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Proceeding contribution from Lord Patten (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Monday, 23 November 2009. It occurred during Queen's speech debate on Queen’s Speech.


Queen’s Speech

I love being interrupted by my noble friend Lord Ferrers and will give way to him at any time to receive correction on these nuances. Nevertheless, it is sometimes helpful to flatter in the hope of getting a decent answer from someone who has delighted in calling himself "a simple sailor" in so many interviews that he has given. With the list of acronyms that I have given, he could well be forgiven for calling himself a confused sailor, but I certainly regard him as gallant for the service that he has given from the Front Bench in defending the Government. According to the Press Association on 13 November, the noble and ungallant Lord, Lord West of Spithead, told a conference at the end of that week in London that the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics pose the "greatest security challenge" that Britain has faced since the Second World War; yet we have no idea from anything that is published how on earth this challenge, including cybersecurity attack, which could bring ticketing and the rest of the Olympics and Paralympics to their knees, will be handled. It is clear that no one is in charge of this area. The sooner we have a body, as proposed by my party, to deal with cyber and all the other security issues, which has overarching responsibility and clear leadership, the better.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
715 c185 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disciplinary proceedings Children Databases Anti-social behaviour Corruption Airguns Civil service DNA Immobilisation of vehicles House of Lords Judiciary Domestic abuse Hereditary peers Insurance Injunctions Organised crime Prisons Public expenditure Mobile phones Parliamentary scrutiny Public service Peers Treaties Young people Reform Anti-social behaviour orders Parenting orders
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk