Has any consideration been given to some relaxation of the rules which restrict the ability of GPs to open pharmacies at their practices, to which the Minister has already alluded? Might it be possible to alleviate this problem by relaxing those rules?

Has any consideration been given to some relaxation of the rules which restrict the ability of GPs to open pharmacies at their practices, to which the Minister has already alluded? Might it be possible to alleviate this problem by relaxing those rules?

Face-to-face banking may be a lost cause, but we should at least be able to put in place a system that enables customers to speak to a human being rather than face a bot. This review could benefit from widening its terms of reference. Can the Minister take away what he has heard today with a view to making sure that the terms of reference cover the points that have been made? While he is at it, can he make sure that the role of competition can be considered? Even now, it is extremely difficult to get a banking licence, despite many efforts to make it easier. There will be new entrants into this market that are prepared to offer a customer the option of talking with a human being, but to secure that, competition must be made easier by the regulators.

Face-to-face banking may be a lost cause, but we should at least be able to put in place a system that enables customers to speak to a human being rather than face a bot. This review could benefit from widening its terms of reference. Can the Minister take away what he has heard today with a view to making sure that the terms of reference cover the points that have been made? While he is at it, can he make sure that the role of competition can be considered? Even now, it is extremely difficult to get a banking licence, despite many efforts to make it easier. There will be new entrants into this market that are prepared to offer a customer the option of talking with a human being, but to secure that, competition must be made easier by the regulators.

The Minister has said on several occasions that we will continue these operations of interdiction where circumstances align and where it is appropriate. I struggle to think where it would be inappropriate but, as for where circumstances might align, is that a reference to available resources? If there were an...

The Minister has said on several occasions that we will continue these operations of interdiction where circumstances align and where it is appropriate. I struggle to think where it would be inappropriate but, as for where circumstances might align, is that a reference to available resources? If there were an...

My Lords, do the Government accept that, across a wide range of skills, the country is simply unable at the moment to attract many of the most talented people that it needs in order to secure growth, and that part of the problem is the administrative burden, which has just been alluded to, of making those applications? Will they undertake a review of the administration of the scheme in order to try to obtain those skilled workers?

My Lords, do the Government accept that, across a wide range of skills, the country is simply unable at the moment to attract many of the most talented people that it needs in order to secure growth, and that part of the problem is the administrative burden, which has just been alluded to, of making those applications? Will they undertake a review of the administration of the scheme in order to try to obtain those skilled workers?

I was hoping I could agree with something there, but I am not sure I can, so I have decided to say only that I very much hope that the noble Lord will at least find something in my speech he can agree with.

I want to address the fact that...

I was hoping I could agree with something there, but I am not sure I can, so I have decided to say only that I very much hope that the noble Lord will at least find something in my speech he can agree with.

I want to address the fact that...

My Lords, as I understand it, the Government’s commitment on defence spending is to increase it from the 2.3% of GDP that it inherited to 2.6% of GDP, which the Minister has reiterated now. In the 1930s, in the five-year period after 1933, defence spending in this country increased from...

My Lords, as I understand it, the Government’s commitment on defence spending is to increase it from the 2.3% of GDP that it inherited to 2.6% of GDP, which the Minister has reiterated now. In the 1930s, in the five-year period after 1933, defence spending in this country increased from...

Will the Government reconsider their decision not to publish the report in full? I fully support what the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, has said. I chaired the Treasury Select Committee through a substantial period during which these issues developed. It really is wholly unacceptable, so long after the development and exposure of this fraud, that people are not receiving compensation. We now need the publication and full transparency of that report.

Will the Government reconsider their decision not to publish the report in full? I fully support what the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, has said. I chaired the Treasury Select Committee through a substantial period during which these issues developed. It really is wholly unacceptable, so long after the development and exposure of this fraud, that people are not receiving compensation. We now need the publication and full transparency of that report.

Having worked in an international organisation for five years and having seen some shocking conduct, it crosses my mind that the Government could do well to ask the British-appointed directors of those organisations to keep a very close eye on what goes on with respect to standards and to report back regularly, and for the Government to make public reports where they can on such information. Will the Government consider putting such an arrangement in place?

Having worked in an international organisation for five years and having seen some shocking conduct, it crosses my mind that the Government could do well to ask the British-appointed directors of those organisations to keep a very close eye on what goes on with respect to standards and to report back regularly, and for the Government to make public reports where they can on such information. Will the Government consider putting such an arrangement in place?

Have the Government made any assessment of whether fines on firms, as opposed to fines on individuals, have any effect on the performance of the companies concerned? It strikes me that unless fines, at least to some degree, bear down on individuals, we are unlikely to see an improvement.

Have the Government made any assessment of whether fines on firms, as opposed to fines on individuals, have any effect on the performance of the companies concerned? It strikes me that unless fines, at least to some degree, bear down on individuals, we are unlikely to see an improvement.

I think the whole House agrees with everything that the Minister has said today. Could she just clarify whether any of the protocols that cover the stationing of US bases in the United Kingdom would preclude the use of those forces in the event of an invasion of, or military action in, Greenland? I realise that is yet another hypothetical question: none the less, I think the Minister began by saying that she did at least recognise that she would get several.

I think the whole House agrees with everything that the Minister has said today. Could she just clarify whether any of the protocols that cover the stationing of US bases in the United Kingdom would preclude the use of those forces in the event of an invasion of, or military action in, Greenland? I realise that is yet another hypothetical question: none the less, I think the Minister began by saying that she did at least recognise that she would get several.

I agree with a great deal of what I have just heard. I will say a few words about growth, but before I do, I will touch on a couple of other recent controversies. First, the creation of the OBR has given forecasts an air of respectability that no economic...

I agree with a great deal of what I have just heard. I will say a few words about growth, but before I do, I will touch on a couple of other recent controversies. First, the creation of the OBR has given forecasts an air of respectability that no economic...

Well, it is goodbye Budgets for growth and hello tax and spend, is it not? When Ministers are forced back just to reading scripts—completely unedited, as far as I can tell—we get a gist of the sense of lack of authority behind some of the remarks that have just been made. Budgets used to have detailed studies of incentive effects attached to them. Could the Minister tell us, and publish, any such studies of the incentive effects on small business growth for the tax measures in this Budget?

Well, it is goodbye Budgets for growth and hello tax and spend, is it not? When Ministers are forced back just to reading scripts—completely unedited, as far as I can tell—we get a gist of the sense of lack of authority behind some of the remarks that have just been made. Budgets used to have detailed studies of incentive effects attached to them. Could the Minister tell us, and publish, any such studies of the incentive effects on small business growth for the tax measures in this Budget?

Could the Minister possibly say where I have been rude?

Could the Minister possibly say where I have been rude?

I will be brief—everybody will be delighted to hear that. I should say that I am a supporter of the intentions of the Bill, and I agree with what the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, said, particularly when he suggested that the Government will need to be involved in...

I will be brief—everybody will be delighted to hear that. I should say that I am a supporter of the intentions of the Bill, and I agree with what the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, said, particularly when he suggested that the Government will need to be involved in...

Has the Secretary of State commissioned an internal report on the effect of the national insurance change on unemployment, and have they passed that information to the Treasury?

Has the Secretary of State commissioned an internal report on the effect of the national insurance change on unemployment, and have they passed that information to the Treasury?

I will not try to match that story. All I will say is that this has been a brilliant debate on an extremely controversial subject. Some

people have opposed the Bill on principled grounds. The first point I make is that, in practice, on a number of the areas of...

I will not try to match that story. All I will say is that this has been a brilliant debate on an extremely controversial subject. Some

people have opposed the Bill on principled grounds. The first point I make is that, in practice, on a number of the areas of...

I think noble Lords in this House would agree that the last Government and this Government acted properly in handling this, in every

substantive respect. Unfortunately, that is not how this case, at least in part, is being presented in the media. Part of the media is still presenting this...

I think noble Lords in this House would agree that the last Government and this Government acted properly in handling this, in every

substantive respect. Unfortunately, that is not how this case, at least in part, is being presented in the media. Part of the media is still presenting this...

I think that most people would agree that there is a depressing lack of detail from the Minister in response to the important question about the lack of support given, compared with the United States, to high-growth businesses. Perhaps the Minister is not fully briefed on it. Could he come back to the House, if necessary in writing, and give us much greater detail rather than just saying we have to wait for a speech at the Mansion House for an answer?

I think that most people would agree that there is a depressing lack of detail from the Minister in response to the important question about the lack of support given, compared with the United States, to high-growth businesses. Perhaps the Minister is not fully briefed on it. Could he come back to the House, if necessary in writing, and give us much greater detail rather than just saying we have to wait for a speech at the Mansion House for an answer?

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of education policy on the future take-up of foreign languages at GCSE level.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of education policy on the future take-up of foreign languages at GCSE level.

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of pupils entered for a GCSE in the current year are taking (1) French, (2) Spanish, (3) German and (4) other foreign languages; and what proportion took those exams in 2010, 2015 and 2020.

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of pupils entered for a GCSE in the current year are taking (1) French, (2) Spanish, (3) German and (4) other foreign languages; and what proportion took those exams in 2010, 2015 and 2020.