Contributions
1,690 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces BillI am sorry that the Minister did not want to take interventions. He said that the armed forces covenant is now 10 years old, but it is actually a lot older. It started in 2008…08 Feb 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillWill the Minister give way?08 Feb 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillWill the Minister give way?08 Feb 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillI agree with the Minister on this point, but can he clarify whether the non-adoption of this in Scotland will affect the operational impact on, for example, MI5? I understand that…27 Jan 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillI welcome what the Minister has said, but would that information be contained in the annual report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner?27 Jan 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillMay I join colleagues in the House in sending best wishes to the Minister for Security, the right hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), for a speedy recovery?…27 Jan 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillIt is, and there is another thing of which I would like to reassure the House, from a security point of view and from my position on the ISC. As I think I said on Second Reading,…27 Jan 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillI have to agree. One thing I do not agree with about the Bill is the scope in terms of some of the organisations that it covers; I raised my concerns about that on Second Reading.…27 Jan 2021HANSARD Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) BillOn juveniles, the right hon. and learned Gentleman is correct that the Bill does not give authorisation to allow for CHIS, because it happens already under the CHIS code of…27 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Seventh sitting)I am sorry to say to the Minister that it is not looking for an enhanced role at all. It is actually doing what it says in the Justice and Security Act 2013. It is about…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Seventh sitting)My hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester said that we were going over old ground, and to a certain extent we are because some of the amendments reflect those that I moved…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 15 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 16 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 17…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Seventh sitting)I accept what the Minister says about the report, but its key point was that civil servants basically decided not to tell Ministers. On his explanation and the way forward, or…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)I would like to speak to new clause 7, which stands in my name. It is related to new clause 3, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester. As he has just said,…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)This is about resources for Ofcom as a whole, but there will also be debate within Ofcom about how its resources are spent. Without any ring-fenced moneys for security, is my hon.…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)As I have said before, I am not a great fan of arm’s length regulators, because it is a way of Government Departments and Ministers off-loading their responsibilities. Given how…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)I am intrigued. The Minister says Ofcom already has over 900 people, and it is obviously going to have to grow. How big is DCMS? We basically have a mini-Department here.26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)Quite the opposite. This just reinforces my point about quangos. If we reach a situation where quangos are bigger than the sponsoring Department it is perhaps best to keep things…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Eighth sitting)According to the website that I have looked at, the figure is 1,170, so it has obviously increased slightly. Still, it makes Ofcom with its new responsibilities nearly as big as,…26 Jan 2021HANSARDTelecommunications (Security) Bill (Seventh sitting)I thought I would bring some light relief to the Committee’s proceedings. Amendments 16 and 17 are both probing amendments. I might sound like a broken record, but they are really…26 Jan 2021