Prime Minister and First Minister of Wales Meetings
Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Harries of Pentregarth
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, this Government have been very clear that we have no plans to review the Barnett formula. Having said that, our manifesto stated that we recognise that the Welsh fiscal framework is out of date. We are continuing conversations with our colleagues in Wales about how we can make it work.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth (CB)
My Lords, what conversations has the Minister had with the First Minister about universities? We know that all universities are under very severe pressure, but universities in Wales seem to be particularly hard hit. Cardiff University, for example, has had to close its music, theology and nursing departments. What conversations has she had with them?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, sometimes it is very helpful when colleagues are sitting next to you on the Front Bench. My noble friend Lady Smith has met with Wales’s Universities Minister to discuss the challenges being faced, and I assure the noble and right reverend Lord that conversations are ongoing.
Democracy and Unelected Strong Leaders
Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Harries of Pentregarth
Lord Harries of Pentregarth
To ask His Majesty’s Government what is their response to the poll, published by FGS Global in January, which found that one in five people aged 18 to 45 in the United Kingdom prefer unelected strong leaders to democracy.
Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)
My Lords, before I start, as this is my lasting outing, I would like to wish everyone happy Easter and Pesach sameach for the imminent Recess.
Internationally, democracy is under attack. The Defending Democracy Taskforce brings a whole-of-government effort to defend against that threat and uphold the rule of law, but we must go further to restore trust in politics. That is why we have committed to a reset in public life, restoring a culture of service and deepening democracy through constitutional reform. Every political party has a role to play in this mission, and that includes every Member of your Lordships’ House. We all have a responsibility to cherish, defend and promote the core values of democracy.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth (CB)
I thank the Minister for her reply. As she rightly said, democracy is a fragile achievement and it is under threat throughout the world. In the light of that, what does she think of the appalling failure somewhere in our society that these figures reveal, with so many young people preferring an unelected leader to democracy? The Ties that Bind, a report of your Lordships’ House chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, located this in the failure of citizenship education in schools. I know the Minister can answer only on behalf of the Home Office, but would it be prepared to work with the Department for Education to ensure that future generations are better educated about the value of our democratic way of life than previous generations?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, citizenship education is incredibly important. That is why the last Government ensured that active citizenship was taught as part of the national curriculum, which this Government are continuing. We are currently in the process of a national curriculum review, which will report shortly. I would be amazed if active citizenship and citizenship are not included. However, we all have a responsibility to do this, such as through the Learn with the Lords programme and active participation, to make sure that young people genuinely understand what we do and why we are not all the same and why there is a difference. I urge noble Lords to participate in that programme and to use the imminent VE Day celebrations to celebrate democracy against tyranny.