Contributions
394 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHumanist WeddingsThe answer to that is that there is not agreement on all sides as to what this should look like. I mentioned earlier the Law Commission’s report; its conclusions were greeted with…16 Mar 2026HANSARDHumanist WeddingsThe noble Lord makes a number of good points. One of the issues here is the question of the independent celebrant, because not everybody thinks it is a good idea to license…16 Mar 2026HANSARDHumanist WeddingsOne of the things the Government are consulting on is how to ensure that all marriages, no matter by whom they are conducted, are dignified, solemn and worthy of the name. In…16 Mar 2026HANSARDHumanist WeddingsTackling forced marriage is part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. In 2024, the forced marriage unit worked with the General Register…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillI am going to have to write to the noble Baroness about this, because I do not think I can answer it. My noble friend the sponsor will deal with the question of panels. If this…13 Mar 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, as with the groups on 27 February, I have structured this speech by grouping amendments by theme rather than taking them in order. This is in the interests of dealing…13 Mar 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillAs a general point, the Government merely point out workability concerns and do not suggest ways in which they might be remedied. That would be a matter for the Member who tabled…13 Mar 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillI am sure that the House will welcome that clarification from the noble Baroness, but it may be that there is a drafting issue, because the amendment refers to England rather than…13 Mar 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, this group of amendments illustrates exactly how sensitive and difficult these cases are, does it not? In some of the amendments, noble Lords are saying that firearms…11 Mar 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, the Government remain grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, and to the bereaved families who have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the existing…11 Mar 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, again, that is a fundamental misunderstanding. If the CPS had got it wrong, the judge would have withdrawn it at half-time. It would never have got as far as a jury. The…11 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I begin with Amendments 9 and 15 in the names of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, which seek to extend the eligibility for the…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I begin with Clause 12. There are two points that I want to make at the outset: the Government’s motivation for introducing this provision is not to save money, and we…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, Amendment 21 in the names of my noble friend Lady Chakrabarti and a formidable trio of other Members of your Lordships’ House, the noble Lord, Lord Arbuthnot, the noble…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I express my thanks to Claire Waxman, the Victims’ Commissioner, and to Tracey Hanson and Katie Brett, who have campaigned with great commitment on behalf of victims. In…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, the Government appreciate that this group of amendments is driven by a desire to safeguard the children who are, quite rightly, at the centre of these difficult and…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, Amendment 8, in the names of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, and the noble Lords, Lord Murray and Lord Marks, has been spoken to most persuasively, as ever, by…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, Amendment 6, in the names of my noble friend Lord Hacking and the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, would require the Government to implement independent modern slavery victim…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, and the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, for their constructive engagement on the subject of…10 Mar 2026HANSARDVictims and Courts BillI will certainly take that away and write to the noble Lord. A number of things are in issue here. For example, I do not know how many appeals across the board are successful. It…10 Mar 2026