Contributions
605 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, this group concerns the public interest defence which is contained in Amendment 79 in my name, and the names of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, and the noble and learned…01 Mar 2023HANSARDDomestic Abuse: Defence for Victims who Commit an OffenceMy Lords, the Domestic Abuse Act was landmark legislation; it improved national understanding of domestic abuse and its appalling consequences. However, the rejection of…21 Feb 2023HANSARDProbation Service: Chief Inspector’s Reviews into Serious Further OffencesMy Lords, these two appalling cases have shocked and horrified us all. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the innocent victims. These reviews record a catalogue of…31 Jan 2023HANSARDProbation Service: Chief Inspector’s Reviews into Serious Further OffencesI am terribly sorry to interrupt again but, to follow that up, because it is a very important point, the Statement talks about this money being spent “to recruit more probation…31 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillThe Minister simply has not answered the point that this provision in the Bill refers to “at any stage” of the proceedings, and any stage of the proceedings could be a disclosure…18 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security Bill18 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, we have had a worthwhile and detailed debate in which the Government have been pretty hard pressed on the detail of these clauses. I am bound to say that nothing I have…18 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, I am grateful for the explanation that these two groups have been combined. I spent some time today wondering why they could possibly have been separated, since they…18 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, there is one simple principle that everybody has referred to in the debate: access to justice. I will be brief. If the principle still stands that cases that are still…18 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillAs drafted, I fear that it would. Since we have had absolutely no indication that concessions will be made to all the amendments we discussed last week—I rather doubt that we will…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillYes, it was possibly a serious disruption. We have all received a very large number of briefings calling for a public interest defence, and none of them has suggested that such a…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillI accept entirely that this is a very difficult issue and that the balance to be struck is very difficult. The noble Lord, Lord Coaker, mentioned the case of Clive Ponting, where…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, I thank the Committee for its indulgence in allowing a 10-minute break. The technical issue involved was entirely mine. I am tempted to say that there was a reasonable…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, as the noble Baronesses, Lady Jones and Lady Hayter, and the noble Lord, Lord Black of Brentwood, have explained, this group concerns the definition of “foreign power”,…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillI will withdraw it, but only on the basis that the Minister will consider this a little more carefully. As I have said, at the moment the clause seems to me unsatisfactory, and…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lady Ludford, I am moving Amendment 72. It is a short amendment and I shall speak briefly. Clause 31 deals with foreign power threat…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillHow then, if you seek to attack political parties that are effectively Governments, do you correspondingly exclude political parties that are not in any sense responsible for the…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, I shall look carefully at the Minister’s response. For the time being I will certainly seek leave to withdraw the amendment. There may be room for further…11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security Bill11 Jan 2023HANSARDNational Security BillMy Lords, I will be asking for leave to withdraw this amendment, not on the basis that it will go away but on the basis that, first, there is room for further discussion, even…11 Jan 2023