Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Lord Balfe, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
A Bill to amend the Pensions Act 2004 and the Companies Act 2006 to remove the cap on compensation payments under the Pension Protection Fund and to require the approval of pension scheme trustees and the Pensions Regulator for the distribution of dividends.
A Bill to make provision about the holding of referenda in relation to voting systems in local government elections.
A Bill to make provision to allow European Union citizens who are resident in the United Kingdom to vote in parliamentary elections and to become members of Parliament; and for connected purposes.
Lord Balfe has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The number of salaries available to the Government to pay ministers is set by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. The limit on salaries, which applies across both Houses, is 109.
The Government has no current plans to introduce new legislation in this area.
As of 22 July, the unpaid ministers currently serving in the Government are as follows:
Ministers of State: Ellie Reeves MP (n.b. she is paid by the Labour Party), Lord Timpson, Lord Hanson, Lord Hunt
Parliamentary Secretaries: Hamish Falconer MP, Mary Creagh MP, Baroness Sherlock
Lords’ Whips: Lord Leong, Baroness Twycross, Baroness Blake
We are carefully considering the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy programme in the context of the new Government's trade objectives and will update the house in due course on the programme.
The Additional Protocol 1995 provides for a collective complaints mechanism. Member States who choose to accept this mechanism are not assessed on their conformity with the process. The UK has not accepted the mechanism because, like the majority of member States, the UK believes the existing supervisory mechanisms of the European Social Charter are adequate.
The new Government is embarking on an extensive programme of reforms, including our Employment Rights Bill which will change our position on provisions within both the 1961 and Revised Charter. The Government will, therefore, consider our position on the Revised Charter in due course.
A summary of the latest assessments of the UK’s conformity with the European Social Charter 1961 was published by the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe also published the UK’s report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter and the Revised European Social Charter earlier this year. I will place a copy of both of these documents in the House of Lords Library.
This Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK and works closely with a range of international regulators, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), through both international regulatory groups and bilateral collaborations.
We recognise the importance of a closer relationship with the EMA and that cooperation between the MHRA and EMA is of mutual benefit.