"My Lords, Israel’s judicial system is actively investigating cases of suspected misconduct by Israeli soldiers and petitions on humanitarian issues in Gaza. The ICC chief prosecutor recognised in December 2023 that the military receives independent legal advice on the legality of every air strike. The ICC complements, rather than replaces, …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"My Lords, for children and adults, feeling sad and unhappy is a normal human experience. Recent polling found that 84% of GPs think society’s approach to mental health has led to the normal ups and downs of life being seen as medical problems. However, family breakdown—one of the causes that …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who contributed today. It was a robust debate and it was full of good ideas, stimulating and constructive. I thank the Minister for addressing many of the questions and giving details. I am saddened by the political point-scoring, because we have problem of …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have made time to prepare for and contribute to this important debate on taking note of the conditions required for economic growth. I pray that it will be helpful, constructive and stimulating, as we hold the Government to account for their major …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the health and social impacts of first-cousin marriage, including those relating to women’s rights...." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"I thank the Minister for that Answer. Pakistani-heritage journalist Matthew Syed has highlighted the risk-multiplying effect of genetic disorders when cousins intergenerationally marry cousins, as happens in remote Shetland, Orkney, and in the British Pakistani community. Pakistanis account for 3.4% of births nationwide but 30% of recessive gene disorders. The …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"My Lords, the state contracts out important family services work in prisons to charities, as they are more trusted by families and by the prisoners they are visiting. However, these contracts are so skimpily financed that increased, unbudgeted NI costs will likely mean many charities are forced to hand them …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to change requirements for civil servants to work in government offices following a vote for possible strike action over compulsory office attendance at the Land Registry...." Lord Farmer - View Speech
"My Lords, the issue of the amount of time civil servants are required to work in their offices rather than in their own homes has been raised several times in Oral and Written Questions, and there will be a Select Committee on home-based working starting shortly. I understand that this …..." Lord Farmer - View Speech