I am pleased to inform the House of the Government’s publication of the Terms of Reference for a review into the organisation, performance, and transformation of the permanent Civil Service.

This Government is committed to strengthening the delivery, accountability, innovation, and productivity of the Civil Service, and to safeguard its impartiality...

I am pleased to inform the House of the Government’s publication of the Terms of Reference for a review into the organisation, performance, and transformation of the permanent Civil Service.

This Government is committed to strengthening the delivery, accountability, innovation, and productivity of the Civil Service, and to safeguard its impartiality...

The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has today published the Inquiry’s Module 3 report, which examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in the four nations of the UK.

The Chair emphasises “the unbearable stress and distress to patients, their loved ones and the healthcare workers looking...

The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has today published the Inquiry’s Module 3 report, which examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in the four nations of the UK.

The Chair emphasises “the unbearable stress and distress to patients, their loved ones and the healthcare workers looking...

To ask the Leader of the House whether audits are conducted by departments to assess the accuracy of answers given to Written Questions.

To ask the Leader of the House whether audits are conducted by departments to assess the accuracy of answers given to Written Questions.

My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement:

I attended the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC on 9-11 July, with the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations).

The Summit marked the 75th anniversary...

My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement:

I attended the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC on 9-11 July, with the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations).

The Summit marked the 75th anniversary...

To ask the Leader of the House what explanations he has had from the Department for Health and Social Care concerning their failure to answer 18 questions for written answer, dating back to 19 April, within the recommended time.

To ask the Leader of the House what explanations he has had from the Department for Health and Social Care concerning their failure to answer 18 questions for written answer, dating back to 19 April, within the recommended time.

My Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:

On 1 September, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Lord Justice Fulford took on responsibility for overseeing the use of investigatory powers by public authorities. This was a significant milestone in the transition to new...

My Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:

On 1 September, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Lord Justice Fulford took on responsibility for overseeing the use of investigatory powers by public authorities. This was a significant milestone in the transition to new...

To ask the Leader of the House what arrangements are in place to ensure that, in answering Questions for Written Answer, government departments are, as required by the Ministerial Code, "accurate and truthful" and as "open as possible" in the answers they provide to members of the House of Lords;...

To ask the Leader of the House what arrangements are in place to ensure that, in answering Questions for Written Answer, government departments are, as required by the Ministerial Code, "accurate and truthful" and as "open as possible" in the answers they provide to members of the House of Lords;...

My Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:

Striking the Balance: Upholding the Seven Principles of Public Life in Regulation, the 16th report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has been published by the Committee today. I have laid the...

My Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:

Striking the Balance: Upholding the Seven Principles of Public Life in Regulation, the 16th report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has been published by the Committee today. I have laid the...

In line with the practice established by my predecessor in the last session I am today publishing data on departmental performance in answering Questions for Written Answer for the 2015/16 session.

Written questions are an important way in which Members hold the Government to account, and the House has agreed...

In line with the practice established by my predecessor in the last session I am today publishing data on departmental performance in answering Questions for Written Answer for the 2015/16 session.

Written questions are an important way in which Members hold the Government to account, and the House has agreed...

This new offence criminalises conduct that on its own is currently not an offence. It does not mean that, if there was evidence of dishonesty, the person against whom the claim was made would not be prosecuted under the Fraud Act. This is a new offence but, if dishonesty were...

This new offence criminalises conduct that on its own is currently not an offence. It does not mean that, if there was evidence of dishonesty, the person against whom the claim was made would not be prosecuted under the Fraud Act. This is a new offence but, if dishonesty were...

I certainly have some sympathy with the submission of the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Alloway. After all, we are a reviewing Chamber, and we are reviewing one of the most important pieces of legislation ever to have come our way. Whether we like it or not, and whether or...

I certainly have some sympathy with the submission of the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Alloway. After all, we are a reviewing Chamber, and we are reviewing one of the most important pieces of legislation ever to have come our way. Whether we like it or not, and whether or...

I warmly welcome this amendment. I am sure that it improves the Bill as a whole. I want to add one thing. The Bill is extremely hurried, there is no question about that, but the Member of the House who is most inconvenienced and put to the most trouble by...

I warmly welcome this amendment. I am sure that it improves the Bill as a whole. I want to add one thing. The Bill is extremely hurried, there is no question about that, but the Member of the House who is most inconvenienced and put to the most trouble by...

Amendment 80B 80B: Clause 10, page 8, line 17, after "to" insert "the Committee on Standards in Public Life or to" Amendment 80B agreed. Clause 10, as amended, agreed. Clause 11 : Power to make transitional etc provision Amendment 81 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List. Amendment 81A not...

Amendment 80B 80B: Clause 10, page 8, line 17, after "to" insert "the Committee on Standards in Public Life or to" Amendment 80B agreed. Clause 10, as amended, agreed. Clause 11 : Power to make transitional etc provision Amendment 81 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List. Amendment 81A not...

I support the taking out of subsections (2) and (3), but I want to make one further point on subsection (1) and on the fact that there would be a maximum 12-month sentence. If the Minister is right and there is a distinction to be drawn between the offence created...

I support the taking out of subsections (2) and (3), but I want to make one further point on subsection (1) and on the fact that there would be a maximum 12-month sentence. If the Minister is right and there is a distinction to be drawn between the offence created...

I am not saying that it is symbolic and presentational at all. I said that we believe that the new offence is absolutely necessary. However, it is my profound hope that the activities of MPs and the way in which people conduct themselves will be so improved that in future...

I am not saying that it is symbolic and presentational at all. I said that we believe that the new offence is absolutely necessary. However, it is my profound hope that the activities of MPs and the way in which people conduct themselves will be so improved that in future...

That has been the very crux of our arguments today. What I am suggesting is that I will go away and consider the possibility of guidance and what that guidance will say. I have undertaken to come back to noble Lords on that.

That has been the very crux of our arguments today. What I am suggesting is that I will go away and consider the possibility of guidance and what that guidance will say. I have undertaken to come back to noble Lords on that.

Listening to the speech of my noble and learned friend Lord Mackay of Clashfern, I thought that he demolished the Bill on an important legal point about changing the law. The noble Baroness the Leader of the House has not answered my noble and learned friend’s point at all. It...

Listening to the speech of my noble and learned friend Lord Mackay of Clashfern, I thought that he demolished the Bill on an important legal point about changing the law. The noble Baroness the Leader of the House has not answered my noble and learned friend’s point at all. It...

I have not yet concluded what I was saying. I will come back to answer the points made by the noble and learned Lord, for whom I have the utmost respect. I have to agree with the point that was made earlier, because I am advised—I believe that I have...

I have not yet concluded what I was saying. I will come back to answer the points made by the noble and learned Lord, for whom I have the utmost respect. I have to agree with the point that was made earlier, because I am advised—I believe that I have...

I should speak on this briefly because I am one of the Members who gave notice of their intention to oppose the Question that Clause 8 stand part. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay, and the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws, have made interesting and important points....

I should speak on this briefly because I am one of the Members who gave notice of their intention to oppose the Question that Clause 8 stand part. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay, and the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws, have made interesting and important points....

I reinforce what my noble friend has just said, because that is my concern both about the Bill and this clause. The noble Baroness seems to think that the Bill is being introduced to meet public concern and that that is justification for it. It is not addressing public concern;...

I reinforce what my noble friend has just said, because that is my concern both about the Bill and this clause. The noble Baroness seems to think that the Bill is being introduced to meet public concern and that that is justification for it. It is not addressing public concern;...