Lord Swire Portrait

Lord Swire

Conservative - East Devon

Became Member: 1st November 2022


Lord Swire is not a member of any APPGs
Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (South East Asia/Far East, India and Nepal, Latin America, Falklands, Australasia and Pacific, Commonwealth)
6th Sep 2012 - 17th Jul 2016
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
13th May 2010 - 6th Sep 2012
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
10th May 2005 - 3rd Jul 2007
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
2nd Dec 2002 - 12th Jul 2005
Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
1st Jan 2004 - 10th May 2005
Opposition Whip (Commons)
1st Jun 2003 - 1st Jun 2004


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Swire has voted in 6 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Swire 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 Hanson of Flint (Labour)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(4 debate interactions)
Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour)
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
(4 debate interactions)
Baroness Merron (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Leader of the House
(5 debate contributions)
Home Office
(3 debate contributions)
Ministry of Defence
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Lord Swire's debates

Lords initiatives

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


Lord Swire has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Swire 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
30th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to undertake an environmental impact assessment on the proposed expansion of overhead power lines.

On 22 October 2024, together with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, we commissioned NESO to produce the first ever Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), to support a more actively planned approach to energy infrastructure across Great Britain, including for overhead power lines. The SSEP will be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment and take into account views of both rural and urban communities to ensure the impacts of infrastructure on local areas are properly considered.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Dec 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that a decision in principle about a long-term loan of the Elgin Marbles to Greece, or otherwise, is not made before the matter is fully debated in Parliament.

Decisions relating to the care and management of the Parthenon Sculptures are a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally independent of the government. Any potential agreement is therefore for the British Museum trustees to agree.

Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
3rd Dec 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of the changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Department monitors the implementation and impact of the grant scheme through the regular reporting of the grant administrator. Since 2010, the grant scheme has returned over £350 million to listed places of worship.

Departmental settlements have been set following the Budget announcement on October 30. Individual programmes will now be assessed during the departmental Business Planning process. We have made no specific assessment in the terms set by the Lord Bishop, but we are fully aware of the importance of the scheme to all listed places of worship, including Anglican churches across England and the rest of the UK.

Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
3rd Dec 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies they have consulted about the implications of any change to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

We have received a range of advice about the future of the Scheme. The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism and DCMS officials have met with a range of heritage bodies since July and this has frequently included representations on the future of the Scheme.

The Department has also received correspondence from religious organisations, predominantly in the Church of England, regarding the Scheme.

Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
21st Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the study of economics.

Qualifications in economics are available for schools to offer at GCSE and A level. Schools are free to decide which qualifications they will offer in each subject they teach. As part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, schools are expected to offer a range of subject options to help meet the aspirations of all pupils.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. It will seek to refresh the curriculum to ensure it is cutting edge, fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people to support their future life and work.

The terms of reference for the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is attached and can also be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d196b7d107658faec7e3db/Curriculum_and_assessment_review_-_aims_terms_of_reference_and_working_principles.pdf.

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Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Education)
30th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat fly-tipping.

Fly-tipping is a serious crime which blights communities and the environment and dealing with it imposes significant costs on both taxpayers and businesses. In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment, and other actions to tackle fly-tipping, in due course.

In the meantime, Defra will continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders such as local authorities, the Environment Agency and National Farmers Union, to promote good practice with regards to tackling fly-tipping, including on private land.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Dec 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the reports that northern Gaza has been compulsorily cleared.

We are deeply concerned about the situation in northern Gaza. That is why we, alongside France and Algeria, co-convened an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on 16 October, where we underlined that northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south and there must be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza contrary to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), nor any reduction in the territory of Gaza. Israel must comply fully with IHL and ensure sufficient aid reaches all parts of Gaza. As the Prime Minister said in Berlin on 18 October, the world will not tolerate any more excuses from Israel on humanitarian assistance. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary continue to press Israeli leaders to take all steps to avoid civilian casualties and we continue to work with our international partners including at the UN to put pressure on Israel to show the world it is complying with IHL.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
21st Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Iraq about women’s rights.

Countering rollback and promoting the rights of women and girls is a key focus of our programming and policy work in Iraq. The UK centres its women, peace and security work within a context-sensitive and 'do no harm' approach. We continue to engage with and convene local women's rights organisations and activists. We engage regularly with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government on these topics, in particular advocating for legislation to further protect women.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
21st Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Iraq about the proposed legislation to reduce the age of child marriage.

The UK is analysing the proposed amendments to Iraq's Personal Status Law and its implications for women and children's rights. As we privately engage with a range of Iraqi interlocutors to discuss this, we are emphasising the importance of any amendments' compatibility with Iraq's international obligations.

We would condemn any legislative change that would violate international norms, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1976) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
31st Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the result of the recent election in Georgia.

The Minister of State Stephen Doughty MP made clear in a statement on 27 October our support for the findings of the preliminary report of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights election monitoring mission. That report notes that the election day itself was well-organised and administered in an orderly environment. However, it highlighted concerns, including breaches of voter secrecy, procedural inconsistencies, reports of intimidation and pressure on voters that negatively impacted public trust in the process. Elections were not to the standard expected of an aspiring member of NATO. Allegations of irregularities must be investigated thoroughly and independently.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation regarding the frozen funds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.

This government is working hard to ensure the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible, in line with the UK's unilateral declaration. The government is fully committed to that position, as part of our iron-clad support for Ukraine. UK officials continue to hold discussions with Mr Abramovich's representatives, experts and international partners, and we are doubling down on our efforts to reach a resolution.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they keep records of perpetrators of knife crime by (1) gender, (2) ethnicity, and (3) age.

Police forces maintain details of perpetrators of knife crime on local record management systems and this will usually include key demographic data. However, when a suspect has not been arrested this may be based on the perception of the victim or witness rather than their actual characteristics.

The Home Office only collects detailed records from forces on the sex, age and ethnicity of suspects of homicides committed by a knife or sharp instrument.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any plans to revisit or otherwise further investigate the operational conduct of Operation Midland.

Police forces and the Independent Office for Police Conduct are independent of government and decisions concerning investigations are operational ones for them to make.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress of the Independent Office of Police Conduct in pursuing gross misconduct charges arising from Operation Midland.

Disciplinary proceedings concerning Operation Midland remain ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to comment while that remains the case.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been for female genital mutilation in each of the past five years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for female genital mutilation in the Outcomes by Offence data tool published at Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2024 - GOV.UK under the following HO offence code: 00852 – Offences under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

There have been 2 prosecutions and 1 conviction under the Female Genital Mutilation Act in the period 01 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
21st Nov 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many convictions there have been of female genital mutilation in each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for female genital mutilation in the Outcomes by Offence data tool published at Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2024 - GOV.UK under the following HO offence code: 00852 – Offences under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

There have been 2 prosecutions and 1 conviction under the Female Genital Mutilation Act in the period 01 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
26th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure and enforce oversight and governance of (1) sharia courts, and (2) Muslim arbitration tribunals.

The Government has no plans to regulate religious dispute resolution processes (such as sharia courts) where all parties consent to those processes. This is consistent with Britain’s long history of freedom of worship and religious tolerance, and the legal rights and remedies of the parties involved remain in place.

Decisions of such bodies are only enforceable if there is a valid arbitration agreement by which all parties have consented to the process, as provided under the terms of the Arbitration Act 1996 for any arbitration panel.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)