Contributions
331 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDraft Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019There is a distinction between polished and rough diamonds—05 Feb 2019HANSARDDraft Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019So this is about a particular category of diamond. The draft regulations mean that if we were a participant, anything legal in the Kimberley process would include us in that…05 Feb 2019HANSARDDraft Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019May I first explain the logic fully? Perhaps my hon. Friend will save his comments for later in the Committee sitting, when I shall be happy to answer. The draft regulations will…05 Feb 2019HANSARDDraft Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. It is a pleasure to serve under your…05 Feb 2019HANSARDForeign Affairs Council, 21 January 2019My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 21 January. It was chaired by the High…31 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaI have no more time, I am afraid. I have to leave the hon. Member for Hyndburn a couple of minutes at the end. Today, we should all stand together against the tyranny of Nicolás…29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaI will make some progress, but if I have time, I will give way later. When I spoke about Venezuela at Chatham House in October, I described the demise of a once vibrant nation,…29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaWill the hon. Gentleman give way?29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaI am very grateful to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Graham P. Jones) for securing this debate. I thank him and his many colleagues for their continued interest in and support for…29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaVery briefly.29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaOne of the blessings of Venezuela is that it has resources; its tragedy is that they have been exploited and destroyed by Maduro and his cronies. The right hon. Gentleman is…29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaI am not going to make a commitment about what precise reaction we will make in terms of procedures in the House. As my hon. Friend appreciates, that is a matter for the usual…29 Jan 2019HANSARD VenezuelaAs the hon. Lady will well appreciate, asylum is a semi-judicial process that is handled by the Home Office. I regret that I am unfamiliar with that case and she did not notify me…29 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaLast week, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets to protest against Nicolás Maduro’s continued presidency, after deeply flawed elections last May and his…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaTempted though I am by my hon. Friend’s suggestion that I should meet the signatories, it is a temptation I will choose to resist. Instead, I might send them the speech I gave in…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. One of the reasons why the United Nations is interested is that this is not a domestic issue for Venezuela; it has regional and therefore…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaI am aware of the letter, and, for the benefit of Members, if they do not know already, I confirm that the Bank of England holds a significant amount of Venezuela’s gold under a…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaMy right hon. Friend is right. This has significance across the world because large amounts of drugs are trafficked through Venezuela. Of course, one cannot tackle that problem…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaOne of the tragedies of Venezuela is that it has massive resources of its own. If only they were properly used, invested in and managed, no Marshall plan would be necessary in the…28 Jan 2019HANSARDVenezuelaIt is always a pleasure not to even have to let the name pass my lips. However, it allows me to echo what I said earlier today—those who support the regime and make excuses for…28 Jan 2019