Master’s Level History Scholarships

Debate between Lord Hannan of Kingsclere and Baroness Smith of Malvern

Monday 22nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

Yes, I agree with my noble friend, and that is why, throughout our education system, we have to tackle the elements that prevent children and young people fmaximising their potential in life from the very early stages. This is why we are investing in early years; it is why we have set a target to ensure more children are ready to benefit from school when they get there; and it is why we have focused on getting children back into school. It is why we are taking action to improve access to all routes of learning for young people post-16, and why we are widening access and participation in higher education for all students who can benefit from it.

[Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I was very encouraged by the Minister’s excellent Answer to the excellent Question from the noble Lord, Lord Barber. We do indeed need to remember where we are from, and history is a manual of what works and what does not. Can the Minister think of a single example—anywhere in human history—of where a wealth tax has raised more revenue than it has driven away, or where rent controls have ever failed to reduce the amount of rental properties, or where tariffs have ever made an economy more competitive?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

My study was rather more in the area of economics than in history There are some interesting examples of where some of those have worked, but I am not going to rise to the noble Lord’s challenge. On the whole, I agree with his analysis about most of those proposals.