"I had not intended to speak, but when I listen to the Minister linking over and again the problems in the Middle East with antisemitism, I am disappointed. They are two separate things. There is an incredible rise in antisemitism where Jews cannot go around in the street wearing a …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, first, I have to declare an interest because after 28 years as a councillor in the London Borough of Barnet, I am in receipt of a modest local government pension. I sometimes forget to declare that and I do so now. We have been lucky to have incisive …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, this group asks for greater transparency around Local Government Pension Scheme valuations by requiring benchmarking against insurer pricing and gilt-based discount rates, with clearer explanations where more prudent assumptions are used. There is value in greater openness and comparability, but there is also a risk in appearing to …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, I compliment the maiden speeches of my noble friend Lady Teather, the noble Lord, Lord Walker, and the noble Baroness, Lady Antrobus. They were a credit to this House and we look forward to further contributions, which I am sure will come from all three noble Peers. I …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, I compliment the Minister on the work that is being done in this area. In my view, the aim of the Access to Work fund is to get people out of the house and into work. The fund also pays for improvements and developments in the home when …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"I thank the noble Lord, Lord Mann, for that personal information. I obviously agree with these statutory instruments; it would be strange if we did not—but it is industrial compensation rather than a benefit, and it ought to be recognised as such. Could the Minister quantify the 3.8%? I am …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the Minister for her normal diligence on this subject. Alongside new measures
“to increase incomes, reduce essential costs and strengthen local services”—
I take those words from the Government’s own document—between 2025 and 2026 there have been 11 strategy documents. They are very good reading, but …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech
"My Lords, I say to the noble Lord, Lord Davies, that no apology is needed.
This is a wide-ranging set of review and process amendments. The noble Viscount, Lord Younger, explained what I think he described as his “modest” amendments—indeed, they are. The noble Lord, Lord Kirkhope, said that this …..." Lord Palmer of Childs Hill - View Speech