Brexit: Food Prices

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Tuesday 14th November 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Con)]

My Lords, it is Labour’s turn.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, will the Minister accept that his words stating that the Government are aware of the impact of rising food prices on the poorest people in the country have a hollow ring? To be aware of the problem and pursue policies that worsen the situation is a very evil act. Many of these families are suffering enormously because of the Government’s policies. Will the Minister take back the message that nobody wants to see this deprivation continue and that all benefits should be increased to account for the increase in the cost of food?

Visas: Foreign Domestic Workers

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Thursday 4th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I have tried to make it clear that these people are not casually trafficked. They must be in the employment of the employer for 12 months before they come to this country. It is designed for people accompanying overseas visitors, who I think this country seeks to encourage. However, I do not think that the scenario that the noble and learned Baroness points out actually exists. There is the national referral mechanism. Any information on trafficking represents a criminal offence, and we would not hesitate to prosecute.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, will the Minister undertake at his meeting next week to reconsider his statement that there is security in knowing that people have been in employment for 12 months? The conditions in which they may have been in employment in some other countries may be equally bad.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I give that undertaking, and course I am aware of what the noble Baroness is suggesting. However, this country’s power to deal with such matters is limited to their treatment here in the UK.

Ibrahim Magag: Disappearance

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Tuesday 8th January 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I am not in a position to give an answer to that. I am sure that the noble Lord will understand why.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, I have listened with great care because I have great respect for the Minister, but I do not hear a single argument in favour of getting rid of relocation. Will the Minister tell me what that argument is?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

When it was introduced to the House, the legislation did not provide for relocation as being a proportionate measure to be taken in such cases. It was debated by Parliament and the provision was made. Therefore, that provision currently does not exist in TPIMs.

Farming Regulation Task Force

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Wednesday 11th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, will the Minister ensure that his department takes great care when deregulating agriculture? Does he not recall, as many in this House do, that the changes to regulation in heating food for pigs were one of the factors that were identified as a great risk for foot and mouth disease? Will his department ensure that it never again deregulates at the expense of the consumer?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

The noble Baroness is quite right to remind us of our responsibility in undertaking this project. I said in my opening response that we need to work with thoroughness to ensure that situations such as she describes do not happen again.

Devolution: England

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Wednesday 13th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I hope that the commission will inform any such debate which may occur. That is the reason why the Government want the advice of the commission, which can take evidence, consider all the proposals and come to conclusions which are practical and desirable for the governance of this country.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, will the Minister give an assurance to those of us who live in England that the commission will look at the English regions and not just at a parliament for England as there are great differences in need between the north-west of England, the north, the south-west, and London and the south-east? I would like that assurance, particularly as the north-west, along with the north, has suffered disproportionately under the Barnett formula.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

My Lords, I am sure that regional aspects will come into the commission’s discussions but the noble Baroness will know that the last time a vote on a regional assembly was held, the people of north-east England voted against such an assembly.

Census

Debate between Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Monday 13th June 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

This is a familiar experience for most noble Lords. It relates in some ways to the difficulties experienced in some inner urban areas in this regard. Noble Lords may remember that I was asked a question on this some time ago and that Kensington and Chelsea had only a 64 per cent return of census forms in 2001. We are on track for a much better return this time, aiming at a 94 per cent return. The early indications are that it is on target, and that is very satisfying. As my noble friend has pointed out, communication is often difficult in these hard-to-reach areas. In the case of non face-to-face communication, it is possible, as I say, for a form to be filled in by the respondee.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton]

My Lords, will the Government have regard to the assessment of population as a result of the census when considering parliamentary boundaries? It is my recollection that the Government closed that issue at the end of last year, and that therefore the new parliamentary boundaries could be drawn up on fallacious figures.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I think that we have discussed this previously, if I may say so, but I thank the noble Baroness for bringing it up. The truth of the matter is that registration for the electoral register is entirely voluntary in this country and not everyone is registered. On the other hand the census is mandatory and designed to make sure that government resources go to where they should. Therefore the two are not compatible; they are drawn up under separate legislation and conducted by totally separate organisations. The Office for National Statistics has nothing to do with local electoral registration.