My Lords, further to the question from the noble Earl on the Representation of the People Bill, pages 104 to 193 of that Bill are there only because the legislation has not been consolidated. The people who have spent their time preparing all those pages could have spent their time preparing consolidation. When the Bill comes to our House, we will waste time debating things that would have been much better considered as a consolidated piece of legislation. I have had a very good discussion on this subject with the noble Lord, Lord Lemos, because it appears to be an enormous waste of time.

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Earl on the Representation of the People Bill, pages 104 to 193 of that Bill are there only because the legislation has not been consolidated. The people who have spent their time preparing all those pages could have spent their time preparing consolidation. When the Bill comes to our House, we will waste time debating things that would have been much better considered as a consolidated piece of legislation. I have had a very good discussion on this subject with the noble Lord, Lord Lemos, because it appears to be an enormous waste of time.

My Lords, does the Minister not find it slightly embarrassing that she should give the answer that she did to the noble Lord that she knows nothing about a committee formed in the House of Commons in relation to such an important matter?

My Lords, does the Minister not find it slightly embarrassing that she should give the answer that she did to the noble Lord that she knows nothing about a committee formed in the House of Commons in relation to such an important matter?

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 16 June (HL Deb col 227), what are the associated costs of the changes to the voting system introduced by the Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2026.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 16 June (HL Deb col 227), what are the associated costs of the changes to the voting system introduced by the Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2026.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 16 June (HL Deb col 227), what the total cost of the Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election will be.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 16 June (HL Deb col 227), what the total cost of the Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election will be.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Pack, referred to the Rycroft report, and a series of amendments to the pending legislation on elections were placed very soon after that report was published. May I ask that the Government go somewhat more slowly in relation to the proposed amendments and look at them more carefully, along with the events that the noble Lord, Lord Pack, identified, so that we do not have to come back yet again and amend yet more elections legislation in 12 or 18 months’ time?

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Pack, referred to the Rycroft report, and a series of amendments to the pending legislation on elections were placed very soon after that report was published. May I ask that the Government go somewhat more slowly in relation to the proposed amendments and look at them more carefully, along with the events that the noble Lord, Lord Pack, identified, so that we do not have to come back yet again and amend yet more elections legislation in 12 or 18 months’ time?

My Lords, I was interested by the answer the Minister gave to my noble friend in relation to the signed contracts for work being undertaken virtually. Could she clarify whether there is an expiration date, or a time limit in some form or another, for these contracts in order that you can bring people back to a face-to-face arrangement quickly?

My Lords, I was interested by the answer the Minister gave to my noble friend in relation to the signed contracts for work being undertaken virtually. Could she clarify whether there is an expiration date, or a time limit in some form or another, for these contracts in order that you can bring people back to a face-to-face arrangement quickly?

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Pitkeathley, is right about the importance of generating interests in BIDs wherever they may happen to be across the country, and there is inadequate participation in voting in general when it comes to BIDs. Can the Minister please indicate the timetable that she is talking about for the process of consultation, in relation to both trialling digital voting and other elements of the process of introducing BIDs?

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Pitkeathley, is right about the importance of generating interests in BIDs wherever they may happen to be across the country, and there is inadequate participation in voting in general when it comes to BIDs. Can the Minister please indicate the timetable that she is talking about for the process of consultation, in relation to both trialling digital voting and other elements of the process of introducing BIDs?

My Lords, as a former resident of Zimbabwe, I ask what is being done in terms of working with other countries on representations to the Zimbabwean Government. Surely it is better that we work not alone but with many other countries right around the world.

My Lords, as a former resident of Zimbabwe, I ask what is being done in terms of working with other countries on representations to the Zimbabwean Government. Surely it is better that we work not alone but with many other countries right around the world.

My Lords, a few years ago, despite major constitutional issues, a Labour MP in the other place, and I in this place, were able to steer same-sex marriage legislation through in relation to Northern Ireland in a very short time. When there is agreement on all sides, as there is here, why cannot we get the legislation through as quickly as we did a few years ago?

My Lords, a few years ago, despite major constitutional issues, a Labour MP in the other place, and I in this place, were able to steer same-sex marriage legislation through in relation to Northern Ireland in a very short time. When there is agreement on all sides, as there is here, why cannot we get the legislation through as quickly as we did a few years ago?

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the annual budget of the UK Health Security Agency; and whether they have reviewed its budget recently.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the annual budget of the UK Health Security Agency; and whether they have reviewed its budget recently.

My Lords, given the failure of the Labour Party to find any female leader as yet—a full party leader; my apologies to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith—will the requirements of this section apply when the Labour Party next seeks a new leader?

My Lords, given the failure of the Labour Party to find any female leader as yet—a full party leader; my apologies to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith—will the requirements of this section apply when the Labour Party next seeks a new leader?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for identifying my involvement in the passage of the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023, but may I say that it was passed with all-party support throughout this House and the other Chamber? That was very important. In relation to family voting, it should be recognised that Democracy Volunteers identified that this was a national problem at the last general election. It was identified in places such as Stirling and Strathallan, Ceredigion Preseli, and Camborne and Redruth, so it is not new and it is not concentrated solely in certain places. The Minister will be aware, as I am, that urgent discussions have been taking place with the police, the returning officers, the Electoral Commission and Democracy Volunteers. Is this not the opportunity to urge all concerned to concentrate their minds so that we get it right on 7 May?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for identifying my involvement in the passage of the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023, but may I say that it was passed with all-party support throughout this House and the other Chamber? That was very important. In relation to family voting, it should be recognised that Democracy Volunteers identified that this was a national problem at the last general election. It was identified in places such as Stirling and Strathallan, Ceredigion Preseli, and Camborne and Redruth, so it is not new and it is not concentrated solely in certain places. The Minister will be aware, as I am, that urgent discussions have been taking place with the police, the returning officers, the Electoral Commission and Democracy Volunteers. Is this not the opportunity to urge all concerned to concentrate their minds so that we get it right on 7 May?

My Lords, I have had reason to visit St Thomas’ Hospital on a number of occasions recently to visit the noble Baroness, Lady Fookes, and I assure the Chamber that she is progressing well and thanks everybody for their messages of support, which have come from all sides. Just across the river, I have witnessed on two occasions levels of violence against the staff which I have never witnessed in some of the toughest parts of London or other cities. Nobody who has not experienced what the staff in NHS hospitals have experienced can appreciate the threat that is regularly meted out, to the extent that, last week, I had to act as a witness on behalf of a member of staff at St Thomas’ because he was having to fight off somebody who was trying to beat him up in the hospital.

My Lords, I have had reason to visit St Thomas’ Hospital on a number of occasions recently to visit the noble Baroness, Lady Fookes, and I assure the Chamber that she is progressing well and thanks everybody for their messages of support, which have come from all sides. Just across the river, I have witnessed on two occasions levels of violence against the staff which I have never witnessed in some of the toughest parts of London or other cities. Nobody who has not experienced what the staff in NHS hospitals have experienced can appreciate the threat that is regularly meted out, to the extent that, last week, I had to act as a witness on behalf of a member of staff at St Thomas’ because he was having to fight off somebody who was trying to beat him up in the hospital.

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the number of fines issued by the government and bodies authorised by the government to individuals were unpaid in the last full year for which they have data, broken down by economic region if that breakdown is available.

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the number of fines issued by the government and bodies authorised by the government to individuals were unpaid in the last full year for which they have data, broken down by economic region if that breakdown is available.

My Lords, I have enormous respect for the Minister and what he has been doing on this scheme, but there is a sense among the former service men and women that the rules are being applied far too narrowly, with no flexibility whatever. That was not the intention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton, when he drew up the scheme. Could the Minister please look at this to ensure that there is a degree of flexibility in the operation of the scheme, as was intended, and that the rules are not applied precisely as written and in no other circumstances?

My Lords, I have enormous respect for the Minister and what he has been doing on this scheme, but there is a sense among the former service men and women that the rules are being applied far too narrowly, with no flexibility whatever. That was not the intention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton, when he drew up the scheme. Could the Minister please look at this to ensure that there is a degree of flexibility in the operation of the scheme, as was intended, and that the rules are not applied precisely as written and in no other circumstances?

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the number of fines issued by the court system to individuals were unpaid in the last full year for which they have data, broken down by economic region if that breakdown is available.

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the number of fines issued by the court system to individuals were unpaid in the last full year for which they have data, broken down by economic region if that breakdown is available.

My Lords, may I raise a specific point in relation to Tower Hamlets, where the Metropolitan Police has provided cover at every polling station, at every election, since 2014? The returning officer in Tower Hamlets cannot get that guarantee that every polling station will be covered by police for the upcoming elections, because intimidation applies in such a broad range, and in this case, the police force has been provided to protect the people going to the polls.

My Lords, may I raise a specific point in relation to Tower Hamlets, where the Metropolitan Police has provided cover at every polling station, at every election, since 2014? The returning officer in Tower Hamlets cannot get that guarantee that every polling station will be covered by police for the upcoming elections, because intimidation applies in such a broad range, and in this case, the police force has been provided to protect the people going to the polls.

Can the Minister indicate what proportion of fines are collected across society in general? The questions are related specifically to the water industry, and I understand why, but is it not the case that a very high proportion of fines across the whole of society are completely unpaid?

Can the Minister indicate what proportion of fines are collected across society in general? The questions are related specifically to the water industry, and I understand why, but is it not the case that a very high proportion of fines across the whole of society are completely unpaid?

My Lords, I take the opportunity to wish my former constituent a happy new year. Following up the observation the Minister has just made on reviewing all forms of communication, would it not have been a good idea to send out one day earlier the suggestion that local authorities postpone their elections, and to refer it to both this Chamber and the other Chamber, rather than on the day after both Houses had gone into recess?

My Lords, I take the opportunity to wish my former constituent a happy new year. Following up the observation the Minister has just made on reviewing all forms of communication, would it not have been a good idea to send out one day earlier the suggestion that local authorities postpone their elections, and to refer it to both this Chamber and the other Chamber, rather than on the day after both Houses had gone into recess?

My Lords, the Minister is replying specifically in relation to science and the like, but women play an inadequate role in very many parts of society, most notably, for example, in sport. Will she take this opportunity to congratulate the England women’s football team and, in particular, the England women’s rugby team on their successes this year and hope that the likes of Ellie Kildunne will set an example for women in society to take up more sport, whether at a higher level or just at a general activity level?

My Lords, the Minister is replying specifically in relation to science and the like, but women play an inadequate role in very many parts of society, most notably, for example, in sport. Will she take this opportunity to congratulate the England women’s football team and, in particular, the England women’s rugby team on their successes this year and hope that the likes of Ellie Kildunne will set an example for women in society to take up more sport, whether at a higher level or just at a general activity level?