Biography
Baroness Smith of Malvern engaged with eight health and social care topics through 40 debate speeches, though the recent contributions provided focus primarily on education, skills, and welfare policy rather than health and social care issues. Her engagement on health-related matters is evident in references to mental health support in schools, investment in mental health professionals, and inclusive education for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The speeches demonstrate her role as a cross-departmental minister addressing interconnected policy areas spanning education, employment, and welfare.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…These can include disadvantage, low attainment, special educational needs, poor mental health, family circumstances and limited local opportunities. They can affect different groups differently, as my noble friend Lady Whitaker, with her usual tenacity, identified with respect to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children.”
Record by topic
- Learning disability & autism4th of 899220.5
- Mental health42nd of 88080.0
- Unpaid carers36th of 28316.0
- NHS & care workforce/staffing36th of 30210.0
- Adult social care & reform56th of 37610.0
- Public health & prevention252nd of 6886.0
- Maternity & neonatal138th of 4386.0
- Children's health50th of 1574.0
- NHS waiting lists302nd of 5344.0
- Care home closures & provider failure39th of 472.0
- Diabetes154th of 1902.0
- Elderly care & frailty166th of 2362.0
What they’ve said
“My Lords, I start by thanking my noble friend Lady Keeley for introducing this debate, and noble Lords around the House for congratulating me on maintaining my role.”
Creative Industries: Qualifications · 2026-07-23 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…en, school attendance was at an all-time low and local authorities were being bankrupted by the rising costs of special educational needs and children’s social care. The number of children growing up in poverty had increased by 700,000 since 2010 to 4 million.”
Government Record on Education, Employment and Welfare · 2026-07-16 · Read on Hansard ↗
“My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Evans, for bringing forward this debate, which has been very constructive and wide-ranging. There was a clear consensus in it that far too many young people in this country are leaving education and not getting the chance to work.”
Welfare Reforms and Youth Unemployment · 2026-06-11 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…ne to reduce barriers in the system, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and children with SEND. We will ensure that all mainstream settings are welcoming to children with SEND by investing £1.6 billion over three years to support early years settings, schools and colleges to become inclusive by de…”
School Admissions: Selective Inclusion · 2026-06-08 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…I would characterise it as an aggressive approach, but it is certainly a key element of the Government’s SEND reform that we ensure children get the right support, whether in their early years setting, their school or their college.”
School Admissions: Selective Inclusion · 2026-06-08 · Read on Hansard ↗
Contributions reproduced under the Open Parliament Licence.