House of Lords: Membership

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Tuesday 5th May 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord True]

My Lords, the noble Baroness makes important points. We all need to be mindful of the need for this House to be representative widely of opinion and people across this nation.

[The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

Lord Blencathra. No? I call the noble Baroness, Lady Mallalieu.

[Baroness Mallalieu (Lab)]

While I welcome the brief and robust way in which the Minister has answered this Question, will he take a moment to put to bed a couple of other stories circulating in the news at the moment which are alleged to be future government policy and are causing worry particularly to our older people: first, that the triple lock on pensions is to go and, secondly, that 9 million people over 70 are to remain incarcerated after lockdown is eased? Does he agree that these stories have caused increased anxiety and entirely justifiable anger and outrage? Will he assure us that both stories are also fake news and that there is no reality in them now or in the future?

[Lord True]

My Lords, again, I understand where the noble Baroness is coming from, but her questions go slightly wider than the Question before the House. On future arrangements on lockdown, the Government have promised further advice shortly. As noble Lords will know, the position is that everyone is being asked to stay at home at the moment however old they are, but I will not speculate here on what may be considered appropriate in the next phase.

[The Senior Deputy Speaker]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.