Baroness Hooper (Con)

My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly in the gap and apologise to my noble friend for pinching his slot. It has been a good and necessary debate, with contributions from the youngest Member, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, as well as a number of fully competent and coherent older Members. I, of course, must declare a personal interest in this respect. I am told that I am now the longest-serving woman Peer—not the oldest but the longest-serving. I was introduced in June 1985, and like the noble Lord, Lord Dubs, I still consider it to be a great privilege to serve in your Lordships’ House. During my 41 years here, I have spent seven years on the Government Front Bench as a Minister in three departments. I subsequently served as a Deputy Speaker for 25 years, and I am now much involved in a lot of behind-the-scenes activities in the field of international relations as an active member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as various APPGs. I also have two Motions for balloted debate on the Order Paper. There are many ways to participate in the work of Parliament. I end by reminiscing, if I may. When I first nervously answered questions as a Minister, way back in 1985, I was asked a supplementary by Lord Shinwell, better known as Manny Shinwell. He was then 101. So, while I may support some of the measures in this report, I have no intention of retiring before I am at least 101, to preserve party balance of course.