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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 May 2026
Supermarkets: Voluntary Price Caps

"My Lords—..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Supermarkets: Voluntary Price Caps

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 May 2026
Supermarkets: Voluntary Price Caps

"My Lords, could my noble friend the Minister indicate whether ongoing discussions are taking place with the Groceries Code Adjudicator, who is the overall ombudsman, to negotiate between suppliers and the 10 largest supermarkets and to protect consumers?..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Supermarkets: Voluntary Price Caps

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 May 2026
King’s Speech

"My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Shawcross-Wolfson. I welcome the gracious Speech and a number of the important measures contained therein. In particular, I support the NHS modernisation Bill, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which rightly seeks to place victims and survivors at the …..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: King’s Speech

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 19 May 2026
Supreme Court Dillon Judgment

"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for the Statement. One of the families that was part of the Dillon judgment submission was a former constituent of mine, John McEvoy, who was sitting in a pub in Kilcoo, County Down, when his friend was shot dead by loyalist …..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Supreme Court Dillon Judgment

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 18 May 2026
EU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related Standards

"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for visiting Northern Ireland, particularly the Balmoral show and fishermen at Ardglass, County Down, last Friday, at my request. She would have heard quite clearly the importance of fishing, whether in the catching or the processing sector. What steps are the …..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: EU-UK SPS Agreement: Food-related Standards

Written Question
Cancer: Doctors
Wednesday 29th April 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to instruct NHS England to increase the baseline number of specialty training places in clinical oncology in order to progressively eliminate workforce shortfalls and reduce delays in cancer care.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places and when will be announced in due course.

Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, through better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.

In addition, the Department will also use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower.


Written Question
Doctors: Training
Wednesday 29th April 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any of the 1,000 new specialty training places announced in the 10 Year Health Plan will be available for recruitment rounds this year; and if so, whether clinical radiology and clinical oncology will receive any of the additional posts.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places and when will be announced in due course.

Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, through better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.

In addition, the Department will also use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower.


Written Question
Doctors: Training
Wednesday 29th April 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which specialities will receive new specialty training places from the 1,000 new training posts announced in the 10 Year Health Plan.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places and when will be announced in due course.

Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, through better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.

In addition, the Department will also use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower.


Division Vote (Lords)
28 Apr 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 160 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 91 Noes - 181
Division Vote (Lords)
27 Apr 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 153 Labour No votes vs 5 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 316 Noes - 165