Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
Having served in the Commons for twenty six years as the member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, George Foulkes’s career has been littered with high profile appointments. From the oppostion benches he was to serve as spokesperson for subjects as diverse as Europe (1983-85), Foreign Affairs (1985-92), Defence (1992-93) and Overseas Development (1994-97). On Labour’s return to Government he became a Junior Minister at the Department for International Development (1997-2001), the Minister of State for Scotland (01-02) and the Trustee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (02-05).
Throughout his time in Parliament he has taken a strong interest in Scottish affairs. In addition to his role as Minister of State, he has served as chair for both the John Wentley Centre and the Labour campaign for a Scottish Parliament.
Lord Foulkes also served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament 2007-11.
Listed among: Members of the House of Lords
- Upcoming Business – Lords: Main Chamber (22 May 2013)Circumstances justifying an escalation of action by external governments in Syria – Lord Foulkes of Cumnock.
- Developing Countries: Budgetary Support — Question (15 May 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: Is the Minister aware that not only is Haiti the poorest country in the new world but that it has suffered from earthquakes and, more recently, hurricanes? Why is there no direct bilateral assistance from the UK Government to Haiti?
- Scotland: Independence — Question (13 May 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: My Lords, will the Minister answer a question that his namesake, the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, could not, and confirm that the Cabinet has taken two decisions: first, that there should be no pre-negotiation with the Scottish Government, which is absolutely correct; and, secondly, that there should be no contingency planning, which is quite wrong, particularly, as my noble friend...
- Written Answers — House of Lords: Banks: European Investment Bank (25 Apr 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have established their desired outcomes from the European Investment Bank's review of its energy sector lending policy; and if so, what are those desired outcomes.
- Procedure of the House — Motion to Resolve (24 Apr 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: I agree 100% with what the Chairman of Committees has just said. On that basis, I will go along with the recommendation, but on the clear understanding that if anyone, including retired generals, asks more than one question and goes on and on and on, I will take a leaf out of the books of the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, and the noble Countess, Lady Mar.
- Iraq: Chilcot Inquiry — Question (22 Apr 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: My Lords, could the Leader of the House tell the House how the Government will take account of the conclusions and recommendations of the Chilcot inquiry on Iraq in deciding their policy on Syria?
- Scotland: Referendum — Question (26 Mar 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government regarding the arrangements for the referendum on independence.
- Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Bill — Second Reading (21 Mar 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: The noble Lord is repeating word for word what he said in his introductory speech. Why does he not reply and answer the important questions that have been raised? For example, why did he not ask for his appeal to the Supreme Court to be fast-tracked? Can he not answer the debate instead of repeating what he said at the beginning?
- Liaison Committee — Motion to Agree (21 Mar 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: I am sure the Chairman of Committees would not wish to conclude without answering my questions on the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
- House of Lords: Oral Questions — Question (21 Mar 2013)Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: Does the Leader also recall that the Companion says-I must not point-that initial Answers by Ministers should be no more than 75 words long? It is in his power to regulate that. What is he doing about it?
