Contributions
1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSpecial Adviser AppointmentsMy Lords, as I just said, my noble friend will understand that I cannot comment on personnel matters relating to individuals. I can say in general terms that, in line with the…02 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, the Government remain seriously concerned about the situation in Hong Kong, and today’s shooting of a protester is a deeply worrying development. The Government are…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsThere is a distinct risk of that, yes, my Lords.01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, as I said earlier, I share the noble Lord’s deep concern about the situation. However, we must be clear that the situation is fluid. We do not yet know the precise…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsOne of the most concerning features of the current situation is the loss of trust between the Hong Kong people and the authorities there. That trust has to be rebuilt, and to do…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, members of the Hong Kong forces who were recruited from Hong Kong and, in most cases, completed their service in Hong Kong are in that respect different from other…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, I am happy to confirm that I will pass that recommendation on to the appropriate quarter.01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, we lose no opportunity to express our views to the Chinese authorities on matters relating to human rights. Of course, those human rights are embedded in the Joint…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsThe noble Lord makes an extremely good point. We have been clear all along that we condemn utterly any violence at all. It is essential that any protests that occur are conducted…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, I think it is important that we do not get ahead of ourselves here in a way that might make the situation worse. We are currently reliant on media reporting. As I have…01 Oct 2019HANSARDHong Kong ProtestsMy Lords, I share the noble Baroness’s concerns on this issue. We are in dialogue with many of our friends and partners around the world. We have made our concerns about human…01 Oct 2019HANSARDUse of Language to Create a Safe EnvironmentMy noble friend makes, as ever, a very powerful point. However, much of the debate of recent hours has conflated two issues which it is important to distinguish between: strongly…26 Sept 2019HANSARDUse of Language to Create a Safe EnvironmentYes, I fully agree with everything that the noble Baroness has said. Again, I think that we can cite a good example from our own House on this very set of issues. Earlier this…26 Sept 2019HANSARDUse of Language to Create a Safe EnvironmentMy Lords, let me comment very briefly on what the noble Baroness has said. I am quite sure that we are all of one mind that it is important for this House to maintain its custom…26 Sept 2019HANSARDUse of Language to Create a Safe EnvironmentMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer given earlier today by my right honourable friend in the other place to an Urgent…26 Sept 2019HANSARDAttorney-General’s Legal AdviceMy Lords, as my right honourable and learned friend the Attorney-General told the other place, this matter is covered by legal privilege. The convention that the advice of the law…25 Sept 2019HANSARDAttorney-General’s Legal AdviceMy Lords, as my noble friend Lord Callanan made absolutely clear, the Government will abide by the law at all times—we cannot do anything other than that. I agree with the noble…25 Sept 2019HANSARDAttorney-General’s Legal AdviceMy Lords, I have already given the reason why that did not happen: any advice that was given to the Prime Minister would have been covered by legal privilege, and it was judged…25 Sept 2019HANSARDAttorney-General’s Legal AdviceMy right honourable and learned friend has said, in terms, that he accepts the court’s judgment—the Government got it wrong. He has been clear that it is now right that we ensure…25 Sept 2019HANSARDAttorney-General’s Legal AdviceMy Lords, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer to an Urgent Question given in another place earlier today by my right honourable and learned friend the…25 Sept 2019