Contributions
510 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]My Lords, I have heard a large number of quite excellent speeches—some funny, some learned—and I cannot possibly emulate them. I shall try not to repeat verbatim what has been…16 Jun 2021HANSARDChina: MuslimsMy Lords, the West has, sadly, very little influence over the policies of China, but we should recall the propaganda triumph that the Berlin Olympics of 1936 gave the Hitler…16 Jun 2021HANSARDEthiopiaMy Lords, I last visited the beautiful country of Ethiopia about 18 months ago, just before the pandemic. Now we find a third of a million people at risk of famine. Billions have…15 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, yesterday the Prime Minister said that this extension of restrictions will “save many thousands of lives” and he was backed up by the Health Secretary. Since 18 May, the…15 Jun 2021HANSARDPesticidesMy Lords, the use of DDT was most certainly harmful to wildlife and possibly to humans, but of course, it is now banned. I declare an interest as a farmer. Farmers now only use…25 May 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Internal ReviewMy Lords, I reiterate my congratulations to the Government and all those involved in the fantastic success of the vaccine development and rollout programme. This inquiry does not…20 May 2021HANSARDBallymurphy Inquest FindingsMy Lords, I know Ballymurphy rather better than I would wish. The Statement says that the Army made terrible errors. The 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment showed itself to be out…17 May 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Citizens’ RightsMy Lords, I spent the best part of a year of my life defending the position of the citizens of Northern Ireland, from whatever community, as equal citizens of the United Kingdom.…28 Apr 2021HANSARDCarrier Strike Group DeploymentMy Lords, I applaud this deployment and it is excellent to see this extremely expensive carrier being put to good use. I wish the deployment of the strike force well and godspeed…28 Apr 2021HANSARDCycling: BellsMy Lords, first, I reiterate my thanks to my noble friend Lord Lexden for his very generous sponsorship of a charity bike ride that I did some five years ago round the Somme. Of…27 Apr 2021HANSARDMoney Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (High-Risk Countries) Regulations 2021My Lords, I am delighted to follow my noble friend Lady Wheatcroft, and to agree with her, as I turn to the same subject of Russia. In broad terms I certainly support the order…27 Apr 2021HANSARDNatural Habitats: Infrastructure ProjectsI know that my noble friend the Minister will be aware of the bats and newts conservation Bill 2008, which was my Private Member’s Bill in the Commons on exactly this issue. I am…26 Apr 2021HANSARDCovid-19: ObesityMy Lords, I am delighted to hear my noble friend’s response because this research shows that being obese is a huge factor in deaths from Covid, second only to old age. It was…21 Apr 2021HANSARDCovid-19: ObesityTo ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the World Obesity Federation COVID-19 and Obesity: T he 2021 Atlas , published on 4 March, which…21 Apr 2021HANSARDCovid-19: UpdateMy Lords, last week, the Prime Minister said that the lockdown has been doing “the bulk of the work in reducing”— —infections, then Simon Stevens said that “'Vaccines are…20 Apr 2021HANSARDSingle Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021.My Lords, I agree with a great deal of what the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, said, particularly about education. I am not generally in favour of banning anything, but I say…19 Apr 2021HANSARDNATO: Russia and UkraineMy Lords, President Putin is an authoritarian and dictatorial bully, and like all bullies, he senses weakness. He senses weakness in Nord Stream in Germany; he senses it, rightly…15 Apr 2021HANSARDHis Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of EdinburghMy Lords, I cannot emulate some of the very eloquent tributes we have heard, and nor shall I attempt to. I hope that I will not repeat too many, either. Prince Philip has been a…12 Apr 2021HANSARDNazanin Zaghari-RatcliffeMy Lords, we all feel the most immense sympathy about the appalling case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, but it is entirely the fault of the Iranian Government. Almost 12 years ago,…24 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperMy Lords, it is a great pity that this thoughtful and considered defence review should be so spoilt by the unwise and, I think, dangerous decision to reduce substantially the size…23 Mar 2021