Lord Loomba CBE in virtual sessions of the hybrid parliament of the House of Lords raised key issues ranging from the Sustainable Development Goals to regulations on easing the lockdown.
Concerned about the welfare and education of girls in developing nations, and how the effect of Covid-19 may stall the SDGs, Lord Loomba asked, "What plans does the Government have to meet its 2019 pledge of ensuring 12 years of education for more than 12 million children, half of them girls?" He pointed out that this is a priority, as education is key to achieving gender equality and eradicating poverty.
Lord Loomba also voiced concerns about the transparency of the Student Loans Company and graduates paying their student loan debt. Questioning how the Government will be more transparent with student loans he said, “This was needed so that students are better equipped to make informed decisions about their finances and better understand how the system of repayments works."
Finally, on the issue of Covid-19 and its impact on society, Lord Loomba welcomed the fact that more businesses are now opening. Concentrating on businesses that are going to be impacted for far longer than others, such as theatres and concert venues, Lord Loomba queried, "With the public now able to board planes and go into pubs and restaurants, what specific help is being given to places such as these? Productions are often not viable without over 65% of ticket sales being achieved." This is, he stressed, is something that is not compatible with current social distancing rules, and more needed to be done for these businesses, both practically, and financially.
