To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Malta about the implementation of the recommendations of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia relating to the protection of journalists, media freedom and the rule of law.

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Malta about the implementation of the recommendations of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia relating to the protection of journalists, media freedom and the rule of law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to improve economic relations between the United Kingdom and Malta.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to improve economic relations between the United Kingdom and Malta.

Letter dated 20/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Baroness Gerada regarding the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill debates (second reading and committee stage): points raised regarding Malta and the Bill's impact on Maltese medical graduates. 4p.

Letter dated 20/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Baroness Gerada regarding the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill debates (second reading and committee stage): points raised regarding Malta and the Bill's impact on Maltese medical graduates. 4p.

Letter dated 20/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Peers regarding the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill committee stage debate: additional information requested by Peers speaking to group 3 amendments: Overseas campuses of UK medical schools, Republic of Ireland, and Malta. 4p.

Letter dated 20/02/2026 from Baroness Merron to Peers regarding the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill committee stage debate: additional information requested by Peers speaking to group 3 amendments: Overseas campuses of UK medical schools, Republic of Ireland, and Malta. 4p.

Lords committee stage. Clauses 1 to 8 agreed to. Bill reported without amendment.

Lords committee stage. Clauses 1 to 8 agreed to. Bill reported without amendment.

Moved by

Lord Patel

1: Clause 1, page 1, line 4, after “must” insert “first”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment, and others in the name of Lord Patel, seeks to ensure that UK medical graduates are prioritised above other categories of eligible applicants.

Moved by

Lord Patel

1: Clause 1, page 1, line 4, after “must” insert “first”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment, and others in the name of Lord Patel, seeks to ensure that UK medical graduates are prioritised above other categories of eligible applicants.

My Lords, my name is also attached to Amendments 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14, which are consequential, so I will not speak to them. This may be the briefest of introductions to any amendment.

My amendment tries to prioritise—which is the main theme of the Bill—UK medical graduates...

My Lords, my name is also attached to Amendments 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14, which are consequential, so I will not speak to them. This may be the briefest of introductions to any amendment.

My amendment tries to prioritise—which is the main theme of the Bill—UK medical graduates...

My Lords, I have tabled Amendment 2. The clerks suggested changing the wording to what is now there. It is a probing amendment, and like those of the noble Lord, Lord Patel, it could be applied to other clauses as well. It is about the principle. My strong view is...

My Lords, I have tabled Amendment 2. The clerks suggested changing the wording to what is now there. It is a probing amendment, and like those of the noble Lord, Lord Patel, it could be applied to other clauses as well. It is about the principle. My strong view is...

My Lords, I am delighted to have the opportunity to support my noble friend in her excellent amendment. Broadly speaking, this is a very welcome Bill. I congratulate the Government on bringing it forward to address what is becoming an acute issue, but it could be better. My remarks fall...

My Lords, I am delighted to have the opportunity to support my noble friend in her excellent amendment. Broadly speaking, this is a very welcome Bill. I congratulate the Government on bringing it forward to address what is becoming an acute issue, but it could be better. My remarks fall...

My Lords, I want to speak briefly to the amendments proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, and the noble Baroness, Lady Coffey. The noble Lord, Lord Patel, mentioned that 7% of undergraduates who take medical degrees in the UK are from overseas. I briefly mentioned last week my conversations...

My Lords, I want to speak briefly to the amendments proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, and the noble Baroness, Lady Coffey. The noble Lord, Lord Patel, mentioned that 7% of undergraduates who take medical degrees in the UK are from overseas. I briefly mentioned last week my conversations...

My Lords, I too am a little bit concerned about unintended consequences. It is a real pleasure to see my noble friend Lord Darzi in his place, because I hope he will have comments on this issue.

I trained as a clinical academic. Indeed, we know that clinical academics have had...

My Lords, I too am a little bit concerned about unintended consequences. It is a real pleasure to see my noble friend Lord Darzi in his place, because I hope he will have comments on this issue.

I trained as a clinical academic. Indeed, we know that clinical academics have had...

My Lords, many of you will know that I did my medical training in Ireland. In fact, I exercised some of my skills in this Chamber back in 2007. Irish medical education is excellent, and many of its graduates have gone on to distinguished careers in the NHS. I speak...

My Lords, many of you will know that I did my medical training in Ireland. In fact, I exercised some of my skills in this Chamber back in 2007. Irish medical education is excellent, and many of its graduates have gone on to distinguished careers in the NHS. I speak...

My Lords, it has been many years since I last spoke in a health debate. There is a sense of déjà vu in seeing the noble Earl, Lord Howe, on the Opposition Front Bench. It is also an absolute pleasure to hear from the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, and to...

My Lords, it has been many years since I last spoke in a health debate. There is a sense of déjà vu in seeing the noble Earl, Lord Howe, on the Opposition Front Bench. It is also an absolute pleasure to hear from the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, and to...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Patel, deserves our thanks for opening our Committee debate in a cogent and powerful way. He is

absolutely right: in this country, we train some of the very best doctors in the world—at great expense to them and to the taxpayer—but too many are...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Patel, deserves our thanks for opening our Committee debate in a cogent and powerful way. He is

absolutely right: in this country, we train some of the very best doctors in the world—at great expense to them and to the taxpayer—but too many are...

My Lords, I am most grateful to all noble Lords for their helpful contributions to this debate. Amendments 1,

3, 6 to 8 and 12 to 14, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, seek to create tiered categories of prioritisation for the UK foundation programme and specialty programmes. Taken...

My Lords, I am most grateful to all noble Lords for their helpful contributions to this debate. Amendments 1,

3, 6 to 8 and 12 to 14, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, seek to create tiered categories of prioritisation for the UK foundation programme and specialty programmes. Taken...

Obviously, the Minister is not accepting my amendment, but she makes the point that all the priority groups will be treated in the same way—whatever the definition is of people in the priority group, they will all be grouped together as a priority, and that would include UK medical graduates....

Obviously, the Minister is not accepting my amendment, but she makes the point that all the priority groups will be treated in the same way—whatever the definition is of people in the priority group, they will all be grouped together as a priority, and that would include UK medical graduates....

We do not anticipate that that is going to cause a problem. The noble Lord did not specifically refer to the EFTA countries, but I should like to. Some of them will not produce any suitable people who are likely to be included, so in our modelling we do not...

We do not anticipate that that is going to cause a problem. The noble Lord did not specifically refer to the EFTA countries, but I should like to. Some of them will not produce any suitable people who are likely to be included, so in our modelling we do not...

I accept that the Minister is not predisposed to accept the amendment from my noble friend Lady Coffey, and she has made a clear case for that, but is she in a position to reassure the House that the issues raised by my noble friend and others about the relative...

I accept that the Minister is not predisposed to accept the amendment from my noble friend Lady Coffey, and she has made a clear case for that, but is she in a position to reassure the House that the issues raised by my noble friend and others about the relative...

Yes, we are.

Yes, we are.

Can I ask about applications from overseas? I know from the paperwork that has been shared online that everybody has been grouped together as the rest of the world. With the applications that we have had this time and last year, it might be helpful to share the data of...

Can I ask about applications from overseas? I know from the paperwork that has been shared online that everybody has been grouped together as the rest of the world. With the applications that we have had this time and last year, it might be helpful to share the data of...