Baroness Wilkins

Labour - Life peer

Became Member: 30th July 1999

Left House: 23rd July 2015 (Retired)


Baroness Wilkins is not a member of any APPGs
Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee
11th Jun 2015 - 9th Jul 2015
Leader's Group on Working Practices
27th Jul 2010 - 26th Apr 2011
Administration and Works Committee (Lords)
6th Dec 2004 - 30th Oct 2007
Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords)
6th Dec 1999 - 18th Nov 2004
Draft Disability Discrimination Bill (Joint Committee)
21st Jan 2004 - 27th May 2004
Information Committee (Lords)
25th Nov 2002 - 20th Nov 2003
Draft Mental Incapacity Bill (Joint Committee)
11th Jul 2003 - 17th Nov 2003


Division Voting information

Baroness Wilkins has voted in 559 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Freud (Conservative)
(21 debate interactions)
Earl Howe (Conservative)
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
(11 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Department for Work and Pensions
(39 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(23 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(22 debate contributions)
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Legislation Debates
Baroness Wilkins has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
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Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Wilkins, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Baroness Wilkins has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Baroness Wilkins has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 6 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
28th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Jane Ellison MP on 21 July (HC Deb, col 1009W), what assessment they have made of NHS England’s Spinal Cord Injury Service Specification of a minimum of 20 beds per unit against the criterion of providing a "safe and effective service".

The fluctuations of waiting times and the ability to discharge a patient to the next phase of their care are key factors in enabling the admission of new patients to a centre. NHS England, the eight specialist centres in England and the Spinal Injuries Association are working together to recommend changes to the continuing care process that would enable spinal cord injured patients to move to the next stage of their care as soon as clinically appropriate.

The overall bed complement for England is being reviewed through a demand and capacity project, led by the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The CRG aims to produce a report in 2015-16.

NHS England’s SCI service specification clearly sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. It sets a core requirement that each specialised SCI Centre can demonstrate they have a minimum of 20 beds dedicated exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients.

This requirement was developed by the SCI CRG and endorsed and was adopted by NHS England as the responsible commissioner.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
28th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the waiting lists for admission to the eight specialist spinal injury units in England of newly injured spinal cord patients prior to the review of demand and capacity by the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Reference Group.

The fluctuations of waiting times and the ability to discharge a patient to the next phase of their care are key factors in enabling the admission of new patients to a centre. NHS England, the eight specialist centres in England and the Spinal Injuries Association are working together to recommend changes to the continuing care process that would enable spinal cord injured patients to move to the next stage of their care as soon as clinically appropriate.

The overall bed complement for England is being reviewed through a demand and capacity project, led by the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The CRG aims to produce a report in 2015-16.

NHS England’s SCI service specification clearly sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. It sets a core requirement that each specialised SCI Centre can demonstrate they have a minimum of 20 beds dedicated exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients.

This requirement was developed by the SCI CRG and endorsed and was adopted by NHS England as the responsible commissioner.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
28th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on costs to the National Health Service of repetition by wheelchair centres of assessments carried out at spinal injury units as a result of (1) extra in-patient days as a result of delayed discharge, and (2) the organisation of the transport and nurse or therapist escort of the in-patient to the wheelchair centre.

No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.

The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
28th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of extra in-patient days that result from repetition by wheelchair centres of assessments carried out at spinal injury units.

No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.

The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
28th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the procedure whereby wheelchair centres repeat the assessment of a spinal centre’s physiotherapist and seating consultant; and whether they are taking any steps to streamline the process.

No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.

The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords