Lord Bradley Portrait

Lord Bradley

Labour - Life peer

Became Member: 12th June 2006


Lord Bradley is not a member of any APPGs
3 Former APPG memberships
City Regions, City Regions Transport, Speech and Language Difficulties
Draft Mental Health Bill (Joint Committee)
19th Jul 2022 - 30th May 2024
Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill
19th Jul 2022 - 30th May 2024
Liaison Committee (Lords)
1st Jul 2019 - 31st Jan 2023
Adult Social Care Committee
19th Jan 2022 - 21st Nov 2022
Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS Committee
25th May 2016 - 5th Apr 2017
Shadow Spokesperson (Health)
1st Nov 2013 - 18th Sep 2015
Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions)
1st Nov 2013 - 18th Sep 2015
House Committee (Lords)
13th Nov 2007 - 30th Jun 2010
Health and Social Care Committee
20th Oct 2003 - 12th Jul 2005
Minister of State (Home Office) (Prisons)
11th Jun 2001 - 28th May 2002
Finance and Services Committee
1st Jul 1999 - 11th May 2001
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip)
1st Jan 1998 - 1st Jan 2001
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip)
28th Jul 1998 - 1st Jan 2001
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
2nd May 1997 - 28th Jul 1998
Shadow Spokesperson (Transport)
1st Jan 1996 - 1st Jan 1997
Shadow Spokesperson (Social Security)
1st Jan 1991 - 1st Jan 1996
Agriculture
31st Oct 1991 - 10th Feb 1992


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Bradley has voted in 17 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Bradley Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

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 Timpson (Labour)
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Justice
(1 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(1 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Mental Health Bill [HL] 2024-26
(1,172 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Lord Bradley's debates

Lords initiatives

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


Lord Bradley has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Bradley has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 18 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
1 Other Department Questions
20th Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The Equality Act 2006 details the establishment, duties, powers and constitution for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Further information regarding the governance of the EHRC can be found on their website: www.equalityhumanrights.com.

Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Education)
19th Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of the (1) Children's Commissioner, (2) Victims’ Commissioner and (3) Care Quality Commission.

The Office for the Children’s Commission does not have a terms of reference. Instead there is a framework agreement with the Department for Education, which can be found here: DfE framework agreement | Children's Commissioner for England.

The Children Act 2004 created the role for a Children’s Commissioner in England with the primary function of promoting and protecting the rights of children in England, ensuring that the views of the most vulnerable children are heard. The role was established following a recommendation in the Inquiry into Victoria Climbié’s death in 2000.

The intention of the Children and Families Act 2014 was to strengthen the remit, independence, and powers of the Commissioner. The Commissioner was given additional powers to effectively carry out the role.

These pieces of legislation set out the powers and responsibilities of the Children’s Commissioner for England.

The Victims’ Commissioner is appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice in accordance with the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The functions of the role are set out in legislation and are to promote the interests of victims and witnesses, encourage good practice in the treatment of victims and witnesses, and to keep under review the operation of the Code of Practice for Victims (“the Victims’ Code). The Victims’ Commissioner is also required to make an annual report on the performance of their functions to the Justice Secretary, Attorney General and the Home Secretary and give advice to a Minister of the Crown or to the Treasury when required to do so, amongst other functions and duties.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It operates within the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations, including the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which sets out the fundamental standards that providers of health and social care are expected to meet.

The CQC among its other functions, inspects, assess and monitors providers, giving them a rating of either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate, to encourage continuous improvement. It has enforcement powers, to ensure the quality of care does not fall below the expected levels of standards.

Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
24th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the Child Poverty Strategy will address the barriers which prevent children in poverty from accessing speech and language support.

The number of children in poverty has gone up by 700,000 since 2010, with over four million children now growing up in a low-income family. This not only harms children’s lives now, but it also damages their future prospects, and holds back our economic potential as a country.

My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister therefore announced, on 17 July 2024, the appointment of my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Secretary of State for Education, as the joint leads of a new ministerial taskforce to begin work on a Child Poverty Strategy. The government is committed to delivering an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, to tackle the root causes, and give every child the best start at life.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of breaking down barriers to opportunity and improving the life chances for every child. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and to prosper. Too many children, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, leave primary school with unresolved speech, language and communication needs that have a lasting impact on their life chances.

To help tackle this now, the department will provide targeted support for teachers in early years settings and primary schools to support children with the development of speech, language and communication skills. More broadly, the department will work with teachers and curriculum experts to identify how oracy can be woven into lessons across the curriculum to support all children to succeed. Through this, the department aims to support teachers across the country to realise the benefits of using oracy to teach, by adding it to their repertoire and enabling more children and young people to flourish in life and work.

Early language skills are vital to enable children to thrive in the early years and later in life, including for all aspects of later attainment in school. To support early language skills, the department is investing over £20 million in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme (NELI). NELI is an evidence-based programme targeting reception aged children needing extra support with their speech and language development and is proven to help them make four months of additional progress, which rises to seven months for those eligible for free school meals. In July 2024, the department announced that funded support for the 11,100 schools registered for the NELI programme, which is equivalent to two thirds of all English state primaries, would continue for the 2024/25 academic year.

Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Education)
30th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate professional dog walkers.

Professional dog walkers must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and other relevant legislation, such as welfare in transport regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act, and any public liability or other insurance policy requirements.

The Government has no current plans to regulate professional dog walkers. The Canine and Feline Sector Group has published best practice guidance to assist dog walkers which can be found here.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to extend the powers of RSPCA inspectors under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to ensure better enforcement in the protection of animal welfare.

There are no current plans to expand statutory powers in either the Animal Welfare Act 2006 or the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022 to include RSPCA inspectors. The RSPCA has strong working relationships with the Police and Local Authorities who support them in protecting animals where needed.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review (1) the level of the Carer's Allowance, and (2) the eligibility threshold for the Carer's Allowance.

This Government recognises the challenges unpaid carers are facing and is determined to provide them with the help and support they need and deserve. It is looking closely at how the benefit system currently does this, notably through Universal Credit and Carer’s Allowance.

With respect to benefit levels, the Secretary of State has a statutory obligation to review the rates of State pensions and benefits each year. In the case of Carer’s Allowance, the relevant statute provides that it must rise at least in line with the increase in prices over the preceding year. The review to set rates for 2025/26 will take place in the autumn.

Other support is available through the benefit system. Full-time unpaid carers on low incomes may also be eligible for means tested support, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively. Currently, the Universal Credit carer element is £198.31 per monthly assessment period. The additional amount for carers in Pension Credit is £45.60 a week.

Baroness Sherlock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the terms of reference of the reviews they have commissioned of six healthcare regulators, to be led by Dr Penny Dash.

In July, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care asked Dr Penny Dash to carry out a review, looking at patient safety across the health and care landscape in England, within the context of the wider regulation and improvement of the quality of care. The guidance, Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape: terms of reference, published on 15 October 2024, is available on the GOV.UK website, in an online-only format.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of Healthwatch England.

Healthwatch England is the independent statutory national champion for people who use health and social care services. Its functions include gathering and communicating the views of the public on their needs and experiences of health and social care services. Healthwatch England also provides support and assistance to the 152 Local Healthwatch organisations in England.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 8 October (HL957), when they expect considerations on extending the Electronic Prescription Service to conclude, and a decision to be taken.

As part of ongoing considerations, NHS England intends to launch a pilot in the coming months extending the Electronic Prescription Service to specific Detained Estate health services in England. Amendments to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 will be made in the autumn, subject to parliamentary time.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase funding to hospices in England.

The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting and palliative and end of life care, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.

Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by ICB area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth of a range of palliative and end of life care provision within their ICB footprint.

The Department will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 to enable the electronic transfer of prescriptions between prisons and community pharmacies.

NHS England is considering extending the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) to Detained Estate health services in England, and the Department is engaging with them on this work.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
24th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve access to speech and language therapy services in prisons.

NHS England’s Regional Health and Justice teams directly commission the primary healthcare services within prisons, and oversee the healthcare delivery based on the primary care service specifications for prisons. In line with the specifications, healthcare providers should provide healthcare which includes supporting people’s mental health, as well as communication, speech, and language needs.

Healthcare services in the children and young people secure estate are commissioned locally by Regional Health and Justice commissioners using core outcome-based specifications, which are benchmarked by the Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings. These include several individual standards that reference speech, language, and communication needs, as part of the overall complex needs that are common in children held in these settings.

NHS England recently held an event for regional Health and Justice neurodiversity leads and commissioners on neurodiversity specialist recruitment, to support with recruitment and training in specialist areas such as speech and language therapists. This included a presentation from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s prisons lead. In addition, NHS England has allocated additional funding to Health and Justice regions which has been ring-fenced for use on their adult prison custodial neurodiversity pathways.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the funding of hospices in England.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care, including at end of life. We understand that, financially, times are difficult for many voluntary and charitable organisations, including hospices, due to the increased cost of living. We want a society where these costs are manageable for both voluntary organisations, like hospices, and the people whom they serve.

The Government is going to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community, and we recognise that hospices will play a vital role. We will consider next steps on palliative and end of life care more widely in the coming months.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the capacity and geographical distribution of inpatient secure mental health beds.

NHS England has advised that work is currently underway with the 15 Adult Secure Provider Collaboratives across England to speed up the safe and timely transfer of appropriately assessed people from prison. This includes identifying existing capacity, including workforce estates and location, that can be reconfigured at pace; identifying where additional capacity, including workforce and estates, may be required; and, scoping at pace, the creation of alternative clinically safe service models.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the way that deaths of patients detained in secure settings under the Mental Health Act 1983 are investigated.

There are currently no such plans at this time to change the way that deaths of patients detained in secure settings under the Mental Health Act 1983 are investigated.

The Mental Health Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to modernise the Mental Health Act 1983. It will give patients greater choice, autonomy, enhanced rights and support, and ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect throughout treatment. The Bill will make the Act fit for the 21st century, redressing the balance of power from the system to the patient and ensuring people with the most severe mental health conditions get better, more personalised, care.

The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework sets out the NHS’s approach to developing and maintaining effective systems and processes for responding to patient safety incidents for the purpose of learning and improving patient safety. The Framework became a requirement in the NHS standard contract from April 2024. Under this framework a locally-led patient safety incident investigation is required for deaths of patients detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) or where the Mental Capacity Act (2005) applies, where there is reason to think that the death may be linked to problems in care (i.e., the incident meets the “learning from deaths” criteria, the investigation explores decisions or actions as they relate to the safety event).

In addition, all deaths among people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 are reported to the Care Quality Commission and referred to the Coroners Office.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of women remanded into custody in each of the past two years subsequently (1) were not sentenced, (2) received a community sentence, and (3) received a sentence of less than six months.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the remand status of defendants and subsequent outcomes at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Remands data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2023

The proportion of females remanded in custody and subsequently (1) not sentenced, (2) receiving community sentence, and (3) receiving a custodial sentence of less than six months at criminal courts is provided below.

Proportion of outcomes for women remanded in custody at criminal courts, 2022 to 2023, England and Wales [note 1]

Outcome

2022

2023

Not sentence [note 5]

14%

16%

Community sentence

13%

13%

Custodial sentence of less than six months

18%

20%

Source: Court Proceedings Database.

Notes:

[1] Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

[2] These figures are presented on a principal offence basis - i.e. reporting information relating to the most serious offence that a defendant was dealt with for. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

[3] These figures are presented on a principal disposal basis - i.e. reporting the most severe outcome issued for the offence.

[4] Defendants are reported against the most serious remand status recorded at a court hearing during their case (excluding the status recorded post-sentencing hearing, as this reflects the outcome of the sentence rather than a remand decision). A defendant’s remand status may change several times throughout their court journey, however only the most serious status during that period is reported and this does not reflect the number of remand decisions made.

[5] 'Not sentenced' includes the following outcomes: Case discontinued or discharged at Magistrates' court; charge withdrawn or dismissed at Magistrates' court; case discontinued at Crown Court; other disposal without conviction; and acquitted at Crown Court.

Lord Timpson
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
9th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of women remanded in custody in each of the last three years were subsequently (1) sentenced, and (2) not sentenced.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the remand status of defendants and subsequent outcomes in the Remands data tool.

The attached tables provide the proportion of outcomes for female defendants after being remanded in custody, split by magistrates’ court and Crown Court.

Defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and subsequently committed to the Crown Court will have separate remand decisions made in both courts and will be included in both totals.

Lord Timpson
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)