BBC Royal Charter: Gaelic Broadcasting

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Baroness Twycross

Thursday 16th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

It is interesting, because I put that point to my officials. Noble Lords will need to wait and see as part of the charter review, but if people are campaigning for Scots to get similar recognition, please encourage them to get involved in the discussions around the charter review.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

In supporting my noble friend Lady MacLeod, and as a fellow Celt, I offer the example that Irish-language broadcasting in Northern Ireland is primarily funded by the BBC and the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, which is managed by Northern Ireland Screen and financially supported by DCMS, part of our own Government. Is there a potential solution for Gaelic broadcasting in Scotland in that model?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I think there is, potentially, but we need to make sure that we do not assume that a one-size-fits-all approach works across the piece. I am happy to take suggestions back to the department and to speak to my colleague Ian Murray from the other place about this. We are keen to make sure that all minority languages get what works for that particular area, rather than assuming that one size fits all. On Northern Ireland and Irish-language broadcasting, which works on a cross-border basis, we are keen to continue to support that from DCMS as well.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Baroness Twycross

Tuesday 30th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I reassure the noble Baroness that the Government are absolutely committed to paying comprehensive compensation to infected and affected victims of the blood scandal. This is such a priority for the Prime Minister that he stated this publicly on his second day in office. I hope the noble Baroness can take some reassurance from that.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend to the Front Bench. The Statement says:

“The Cabinet Office is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the devolved Governments and the administrators of the existing infected blood support schemes to establish the process for making interim payments of £100,000 to the estates of deceased people who were infected with contaminated blood or blood products”.


Can my noble friend further elaborate on this issue and say at what stage the devolved Administrations will be ready to make such payments? As others know only too well, both victims and their families have waited a considerable time for due compensation. They also want to know whether support schemes will continue in some format.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for her question. On the urgency of ensuring that those affected and infected receive compensation, it is difficult to talk about urgency when people have quite clearly waited decades, in some cases, to get justice. A lot of dialogue is going on at official level with the devolved Administrations, and this will be taking place at ministerial level as well. Applications for interim payments will start in October and it is a matter of absolute urgency that that goes smoothly. Those discussions will continue to take place over the summer, in advance of 24 August, when the “made affirmative” procedure will go through. It is vital that those continue to proceed. Applications for payments will open across the piece in October and the compensation scheme will be a priority for this Government. As I said, the Prime Minister made it a priority and reaffirmed this on his second day in office.

Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Baroness Twycross

Monday 29th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Shall I just say yes? My understanding was that there were arrangements in place to facilitate the movement of racehorses around Europe. I will double check the facts on that and write to the noble Lord.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, considering the issues that have been raised today, would my noble friend—whom I welcome to the Front Bench—consider meeting her ministerial equivalent in the Irish Government? Would she also encourage the British Horseracing Authority and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board—which is all-Ireland—to meet to discuss the various industries? In my own area, we have a racecourse, and it is vital to the local economy and the tourism industry.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I would be delighted to meet my equivalent in the Irish Government, and I thank the noble Baroness for her question.