Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDGift VouchersMy Lords, the Government strongly encourage businesses to be transparent with consumers over voucher expiry dates. This is backed by legislation which enables consumers to…22 Jan 2020HANSARDGift VouchersThe noble Baroness was kind enough to meet me yesterday. I now appreciate more fully the issues she raises regarding vulnerability, the elderly and those with learning…22 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillMy Lords, noble Lords may be looking forward to hearing my response rather more than I am looking forward to giving it, if that helps. I will try to address some of the specific…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillThe noble and learned Lord raises a point that needs to be addressed head-on. The point is that we know that the existing powers whereby we can direct Welsh Ministers, or by using…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillThe noble Baroness is right to draw this to our attention. It is not the Government’s plan in any way to seek to surprise any of the devolved Administrations on these matters. It…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillI cannot give the noble and learned Lord the answer to that question, but I can give him the assurance, from speaking to my legal advisers, that in the negotiations that will…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillForgive me, my Lords—I was too premature in eating my Polo Mints; I will save them for later. As expected, this has been quite a technical debate, and I will do what I can to…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillI had a note on that. I will have to write to the noble Lord, because I am not sure that I can put my hands on that particular matter at this second. If he will allow me, I will…20 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillI welcome the noble Lord’s introduction where he said he was making a simple point. In a sense, he has made a very specific point. The commitments that we have made to the…20 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationThe noble Baroness is absolutely right. There are lessons to be learned for this Government and for the parties in Northern Ireland; indeed, some of them are quite hard lessons.…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationMy noble friend is right to raise this issue. He will recall, as I am sure other noble Lords will, that the legislation we took forward before Christmas was taken forward by this…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationI meant that in a nice way, not a bad way. Again, I note that there will be challenges. The noble Lord is right to note that the legacy question will be one of them. There is no…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationIt is a good news day. That issue is now available for the Northern Ireland Executive to push forward. The noble Lord will be aware that one of the challenges we faced—we wrestled…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationI could not put it better myself. I pay tribute to my noble predecessor’s endeavours in this regard. There needs to be greater recognition of collective responsibility: of pulling…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillYes, of course. The noble Lord is correct. I did not mean to imply that there is no change whatever. I meant that what those agencies do, and our commitment to those agencies,…16 Jan 2020HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) BillMy Lords, this has been a short but worthwhile debate. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Whitty, for tabling amendments which have allowed us to discuss the matter. Amendment 62 lists…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationIn many respects, the noble Lord echoes the words of the noble Baroness, Lady Armstrong: this is at a delicate stage and we have to see how it will grow into a new, fully fledged,…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationMy Lords, I welcome the supportive comments of both parties sitting opposite. I have stood here so many times, trying to find new ways of saying that not much has happened. Now,…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationWith the leave of the House, I will repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the other place: “Mr Speaker, prior to…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Executive FormationI put on record my thanks to my noble friend Lord Caine. I know how much he has done in the Northern Ireland Office to bring about what has been achieved today. The success is…16 Jan 2020