Biography
Lord Foster of Bath has engaged primarily through debate speeches on public health and prevention issues, with particular emphasis on gambling harm among young people and related regulatory concerns across multiple bills. His contributions frequently reflect his role as chair of Peers for Gambling Reform, with recurring arguments for treating gambling as a public health issue requiring government intervention similar to tobacco and alcohol regulation. He has also raised concerns about mental health support and staffing levels within the criminal justice system during Sentencing Bill debates.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…there is clear evidence that commercial activity harms children, government has a duty to intervene, adopting a public health approach. We have accepted that principle in relation to tobacco, to alcohol and, more recently, to vapes.”
Record by topic
- Public health & prevention72nd of 68818.0
- Mental health454th of 8808.5
- Learning disability & autism592nd of 8994.0
- Cancer503rd of 6222.0
- NHS & care workforce/staffing236th of 3022.0
What they’ve said
“My Lords, in addition to moving Amendment 2, I will speak to the 11 other amendments in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Addington. I declare my interests as the chair of Peers for Gambling Reform and of Action on Gambling. Together, my 12 amendments cover just two issues.”
Sporting Events Bill [HL] · 2026-06-22 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…But it seems to me there is one principle that we have accepted in this country for a very long time: that public health issues need to be dealt with at public level. The Government have accepted issues around unhealthy food, to put it like that, as a public health issue.”
Sporting Events Bill [HL] · 2026-06-22 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…This is absolute nonsense. National and international public health experts believe that it will lead to more gambling harm and more misery for individuals, families and communities. It is also economic nonsense.”
King’s Speech · 2026-05-18 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…After all, measures such as education and skills training, or measures to help prisoners with their mental health, or with drug, alcohol or gambling addictions, are hard to provide in overcrowded, understaffed, dilapidated and underresourced prisons where governors have inadequate freedom to govern.”
Better Prisons: Less Crime (Justice and Home Affairs Committee Report) · 2026-02-12 · Read on Hansard ↗
“My Lords, in moving my Amendment 88, I will also speak to the other amendments in this group. Before I do so, it is important for us to understand why the various proposers have thought them necessary.”
Sentencing Bill · 2025-12-03 · Read on Hansard ↗
Contributions reproduced under the Open Parliament Licence.