Contributions
464 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI will make sure that your comment to that effect is faithfully reported to my colleagues in Cabinet, Mr Speaker.15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryThis has taken time because the Government have felt, I think rightly, that an issue of such importance and sensitivity requires very careful and meticulous consideration. The…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryWe should certainly act on the highest possible moral grounds. I believe that we have a statutory framework in which we can take considerable pride, and that marks a significant…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryAs I said earlier, it is the duty of every Minister, in line with the Ministerial Code, to comply with our international as well as our domestic legal obligations. In the case of…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryObviously I will not pre-empt the content of the Government’s statement later this week, but I think it is clear from the way in which the right hon. Lady has posed her questions…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI cannot promise the right hon. Gentleman an answer on that final point this week, but I believe that Sir Adrian’s recommendations will give him considerable reassurance.15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryAs I have said in response to earlier questions, I cannot pre-empt what will be in the Government’s statement later this week. However, I take note of my hon. Friend’s question.15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryFirst, I thank my right hon. Friend for the just tribute that he paid to the men and women working in our security and intelligence agencies. I can give him what I hope is a…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryThe tests would be threefold. First, there will be an annual report from the Investigatory Powers Commissioner on how Government and the agencies use the powers with which they…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryIt is not just a matter of something being difficult; it is a matter of Ministers having to consider the best course of action when we are talking about the work of security and…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI agree with the final point that my hon. Friend makes, but I ask him to take account of the fact that we are dealing with the work of security and intelligence agencies—work on…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI disagree with the hon. Gentleman in his assertion that little has changed. There have been important statutory changes in the Justice and Security Act 2013 and the Investigatory…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI hear what the hon. Gentleman says. What we are discussing as, in fairness, the right hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) acknowledged, are historical…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryIt is important that we demonstrate through our actions, not just our words, our commitment to human rights. Moreover, when one has the privilege of speaking to officers in the…15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryIt will not be in my power to decide whether the House wishes to return to these issues, but I can promise the hon. Gentleman that this will be a definitive statement.15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryI will not speculate on the content of the decision later this week, but I take on board the challenge that the right hon. Gentleman has posed.15 Jul 2019HANSARDDetainee Mistreatment: Judge-led InquiryLooking at international practice, I think we in this country can point to a system that requires high standard, and that is remarkably transparent, given the extremely secret…15 Jul 2019HANSARDStrengthening the UnionI have been very clear in a number of public statements that I believe that a disorderly no-deal exit from the European Union would not only cause significant economic harm in all…10 Jul 2019HANSARDStrengthening the UnionThere is no doubt that the success of the SNP agenda of separation would do enormous damage to businesses and living standards in Scotland. I can reassure my hon. Friend that…10 Jul 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsLast week the Government responded to Lord Holmes’s independent review of access to public appointments for disabled people. We have accepted in principle all of Lord Holmes’s…10 Jul 2019