UK Public Servants: International Secondments

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Monday 16th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I am not sure how many secondments would work on that basis, but we already have in place keeping-in-touch conversations, where those who have been seconded must have regular conversations with their home department, as well as everything determined within the secondment agreement. Every secondment undertaken, both into and out of the Civil Service, is done on a case-by-case basis, so there is a bespoke secondment agreement which would allow some of those conversations to be formalised.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, clearly, as my noble friend has said, there are procedures and codes in place for our own civil servants, whom I hold in the highest regard. The noble Lord mentioned our own civil servants who are working in international organisations. I wonder what, if anything, we can do to ensure that bullying and harassment, for example, are properly dealt with in international organisations when it is not happening to our own civil servants who have been seconded to those organisations.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My noble friend raises an interesting point. This is about who we end up seconding staff to and what happens while they are there, and the things they may see. There is a clear process for any concerns that arise during a secondment process. The secondment can be terminated early and we can withdraw people, especially in the international space. It is also one of the reasons why we have those keeping-in-touch conversations, because, as our employees, we still have a duty of care towards them regardless of where they are working. We need to make sure that we know what environment they are operating in and that we can protect them wherever they are.

Standards in Public Life

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Tuesday 10th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, I hesitate to rise because I was slightly late, but as the noble Lord opposite was late—my Whips are saying that no, I cannot.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)]

I am so sorry. The noble Lord was a few seconds late, so he was within the timetable.

UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Thursday 18th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a very important point about visas. I will have to write to her about the detail of any changes we will need to bring forward. I remind and reassure noble Lords that these are temporary arrangements for Erasmus; people will be here for less than 12 months and will be travelling for less than 12 months.

On existing schemes in Scotland and Wales, obviously, there are ongoing conversations, but the Taith scheme in Wales is hugely respected and regarded. In terms of accessing and working with disadvantaged communities and those from working-class backgrounds, we all have a huge amount to learn from their successes. Given the nature of these schemes and that education is devolved, these decisions will be a matter for the Scottish and Welsh Governments, but, obviously, we will have ongoing conversations with them.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, I warmly welcome this great initiative, which is a matter for celebration. I am especially pleased that, as my noble friend Lord Reid said, it is open to all kids. As my noble friend the Minister said, we all have a responsibility to ensure that kids in all our areas, including the Forest of Dean, which is a greatly disadvantaged area, know about this so that they can take advantage of it. At a time when we have war on our continent and people are peddling fear of the other, the way in which this can nurture understanding between young people is vital.

There is one thing that worries me slightly. Of course, we have to have robust finances, and to know that we are getting value for money and that all kids are included. Ten months is a very short amount of time. I urge my noble friend the Minister to ensure that, whatever happens in the future, there must not be a cliff edge; we must do whatever we can to ensure that such schemes are a success.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for her question and, more importantly, for the work she has done over many years in this area. She raises an important point, but one of the things we need to be aware of is that we are joining the last year of the current scheme, and that the details on the priorities of the next scheme and the countries that will participate have yet to be published. Therefore, there is nothing else that we can join at the moment. I hope that our joining Erasmus+ at this point sends a message to our friends and allies in the European Union and to young people up and down the country that we are investing in their futures, that we are clear in our relationships and partnerships about how important it is that we have cross-country travel, and that we appreciate the potential for cultural exchange.