social Care more programmes to support carers on mental health issues? This will have a positive impact on the world of work as well.

My Lords, there is also a Northern Ireland Bill which the Government might reconsider, but I want to ask a serious question. It is well known and researched that carers, in general, suffer from worse mental health issues than a comparative population. Will the Minister’s department discuss with the Department of Health and Social Care more programmes to support carers on mental health issues? This will have a positive impact on the world of work as well.

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. I understand why the Government will take a little time to find consensus. However, I remind him that the Government have made an announcement. The Deputy Prime Minister made yet another of his speeches on the House of Lords. He said...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. I understand why the Government will take a little time to find consensus. However, I remind him that the Government have made an announcement. The Deputy Prime Minister made yet another of his speeches on the House of Lords. He said...

My Lords, I echo the words of my noble friend and the Minister. To get consensus on a short Bill that has a chance of going through the other place, we should focus on matters on which there is clear agreement. However, as the Minister was tempted to speak at...

My Lords, I echo the words of my noble friend and the Minister. To get consensus on a short Bill that has a chance of going through the other place, we should focus on matters on which there is clear agreement. However, as the Minister was tempted to speak at...

I apologise to the Speaker but it would be helpful to have the view of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on the amendment before we move to a vote on it.

I apologise to the Speaker but it would be helpful to have the view of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on the amendment before we move to a vote on it.

My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Steel, will consider this point. Clearly it is an important principle whether Members of your Lordships' House should vote in general elections. In the context of wider reform, noble Lords need to consider very carefully what are the implications of your Lordships' House...

My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Steel, will consider this point. Clearly it is an important principle whether Members of your Lordships' House should vote in general elections. In the context of wider reform, noble Lords need to consider very carefully what are the implications of your Lordships' House...

My Lords, we speak of nothing else in Telford or in Kings Heath but this very important matter. I caution the House that there are wider implications. It is all very well some MPs saying, ““I don’t see why you don't have a vote””, but we need to see it...

My Lords, we speak of nothing else in Telford or in Kings Heath but this very important matter. I caution the House that there are wider implications. It is all very well some MPs saying, ““I don’t see why you don't have a vote””, but we need to see it...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, should explain to the House the consequences of changing ““shall”” to ““may””. It may be of some significance. The House is owed an explanation.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, should explain to the House the consequences of changing ““shall”” to ““may””. It may be of some significance. The House is owed an explanation.

I know that we are on Report but that will not do. The noble Lord’s Bill is very clear on when the House may deem that a Member has taken permanent leave of absence. If we substitute ““shall”” for ““may””, surely that leads to a rather confusing picture. I rather...

I know that we are on Report but that will not do. The noble Lord’s Bill is very clear on when the House may deem that a Member has taken permanent leave of absence. If we substitute ““shall”” for ““may””, surely that leads to a rather confusing picture. I rather...

My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Steel, will resist any sense of moving away from Clause 15, which is absolutely right and makes it clear that a, "““person found guilty of one or more offences””," and who is sentenced to imprisonment, "““for more than one year, shall...

My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Steel, will resist any sense of moving away from Clause 15, which is absolutely right and makes it clear that a, "““person found guilty of one or more offences””," and who is sentenced to imprisonment, "““for more than one year, shall...

My Lords, that is a significant point, although in the end the numbers count as well. The matter is one for Committee. I would also appreciate the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on Clause 1, which ensures that only the commission can make recommendations to the Crown for...

My Lords, that is a significant point, although in the end the numbers count as well. The matter is one for Committee. I would also appreciate the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on Clause 1, which ensures that only the commission can make recommendations to the Crown for...

I am so sorry. I am already overcome by the tension in winding up on the noble Lord’s Bill. I also welcome the noble Marquess, Lord Lothian, and the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, and congratulate them on their excellent maiden speeches. I hope that they will contribute to our future...

I am so sorry. I am already overcome by the tension in winding up on the noble Lord’s Bill. I also welcome the noble Marquess, Lord Lothian, and the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, and congratulate them on their excellent maiden speeches. I hope that they will contribute to our future...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on his perseverance in bringing this Bill—his fourth effort—to your Lordships’ House. I very much look forward to his fifth effort in the next Parliament. All of us who have taken part in the debates on the noble Lord’s Bills...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Steel, on his perseverance in bringing this Bill—his fourth effort—to your Lordships’ House. I very much look forward to his fifth effort in the next Parliament. All of us who have taken part in the debates on the noble Lord’s Bills...

My Lords, I certainly understand that many Members of your Lordships’ House are not particularly happy with the model of reform which the other place has voted for and which the Government have said they wish to put into operation. Of course, I understand that Members of this House wish...

My Lords, I certainly understand that many Members of your Lordships’ House are not particularly happy with the model of reform which the other place has voted for and which the Government have said they wish to put into operation. Of course, I understand that Members of this House wish...

My Lords, I do not think that we will get any further on this matter. We should move on. I want to respond to my noble friend in relation to primacy. We do not intend to undermine the primacy of the Commons. All parties and all reports on Lords reform...

My Lords, I do not think that we will get any further on this matter. We should move on. I want to respond to my noble friend in relation to primacy. We do not intend to undermine the primacy of the Commons. All parties and all reports on Lords reform...

No, my Lords, I do not accept that at all. Our intention is that the reform of the House’s composition should not alter its role as a revising and scrutinising Chamber, nor alter the balance of the relationship between both Houses.

No, my Lords, I do not accept that at all. Our intention is that the reform of the House’s composition should not alter its role as a revising and scrutinising Chamber, nor alter the balance of the relationship between both Houses.

My Lords, the cross-party group brings together people appointed by the leadership of those parties to see whether agreement can be reached between those parties. Individual parties’ discussions might have to take place between Back-Benchers and the leadership, but surely it is not unexceptional for a group discussing such matters...

My Lords, the cross-party group brings together people appointed by the leadership of those parties to see whether agreement can be reached between those parties. Individual parties’ discussions might have to take place between Back-Benchers and the leadership, but surely it is not unexceptional for a group discussing such matters...

Well, my Lords, I thought I should say it just the same. My right honourable friend yesterday said in another place that we would see what the Lords had to say about the Bill, as we will. He said also that it has to be clear that such a reform...

Well, my Lords, I thought I should say it just the same. My right honourable friend yesterday said in another place that we would see what the Lords had to say about the Bill, as we will. He said also that it has to be clear that such a reform...

My Lords, I straight away congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Steel, and his colleagues on their initiative in bringing this Bill before your Lordships’ House. I am very much aware of the tremendous amount of work that has been undertaken in so doing. The Bill has certainly set the stage...

My Lords, I straight away congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Steel, and his colleagues on their initiative in bringing this Bill before your Lordships’ House. I am very much aware of the tremendous amount of work that has been undertaken in so doing. The Bill has certainly set the stage...

My Lords, the original work of the cross-party group on reform of your Lordships’ House paved the way for free votes in both Chambers of Parliament in March this year. This House voted by a large majority for an appointed House. The other place voted for both an 80 per...

My Lords, the original work of the cross-party group on reform of your Lordships’ House paved the way for free votes in both Chambers of Parliament in March this year. This House voted by a large majority for an appointed House. The other place voted for both an 80 per...