Hate Crime

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Whitaker

Wednesday 14th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I most certainly join my noble friend in welcoming this announcement and the fact that my right honourable friend Sajid Javid will be launching it in about 10 minutes’ time. My noble friend is absolutely right that these memorials do not just serve to help us remember. The education centres alongside them ensure that our children and the children of future generations know the horrors that went on in the past and, we hope, learn from them for the future.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

Can the noble Baroness tell me how the genocide of the Roma people is to be commemorated in the Holocaust memorial drawn attention to by the noble Lord opposite?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, of course the killing of the Roma people was all part of the terrible Holocaust. I will provide more details to the noble Baroness in due course.

City Regions: Pension Funds

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Whitaker

Tuesday 23rd February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, this Question is about local government pension funds and I cannot comment on a policy that has not been announced. However, I concur that if my husband died before reaching pension age, I would be a lot better off.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

My Lords, following the recent comments of Sir Michael Wilshaw, do the Government consider that the educational infrastructure in the new city regions needs at least as much attention as the physical infrastructure? What are the Government going to do to ensure that the educational offer is as good as the physical offer in these areas?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, all these things go hand in hand: infrastructure, education, and the infrastructure and provision of health services all make for the health and prosperity of the city region.

Living with Difference

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Whitaker

Monday 18th January 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Baroness makes a very good point. We can celebrate differences while also celebrating our similarities, particularly the values of faith that unite us in so many ways.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

Can the Minister say how the Government will respond to the point made by the report that, UK wide, there has been a lack of movement in education policy to implement the Equality Act’s requirement for all schools to foster good relations between people of different backgrounds? The noble Baroness’s fine words do not talk about implementation.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, while this is not an official report, I can certainly say that from my own department’s point of view, and certainly from my personal point of view, there are very good examples of schools—particularly faith schools—that do much to foster understanding and relationships between other faiths. I am sure there may also be examples where schools could do that better.

Housing: Office Conversions

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Whitaker

Wednesday 2nd December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, as far as I am aware, it is not counted in the empty dwelling figures because at that point in time it is not dwellings.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

My Lords, has the Minister made any assessment of the number of workplaces that have been destroyed when local authorities impose housing plans that do not take real account of the needs of the local economy?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord, Lord Goddard, pointed out the figures in his supplementary question. That is why Article 4 directions are very useful in stopping some of that exodus of much-needed office space where it is not appropriate.