Mentor Lords
Three core teams set out set out options for the Big Care Debate – the state, the third sector and the family – from the despatch boxes in the House of Lords Chamber on Friday 7 December.
The students and U3A members taking part were supported in formulating their arguments and strategies for debate by mentors from the House of Lords.
Lord Haskel – mentor for the role of the state
Lord Haskel has held a number of positions in the House of Lords. He was opposition spokesperson for trade and industry from 1994-97, opposition whip from 1994-97, and government whip between 1997-98. He was also the government spokesperson for social security from 1997-98, trade and industry from 1997-98 and the treasury from 1997-98. He was made deputy chair of committees in 2002, a position he still holds, and he has been deputy speaker of the House of Lords since 2002.
He was made a life peer in 1993, previously he had built his own international textile company, Perrotts Group PLC. He was one of the founder members of the Labour Party Industry 1972 Group and has a particular interest in trade and industry, science and technology and overseas development.
Baroness Pitkeathley – mentor for the role of the third sector
Baroness Pitkeathley was made a life peer in 1997. In the House of Lords she is deputy speaker and deputy chair of committees, positions that she has held since 2002.
Her main interests are health, social care, the voluntary sector and charities. She has a number of years' experience working in the public and voluntary sectors. She is vice president of Carers UK and an ambassador for National Voices, the coalition of health and social care charities in England.
Image: Lord Haskel at Westminster School training day. Copyright House of Lords 2012/Image by Gigi Giannella.