"My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the Answer, but yesterday the RMT’s general secretary threatened to maximise strike disruption nationwide. This month’s Tube strikes have already cost small businesses an estimated £760 million. Do the Government now regret removing the 50% strike ballot threshold in the Employment …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on businesses, particularly high street businesses, of the RMT strikes on London Underground services which took place in April 2026 and are planned again for May and June; and what steps they are taking to mitigate any …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to incentivise investment in and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the steel sector...." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"I thank the Minister for his Answer but, on that “robust” trade measure, can he say what proportion of UK steel imports of finished steel will be covered by the proposed reduced quotas and increased tariffs? Is it the intention to exclude Tata Steel and other finishing mills from import …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"My Lords, the Minister will soon trumpet the British industrial competitiveness scheme as being very good for business. But, for all the rhetoric and self-congratulation, this policy will have no meaningful impact on the overwhelming majority of British businesses. By the Government’s own figures, around 99% of firms will see …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"My Lords, I follow the noble Viscount in agreeing that the consultation needs to be ongoing, and I will come back to that theme in a second. It is important that the Government reduce the administrative burden as well as protecting consumers, and this legislation attempts to do so. The …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"I welcome the Minister’s commitment to talk to the industry more about these regulations, but can she commit to listening to what they have to say? The reason I mention that is that the option to absorb LTA(A) into the package definition was never presented to the industry as a …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"My Lords, only last year Ministers were forced to rush through the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act, which was an emergency nationalisation of British Steel in an industry that they had helped to destabilise. That Act told us everything we need to know—socialists must seize the means of production because …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech
"My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the Minister for explaining and introducing this SI, to which I have tabled a regret amendment. But I am afraid I take a slightly different view from the one he has just explained.
"At end to insert “but this House regrets that the draft Regulations will make it harder for small businesses to take on staff, especially for first jobs and apprenticeships; risk worsening already elevated youth unemployment by further increasing the cost of hiring younger workers; and fail to reflect sufficiently the …..." Lord Sharpe of Epsom - View Speech