"My Lords, can I say how much I welcome this draft Bill and the pre-legislative scrutiny that will take place? His Majesty’s loyal Opposition have to sort out their lines on this, because as late as 2023 their Government confirmed their intention to publish a trans-inclusive draft Bill and set …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, it is such a shame that the party opposite resiled from cross-party agreement on this research. It is fair to question its motivation for doing that and possibly reach the conclusion that it is unsympathetic to trans people. I welcome the Statement and my noble friend’s calm approach, …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in supporting and funding the work of the British Council...." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"I thank my noble friend for that Answer. I have great affection and support for the British Council, having been a parliamentary ambassador for it for many years, and having met many incoming delegations over the years. What I did not hear in my noble friend’s Answer was a resolution …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, I am very pleased to welcome the Commercial Payments Bill and to take part in this Second Reading. I congratulate my noble friend the Minister on his absolutely outstanding introduction to it. I intend to make two points about why the Bill is so important to our business …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lady Nargund on securing this debate, and I note how busy she seems to have been today. I have a strange feeling that she is only just getting started in your Lordships’ House—let us see what happens next. This debate is a veritable …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"I very much welcome the last part of my noble friend’s answer. I would like clarification on two points, because the word “sensitivity” has been used, and indeed is used in the guidance. I would like my noble friend to confirm that it is discriminatory to involuntarily out a trans …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, it is a great honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, and I agree with very much of what he said.
As will be clear to my noble friend the Minister, some of us have joined this important Second Reading debate as consumers, not as experts on …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, I am, as ever, honoured to be speaking in the debate on the gracious Speech today and I want to address two issues which I think are related: social care and the procurement of people-focused services. They are both central to the delivery of the NHS 10-year plan …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech
"My Lords, can I ask my noble friend the Minister a practical question relating to the place that we all work in? The Government have responsibilities not only for the Whitehall department but for the Palace of Westminster, which is, as noble Lords know, a grade 1 listed historic building, …..." Baroness Thornton - View Speech