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2,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIllegal MigrantsThe noble Lord hits a very strong button on that issue. He will know, I hope, that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary visited Italy only this week—or maybe at the end…09 Oct 2024HANSARDIllegal MigrantsAbsolutely—my noble friend makes a valid point. My concern is that criminal gangs exploit people who either wish to come here illegally or are being duped when they potentially…09 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferBut what we should try to reflect upon is the fact that the chief constable has responsibility for this investigation in Wiltshire. It is not for Ministers to investigate; it is…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferI am grateful to my noble friend for his comments. If he reflects on what I said at the beginning of my Answer, I am approaching this with an open mind, and it takes time to…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferAs the noble Lord mentioned, it is unfortunate that Operation Conifer was not able to resolve conclusively the position in respect of the allegations made against Sir Edward…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferI hope that I do not ruin the noble Lord’s reputation when I say that I agree with him, in the sense that it is appropriate, potentially, for the chief constable of Wiltshire…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferI am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Birt, for his comments. I must again say to the House that no inference of guilt should be drawn from the fact that Sir Edward Heath would…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferThe noble Lord will know that the College of Policing has looked at investigating allegations and calls for allegations made against individuals both living and dead and is…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferIf I may, I will look into the issues that the noble Baroness has raised and write to her with the detail very shortly in response.08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferThe noble Lord will be aware that four reviews of this operation have found it legitimate and proportionate. This is a complex matter with significant history, which I am…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferI am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for his comments. It draws me back to the point I put to the noble Lord, Lord Lexden, on the suggestion of the Opposition Front Bench.…08 Oct 2024HANSARDOperation ConiferAgain, the noble Lord will have great experience of government and I think served as an official in Sir Edward’s Government at some point. I joined the Labour Party because of Sir…08 Oct 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportI am grateful to the right reverend Prelate for his question. I hope he will be aware that there is a National Rural Crime Unit in place, which has been funded for a three-year…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportI begin by thanking the National Farmers’ Union Mutual for its report. Rural crime can have a devastating effect on, and consequences for, countryside communities and the…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportThere are issues on funding, for local authorities and police. We are only just getting back to the stage when I was last Police Minister in 2009-10, with the investment and…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportAgain, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question. Organised crime gangs are muscling in on this in a serious way. It is absolutely vital that the police—through the…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportI am grateful to the noble and learned gentleman. I have been tasked by both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to be the Minister responsible for fraud. This week, I met…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportI am grateful to the noble Lord. The metal theft issue is extremely serious. It is something that the previous Government, with Opposition support, tried to address and reduced by…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportThere are a number of aspects to rural crime. What we do count, and what the National Farmers’ Union counted in its report, are things such as the cost of GPS theft, vehicle…12 Sept 2024HANSARDRural Crime: NFU Mutual ReportI am grateful to my noble friend. He may not know that I served on the Metal Theft (Prevention) Bill Committee in Opposition in 2013. We pressed that very strongly. In…12 Sept 2024