Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEmergency PlanningThe noble and gallant Lord will be aware that we made a Statement before Christmas about the use of Chinese technology in cameras and so on. Obviously, we are putting a lot more…20 Feb 2023HANSARDEmergency PlanningThis is not a contract that I have had anything to do with. The noble Lord always asks very good questions on contingency planning. I will look into it and get back to him.20 Feb 2023HANSARDCivil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023That the draft Order laid before the House on 6 December 2022 be approved. Relevant document: 24th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand…01 Feb 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestStatements to the House are a matter for the usual channels. However, given the interest in this matter it is quite possible for noble Lords to raise Questions, and Statements are…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestThe independent adviser, as my noble friend suggests, is appointed by the Prime Minister and it his constitutional position to be the ultimate arbiter of the Ministerial Code, and…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestMy Lords, there are established procedures for the appointment of Ministers, and by Ministers, and these are followed. This was the purport of the question we are replying to, and…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestThere is an issue of balance between privacy and the need to know—the transparency. I have often engaged with the noble Lord on these tax issues and the Prime Minister himself has…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestI thank my noble friend. Sir Laurie Magnus is doing just that. He was appointed in December and now has an important case to look into. We need to give him time to look at the…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestI have to say that my noble friend is completely right. We must find out what the facts are; the independent adviser is looking into this. We need due process. That is why the…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestThere is an established procedure that anyone who is fortunate enough to be appointed a Minister goes through, and that includes a number of questions. Indeed, when candidates are…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestI think that that would change the set of balances that exists at the moment. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has been very clear on the importance of accountability, integrity…24 Jan 2023HANSARDMinisterial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of InterestThe noble Lord is right. The other point worth making is that, as a Minister, it is your personal responsibility to make it known to your Permanent Secretary and, if appropriate,…24 Jan 2023HANSARDCivil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023Indeed. The noble Baroness made it very clear in her contribution that that was exactly the problem: vulnerability comes in different clothing and different categories. We should…23 Jan 2023HANSARDCivil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023That the Grand Committee do consider the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023. Relevant document: 24 th Report from the Secondary Legislation…23 Jan 2023HANSARDCivil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023I thank noble Lords for this short and very positive debate. It is nice to be able to celebrate delegated legislation that is supported by the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of…23 Jan 2023HANSARDCivil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2023My Lords, this order was laid before the House on 6 December. I think we are all agreed on the importance of improving UK resilience, and the recently published resilience…23 Jan 2023HANSARDPreparing for Extreme Risks (RARPC Report)I always like to be the bearer of good news from the Dispatch Box. We are going to be updating the risk register, as everybody has talked about. I cannot give an exact date, but I…12 Jan 2023HANSARDPreparing for Extreme Risks (RARPC Report)Let me start by thanking my noble friend Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom for proposing this debate, and I give my thanks to all noble Lords for their excellent contributions. I have, as…12 Jan 2023HANSARDPreparing for Extreme Risks (RARPC Report)I think the noble Lord is right that the main focus is on the next five years, but I will perhaps come back to him to discuss that point further. It is clear from what I have been…12 Jan 2023HANSARDPreparing for Extreme Risks (RARPC Report)I thank the noble Lord for his intervention, and I will reflect further on the best way of satisfying him. I emphasise that the framework is important and strategic. It…12 Jan 2023