Contributions
1,193 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy Lords, I start by wishing the noble Lord a happy birthday. Also, I cannot believe that any civil servant or special adviser would ever have any success in controlling the noble…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsThere is very little I can add to my noble friend, except to say that I believe her statement is absolutely true about where we currently stand.02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy Lords, there is no such gagging order. This is about the grid system and making sure that, if someone wishes to participate in an event where media will be present, a request…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy Lords, ongoing engagement with stakeholders, whoever they may be, is key. Noble Lords will be aware that one of my responsibilities in your Lordships’ House is to discuss the…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy Lords, before I joined your Lordships’ House, I ran an organisation called Index on Censorship. We should be very careful about the use of that word and how it applies here,…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy noble friend makes a very important point. We are living in an age of disinformation and there is a responsibility on all of us to make sure that there are clear communication…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsAt that point, I should declare my status as an honorary captain in the Royal Navy, before I get myself in trouble. Obviously, I would always want to hear from the senior service…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsI think I need to reassure your Lordships’ House, but especially the noble Lord, that there is no guidance that would prohibit leaders within the Civil Service engaging with or…02 Jul 2025HANSARDNHS, Armed Forces and Civil Service Staff: Public MeetingsMy Lords, a core principle of government in this country is that Ministers are ultimately accountable for decision-making. Therefore, it is right that we are the principal…02 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillTo reassure noble Lords, the Government remain committed to strengthening the circumstances in which disgraced Members can be removed. Our position on this amendment has not…02 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillThat is correct, but I think it is important to note that my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General chose to because he views that as part of his role. Amendment 10, tabled…02 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, it may be helpful if I inform your Lordships’ House that my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General also took an oath to uphold the rule of law when he took office.02 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I am ever so sorry: I thought I had answered the question. We are working with the Conduct Committee to bed in what has just been changed and to see if further change is…02 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, can the noble Viscount confirm which amendment in this group he is addressing?02 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025My Lords, this draft order extends provisions in the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 that enable criminal trials to continue to be conducted without a jury in…01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025That the Grand Committee do consider the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025. Relevant document: 26th…01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025My Lords—01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025Like magic, a piece of paper has arrived that confirms that the Secretary of State—01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025My officials are absolutely brilliant. It confirms that the Secretary of State engages with the Justice Minister regularly on issues of shared interest and concern, and this…01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025I believe it is still waiting to be approved by the Executive. But in terms of the block grant, one of the things that we have been able to reassure the Executive on is what their…01 Jul 2025