Contributions
882 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationWith respect to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, I must say that I entirely disagree with his analysis. The whole point of the present withdrawal agreement and the…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationMy Lords, as regards the legal advice, I refer back to paragraph 7 of the Attorney-General’s letter, in which he said that the, “Joint Instrument extend beyond mere interpretation…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationRespectfully, it appears to me that we have demonstrated that throughout the process.12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationMy Lords, my views on whether an extension should be short, long or anything in between are of no moment because, at the end of the day, any extension sought will have to be on…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationMy Lords, I am obliged to noble Lords for their contributions. Referring to the observations of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, I will perhaps begin where he finished.…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I will repeat a Statement made in the other place by my right honourable and learned friend the Attorney-General: “I would like to make a…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationI do not accept the noble and learned Lord’s suggestion that that is the most likely or probable outcome. We have already seen circumstances in which parties have laid out the…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationMy Lords, I concur with both of my noble friend’s observations.12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationI will welcome the noble Lord’s comments. His reference to Latin will no doubt enhance this debate. However, for the moment, I entirely concur with the observations of the noble…12 Mar 2019HANSARDWithdrawal Agreement: Attorney General’s legal opinion on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral DeclarationI am obliged to the noble Lord for his address on “egregious”, and I do not disagree with the derivation of the term. It would be an abnormal situation to find ourselves in, and…12 Mar 2019HANSARDPrisons: RehabilitationMy Lords, the Government are committed to ensuring that prisons are places of rehabilitation, which ultimately reduces reoffending. Evidence suggests that former prisoners who…12 Mar 2019HANSARDPrisons: RehabilitationMy Lords, we absolutely agree that education, training and work are central to prisoners turning their lives around and we believe it is right and sensible for ex-prisoner…12 Mar 2019HANSARDPrisons: RehabilitationMy Lords, I might prefer to be there next week—I might even be available. Be that as it may, the noble Lord makes an extremely good point. That is why, from 1 April, one change we…12 Mar 2019HANSARDPrisons: RehabilitationThe noble Lord makes a very good point: the scourge of drugs in prisons is one that we must meet if we are to improve conditions for all prisoners across the prison estate. It…12 Mar 2019HANSARDPrisons: RehabilitationThe right reverend Prelate is quite right: safe and decent prisons are the foundation of any initiative that we wish to take in rehabilitation and the reduction of reoffending.…12 Mar 2019HANSARDFurther Developments in Discussions with the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European UnionThe birth of an idea often involves a degree of kicking and screaming. We arrived there. The noble Lord, Lord Cavendish of Furness, asked about the claims by Sir Richard Dearlove…11 Mar 2019HANSARDFurther Developments in Discussions with the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European UnionThere is a very material distinction between being able to resign from a treaty which makes provision for such a move and denunciation of a treaty. We have no intention of…11 Mar 2019HANSARDFurther Developments in Discussions with the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European UnionMy Lords, mere words can hardly do justice to my feelings on being invited to close yet another debate on Brexit, particularly so shortly after a debate that covered the same…11 Mar 2019HANSARDIslamic Ceremony: Civil Marriage RegistrationMy Lords, we recognise that the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, has brought a number of proposals for reform to the House. We are aware of Resolution 2253 from the Parliamentary…28 Feb 2019HANSARDIslamic Ceremony: Civil Marriage RegistrationThe general proposition that we should recognise all forms of marriage raises issues in itself. Our marriage law actually goes back to Lord Hardwicke’s Act of 1753 rather than…28 Feb 2019