My Lords, I wonder whether others felt, as I did, that what the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, just said was music to the ears. Of the amendments currently tabled to this Bill, I regard this amendment as by far and away the most important, and it is one that I...

My Lords, I wonder whether others felt, as I did, that what the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, just said was music to the ears. Of the amendments currently tabled to this Bill, I regard this amendment as by far and away the most important, and it is one that I...

I do not mean to prolong the noble Lord’s speech by my interruption, but perhaps I could suggest that it is not helpful to his case if he becomes narrowly partisan. This is not an area where any one party can claim a monopoly of virtue or vice. It is...

I do not mean to prolong the noble Lord’s speech by my interruption, but perhaps I could suggest that it is not helpful to his case if he becomes narrowly partisan. This is not an area where any one party can claim a monopoly of virtue or vice. It is...

I do not think the noble Lord has grasped what I was saying. The amendment states, "““in accordance with this Part””," but we have not determined what this Part will cover. As the noble Lord realises, I have put down many amendments to Part 1 in an attempt to rejig...

I do not think the noble Lord has grasped what I was saying. The amendment states, "““in accordance with this Part””," but we have not determined what this Part will cover. As the noble Lord realises, I have put down many amendments to Part 1 in an attempt to rejig...

Perhaps the noble Lord would outline what is meant by, "““in accordance with this Part””."

Perhaps the noble Lord would outline what is meant by, "““in accordance with this Part””."

My Lords, this has been a lengthy debate that has touched on a large number of very important issues. In responding, perhaps I may briefly take the attention of the Committee back to what we are debating: the terms of Amendment 1. With all due respect to the Minister, I...

My Lords, this has been a lengthy debate that has touched on a large number of very important issues. In responding, perhaps I may briefly take the attention of the Committee back to what we are debating: the terms of Amendment 1. With all due respect to the Minister, I...

Does my noble friend at least accept that we legislate vastly more than any free democracy in the western world? We have between 200 per cent and 400 per cent more statute law than any free state that I have yet discovered.

Does my noble friend at least accept that we legislate vastly more than any free democracy in the western world? We have between 200 per cent and 400 per cent more statute law than any free state that I have yet discovered.

My Lords, 43 years ago, I was a Home Office Minister but I doubt very much whether the procedures that have been so dramatically described by the noble Baroness were current in those days. I rise to support wholeheartedly this amendment and to salute the courageous and most splendid speech...

My Lords, 43 years ago, I was a Home Office Minister but I doubt very much whether the procedures that have been so dramatically described by the noble Baroness were current in those days. I rise to support wholeheartedly this amendment and to salute the courageous and most splendid speech...

I hope to be able to do that. I hope that I have not been unduly partisan, but we all feel strongly on this issue and I very much hope that noble Lords on the Liberal Democrat Benches, who I understand feel strongly on the issue, will explain their case...

I hope to be able to do that. I hope that I have not been unduly partisan, but we all feel strongly on this issue and I very much hope that noble Lords on the Liberal Democrat Benches, who I understand feel strongly on the issue, will explain their case...

My Lords, I support the amendment. As the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, explained, the current drafting is a change from the wording of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and the amendment makes it clear that the Lord Chancellor has an obligation to secure the access to legal services that...

My Lords, I support the amendment. As the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, explained, the current drafting is a change from the wording of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and the amendment makes it clear that the Lord Chancellor has an obligation to secure the access to legal services that...

My Lords, the Constitution Committee did us, as it always does, a good service in reminding us and stating emphatically that access to justice is a constitutional principle. The amendment that it proposed to Clause 1, which would say that the Lord Chancellor must secure that legal aid is made...

My Lords, the Constitution Committee did us, as it always does, a good service in reminding us and stating emphatically that access to justice is a constitutional principle. The amendment that it proposed to Clause 1, which would say that the Lord Chancellor must secure that legal aid is made...

My Lords, speaking as a liberal from the Liberal Democrat Benches, it is with regret that I say that I support the amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick. I support it with regret because I had hoped that we would not be in this position by...

My Lords, speaking as a liberal from the Liberal Democrat Benches, it is with regret that I say that I support the amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick. I support it with regret because I had hoped that we would not be in this position by...

My Lords, I briefly support the amendment by echoing the words that have already been quoted—those of the Lord Chancellor, who said: "““access to justice is a hallmark of a civilised society””,—[Official Report, Commons, 15/11/10; col. 659.]" and those of my noble friend Lord Pannick, who has said repeatedly that...

My Lords, I briefly support the amendment by echoing the words that have already been quoted—those of the Lord Chancellor, who said: "““access to justice is a hallmark of a civilised society””,—[Official Report, Commons, 15/11/10; col. 659.]" and those of my noble friend Lord Pannick, who has said repeatedly that...

Perhaps I could ask the noble Lord a question. I listened with great care to what he said. It would be extremely helpful to know where his argument is directed. Is it intended to support or oppose Amendment 1?

Perhaps I could ask the noble Lord a question. I listened with great care to what he said. It would be extremely helpful to know where his argument is directed. Is it intended to support or oppose Amendment 1?

I will come to that in a second. The noble and learned Baroness will be pleased to know that I am about to wind up. We should all be grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, for tabling an amendment that challenges us to debate the principles against which the...

I will come to that in a second. The noble and learned Baroness will be pleased to know that I am about to wind up. We should all be grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, for tabling an amendment that challenges us to debate the principles against which the...

My Lords—

My Lords—

I rise to support this amendment for reasons which I will explain—

I rise to support this amendment for reasons which I will explain—

My Lords, it is the turn of this side, but I wait with pleasure to hear what the noble and learned Lord has to say. When I started my career as a barrister in the late 1950s, we had started with legal aid for only a few years. Up until...

My Lords, it is the turn of this side, but I wait with pleasure to hear what the noble and learned Lord has to say. When I started my career as a barrister in the late 1950s, we had started with legal aid for only a few years. Up until...

My Lords, I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, went before me, because I can wholeheartedly agree with the last sentiment that he has expressed—I am not surprised that we share that view. Before I speak about my hesitation in respect of the amendment, I should declare, because...

My Lords, I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, went before me, because I can wholeheartedly agree with the last sentiment that he has expressed—I am not surprised that we share that view. Before I speak about my hesitation in respect of the amendment, I should declare, because...

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, was born in inner-city Liverpool. I had the privilege of representing part of that city for 25 years, first as a city councillor and later, as the noble Lord, Lord McNally, knows, as a Member of the House of Commons. Liverpool...

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, was born in inner-city Liverpool. I had the privilege of representing part of that city for 25 years, first as a city councillor and later, as the noble Lord, Lord McNally, knows, as a Member of the House of Commons. Liverpool...

My Lords, it is probably my turn, if my noble former constituent will allow me. I have been stimulated, not for the first time and I hope not for the last, by some of the speeches in this debate. First, the noble Baroness, Lady Mallalieu, reminded me of how grateful...

My Lords, it is probably my turn, if my noble former constituent will allow me. I have been stimulated, not for the first time and I hope not for the last, by some of the speeches in this debate. First, the noble Baroness, Lady Mallalieu, reminded me of how grateful...