"My Lords, I welcome the Statement from the Government. It is uplifting to see the shift from being just the corporate parent to it being our responsibility—all our responsibilities—to ensure that for those children who enter the care system, for reasons we may not like and they may not like, …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, all the analysis of NEETs shows that the resilience of young people is an absolutely critical aspect of getting them into the modern labour market and labour force and keeping them working. The previous Government stopped, through austerity, many of the early evidence-based programmes that would build the …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"I thank my noble friend for coming to the House today, but I hope he shares my disappointment. Because violence against women and girls covers so many issues, one key thing is what happens in early years and in the neighbourhoods people live in, and how people understand each other …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, first I declare an interest as a recipient of a local government pension. I also congratulate my noble friend; having been a Local Government Minister for four years, I know how difficult any local government legislation is, as is anything that talks about devolution of any sort.
"I think the noble Lord needs to hear my arguments first and then, when he comes to speak and in Committee, he can challenge them. The reality is that in the north-east we have really suffered. The then chair of the PAC called the newly elected mayors to advise them …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, as chair of the Digital Inclusion Action Committee, I wonder whether I can intervene. I have just spent the last hour talking with two sub-committee chairs, the Minister may want to know, precisely about easier accessibility but also about a recent report about people with learning difficulties. We …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, we have already demonstrated today just how complex this issue is. We began talking about it on the last day in Committee and, as I said last week, it affects children and young people in ways we never imagined; nor did we imagine years ago that this would …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank everyone for their contributions to this debate and to the previous one.
This is complex and we all want to have good outcomes. I appreciate that the Minister is saying that we need more discussion and to make sure that we address this issue in a …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech
"My Lords, we discussed criminal exploitation of children last night. I know from my experience that a young woman was denied any compensation because of the way the trial was conducted. She was in the position where, when the third barrister had been appointed by the defendant, she was told …..." Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top - View Speech