"My Lords, I welcome many features and proposals in this substantial and significant Bill. It does, of course, draw on the work of the previous Government, and indeed continues progress on pensions that has long been conducted on a cross-party basis. I think back to my time as shadow Work …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, I welcome the maiden speech made by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Portsmouth. My former constituency, Havant, was within the diocese of Portsmouth, and I recognise the valuable work that the diocese does.
"My Lords, I particularly welcome the increase in fees for students, as that sets the resources available for the education of students without affecting the monthly repayments that graduates subsequently make. However, the international student levy will take away quite a bit of that resource, so does the Minister agree …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, I will speak briefly in support of Motion H1 and the powerful points that have just been made by noble friend Lady Scott. The Minister spoke as if one-bedroom and two-bedroom student accommodation would be occupied by families and people who needed deep roots in their university environment, …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, like the noble Baroness, I welcome the important development since our debate last Friday of the new Motion from the noble Baroness, Lady Berger, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer. It is very important that we take every opportunity to scrutinise the Bill and consider the …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, I very much welcome this Bill, which has already received support from across the House. Looking around at noble Lords here this afternoon, I welcome the House of Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee investigation. We should listen to the wise advice we are already getting from members …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, today’s OBR report shows that the cost of the pensions triple lock is running three times higher than previously forecast. It is costing over £10 billion a year, and we now know that pensioners, on average, enjoy higher living standards than working-age families. If tough decisions have to …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, I support the excellent amendments proposed by the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, in particular Amendment 5, which strongly resembles an amendment which had cross-party support at an earlier stage of our deliberations on the Bill and I hope will continue to have that support. It seems to me …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"I am grateful to the Minister for that very full explanation of the monitoring. In her long list of organisations that would be consulted, I do not think she had universities. Will she assure the House that they will be included as well?..." Lord Willetts - View Speech
"My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Massey on an excellent maiden speech. The maiden speech in this House is an opportunity to introduce oneself to many Peers, though I have to say that, looking around, several of us have known my noble friend for almost 50 years. I …..." Lord Willetts - View Speech