The number of children in care has risen in the last decade, with many facing challenges in stability, mental health and education. What does the evidence say about which interventions improve outcomes, and how current policy and system pressures shape support for looked after children?

The number of children in care has risen in the last decade, with many facing challenges in stability, mental health and education. What does the evidence say about which interventions improve outcomes, and how current policy and system pressures shape support for looked after children?

I. Fostering for the future: improving the foster care system. Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children. Government call for evidence. 25p. II. Foster care reform: proposed changes to assessment and handling of allegations of abuse. Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children. Government consultation. 21p.

I. Fostering for the future: improving the foster care system. Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children. Government call for evidence. 25p. II. Foster care reform: proposed changes to assessment and handling of allegations of abuse. Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children. Government consultation. 21p.

Lords report stage first day. Amendment 1 agreed to on division (264 to 158). Amendments 6, 7 and 8 agreed to. Amendment 10 agreed to on division (267 to 153). Amendments 11 to 21, 23, 26 and 27 agreed to. Amendment 31 disagreed to on division (65 to 170). Amendments 33, 34, 36 to 40 agreed to. Amendment 42 agreed to on division (232 to 137). Amendment 43 disagreed to on division (161 to 191). (Part 1 of 2).

Lords report stage first day. Amendment 1 agreed to on division (264 to 158). Amendments 6, 7 and 8 agreed to. Amendment 10 agreed to on division (267 to 153). Amendments 11 to 21, 23, 26 and 27 agreed to. Amendment 31 disagreed to on division (65 to 170). Amendments...

Moved by

Lord Goddard of Stockport

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 9, at beginning insert “If requested by an employee,”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment changes the provisions in the Bill from a requirement for an employer to offer guaranteed hours to a right to request guaranteed hours by an employee.

Moved by

Lord Goddard of Stockport

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 9, at beginning insert “If requested by an employee,”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment changes the provisions in the Bill from a requirement for an employer to offer guaranteed hours to a right to request guaranteed hours by an employee.

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on this group. I intend to be brief, as is appropriate on Report—I have said it, Minister, I cannot do any more. I begin by saying that there is clear cross-party agreement that exploitative zero-hours contracts must come to an...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on this group. I intend to be brief, as is appropriate on Report—I have said it, Minister, I cannot do any more. I begin by saying that there is clear cross-party agreement that exploitative zero-hours contracts must come to an...

I will make a brief comment on Amendment 1, which would replace a right to have guaranteed hours with a right to request. I very much fear that it undermines the purpose of the Bill, which is trying to deal with the problem of zero-hours contracts where employees do not...

I will make a brief comment on Amendment 1, which would replace a right to have guaranteed hours with a right to request. I very much fear that it undermines the purpose of the Bill, which is trying to deal with the problem of zero-hours contracts where employees do not...

My Lords, I support all the amendments in this group, but especially Amendment 1. As we start Report, and the first of several groups focusing on zero-hours contracts—although I will speak only on this group—I want to emphasise why getting the wording and balance right in this part of the...

My Lords, I support all the amendments in this group, but especially Amendment 1. As we start Report, and the first of several groups focusing on zero-hours contracts—although I will speak only on this group—I want to emphasise why getting the wording and balance right in this part of the...

My Lords, this first group of amendments, in the names of the noble Lord, Lord Goddard of Stockport, and my noble friends Lord Sharpe of Epsom and Lord Hunt of Wirral, is significant and I am pleased to support it. I declare my interest as an employee of Marsh Ltd,...

My Lords, this first group of amendments, in the names of the noble Lord, Lord Goddard of Stockport, and my noble friends Lord Sharpe of Epsom and Lord Hunt of Wirral, is significant and I am pleased to support it. I declare my interest as an employee of Marsh Ltd,...

My Lords, in this group I have Amendments 9 and 22, both of which seek to amend government amendments in identical ways. I shall speak to Amendment 9, which seeks to amend government Amendment 8, but my remarks apply equally to Amendment 22, which seeks to amend government Amendment 21....

My Lords, in this group I have Amendments 9 and 22, both of which seek to amend government amendments in identical ways. I shall speak to Amendment 9, which seeks to amend government Amendment 8, but my remarks apply equally to Amendment 22, which seeks to amend government Amendment 21....

My Lords, Amendment 2 stands in my name. I declare my interest as a shareholder and the chief executive of Next plc, a job I have held for 24 years. I should add that Next employs nearly 50,000 people in the UK, of whom around 20,000 are part-time.

I hasten to...

My Lords, Amendment 2 stands in my name. I declare my interest as a shareholder and the chief executive of Next plc, a job I have held for 24 years. I should add that Next employs nearly 50,000 people in the UK, of whom around 20,000 are part-time.

I hasten to...

My Lords, it is a genuine pleasure to follow my noble friend Lord Wolfson, who speaks with genuine authority and deep experience on this important subject.

Amendments 2, 3, 4 and 5 stand in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Hunt. I shall start with Amendment 2, about...

My Lords, it is a genuine pleasure to follow my noble friend Lord Wolfson, who speaks with genuine authority and deep experience on this important subject.

Amendments 2, 3, 4 and 5 stand in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Hunt. I shall start with Amendment 2, about...

My Lords, I support all the amendments in this first group, but I shall speak briefly to Amendment 9 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, which, as she explained, is an amendment to the Government’s Amendment 8, and Amendment 22. I want to interrogate the wording of...

My Lords, I support all the amendments in this first group, but I shall speak briefly to Amendment 9 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, which, as she explained, is an amendment to the Government’s Amendment 8, and Amendment 22. I want to interrogate the wording of...

My Lords, I first thank your Lordships’ House for the extensive engagement, debate and scrutiny that this Bill received throughout Committee. Indeed, we have held over 50 engagements with noble Lords from across your Lordships’ House since the Bill left the other place. As we progress Report, I need to...

My Lords, I first thank your Lordships’ House for the extensive engagement, debate and scrutiny that this Bill received throughout Committee. Indeed, we have held over 50 engagements with noble Lords from across your Lordships’ House since the Bill left the other place. As we progress Report, I need to...

Would the Minister accept that setting a cap on the number of hours still gives the Secretary of State flexibility to determine exactly what the number of hours is, while giving industry the security, comfort and certainty it needs to carry on investing in its shops, pubs, restaurants and care...

Would the Minister accept that setting a cap on the number of hours still gives the Secretary of State flexibility to determine exactly what the number of hours is, while giving industry the security, comfort and certainty it needs to carry on investing in its shops, pubs, restaurants and care...

My Lords, we intend to consult on this, and of course we will take the comments and concerns of business into account; it is our absolute intention to do that. What we do not want to do is pre-empt that by setting out the conclusions of the consultation in advance....

My Lords, we intend to consult on this, and of course we will take the comments and concerns of business into account; it is our absolute intention to do that. What we do not want to do is pre-empt that by setting out the conclusions of the consultation in advance....

I thank noble Lords who took part in this debate. The number of amendments in this group shows the depth of feeling on zero-hours contracts. I think it was the same story from the noble Baroness, Lady Carberry of Muswell Hill—for whom I have the highest regard—and the

Minister. It...

I thank noble Lords who took part in this debate. The number of amendments in this group shows the depth of feeling on zero-hours contracts. I think it was the same story from the noble Baroness, Lady Carberry of Muswell Hill—for whom I have the highest regard—and the

Minister. It...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

6: Clause 1, page 3, line 24, at end insert—

“(6A) See paragraph 5(3A) of Schedule A1 for provision about when the initial reference period is not a reference period in relation to a worker who is a former agency worker and that worker’s employer.”

Member's explanatory statement

This...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

6: Clause 1, page 3, line 24, at end insert—

“(6A) See paragraph 5(3A) of Schedule A1 for provision about when the initial reference period is not a reference period in relation to a worker who is a former agency worker and that worker’s employer.”

Member's explanatory statement

This...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

8: Clause 1, page 9, line 36, at end insert—

“(6A) In exercising the power under subsection (6) the Secretary of State must, in particular, have regard to—

(a) the benefit to workers of receiving a guaranteed hours offer under this Chapter, and

(b) the desirability of preventing this...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

8: Clause 1, page 9, line 36, at end insert—

“(6A) In exercising the power under subsection (6) the Secretary of State must, in particular, have regard to—

(a) the benefit to workers of receiving a guaranteed hours offer under this Chapter, and

(b) the desirability of preventing this...

Moved by

Lord Goddard of Stockport

10: Clause 3, page 23, line 44, at end insert—

“(5A) Where notice of cancellation has been given in advance of the short notice period as defined by subsection (6), the employer is not required to make payment under subsection (1).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and another in...

Moved by

Lord Goddard of Stockport

10: Clause 3, page 23, line 44, at end insert—

“(5A) Where notice of cancellation has been given in advance of the short notice period as defined by subsection (6), the employer is not required to make payment under subsection (1).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and another in...