Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 17 May 2022
Social Security System: Rising Cost of Living
"Is the Minister aware that 50% of people presenting in hospitals with cardiac arrest and so on are in food poverty?..."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 11 Jan 2022
DWP: Support for Larger Families
"My Lords, not supporting children in the early stages of their lives will cause a ricochet through the years. We should take into account that fact. I also have to say that my snip came too late as I have five children...."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 18 Nov 2021
Climate Change: COP 26
"When I look at the climate change argument, I am reminded of a friend of mine who was in a failing business. When the accountant left, he was praised for measuring its decline with great accuracy. I get that feeling because we have put an enormous amount of energy into …..."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 19 Oct 2021
Child Poverty: Nuffield Foundation Review
"We know that many children get it in the neck from poverty. Let us hope that we can address that problem. The biggest problem that I would like the Minister to talk about is the children who are about to slip into poverty. More than 500,000 people who have not …..."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 24 Feb 2021
Pandemics and Environmental Degradation
"I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, on this Question: it is one of the most interesting I have heard recently. When will we break out of the idea that the environment is a cul-de-sac, something that we can take or leave? When will we lead in this country and …..."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 21 Jan 2021
Overseas Development Aid: Covid-19 Vaccination
"My Lords, I congratulate the Government on their vaccination record. I am about to have mine, so I thank them. The Big Issue works with people on the streets all over the world—and here I declare an interest. Vaccinating street dwellers against Covid is very important, but they also need …..."Lord Bird - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 17th September 2018
Asked by:
Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 11 April 2017 (HL6378), what steps they are planning to take to secure Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's permanent release and return to the UK, in the light of continued concerns for her health and reports that she collapsed in prison.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We remain very concerned about all our dual nationals detained in Iran. We continue to raise their cases with the Iranian Government at every opportunity, as the Minister for the Middle East did with the Deputy Foreign Minister in Tehran recently. We will make decisions in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their cases. I refer the noble Lord to the Foreign Secretary’s comments in the House of Commons on 4 September.
Written Question
Tuesday 11th April 2017
Asked by:
Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Iran about the provision of appropriate medical treatment for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and about ensuring her general welfare.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Ministers and officials have repeatedly made representations to the Iranian Government on all consular cases involving British nationals in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's. On 17 February, the Foreign Secretary discussed Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case, including her health, with the Iranian Foreign Minister. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family confirmed that a specialist visited her on 19 February. The Iranian authorities have given us their assurances that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe will receive medical treatment if appropriate. We have repeatedly requested consular access so that we can be assured of her welfare, however the Iranian position on dual nationality makes progress difficult. We urge the Iranian authorities to ensure action is taken on the specialist's assessment and will pursue this at every opportunity.