Contributions
632 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Fifth sitting)Was not that exactly the problem with Huawei, which has undercut and undermined so much of the telecoms sector elsewhere, either on price or on shoddy workmanship, as my right…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Fifth sitting)Perhaps my right hon. Friend will reflect on a third issue. The Committee cannot ask for information if it does not know that it exists. If there is no obligation to report orders…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Fifth sitting)Does my hon. Friend agree with me that having the carrot of an audit might help firms to avoid the stick of a draconian fine that the hon. Member for Bracknell referred to?21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)Always.21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)Who am I to disagree with my right hon. Friend and his years of experience? So far, we have been fairly consensual in this Committee, because we want the Bill to pass. My right…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I am really grateful for that intervention—not just for the context that my hon. Friend gave, but for prompting me to think that having such a tight-knit sector, and the character…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 12, in clause 6, page 10, line 12, at end insert— “(3) In this section “another person” means a UK government agency or a person from a UK government…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 11, in clause 5, page 9, line 41, at end insert— “(2) Providers of public electronic communications networks and public electronic communications services…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Fifth sitting)I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for providing inspiration for a speech that I will make later, when I will make similar points on similar provisions. Listening to him and to…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I am most grateful for the debate on the amendment. My hon. Friend the shadow Minister made the key point that Ofcom cannot be blamed for not enforcing something that it does not…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)Fortunately, we will not push the amendment to a vote, so we will not have to put that point to the test. It is an arbitrary figure and I hope the Minister will not fixate on it.…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)My hon. Friend says that it is not in the scope of the Bill, but so wide is the definition of “another person” that, quite frankly, anything or anyone could be in the scope of the…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I was going to say cronyism, but chumocracy is a far nicer way to put it, and we have seen it in the way consultancy contracts have been dished out during the current crisis. My…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: May ElectionsThe commission believes that it is an important democratic principle that elections should proceed as scheduled whenever possible. To ensure that can happen in May, the commission…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: May ElectionsThe commission is undertaking work to ensure that the elections can proceed in May in as safe a way as possible, and is working with electoral administrators to achieve that. They…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)This is an important point. The criticism that I will articulate later is that too much of the Bill is based on an assumption that the players in the sector will automatically do…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Fifth sitting)The other opportunity for the definition to be addressed would be when the Government next produce their defence and security review, which comes out no more than every five…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Sixth sitting)I am grateful for the debate and for the Minister’s response, but I do not intend to press the amendment any further. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: May ElectionsMay I take this opportunity to wish my hon. Friend a very happy birthday? The commission has highlighted that there would be significant practical challenges in delivering an…21 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Third sitting)Q That is the point I am getting at. If I think about recent changes at Ofcom, you have had responsibilities for monitoring the BBC, for example. Online harms is coming to Ofcom.…19 Jan 2021