Health Taxes
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
I am unable to confirm that. However, I can confirm—I think this is common knowledge—that a review on efficiency is under way and, as I said to the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, we will have to wait a couple of weeks or so to see how this will pan out.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
Does my noble friend share my concern that many people in the NHS do not keep their appointments? Has the NHS considered having an appointment fee, which of course could be repayable if the appointment was kept?
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
I feel certain that that has been considered but I am afraid I am none the wiser as to whether it might be taken forward. Again, I will write to my noble friend if I have any update on that initiative.
BAE Systems: Type 26 Frigate
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
It is very much unlike my noble friend on the Front Bench to sound complacent. Even before the events of the past two years, the Government bolstered defence spending with the greatest supplement since the Cold War—an extra £24 billion over the next four years. That has enabled us, once again, to make sure that we have a proper defence programme and is a reform that puts men and women in the Armed Forces at the heart of what we do.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
My Lords, how much worse do things have to get in Ukraine before we substantially lift the 2% of GDP that we spend on defence?
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
Very quickly, I think the answer I gave to my noble friend Lord Lancaster applies.
Prime Minister: Meetings with First Ministers of the Devolved Governments
Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
The noble Lord is right to say that this has been an evolving process. There are no plans to take it further. Obviously, the whole process of devolution and the matters arising from it, and the links and co-operation between the four devolved nations, will continue to be discussed. The idea with the IGR is that all four will be treated equally, there will be transparency, and there will be reviews.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
Following up on the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, do the Government agree with the previous Labour Government, who said that devolution for Scotland would strengthen the union?
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)
I can only repeat that devolution for Scotland has, of course, been rolled out in the same way as devolution for Northern Ireland and Wales. We believe that it works well, but, as I said earlier, we continue to monitor it and to make sure that the effective co-operation and links between the four nations continue as they are.