Lord Elystan-Morgan

Crossbench - Life peer

Became Member: 27th May 1981

Left House: 12th February 2020 (Retired)


Lord Elystan-Morgan is not a member of any APPGs
Lord Elystan-Morgan has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

Lord Elystan-Morgan has voted in 728 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat)
(58 debate interactions)
Lord Strathclyde (Conservative)
(40 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Wales Office
(97 debate contributions)
Home Office
(77 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(76 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(64 debate contributions)
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Legislation Debates
Wales Act 2017
(8,014 words contributed)
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(911 words contributed)
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Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Elystan-Morgan, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Elystan-Morgan has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Elystan-Morgan has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 27 Written Questions

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Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
8th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to remarks made by the Prime Minister during her trip to China, whether they plan to remove students from immigration figures; and if so, when.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the Library of the House.

20th Dec 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish, jointly with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, a body to advise them on which powers, currently vested in the EU, could appropriately be devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the completion of Brexit.

We are continuing to work closely with the devolved administrations to quickly determine where common approaches will and will not be required in the future. These discussions are guided by the common frameworks principles agreed at JMC(EN) on 16 October https://www.gov.uk/government/news/progress-made-at-eu-talks-with-devolved-governments--2. We know that there will be some areas where we will continue to need common frameworks, but equally some areas where common frameworks would not be needed. The Government expects that the return of powers from the EU will lead to a significant increase in the decision making powers for the devolved administrations.

20th Dec 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish a green paper on which powers currently vested in the EU could appropriately be devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the completion of Brexit.

The UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments agreed at JMC(EN) on 16 October the principles that will guide how we approach common frameworks in future https://www.gov.uk/government/news/progress-made-at-eu-talks-with-devolved-governments--2. Discussions with the devolved administrations in these areas are ongoing. We do not expect there to be a need for frameworks in all areas currently governed by EU law, and so the Government expects that the return of powers from the EU will lead to a significant increase in the decision making powers for the devolved administrations.

24th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 23 November (HL Deb, col 285) that in relation to powers vested in the EU, they "would like to devolve as much as we can to the devolved Administrations", whether they will discuss fully with Scottish and Welsh Ministers those areas they are working to devolve; and whether they intend to publish a White Paper setting out such proposals.

The Government has committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on common frameworks, establishing them only where they are needed and identifying areas that could be released from the temporary competence arrangement in time for exit day. These discussions are ongoing, guided by the principles agreed between the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments at the last meeting of Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations).

22nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the undertaking given in paragraph 20 of the October 2013 Memorandum of Understanding that they would “involve the devolved administrations as fully as possible in discussions about the formulation of the UK’s policy position on all EU and international issues which touch on devolved matters”, whether they plan to involve Scottish and Welsh Ministers directly in decision-making concerning such discussions.

The UK Government has been clear that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU. The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations facilitates engagement and collaboration on EU Exit. In addition to the formal structures of the Joint Ministerial Committee, constructive bilateral engagement with the devolved administrations on a wide range of policy areas related to EU Exit continues at both Ministerial and official level.

22nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government how often the UK Governance Group has met in 2017.

The UK Governance Group brings together under one command the Cabinet Office Constitution Group, the Scotland Office, the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and the Wales Office. This Group leads the UK Government’s work on constitutional and devolution issues, and is the primary source of advice to UK Government Ministers and Departments for this area.

Activities and performance of the Group are reported in the Cabinet Office annual report and the annual reports of the other departmental constituent parts of the Group.

22nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish regular reports of the meetings of the UK Governance Group established in June 2015 to lead work on constitutional and devolution issues.

The UK Governance Group brings together under one command the Cabinet Office Constitution Group, the Scotland Office, the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and the Wales Office. This Group leads the UK Government’s work on constitutional and devolution issues, and is the primary source of advice to UK Government Ministers and Departments for this area.

Activities and performance of the Group are reported in the Cabinet Office annual report and the annual reports of the other departmental constituent parts of the Group.

22nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to update the Memorandum of Understanding with the devolved administrations, published in October 2013, in order to take account of relevant issues affecting devolution which have arisen in the last four years.

The Government recognises the need to review the Memorandum of Understanding with the devolved administrations. The decision to review the Memorandum of Understanding must be taken with the agreement of the four participating administrations - the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

25th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511), whether the joint ministerial committees intend to meet at regular intervals of no more than two calendar months until the end of the Brexit negotiations.

Meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) are subject to agreement by all four administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) met most recently on 16 October and agreed to meet again before Christmas.

The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the UK Government and devolved administrations states that the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) should meet at least once a year. The UK Government and the devolved administrations will work together to agree any future date of the next Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary).

25th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511) on the update on the Brexit negotiations, whether they will undertake to ensure that meaningful discussions with Welsh Ministers at informal meetings will be held at the next available meeting of the appropriate joint ministerial committee.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) (JMC(P)) and (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) consist of representatives from the UK Government and each of the devolved administrations. Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, attends meetings of JMC(P). Mark Drakeford AM, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in the Welsh Government, has attended every meeting of JMC(EN).

18th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations did not meet between February 2017 and October 2017.

The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations is just one of the ways the UK Government engages with the devolved administrations. There has been, and will continue to be, constructive engagement on the issue of EU exit through a variety of means. Since negotiations began, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU has spoken to ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments on a number of occasions to update on progress. The First Secretary of State has met the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and First Minister of Wales to progress discussions between JMC meetings.

11th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions it is intended the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) will meet within the next 12 months.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) met on Monday 16 October and will meet again later in 2017. Further meetings are to be agreed by all administrations.

The UK Government is committed to engagement with the devolved administrations, both within the formal structures of the Joint Ministerial Committee and also through bilateral discussions.

11th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) has, in relation to Wales, met members of the Welsh Assembly.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) consists of representatives from the UK Government and each of the devolved administrations.

Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in the Welsh Government and the Welsh Labour Assembly Member for Cardiff West, has attended every meeting of JMC(EN) as a Minister for the Welsh Government.

11th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions within the last 12 months the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) has met.

Within the last 12 months, the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) has met five times.

30th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will hold formal meetings with ministers for each devolved administration as to the background, experience and skills expected of any person appointed by the devolved administrations to enable industrial issues pertaining to each of those countries to be articulated effectively in the proposed independent Industrial Strategy Council.

The Industrial Strategy Council will be independent. It will be responsible for putting the right evaluation and reporting structures in place and make recommendations to government on industrial strategy.

We will begin the process to establish the Council as soon as possible. We expect Council members will be invited on the basis of their expertise, experience and skills. We expect the Council’s membership to be multidisciplinary and include leading business men and women, investors, economists and academics with wide ranging knowledge of local, national and international perspectives. Our aim is for it to start work in spring 2018.

30th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in relation to the proposed independent Industrial Strategy Council, whether representatives from the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be appointed.

The Industrial Strategy Council will be independent. It will be responsible for putting the right evaluation and reporting structures in place and make recommendations to government on industrial strategy.

We will begin the process to establish the Council as soon as possible. We expect Council members will be invited on the basis of their expertise, experience and skills. We expect the Council’s membership to be multidisciplinary and include leading business men and women, investors, economists and academics with wide ranging knowledge of local, national and international perspectives. Our aim is for it to start work in spring 2018.

30th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in relation to the proposed independent Industrial Strategy Council referred to in their white paper, Industrial Strategy: Building a Britain fit for the future, by what date they expect to have such a body appointed.

The Industrial Strategy Council will be independent. It will be responsible for putting the right evaluation and reporting structures in place and make recommendations to government on industrial strategy.

We will begin the process to establish the Council as soon as possible. We expect Council members will be invited on the basis of their expertise, experience and skills. We expect the Council’s membership to be multidisciplinary and include leading business men and women, investors, economists and academics with wide ranging knowledge of local, national and international perspectives. Our aim is for it to start work in spring 2018.

11th Jan 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received from the Welsh Assembly any formal indication of its intention to reconsider withholding legislative consent to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill; and if such consent continues to be withheld, what action they intend to take.

The December 2017 interim report on legislative consent from the Welsh Assembly’s External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee recommends “that the Assembly withhold its consent for the Bill in its current form” but notes that “this is an interim report and, should the Bill be amended, [the committee] will issue a further report.”

We continue to have positive discussions with the devolved administrations and legislatures to find an agreed approach to clause 11 of the Bill and we intend to bring forward amendments during the Bill’s Lords stages. We are committed to achieving legislative consent for this vital piece of legislation.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in respect of the compensation claimed by the EU on the UK’s leaving, what part of that claim represents (1) the apportionment of benefits accruing in future to the UK, (2) restitution for breach of contract, if any, and in respect of what breach, and (3) damages claimed punitively; and what discount has been offered as being due to the UK in respect of EU assets.

We recognise that the UK has obligations towards the EU, and the EU has obligations to the UK. An agreement on any financial settlement can only come as part of the settlement of all the issues mentioned in the Prime Minister’s Florence Speech. We are making clear progress in building a common technical understanding on every item.

The treatment of the European Union’s assets will need to be agreed as part of the negotiations.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a convention of Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members to consider and discuss the particular anticipated effects of Brexit upon the devolved administrations.

The Government is committed to engagement with the devolved legislatures as we prepare to leave the EU. Ministers have appeared before several committees in the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales to give evidence on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and the implications of exit for the devolved institutions. Parliamentary Under Secretary Robin Walker also attended the first meeting of the Interparliamentary Forum on Brexit last month.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
25th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511) on the update on the Brexit negotiations, whether they keep a record of informal meetings with Welsh Ministers; whether such meetings have agendas; whether minutes are prepared and formally kept; and if not, whether they plan to keep such records.

The Government has been engaging with the devolved administrations throughout the negotiation process. At formal meetings where Government business is discussed, officials attend and minutes are prepared in line with usual practice. A list of ministerial meetings is published with each quarterly transparency return. We are committed to positive and productive engagement with the devolved administrations going forward as we seek a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement made by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511), (1) how many times the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU has spoken to Welsh government ministers since the 2017 General Election; (2) which ministers were spoken to; (3) when such discussions took place; (4) whether agendas or minutes for such discussions were produced; and (5) whether, in such meetings, consideration was given to raising issues which were subsequently discussed in the October meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations.

The Government has been engaging with the devolved administrations throughout the negotiation process. Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union have held discussions on six separate occasions with the Welsh government since the election to discuss the negotiations with the European Union and preparations for the UK’s future outside of the EU.

The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations, chaired by the First Secretary of State, was the latest opportunity for the devolved administrations to contribute to this process. Important progress was made. The Committee discussed priorities for the future relationship with the EU and agreed the principles that will underpin common UK frameworks.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of statements made by the Prime Minister about a vision of a global Britain following Brexit, how consistent, or otherwise, this is with her previous undertaking to the devolved administrations that their interests would be properly represented in the Brexit negotiations.

As the Prime Minister has set out, as we leave the EU we are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.

We have been clear from the start that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in this process. The First Secretary of State most recently chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations with the devolved administrations on Monday 16 October to discuss matters, including the UK’s priorities for the next phase of negotiations.

We are committed to continued positive and productive engagement with the devolved administrations.

20th Dec 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they have given to credit unions in the UK in the last two financial years.

The government is committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK’s financial services sector. Over the last two financial years, the government has done this by:

  • Announcing at Autumn Budget 2017, that where a credit union’s membership conditions are based on locality, a credit union will be able to increase the number of potential members it can have to from 2 to 3 million. The legislation to make this change was laid in November 2017 and comes into force in April 2018.

  • Announcing at Autumn Statement 2016 that, from 2018, an existing scheme which incentivises credit union membership in communities at risk of being targeted by loan sharks, will be expanded. This uses funds recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act from convicted loan sharks.

  • Contributing £600,000 to an initiative developed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Young Enterprise, to start savings clubs in primary schools and educate young children in the benefits of saving. Lifesavers works with local credit unions to help run savings clubs with schoolchildren, and is currently being piloted in six primary schools.

  • Providing funding for the Credit Union Expansion Project, delivered by the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd. In 2017, three credit unions with a total membership of 16,500 began using an online banking platform provided by this project.

20th Dec 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the UK compares with the Republic of Ireland, Canada and New Zealand in the provision of personal credit to its citizens.

The government has not made a formal assessment of this kind.

The Bank for International Settlements publishes international comparisons of credit provision. In the latest figures from Q2 2017, total credit to the non-financial sector as a percentage of GDP was 281.0 in the UK, 345.2 in the Republic of Ireland, 296.0 in Canada, and 208.3 in New Zealand.