Lord Speaker visits Hull
21 January 2016 (updated on 21 January 2016)
Baroness D’Souza, The Lord Speaker, visits Hull on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 January, where she will meet with an organisation working with refugees and asylum seekers, as well as with local school children, and receive an honorary degree from the University of Hull.
Hull City of Sanctuary
On Thursday 21 January, the Lord Speaker will meet with Hull City of Sanctuary, the local branch of a network of local groups that works to help people settle in the UK, particularly refugees and asylum seekers.
She will talk to the group about the House of Lords and the work it has recently done on issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers, such as debates on the Immigration Bill, and recent work by its Committees, including a report on the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling, published in November by the Lords EU Select Committee.
Peers in Schools
The Lord Speaker will begin Friday 22 January with a visit to Wyke Sixth Form College, as part of her Peers in Schools programme. She will speak to the students about her role as Lord Speaker and the work of the House of Lords, to encourage the students to take an interest in politics and the democratic process.
University of Hull
Following on, the Lord Speaker will receive an honorary degree from the University of Hull, as a Doctor of Laws. She will be presented with the degree by Lord Norton of Louth, Professor of Government at the University, and will address the assembled students and guests.
Speaking ahead of her visit to Hull, the Lord Speaker said:
‘I am very much looking forward to visiting Hull this week, and meeting a variety of different people.
‘With the Immigration Bill currently going through the House, it is particularly timely that I will be meeting people who work with refugees, asylum seekers and others who wish to build a new and better life in the UK. As well as sharing with them the work the House of Lords is doing on the Bill, I will be very interested to hear of their experiences in working with this vulnerable group of people.
‘Under my Peers in Schools initiative, members have addressed over 75,000 school pupils since 2007. It is part of our wider House of Lords outreach programme, which raises awareness of the House of Lords. I am really looking forward to using my visit to Wyke Sixth Form College to explain the role of the House of Lords in the scrutiny of laws, which can be directly relevant to people all over the country.
‘Furthermore I will be both honoured and delighted to receive my honorary degree from the University of Hull, an event which will, I am sure, complete a rewarding and informative visit.’