Contributions
1,036 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Seventh sitting)Time after time we heard from witnesses, and we had further pieces of evidence submitted yesterday, which the Clerk has circulated. Witnesses have pointed to the centrality of the…20 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateEarlier this year, at the start of the pandemic, the Government committed to give the NHS whatever resources it needed to deal with coronavirus. The NHS has that money for dealing…19 Oct 2020HANSARDMay 2021 Local Elections: Registration and ParticipationWhat steps the Electoral Commission is taking to ensure widespread electoral (a) registration and (b) participation in the May 2021 local elections.15 Oct 2020HANSARDMay 2021 Local Elections: Registration and ParticipationThe Minister for the Constitution and Devolution recently confirmed that no new funding will be available to local authorities for the running of the May 2021 elections. Is the…15 Oct 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseYesterday, I heard that in my constituency of Blaydon, one child in four now lives in poverty, an increase of 7% over the past four years. New research from the End Child Poverty…15 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)I am sorry to interrupt the Minister’s flow, but clearly, ensuring that justice and fairness are done is crucial. We heard a number of comments from Judge Blackett on the process.…14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)Will the Minister give way on the issue of torture?14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)I want to speak briefly on torture, which is one of the issues that my constituents have brought to me. That is relevant, because it is about public perception of the legislation…14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)Will the Minister give way?14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)Will the Minister give way?14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)Having subsequently met Judge Blackett and heard his evidence, did the Minister make any changes to the legislation as drafted, or does he propose to make any such changes?14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fifth sitting)On a point of order, Mr Stringer. I would be grateful for your clarification on the next steps. I understood that that was taken as a group, but will we be moving now to the other…14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fifth sitting)Further to that point of order, Mr Stringer. I do not wish to be difficult in any way, and of course I respect your ruling, but I think there was some misunderstanding at the…14 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Sixth sitting)Does my right hon. Friend agree that witness after witness in the evidence sessions pointed to the centrality of good-quality investigation in removing the problem of vexatious…14 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateLast week I asked the Secretary of State for Health whether he would fund local authorities in the north-east that have put forward a proposal for local test and trace services.…12 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I wanted to follow up on a couple of points. Ms Monaghan asked you about the exclusion of the issue of torture. Are you satisfied by the Government’s assurances that torture and…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)Q Do you think that if we had those more timely, more effective investigations, that would resolve some of the issues that this Bill is trying to address? General Sir Nick Parker:…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)Q Finally, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Defence Secretary recently made a speech in which they said that the distinction between war and peace is no longer clear-cut. In…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Not really. Is there a concern about grey areas, would you say? Judge Blackett: Yes. The way I read the Bill is that anybody on an operational tour in an operational area is…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q So in your view, it is a weakness that it is not written on the face of the Bill. Would that be right? Judge Blackett: Yes.08 Oct 2020