In this motion to take note Lord Bilimoria asks what level of spending the Minister considers appropriate for the Armed Forces, whether there has been a shortfall in the number of reserves and whether there has been a growing reliance on reservist medical personnel. He also asks for the Minister’s view on the UK’s position as Number 2 in NATO potentially being transferred to another EU member and whether the UK is doing enough in furthering defence collaboration with universities with regard to innovation and research . He argues that the peace has been held been held by both the EU and NATO and concludes by asking whether enough is being done to publicise the Covenant among the army and the public. He states that UK Soft Power does require some Hard Power which work to make the UK a global power.
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In this discussion of amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill on this date Lord Bilimoria contributed several times. Each contribution is detailed below. He addresses the point about part-time and lifelong learning from his own experience discussing how various universities operate in this area and concludes with the hoped that the bill will encourage part-time learning and learning throughout a person’s lifetime. His second contribution asks for a reassurance that the Bill covers diversity, especially those from an ethnic minority, and he asks whether enough is being done to promote access through the Bill. In his third contribution Lord Bilimoria voiced his support for the amendments and stressed the positive effect of international students to the UK as well as the need to remove them from the net migration figures.
In this contribution to the short debate Lord Bilimoria argues in support of the Armed Forces Covenant and believes that having it enshrined in law will help morale and recruitment. He also notes the support given to veterans and discusses areas such as the controls known as the harmony guidelines.
In this contribution regarding the second amendment to the Higher Education and Research Bill Lord Bilimoria states his support for it and stresses the importance of the autonomy of universities. He argues that in the UK we have the correct mix of private and public funding which allows for the best of both worlds and grants autonomy which should not be jeopardised.
In his contribution to the debate regarding the first amendment to the Higher Education and Research Bill Lord Bilimoria stresses the idea of innovation and the importance of this to UK Higher Education. He highlights the need for variety which should be striven for by universities along with specialisation which he feels is in the spirit of this amendment. He argues that UK universities are not necessarily about working towards a vocation but about what is learnt in the academic environment itself. He concludes by stressing that to view universities as simply places of education and research misses the point and so this amendment ensures it is clear that universities should be more than this.
In this second reading of the Higher Education and Research Bill Lord Bilimoria discusses the Universities in the UK and the need for them to stay free from political interference. He argues that this Bill should preserve that freedom and ensure that students entering the UK to study are not counted as immigrants.
In this contribution Lord Bilimoria discusses the positive impact of various different cultural groups and faiths on the UK, in particular he notes the Zoroastrian Parsees and their contribution and presence in the UK and India. He also discusses the rise in prejudice and hatred against foreigners which he feels is a direct result of the June 2016 referendum which he feels is not the UK he knows. He argues against the current classification of foreign students studying in the UK as immigrants by the Government. He suggests that there is a need for integration and argues for integrity in the UK which cannot be practised without wholeness.
In this speech Lord Bilimoria discusses the effect of the June 2016 referendum result and the Government’s positions in the Autumn Statement. With regard to everything he argues that the Government needs to be braver.
Lord Bilimoria responded to the statement repeated by Lord Henley on behalf of the Minister for Business. He expresses concern a proposed measures which risk “tarring” good companies with the same brush as bad ones. He also asks that the Minister acknowledge that disclosing workers pay is not as simple as disclosing ratios.
In his second contribution to this debate Lord Bilimoria asks if the Minister can explain how the the UK and NHS could manage without the contributions of EU migrants working within the UK.