Information between 12th May 2025 - 21st June 2025
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| Division Votes |
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12 May 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 62 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 289 Noes - 168 |
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19 May 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 58 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 289 Noes - 118 |
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2 Jun 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 57 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 242 Noes - 116 |
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4 Jun 2025 - Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House One of 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 130 |
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4 Jun 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 60 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 221 Noes - 116 |
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11 Jun 2025 - Armed Forces Commissioner Bill - View Vote Context Lord Foster of Bath voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 54 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes Tally: Ayes - 265 Noes - 161 |
| Speeches |
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Lord Foster of Bath speeches from: Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025
Lord Foster of Bath contributed 3 speeches (633 words) Tuesday 17th June 2025 - Grand Committee Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport |
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Lord Foster of Bath speeches from: Independent Sentencing Review
Lord Foster of Bath contributed 1 speech (95 words) Monday 2nd June 2025 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Justice |
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Lord Foster of Bath speeches from: Artificial Intelligence: Creative Content
Lord Foster of Bath contributed 1 speech (108 words) Thursday 15th May 2025 - Lords Chamber |
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Lord Foster of Bath speeches from: BBC Sounds: Access from Abroad
Lord Foster of Bath contributed 1 speech (110 words) Wednesday 14th May 2025 - Lords Chamber |
| Written Answers |
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Gambling: Video Games
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 21st May 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent loot boxes from appearing in video games designed for children. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) This Government recognises that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on particular groups, such as children and vulnerable people. This is why there are robust rules on content, tone and placement enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience, including video games. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. Compliance with these rules is required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and does take action. The Department has not had any recent conversations with Apple regarding gambling advertising. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely. We are committed to ensuring video games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, appropriate protections are in place for players of all ages, including children. In 2020, the previous Government ran a call for evidence on loot boxes which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling behaviours, although research has not established whether a causal link exists. In response, DCMS convened a Technical Working Group of video game representatives which developed new industry-led guidance, published in July 2023, to improve player protections, including making the purchase of loot boxes unavailable to children unless enabled by a parent or guardian. The Government has urged all video games companies to adopt the guidance in full and we have commissioned independent academic research to assess its effectiveness.
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Gambling: Advertising
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 21st May 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of gambling advertising on children and young people. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) This Government recognises that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on particular groups, such as children and vulnerable people. This is why there are robust rules on content, tone and placement enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience, including video games. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. Compliance with these rules is required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and does take action. The Department has not had any recent conversations with Apple regarding gambling advertising. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely. We are committed to ensuring video games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, appropriate protections are in place for players of all ages, including children. In 2020, the previous Government ran a call for evidence on loot boxes which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling behaviours, although research has not established whether a causal link exists. In response, DCMS convened a Technical Working Group of video game representatives which developed new industry-led guidance, published in July 2023, to improve player protections, including making the purchase of loot boxes unavailable to children unless enabled by a parent or guardian. The Government has urged all video games companies to adopt the guidance in full and we have commissioned independent academic research to assess its effectiveness.
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Gambling: Advertising
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 21st May 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are conducting an assessment of the impact of gambling advertising independent from the gambling industry. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) This Government has set the gambling industry the task of further raising standards to ensure gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. The Betting and Gaming Council has commissioned an advertising report which will be published in due course. We are committed to reviewing the best available evidence from a wide range of sources to inform next steps in this space. We are also working with all key stakeholders in order to ensure effective measures are in place to protect those at risk.
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Gambling: Video Games
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 21st May 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had or plan to have with Apple regarding measures to prevent gambling advertisements in video game applications aimed at children and young people. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) This Government recognises that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on particular groups, such as children and vulnerable people. This is why there are robust rules on content, tone and placement enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience, including video games. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. Compliance with these rules is required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and does take action. The Department has not had any recent conversations with Apple regarding gambling advertising. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely. We are committed to ensuring video games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, appropriate protections are in place for players of all ages, including children. In 2020, the previous Government ran a call for evidence on loot boxes which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling behaviours, although research has not established whether a causal link exists. In response, DCMS convened a Technical Working Group of video game representatives which developed new industry-led guidance, published in July 2023, to improve player protections, including making the purchase of loot boxes unavailable to children unless enabled by a parent or guardian. The Government has urged all video games companies to adopt the guidance in full and we have commissioned independent academic research to assess its effectiveness.
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Gambling: Video Games
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 21st May 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent gambling advertisements in video games designed for children and young people. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) This Government recognises that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on particular groups, such as children and vulnerable people. This is why there are robust rules on content, tone and placement enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience, including video games. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. Compliance with these rules is required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and does take action. The Department has not had any recent conversations with Apple regarding gambling advertising. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely. We are committed to ensuring video games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, appropriate protections are in place for players of all ages, including children. In 2020, the previous Government ran a call for evidence on loot boxes which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling behaviours, although research has not established whether a causal link exists. In response, DCMS convened a Technical Working Group of video game representatives which developed new industry-led guidance, published in July 2023, to improve player protections, including making the purchase of loot boxes unavailable to children unless enabled by a parent or guardian. The Government has urged all video games companies to adopt the guidance in full and we have commissioned independent academic research to assess its effectiveness.
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Gambling: Pupils
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Friday 30th May 2025 Question to the Department for Education: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the appropriateness of gambling-related content on the online programming platform Scratch which is used by children in schools. Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) The department does not support or mandate individual products. Schools should follow the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’, supported by the department’s filtering and monitoring standards. Schools should monitor pupils’ use of devices whilst in school. The relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance states that young people should be taught the risks of online gambling and how to seek help if they have concerns. The computing curriculum supports pupils to make informed decisions whilst online or using other technologies. The department-funded National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) provides training and resources to improve computing provision, including support for teaching programming concepts through languages such as Scratch. The NCCE is reviewing all teacher resources that include Scratch content. Guidance for keeping children safe when using Scratch will be included in all relevant content by June 2025. NCCE materials do not use gambling as a programming exercise for pupils. None of the NCCE’s lessons or courses recommend pupils use the search function or engage with other people's content on Scratch. Teachers are advised to use the offline version of the platform to prevent pupils from searching ready-made code. |
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EU Countries: Immigration Controls
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 4th June 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with their EU counterparts about an exemption from the requirements of the forthcoming Entry/Exit System for British citizens. Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) UK national travellers will be required to register in the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). Exemptions will be in place for UK nationals who are Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries or otherwise long-term resident in the EU. Implementation of the EES is a matter for the EU and its Member States, and subject to ongoing EU legislative processes.
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EU Countries: Immigration Controls
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Thursday 5th June 2025 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government which Schengen Area countries currently allow British citizens to use e-Gates; which additional countries are expected to do so before the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) later this year; and whether passport stamping will still be required in all cases for British citizens before the full implementation of the EES. Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development) We have secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers to eGates use for UK nationals travelling to and from EU Member States after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES). But the Prime Minister has been clear that there should be no reason why European countries cannot go further and faster on this now. We are now working with individual Member States to make that happen as soon as possible. Until EES is fully implemented all third-country passports will still require a stamp on entry/exit to the Schengen Area. But where eGates are used, the process is likely to be swifter and more straightforward as, in most circumstances, border guards will not need to carry out further passport checks. UK nationals' access to eGates in the Schengen Area is a decision for each individual country. |
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Gambling: Advertising
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Monday 16th June 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 21 May (HL7312), what sources of evidence they are consulting to gain a comprehensive and impartial understanding of the impacts of gambling advertising. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The Government is committed to consulting the best available evidence on the impact of advertising from a wide range of sources when assessing best next steps in this space. Additionally, developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory levy, and up to 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base, including on the impacts of gambling advertising. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence and take action where appropriate.
The Government currently has no plans to conduct an independent review on the impacts of gambling advertising. As part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005, an extensive call for evidence was conducted which included a range of questions on evidence on gambling advertising and its impacts.
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Gambling: Advertising
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Monday 16th June 2025 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 21 May (HL7312), what recent assessment they have made of the merits of conducting an independent review of the impacts of gambling advertising. Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The Government is committed to consulting the best available evidence on the impact of advertising from a wide range of sources when assessing best next steps in this space. Additionally, developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory levy, and up to 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base, including on the impacts of gambling advertising. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence and take action where appropriate.
The Government currently has no plans to conduct an independent review on the impacts of gambling advertising. As part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005, an extensive call for evidence was conducted which included a range of questions on evidence on gambling advertising and its impacts.
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| Parliamentary Debates |
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Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025
13 speeches (4,216 words) Tuesday 17th June 2025 - Grand Committee Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Mentions: 1: Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con - Life peer) My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath, is right: nothing catches the eye in an impact assessment - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Twycross (Lab - Life peer) The noble Lords, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth and Lord Foster of Bath, raised concerns around gambling - Link to Speech |
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Employment Rights Bill
89 speeches (27,780 words) Committee stage: Part 1 Monday 16th June 2025 - Lords Chamber Home Office Mentions: 1: None a single reference was made to the concerns of AI and copyright, raised by the noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath - Link to Speech |
| APPG Publications |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Re-constitution meeting note Found: Whittingdale OBE MP (Conservative) • Pete Wishart MP (SNP) • Earl of Devon (Crossbench) • Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2024 AGM Minutes Found: Members: Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative) Baroness Grey-Thompson (Non-affiliated) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: AGM and a meeting with the IPO on a variety of issues relating to IP Found: Whittingdale OBE MP (Conservative) • Earl of Devon (Crossbench) • Lord Lucas (Conservative) • Lord Foster of Bath |
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Fire Safety and Rescue APPG Document: APPG-FIRE-SAFETY--Rescue---Annual-Report-2023-to-2024 Found: about DfE’s revised Fire Safety Design Guide. 7th July APPG Adviser R King corresponded with Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: INAUGURAL MEETING 2024 MINUTES Found: Members: Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative) Baroness Grey-Thompson (Non-affiliated) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2024 Annual Report Found: Vice-Chairs: Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Con) Mark Pritchard MP (Con) Baroness Bonham-Carter (LD) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: AGM and a meeting with the new Minister for AI and IP, Viscount Camrose Found: Pete Wishart MP (SNP, Perth and North Perthshire) • Ruth Jones MP (Lab, Newport West) • Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2023 AGM Minutes Found: Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat) Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative) Dr Lisa Cameron MP (SNP) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2023 Annual Report Found: Bottomley MP (Con) Sir Roger Gale MP (Con) Mark Pritchard MP (Con) Baroness Bonham-Carter (LD) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: APPG booklet 2023 Found: Select Committee Member Baroness Bottomley, Vice-Chair Christine Jardine MP, Vice-Chair Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2022 AGM Minutes Found: Apologies for absence Lord Foster of Bath Sir Roger Gale MP Marion Fellows MP Rob Butler MP Baroness |
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Media APPG Document: 2022 Annual Report Found: Bottomley MP (Con) Sir Roger Gale MP (Con) Mark Pritchard MP (Con) Baroness Bonham-Carter (LD) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Meeting on the UK’s future Exhaustion regime Found: Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Ruth Jones MP, Baroness Neville -Rolfe, Lord Clement -Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Report to inform the IPO’s forthcoming five-year IP enforcement strategy Found: initiative and continue to champion IP issues: Baroness Neville- Rolfe, Lord Clement-Jones and Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Meeting on the application of artificial intelligence across IP rich businesses Found: Time: 17:00-18:00 Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Meeting on the latest issues affecting the UK’s IP regime Found: Time: 18:00-19:00 Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2021 AGM Minutes Found: Democrat) Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative) Dr Lisa Cameron MP (Scottish Nationalist) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Meeting Note Found: Wishart MP, Kevin Brennan MP, Ruth Jones MP, Baroness Neville -Rolfe, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: AGM Minutes Found: Pete Wishart MP (SNP) • Kevin Brennan MP (Labour Party) • Ruth Jones MP (Labour Party) • Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Third and final meeting in its series looking at IP enforcement Found: Time: 18:00-19:00 Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: 2021 Annual Report Found: Bottomley MP (Con) Sir Roger Gale MP (Con) Mark Pritchard MP (Con) Baroness Bonham-Carter (LD) Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Second meeting in its series looking at IP enforcement Found: Tuesday 17th November 2020 Time: 14:00-15:00 Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Intellectual Property APPG Document: Virtual Meeting on the IP Enforcement Strategy Found: Tuesday 6th October 2020 Time: 14:00-15:00 Attendees: Pete Wishart MP, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Foster of Bath |
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Media APPG Document: AGM Minutes 2019 Found: MP - Vice-Chair Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - Vice-Chair Ed Vaizey MP - Vice-Chair Lord Foster of Bath |
| Deposited Papers |
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Friday 20th June 2025
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Letter dated 18/06/2025 from Sarah Sackman MP to Lord Foster regarding strategic litigation against public participation. 2p. [Same letter also sent to Andy Slaughter MP] Document: SUB125024_Letter_to_The_Rt_Hon._the_Lord_Foster_of_Bath.pdf (PDF) Found: Sarah Sackman KC MP Minister for Courts and Legal Services The Rt Hon. the Lord Foster of Bath |
| Calendar |
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Tuesday 17th June 2025 10:30 a.m. Justice and Home Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 24th June 2025 10:30 a.m. Justice and Home Affairs Committee - Oral evidence Subject: Work of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration At 10:30am: Oral evidence David Bolt, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration - Chief Inspector at Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 1st July 2025 10:30 a.m. Justice and Home Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 15th July 2025 10:30 a.m. Justice and Home Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 8th July 2025 1:30 p.m. Justice and Home Affairs Committee - Oral evidence Subject: Home Office oral evidence session At 2:00pm: Oral evidence Rt Hon Yvette Cooper - Home Secretary at Home Office View calendar - Add to calendar |