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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 25 Nov 2025
Schools: Funding

"My Lords, is it not the case that the opposition party cried that this would have a damaging effect on state schools? From the facts that the Minister has just read out, it is clear that is not the case. Have the Opposition apologised or suggested that the extra money …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Schools: Funding
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 17 Nov 2022
Carer’s Allowance

"My Lords, have the Government given any thought to those people on carer’s allowance getting automatic increases rather than having to means test? We already know that means testing makes it more difficult for claimants to receive the money they need...."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Carer’s Allowance
Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Reviews
Monday 23rd July 2018

Asked by: Lord Watts (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many independent reviews the Department for Work and Pensions has commissioned into its policy or administration over the last year; and what was the total cost of those reviews.

Answered by Baroness Buscombe

The Department does not hold this information.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 30 Apr 2018
Benefit Cap: Child and Family Well-being

"My Lords, is it not the case that children come out of poverty only if the two parents get excellent, well-paid jobs, and the vast majority in this category do not do that?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Benefit Cap: Child and Family Well-being
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Universal Credit: Free School Meals

"My Lords, can the Minister explain why there is a different threshold in different parts of the union? Surely all children should be treated the same?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit: Free School Meals
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 11 Dec 2017
Local Welfare Assistance

"My Lords, does the Minister think that it is irresponsible to delegate powers to local authorities and at the same time savage their budgets so that they cannot meet those responsibilities?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Local Welfare Assistance
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 09 Oct 2017
Work Capability Assessment

"My Lords, the Minister will be aware that the Prime Minister has accepted that the system is still flawed. There have been five reviews. I follow on from the earlier question: do we not need a pilot to make sure that this review actually works?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Work Capability Assessment
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 09 Mar 2017
Homelessness: Housing Benefit

"My Lords, given the massive increase that we have seen in the number of young homeless people on our streets, how will this policy help that situation?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Homelessness: Housing Benefit
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2016
Pensions: Women’s State Pension Age

"Can the Minister give any examples of where thousands of pounds have been taken from medium-income families in one fell swoop? Can he give an example of any other Government who have ever done that?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Pensions: Women’s State Pension Age
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 04 May 2016
Poverty Programmes: Audit

"My Lords, will the Minister guarantee that the anti-poverty measures which the Government have put in place will be measured independently, that those independent reports will be published, and that if the Government’s measures are found to be failing, they will change policy?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Poverty Programmes: Audit