Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryI can give the noble Lord that assurance. We will do just that.13 Jun 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryI will be very happy to put a rocket under them.13 Jun 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryThe challenge we face is that, had the political parties in reaching their consensus broadly affirmed the Hart report and all its elements, we could have been taking it forward…13 Jun 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryI would not wish to see these two elements entwined, because they are quite distinct. However, the issue to which my noble friend refers is very important. I have given an…13 Jun 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryThe important thing to stress is that, were we in receipt of the draft legislation, this House could take it forward very quickly indeed, but we are not. The challenge right now…13 Jun 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Historical Institutional Abuse InquiryThe noble Lord makes an important point. This is about victims and redress. The issue we face is that the original draft diverges significantly from the consensus reached by the…13 Jun 2019HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2019That the draft Order laid before the House on 30 April be approved. Relevant document: 48th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee04 Jun 2019HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2019My Lords, I begin by thanking all noble Lords for recognising the need for this extension and that it is not the choice or preference of the Government to pursue this route. Were…04 Jun 2019HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2019My Lords, under this order, trials without a jury can take place in Northern Ireland for a further two years from 1 August 2019. The current provisions expire on 31 July. While…04 Jun 2019HANSARDDevolved Administrations: 20th AnniversaryMy Lords, it has been a wide-ranging debate. I hope I can do it justice this evening but I will exercise ministerial priority in addressing two points which need to be drawn out…22 May 2019HANSARDDevolved Administrations: 20th AnniversaryThe noble Lord makes a very valid point. Now more than ever, if Sinn Féin were to have taken its seats, the difference it could have made in the other place would have been…22 May 2019HANSARDDevolved Administrations: 20th AnniversaryThe noble Lord is right to raise the point, but I am probably not the right person to answer it. That is a parliamentary issue, which I imagine can be taken forward if the noble…22 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsI will certainly raise several of those issues. I do not think it will surprise my noble friend to know that Scottish Ministers themselves often raise these very issues. The…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsThe noble Lord is right to draw attention to the sterling efforts of all those civil servants who brought about a functioning and sustainable Scottish Parliament and, indeed, a…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsMy Lords, the UK Government have frequent engagement with the Scottish Government. UK and Scottish Ministers are due to meet on 9 May 2019 at the meeting of the Joint Ministerial…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsThe UK Government have been very diligent in reaching out to the Scottish Government on the devolution of benefits. This is for one very important reason: people’s lives are at…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsIt is important that we continue to learn about what is going on. It is also true that, while we have very strong working relationships Government to Government, that might not be…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsI will very much undertake to write to my noble friend with those statistics—I do not have them to hand.02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsThe noble and learned Lord is correct. There needs to be parity of esteem in all these discussions. The intergovernmental review should look at the functioning of the frameworks.…02 May 2019HANSARDScottish Government: DiscussionsThe noble Lord is spot on. The Scottish people were very canny and very clever, and they voted very correctly.02 May 2019