"My Lords, ageing problems begin during childhood and are incubated by poor government policies. A June 2026 paper in Nature Human Behaviour noted that consequences of poverty, inequality and discrimination accelerate biological ageing from a very young age. Adults enduring childhood economic deprivation age at a significantly accelerated biological pace, …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I welcome the Prime Minister’s Statement, and he faces a daunting task in reversing the Conservative legacy. This includes 25.3 million people living below the minimum living standard, declining life expectancy, potholed roads in every street, 7.6 million on NHS waiting lists in England alone, social care in …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"The proposed data centre at Thurrock in Essex will concrete over habitat for bees, butterflies, plants and birds. It will consume up to 3 million litres of water a day in an area routinely subject to hosepipe bans. It will consume 2.65 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year and …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I welcome the Bill and congratulate all campaigners who helped to secure the duty of candour and extend human rights. However, I have several concerns. The Bill imposes a duty of candour only after a formal inquiry, inquest or government-led review has started. Such inquiries are preceded by …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I welcome the Government’s decision to nationalise British Steel, but I seek some clarification from the Minister on potential compensation to be paid to British Steel’s owners. Can he assure the House that the following factors will be taken into account: first, British Steel was insolvent, so the …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce legislation or issue guidance to specify a maximum temperature for all indoor workplaces...." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply, but let me outline the urgency. There were 1,311 heat-related deaths in 2024, 1,504 in 2025 and 2,700 in the last two months alone. Research shows that high workplace temperature damages health and is a safety hazard. Countries such as Spain …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I will confine my comments to Clause 1, which will increase the rate of the electricity generator levy from 45% to 55%. I fully support this increase and wish it had been higher.
Despite various initiatives mentioned by the Minister, Ofgem’s marginal pricing system remains fundamentally flawed. It …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, Wessex Water, Thames Water, Southern Water, Anglian Water and Yorkshire Water have terrible records of dumping untreated sewage into chalk streams. None has had its licence to operate revoked. Can the Minister explain how many criminal convictions these companies need before the Government will listen to the people …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"As the Minister just said, the student debt in England is £296 billion and is expected to hit £500 billion by the late 2040s. Interest is added until debt is repaid or written off. What assessment have the Government made of the impact of student loan repayments on the ability …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech