Contributions
1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Lucas began by quite rightly pointing out that this is a Bill about setting boundaries. As we have heard, this group of amendments deals with what…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillThat is extremely helpful. I agree with my noble friend. That is exactly why the Government felt that a longer public debate about this issue was appropriate. In the light of…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillIt was in an endeavour to address the general concern put forward by the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, that I undertook for the Government to consider seriously my noble friend Lord…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillMy Lords, it is fair and right that owners of previously legally-held firearms, who voluntarily hand these weapons over to the police for safe disposal, should be properly…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillMy Lords, in so far as the security classification of the advice that the Government have received is not confidential, I would be happy to see what information we can release to…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Shrewsbury for raising this issue. His amendment would place a duty on the Secretary of State to, “within the period of six months…06 Feb 2019HANSARDOffensive Weapons BillI have a partial answer for my noble friend. The consultation will be launched after Royal Assent, but I am sure that the spirit of that undertaking is as soon as possible after…06 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019The two situations would indeed be very different. The Government hope that Parliament will agree a deal, which will make for a much smoother transition in the implementation…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019They are the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This will involve public consultation to ensure that we strike the best balance between value for money and protecting national…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019For UK Government defence procurements, the process from the point of view of an EU supplier will be no different. What it will experience is the need to bear in mind two separate…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019It is important to understand that competition remains at the heart of our approach to defence procurement. Currently, we routinely allow bids from suppliers outside the EU,…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019That is technically right. It is our policy to maintain access for EU member states—and indeed, non-EU states—in many, if not most, instances of procurement. A good example might…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019It will depend on the procurement. If it is determined that the procurement rate relates to an issue necessitating the protection of UK sovereign capability, as in the case of the…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, once again I thank the noble Lords who have contributed to this debate for their questions, which I will do my best to answer. The noble Baroness, Lady Smith, and the…04 Feb 2019HANSARDDefence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019That the Grand Committee do consider the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.04 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019This statutory instrument is expressly designed for the contingency of no deal. Therefore, it will not come into force if Parliament agrees that the deal on the table, whatever…04 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019The noble Lord is absolutely correct. Clearly if the agreement proposed by the European Commission is agreed, or something like it is agreed, the implementation period will kick…04 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019I take the noble Lord’s point entirely. I need to seek advice on the question that he asked me about Switzerland and Norway, as I do not have that information to hand, but…04 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019I have just alighted on my note to that effect. The noble Lord, Lord Adonis, essentially asked whether the implication of the Explanatory Memorandum is that the UK could start…04 Feb 2019HANSARDPublic Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019No, my Lords. These regulations are designed to ensure that the experience of businesses using the public procurement system is virtually unchanged from today. Our aim has been to…04 Feb 2019