Contributions
1,156 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIntroductionsThat notwithstanding the practice of the House on introductions, a Peer who has sat in the House as an excepted hereditary peer pursuant to section 2 of the House of Lords Act…22 Apr 2026HANSARDIntroductionsMy Lords, as the House is aware, three sitting hereditary Peers have received life peerages and a further limited number will receive life peerages in a future list. The purpose…22 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresThere is probably not much I can say that is helpful to the noble Baroness. She will recall that the measures in the Labour Party manifesto are in three stages. The first stage,…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresI do not seek to curtail freedoms. I do not know whether there is anything specific the noble Lord has in mind. In a House that is self-regulating, we also seek self-restraint.…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresMy Lords, I think the whole House would agree that very late nights should be the exception. The noble Lord suggests we talk less—I have to say one of the sadnesses of this role…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresI suspect that that is not a generic question but one about a specific Bill. I do not think that it would be a standard procedure to have it in place for every Bill. I share the…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresI did not quite catch that, but I think that the noble Baroness referred to services of the House. My impression is that the current Lord Speaker and the past Lord Speaker and the…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresThe noble Lord has a good point; I am not sure that there is necessarily a difference. However, how effective we are in managing our time and the issues that we want to raise is a…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresMy Lords, it is helpful to review and consider the effectiveness of our procedures. I will continue to advocate for any changes through agreement in the usual channels and through…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresI always hate to disappoint my noble friend. There are many strengths to the work that we do in here on scrutiny, but I agree that, as it draws to a close, the current Session of…21 Apr 2026HANSARDHouse of Lords: Legislative ProceduresMy Lords, before answering this Question I looked with some care at the recommendations from the Goodlad committee, and a number were not accepted at the time, including that…21 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingI am grateful to the noble Lord. He is right. When you see the multiple opportunities to inform the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary that the recommendation from UKSV was…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingIt is not just ambassadors; a number of public appointments are made under this process, and this is something that must be looked at. I do not know the answer to the noble…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingMy Lords, I will do my best to answer the questions in the time available. First, in response to the noble Lord, Lord True, who complained about the timing of the Statement, he…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingThe Prime Minister said that he made a wrong decision, but I have to say to the noble and learned Lord that the number of people who praised the decision at the time and then…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingI agree that our diplomats around the world do an amazing job in difficult circumstances. Anyone who has had to contact our embassies at a time of trouble or difficulty abroad…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingI am grateful to my noble friend and his committee for their work on this. He underlines our concerns; the humble Address was very clear that all information should be provided.…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingI have already been clear to the House that I trust the Prime Minister’s judgment. The noble Baroness is raising two quite separate things. On the first, the Prime Minister is…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingMy Lords, I will repeat the Statement the Prime Minister made earlier today: “With permission, I would like to provide the House with information that I now have about the…20 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingMy Lords, there have been times when the Prime Minister has said that he has had to act quickly, as when he sacked Peter Mandelson. I do not think any Member of this House raised…20 Apr 2026