Contributions
1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Security Council LeakWhat is serious is the forum from which the leak emanated. The contributions of individual members of the NSC were also leaked, and both of those are very serious offences.02 May 2019HANSARDNational Security Council LeakThe issue of whether the Official Secrets Act has been breached is a matter for the police and, ultimately, the courts. As I repeated in the Statement, the view of the Cabinet…02 May 2019HANSARDNational Security Council LeakI can also say that I know Gavin Williamson well, having served in Parliament with him for five years and having been Chief Whip in that time. This is a difficult time for Gavin…02 May 2019HANSARDNational Security Council LeakThe noble Lord uses phrases such as “guilty as charged”. The Secretary of State for Defence was dismissed because he was in breach of the Ministerial Code, which says: “Ministers…02 May 2019HANSARDNational Security Council LeakThat raises a broader issue, but I hope that my noble friend is not suggesting that Ministers who have broken the code should remain in office simply to avoid the rotation to…02 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceI am grateful to the noble Baroness. I recently attended one such all-party meeting to discuss these issues and I have no hesitation in accepting her suggestion that there should…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceMy noble friend will know that last July we consulted on extending the requirement for an imprint, which already exists for printed material, to digital campaigning material. The…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceOf course, I have no idea how the Labour Party selects its candidates—01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceHowever, I say to my noble friend that voter ID is part of our policy to restore confidence in the integrity of the democratic process. He will know that last year we had pilots…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceI am grateful to the noble Lord for that suggestion. As he will know, the Electoral Commission is independent of government, but I see no reason why it should not respond…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceFor once, most uncharacteristically, the noble Lord is incorrect. The Electoral Commission is not dependent on the Government for its resources; it is dependent on the Speaker’s…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceMy Lords, the Government are committed to ensuring the security and integrity of our democratic processes and defending them from all forms of interference. To date, we have not…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceI say to the noble Baroness, Lady O’Neill, that we take these issues seriously. We are now actively considering the recent report and recommendations of the Electoral Commission,…01 May 2019HANSARDElections: Online InterferenceI can do no better than to refer my noble friend to the very capable Answer given from this Dispatch Box only yesterday by my noble friend Lady Williams.01 May 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)My understanding is that the tax now due accrued over a period of time, and was payable in the year in which it was accrued. That has been consolidated and crystallised into the…29 Apr 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)The safest thing I can do is repeat what I just said: HMRC will seek to collect the loan charge from employers in the first instance, and will pursue individuals for the tax due…29 Apr 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)At the risk of getting myself into further trouble, I said fairly early on in my remarks that I took very seriously the tone of the debate and the criticism of the implementation…29 Apr 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)I was not aware. Of course, I understand the sensitivities of the issue and will raise the matter with HMRC. HMRC has introduced simplified payment arrangements for those who…29 Apr 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Forsyth for introducing this debate, and for agreeing to reschedule it from its previous slot, which would have been at a less civilised…29 Apr 2019HANSARDMaking Tax Digital for VAT (Economic Affairs Committee Report)I am sure that if my noble friend and I had been on the Finance Bill at the time, we might have raised some of the issues that he has now raised. I make the point again that the…29 Apr 2019