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1,193 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsThe noble Baroness makes the most important of points. One of the things that has been missing from conversations, including our own debate over the past week, is that people who…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsI thank the noble Baroness for her question. It is our third such outing on matters pertaining—well, our second, but the third in a week. To confirm, the meeting on 1 September…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsThe noble Lord raises a very important point. Our Parliament is at its best when it scrutinises the Government, and I am very pleased that the Joint Committee on the National…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsI thank the noble Lord for his question and his continued interest in these matters. Although the Government share the disappointment that the prosecution could not continue, the…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsThe noble Lord is aware that I cannot speak on behalf of the DPP, and while I wish I was in charge of the Prime Minister’s diary, no one has given me that responsibility. However,…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsI think it would be helpful if we went through the timescale of what happened with this case. The alleged incidents occurred. The Government—who at that point were the previous…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsThe noble Baroness invites me to question the independence of the CPS, and I am unlikely to do so.20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsMy Lords, the Government are unequivocal that China poses threats to UK security, including to our democratic system, and we will continue to hold China to account for this. That…20 Oct 2025HANSARDOfficial Secret Act Case: Witness StatementsI apologise if I misinterpreted what she said. The legal position is a matter for the CPS, and I am not a lawyer—much to my mother’s disappointment. As to why we updated the…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesI thank my noble friend for his questions, his work as Northern Ireland Secretary and his role in working with victims’ groups, including WAVE, with which he has a long-standing…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesI thank the noble Lord. There will be an open process, and the person appointed will be appointed by the Secretary of State. There is no commitment or expectation that the person…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesOne of the most important things about the additional powers we are giving to the legacy commission is the new governance structures, which I hope will give a level of confidence…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesI thank the noble Baroness for her comments. She reminds all of us of the personal cost that many people in your Lordships’ House and across Parliament have paid. She also reminds…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesI will start with the final point: we are changing the law, and that is what we are spending a lot of time on. This includes the re-establishment of the Carltona principle, to…20 Oct 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesMy Lords, the noble Lord served with distinction for many years. I am grateful for the time he gives me and for the work that he has done in Northern Ireland to deliver peace. As…20 Oct 2025HANSARDMiddle EastMy Lords, there is time for both noble Lords to speak, so we will go to the Liberal Democrats and then to our colleague from the Cross Benches.16 Oct 2025HANSARDShanghai Cooperation OrganisationMy Lords, it is the turn of the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett.16 Oct 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillMy Lords, so we begin Report. I thank all noble Lords for their genuinely constructive engagement on this important Bill, as we seriously engage in efforts to protect taxpayers’…15 Oct 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillMy Lords, I appreciate the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, bringing forward these amendments again. I find myself agreeing with the concerns outlined by the noble Baroness and other…15 Oct 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillMy Lords, fraud against the public sector takes money away from vital public services, enriches those who seek to attack the Government and damages the integrity of the state.…15 Oct 2025