Charles Dickens: Bicentenary

Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Thursday 9th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

He did.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, Mr Twemlow in Our Mutual Friend expressed his opinion that the House of Commons was “the best club in London”. Will my noble friend consider instituting a prize for the best contemporary Dickensian description of your Lordships’ House?

[Baroness Rawlings]

My noble friend Lord Brooke always comes up with original ideas. I am sure that everything will be fed in to the department.

Children: Television

Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Monday 21st November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The noble Baroness is very expert on these matters and has gone to the core of the matter regarding radio programmes. It is up to the BBC to follow up on its children's programmes. The assessment of whether radio and television broadcasters are meeting their obligations towards children is a matter for Ofcom.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

Does the Minister feel that the present arrangements for handling these matters are entirely satisfactory?

[Baroness Rawlings]

My noble friend Lord Brooke brings up a very important point. That is why the communications review Green Paper is being discussed at the moment. In the new year we will publish the Green Paper, through which all these ideas will be fed in to the Secretary of State before the Bill comes to this House.

Public Libraries: Closures

Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Monday 12th September 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The needs of the community are at the heart of library service provision. We hope that the big society will give citizens more of a role in determining the shape of public service and what it delivers. The ability of libraries to reach out and be involved with communities means that they have a vital role in delivering the big society. The noble Baroness is absolutely right about the importance of reading to children. That is one area that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall has been promoting extensively.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, as our local library in rural Wiltshire is now significantly kept open by volunteers, would my noble friend like to say something about volunteering?

[Baroness Rawlings]

My noble friend Lord Brooke raises a valid point, which is very topical at the moment. Over the past 10 years we have seen an increase in the number of people volunteering in libraries. Volunteers regularly help to deliver homework clubs for schoolchildren. They contribute to projects, they digitise items in library collections and they provide buddy support for people new to using computers. It is important to remember that authorities remain accountable to their communities for the changes they make, and that includes the use of volunteers.

Arts: Regional Theatres

Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Wednesday 20th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

My Lords, I agree totally with the noble Lord, Lord Harrison. Towards that goal, in his Budget of 23 March, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a significant package of new measures to support a drive towards greater charitable giving exactly in this area. It was worth around £600 million.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, I declare a modest interest as a friend of Salisbury Playhouse. Perhaps through my noble friend the Minister I may congratulate the Arts Council on the manner in which it dispensed what I acknowledge were reduced funds and say that, because of the quality of the Salisbury Playhouse, it was not cut in any way.

Student Visas

Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

My Lords, I am afraid we are out of time.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, I understand about the time, but I wish to make a complaint. More noble Lords would be able to contribute if others asked only two questions and did not make long statements. At least three noble Lords have been shut out.