Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households: Love Matters Report

Lord Sikka Excerpts

Tuesday 13th June 2023 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

I am in such shock to have such appreciation for the Government’s actions, but I thank my noble friend for his comments.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, inequalities identified in the archbishops’ commission’s report ultimately blight life. Last year, a study estimated that the Government’s austerity policies caused 335,000 excess deaths between 2012 and 2019 alone. Will the Minister answer just two questions? First, what forgiveness have the Government sought from the families of individuals killed by their policies? Secondly, will the Minister ensure that all Bills from now on are accompanied by an assessment showing their capacity to cause premature death?

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

I am happy to look at the research to which the noble Lord refers, but my own experience of looking at linking mortality to policy is that it is an extremely complicated business and I take exception to the suggestion that any Government—and this Government—would ever intentionally do anything that they believed would harm their people.