Contributions
1,746 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBudget ResolutionsThe endemic problems facing Britain in the 2020s are often compared to those of 50 years ago. As was the case in the 1970s, ours is a time of great economic uncertainty at home…11 Mar 2024HANSARDBudget ResolutionsThe hon. Gentleman invited an intervention to clarify his position on national insurance. I wonder whether, rather than engaging in this knockabout, which I am rather enjoying—he…11 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)We are making sufficient progress, which perhaps permits me to say a word about why, as we have now dealt with those publicly contentious matters around bulk powers, we can move…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)The key thing to understand here is that the agencies have always had the ability to intercept communications data. Communications data is one’s letters. Communications data is…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Exactly. That point was made when we debated the original Act, and I think that I committed at the time to those kinds of things being detailed in the annual report. To clarify a…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)To supplement what the right hon. Gentleman has said, this was part of the original legislation and it is and always has been a controversial aspect of it. There are two things…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for offering me a second bite of the cherry. Perhaps I can offer a Hegelian synthesis between him and the right hon. Member for North Durham. We…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I think the Minister might have misunderstood. Forgive me; I did not mean that. I meant that this could be reviewed in the IPCO annual report. That would obviously be considered…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The right hon. Gentleman is making a persuasive argument about public expectations of what is reasonable versus what the Bill says and what the agencies do. He is right that there…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I do not want to do the Minister’s job for him, because I am sure he will say this anyway, but when an application is made by an agency for the acquisition and retention of bulk…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)It does the Minister great credit that he has made that list available during the course of our consideration. That is very important. What I had feared might happen was that we…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Before you move to the vote, Mrs Cummins—forgive me for not rising with greater speed—I just wanted to test the Minister on clause 14 in particular. Clause 14 deals with the other…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I broadly support the Minister’s view of this, but the easiest way to establish the case for this is to be clear about its operational purposes. Clearly, one would not expect the…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I will not detain the Committee unduly, my Whip will be pleased to know. However, I feel it is important at this juncture—in part because, as the right hon. Member for North…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I endorse what the right hon. Gentleman said. It is a straightforward matter. The Government could give way on this—because they already have the power to ask for it under…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Further to that point of order, Mrs Cummins. Since we are having further points of order, I want to say to the Minister, and the shadow Minister, how grateful I think most of the…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I want to help the Minister, because I do not necessarily agree with the right hon. Member for North Durham; occasionally, he and I do disagree, despite the impression that we…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Given what the Minister said about a change in Government—I do not expect one, but I suppose it is a remote possibility—perhaps the words “operational responsibility or…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for the fact that his amendment goes some way to dealing with the issues that I and others raised in relation to the change from existing practice.…07 Mar 2024HANSARDInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I had it printed out on parchment.07 Mar 2024