Contributions
2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMinisterial CodeI wholly agree with what the right reverend Prelate has said to the House.27 Apr 2021HANSARDMinisterial CodeMy Lords, as the noble Baroness opposite did, my noble friend raises an important point. The noble Lord, Lord Evans, the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has…27 Apr 2021HANSARDMinisterial CodeMy Lords, many have expressed views similar to those of the noble Baroness. Other countries have slightly different practices on this, but, as I said in response to an earlier…27 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014The noble Lord is the antithesis to capitalism. The remarkable success of private companies in procuring vaccines for the safety of our people is something for which I am…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, all these matters are currently under review. I declare myself guilty occasionally of sending and receiving WhatsApp messages, in common with millions of other people in…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, I agree that transparency is important; that has been a standard across the House. Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries’ appointments are published. Obviously, there is…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, the noble Lord makes a further suggestion. Since 2010, with the help of the party opposite, we have brought in a statutory registration of consultant lobbyists and a new…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, I make a practice at this Dispatch Box of not throwing stones, and I think everyone in every party should be cautious about throwing stones. In response to what the…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, the noble Lord asks a wide range of questions there. In my contention, I believe that we have very high standards of integrity in public life in this country, and indeed…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, the Government are already conducting post-legislative scrutiny of Part 1 of the transparency of lobbying Act, which established the register. The post-legislative…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014Again, my Lords, the noble Lord raises a specific point, as have a couple of other noble Lords who have spoken. I repeat that the Government have significantly increased…22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My Lords, we have long had a paid-advocacy rule in your Lordships’ House, and it is a good rule.22 Apr 2021HANSARDTransparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014My noble friend puts his finger on a key issue that I alluded to in my reply to the noble Baroness opposite, in terms of the scale of the undertaking that would be required. I…22 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemI agree with my noble friend and pay tribute to him, and all those who have spoken, for their interest in nudging—I guess that is the word—this forward. My noble friend is quite…21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemMy Lords, that is slightly wider than my responsibility, but the Government are committed to extending coverage as far and as fast as they possibly can. On the specific question,…21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemMy Lords, I have given that assurance to the House. As I said in my Answer, the timing has to be carefully aligned with the Covid-19 strategy to avoid confusion. The proposition…21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemThe intention is for this to be a cell notice. There will be no charges for receipt of this service. The noble Lord makes a point about penetration and the capabilities of…21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemI will have to write to the noble Baroness on biological security; I undertake to do so.21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemMy Lords, I do not acknowledge myself to be a ditherer or a delayer. So far as I am concerned, I am satisfied that progress is being made, since I am answering to your Lordships.…21 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemMy Lords, I again agree with those who have spoken that the ongoing response to Covid-19 demonstrates the value of a whole-community approach when responding to emergencies. As…21 Apr 2021