To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 13237, on Department for Transport: Public Relations, how much spending has there been on these contracts since July 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 13237, on Department for Transport: Public Relations, how much spending has there been on these contracts since July 2024.

To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to contracts to supply and maintain Class 810 "Aurora" rolling stock for East Midlands Railway on the Midland Main Line, whether Hitachi Rail is required to provide sufficient serviceable trains to meet the timetable commitments of the train operator; and if so, whether...

To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to contracts to supply and maintain Class 810 "Aurora" rolling stock for East Midlands Railway on the Midland Main Line, whether Hitachi Rail is required to provide sufficient serviceable trains to meet the timetable commitments of the train operator; and if so, whether...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2026, to Question 3822, on Department for Transport: Public Relations, if she will name the public affairs firms or contractors who have been used since July 2024 by Office for Rail and Road, and the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2026, to Question 3822, on Department for Transport: Public Relations, if she will name the public affairs firms or contractors who have been used since July 2024 by Office for Rail and Road, and the...

The Contracts for Difference scheme supports new low carbon infrastructure. This briefing gives an overview of the CfD scheme and statistics on the projects it has delivered.

The Contracts for Difference scheme supports new low carbon infrastructure. This briefing gives an overview of the CfD scheme and statistics on the projects it has delivered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Edaroth and (b) AtkinsRéalis has (i) bid for and (ii) received funding from (A) his Department or (B) Homes England since July 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Edaroth and (b) AtkinsRéalis has (i) bid for and (ii) received funding from (A) his Department or (B) Homes England since July 2024.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to consult on further reforms to the NHS dental contract; and if so, when.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to consult on further reforms to the NHS dental contract; and if so, when.

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

18: Clause 3, page 7, leave out lines 3 to 16

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to probe the scope and impact of exempting upwards payments from the restriction on payment terms, given the fact that many of the suppliers will still be small or medium businesses.

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

18: Clause 3, page 7, leave out lines 3 to 16

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to probe the scope and impact of exempting upwards payments from the restriction on payment terms, given the fact that many of the suppliers will still be small or medium businesses.

My Lords, it is a pleasure to introduce group 4, which primarily covers the important issue of the definitions of different sized businesses. Before I open that debate, I will touch on the other amendments in this group.

Amendment 18, which was signed by my noble friends Lord Hunt of Wirral...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to introduce group 4, which primarily covers the important issue of the definitions of different sized businesses. Before I open that debate, I will touch on the other amendments in this group.

Amendment 18, which was signed by my noble friends Lord Hunt of Wirral...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lord Sharpe, having signed all the amendments in his name. There are two key principles at stake here, as he eloquently set out: first, not to introduce yet another definition and, secondly, to take the opportunity to bring some clarity, consistency and coherence...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lord Sharpe, having signed all the amendments in his name. There are two key principles at stake here, as he eloquently set out: first, not to introduce yet another definition and, secondly, to take the opportunity to bring some clarity, consistency and coherence...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, brought up a number of important issues, but I do not think he brought up any viable solutions. He spoke at the beginning about the proliferation of definitions, then sought to add to that proliferation with some new definitions.

He is right that some...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, brought up a number of important issues, but I do not think he brought up any viable solutions. He spoke at the beginning about the proliferation of definitions, then sought to add to that proliferation with some new definitions.

He is right that some...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation and for the context around some of the amendments that he has provided. I thank all noble Lords who spoke in the debate, especially my noble friend Lord Holmes. I will be brief in response.

I totally accept that the...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation and for the context around some of the amendments that he has provided. I thank all noble Lords who spoke in the debate, especially my noble friend Lord Holmes. I will be brief in response.

I totally accept that the...

Moved by

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd

19: Clause 3, page 7, line 23, at end insert “save that the Secretary of State must not specify in regulations which have or will continue to have effect after 1 April 2029 any contract of a description which relates to—

(a) the supply of any goods...

Moved by

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd

19: Clause 3, page 7, line 23, at end insert “save that the Secretary of State must not specify in regulations which have or will continue to have effect after 1 April 2029 any contract of a description which relates to—

(a) the supply of any goods...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of the board that advises the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for his support in this, and for the time that the Minister and his officials afforded to discuss it.

I set...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of the board that advises the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for his support in this, and for the time that the Minister and his officials afforded to discuss it.

I set...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow my friend, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, and the excellent and eloquent way in which he introduced his amendment, which I was delighted to sign. As he rightly pointed out, this could be seen as the absolute premier DBIST amendment....

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow my friend, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, and the excellent and eloquent way in which he introduced his amendment, which I was delighted to sign. As he rightly pointed out, this could be seen as the absolute premier DBIST amendment....

My Lords, very briefly, this would seem to be the perfect amendment for the Minister to accept. As pointed out, it signals an innovative forward direction for the new department, it utilises complex legislation that has already happened, it does not cost anything, and nothing will happen for two years—perfect.

My Lords, very briefly, this would seem to be the perfect amendment for the Minister to accept. As pointed out, it signals an innovative forward direction for the new department, it utilises complex legislation that has already happened, it does not cost anything, and nothing will happen for two years—perfect.

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, for introducing his amendment. I cannot really improve on what has already been said, except to say that this issue has been raised with His Majesty’s Opposition in the run-up to this Committee stage....

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, for introducing his amendment. I cannot really improve on what has already been said, except to say that this issue has been raised with His Majesty’s Opposition in the run-up to this Committee stage....

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, for tabling Amendment 19, and acknowledge his advocacy in relation to e-invoicing and electronic trade documents. However, the intention to exempt imports and exports from maximum payment terms through secondary legislation is crucial to supporting

UK businesses. Whether helping...

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, for tabling Amendment 19, and acknowledge his advocacy in relation to e-invoicing and electronic trade documents. However, the intention to exempt imports and exports from maximum payment terms through secondary legislation is crucial to supporting

UK businesses. Whether helping...

Before the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, responds, can I just ask the Minister something? It seems to me that he is accepting the proposition, with which I entirely agree, that the nature of e-invoicing and the use of electronic trade documents will make it possible for...

Before the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, responds, can I just ask the Minister something? It seems to me that he is accepting the proposition, with which I entirely agree, that the nature of e-invoicing and the use of electronic trade documents will make it possible for...

I appreciate what the noble Lord has just said, but it is important that the scope of the Bill is targeted at UK businesses and small businesses. A commercial arrangement between a company based in the UK or a business based elsewhere is probably outside the scope of this Bill...

I appreciate what the noble Lord has just said, but it is important that the scope of the Bill is targeted at UK businesses and small businesses. A commercial arrangement between a company based in the UK or a business based elsewhere is probably outside the scope of this Bill...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken in this short, slightly esoteric argument and on these interests. I simply say that I do not think that this issue will go away. First, the payment terms in the Bill are 60 days and in modern international trade that is a...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken in this short, slightly esoteric argument and on these interests. I simply say that I do not think that this issue will go away. First, the payment terms in the Bill are 60 days and in modern international trade that is a...